Treasures of the Three Himalayan Kingdoms - Discover Tibet, Nepal & Bhutan

Arriving into Kathmandu on a clear day is nothing short of spectacular. As your aircraft descends into the valley, the first glimpses of the Himalayan range, snow-capped peaks stretching across the horizon, set the tone for the journey ahead.

A warm Himalayan welcome awaits on arrival into Kathmandu. After clearing immigration, you are met and transferred through the vibrant streets of Nepal’s capital to your hotel.

This evening, enjoy a welcome dinner as you meet your fellow travellers and Tour Director.

Today we head on a cultural exploration of Kathamandu and Nepal's interesting mix of influences.

Our first stop will be Pashupatinath Temple, dating back to 400 A.D. One of the oldest temples dedicated to Lord Shiva - the superior god of Hindu mythology, it is situated a short drive east of Kathmandu amidst a lush green natural setting on the bank of the sacred Bagmati River. Built in a two storey Pagoda design with gilded roof and richly carved silver doors, it houses the sacred linga or phallic symbol of Lord Shiva.

Pashupatinath is the centre of annual pilgrimage on the day of ‘Maha Shivaratri’ that falls in the month of February/March. It is for the Hindus what Mecca is for the Muslims. You will also be able to see the cremation grounds that lie on the banks of Bagmati River behind the temple.

From here, we make our way to Boudhanath, one of the oldest and the biggest Buddhist monuments ever built in Nepal! Boudhanath is a spherical stupa structure imposing at a height of 36m, with three massive Mandala style platforms. The stupa with four pairs of eyes at the four cardinal directions is believed to be keeping watch for righteous behavior and human prosperity. Built on an octagonal base inset with 108 prayer wheels, the shrine is ringed by a settlement of Tibetan refugees who entered Nepal in the 1950s who have fashioned the area into a ‘Mini-Tibet’ ever since.

Our last stop for the day, Bhaktapur is the home of medieval art and architecture and also known as the 'city of devotees'. Founded in the 9th Century AD, it is shaped like a conch shell. The city is at the height of 4,600 ft. above sea level. Here, you will visit the Durbar Square with the Palace of 55 Windows built by King Bhupatindra Malla. The famous five-storied Nyatapol temple on the terraces of which stands a pair of figures - two goddesses, two strong men, two elephants, two lions and two griffins is the tallest temple in the valley and was also built by King Bhupatindra Malla. It is one of the best examples of Pagoda styled temples in Nepal.

This morning, we head out after breakfast for a sightseeing tour of Kathamndu, Nepal's capital city, visiting Swayambhunath and Kathmandu Durbar Square.

Said to be around 2000 years old, Swayambunath Buddhist Stupa sits atop a hillock 2km west of Kathmandu, overlooking the valley. The oldest written reference to the stupa dates from the 5th century, but it could have existed much earlier. Moreover, a legend has it that the stupa evolved spontaneously at the time of the Kathmandu valley’s creation. Swayambhunath is famously known as the ‘Monkey Temple’ owing to the presence of a large number of monkeys around the area.

From here we make our way to Kathmandu Durbar Square, with its array of temples, courtyards, monuments and the ancient palaces of the former Nepali Royals. Chief attractions here include Hanuman Dhoka Royal Palace, the magnificent Taleju Temple towering more than 40 meters high; Kumari Ghar, the residence of the Living Goddess, Kumari; the temple of Ashok Vinayak dedicated to lord Ganesh, the elephant headed deity, and Kal Bhairav, the God of Wrath. There is also the giant pagoda of ‘Kasthamandap’, a structure which is said to have been built out of a single tree. The name of the capital ‘Kathmandu’ is said to be actually derived from ‘Kasthamandap’.

Today we head out the city to visit Chandragiri Hills and Kirtipur.

Hindu devotees believe that the all-powerful Bhaleshwor Mahadev fulfills the wishes of all who come to pay homage to him at Chandragiri Hill. A pilgrimage trip to the hilltop is a way of securing a ticket to the Shivaloka in the afterlife. 

It is believed that Satidevi, Lord Shiva’s consort, gave up her life by jumping in a fire pyre at her father Daksha Prajapati’s yagna (sacred fire ritual) after he insulted her husband Shiva in front of scores of gods and goddesses invited to the religious ceremony. An enraged Shiva then carried her dead body on his back, walking across the world like a madman, not taking note of Satidevi’s decaying body. It is written in Himvatakhanda that Bhaleshwor Mahadev appeared at the spot where Satidevi’s ‘Bhala’, or forehead, fell off from her dead body and a temple was erected on the site. 

We take a cable car to reach Chandragiri Hills’ top station. The 2.5 km long cable car ensures a smooth and safe journey, all the while giving you an up-close view of the untainted wilderness.

After descending, we make our way to Kirtipur, situated on a ridge 8 km southwest of Kathmandu. The ancient Newar township - with its brick-paved streets lined with typical red brick houses and tiled roofs, and temple squares - is a natural fortress. The Chilamchu Stupa and the temple of Bagh Bhairav are major attractions here. Here we can experience authentic Newari culture, the indigenous culture of the Kathmandu Valley. Walk along its narrow lanes to observe the life of the people who have lived for many generations per age-old traditions and beliefs. Once we finish the above sightseeing, we drive back to the hotel.

Today we will explore the outlying villages of Patan, Bungamati and Khokana.

Located 5 km southeast of Kathmandu, Patan city is popularly known as ‘the city of artisans’ accommodates a magnificent square housing the palace buildings of the then royals, artistic courtyards and graceful pagoda temples – a display of Newari architecture that had reached its pinnacle during the reign of the Malla kings. It is filled with wood and stone carvings, metal statues, and ornate architecture, including dozens of Buddhist and Hindu temples, and over 1200 monuments.

Bungamati, a classical medieval village lies across the Bagamati River from Chobar. Its pedestrian-only street is great place to pass time as we walk gently though the town. Many locals work as woodcarvers and there are numerous craft workshops and showrooms around village.

The last stop of the day is the charming town of Khokana, which was sadly badly damaged by the 1934 earthquake. The locals here are mainly farmers and you will notice people weaving hay mats, stuffing cases with cotton, farmers baling straw, tailors stitching and women spinning wools and winnowing rice. 

We return from the villages to the hustle and bustle of Kathmandu for an evening at leisure

This morning we check out of our hotel and make our way to Kathmandu Airport for our flight to the next of the three Himalayan Kingdoms - Tibet!

Upon arrival at Gongar Airport, we will be met and drive to Lhasa.

Lhasa is rightly one of the most featured and dreamt-about cities in the world. Not only due to its remoteness, its high altitude at 3,650 meters (11,975 feet) meaning limited accessibility, but also because of its impressive heritage of over a thousand years of cultural and spiritual history that has helped to create the romantic and mysterious Tibetan religion.

Differing from the inland cities and other places in Tibet, Lhasa is unique with an allure all of its own. In the Tibetan language, Lhasa means the Holy Land or the Buddha Land. It is the center of Tibet's politics, economy and culture. The splendor and grandeur of the Potala Palace in Lhasa remains a world-famous symbol of the enigmatic power of politics and religion in this region.

We will check into our hotel where the rest of the day is at leisure. 

After breakfast, we head out to explore Lhasa's most famous monuments. 

Our first stop will be Potala Palace. The Potala, one of the most famous architectural works of the world, sits on top of the Red Hill in Lhasa. In the 7th century, after the Tibetan King SongtsenGampo's married Princess Wencheng of the Tang Court, the Palace was built to provide the Tibetan court with a place of worship and meditation. In the mid-17th century, it was re-built by the 5th Dalai Lama to its present size, and became the Winter Palace of the Dalai Lamas.

From here we make our way to Jokhang Temple. Situated in the center of the old section of Lhasa called Barkhor, it was built in the mid-7th century A. D. It was later extended by successive rulers, and has now become a gigantic architecture complex, a four storied Temple with splendid golden roofs. Its architecture features art from the Tang Dynasty but also assimilated many features from both Nepalese and Indian Buddhist Temples. The murals in the temple depict the life stories of historic and religious characters and houses many historical relics and statues. Jokhang is Tibet’s spiritual center, and the holiest destination for Tibetan Buddhist pilgrims. It houses a statue of Shakyamuni when he was 12 years old.

The circular Barkhor Street around the temple has many shops, and street vendors intermingle with devotees walking clockwise around the Jokhang. An evening walk (Kora) around the Jokhang Temple together with the Tibetan pilgrims is an experience of a lifetime! 

Our first visit today will be Sera Monastery, one of the 'great three' Gelukpa university monasteries of Tibet,  founded in 1419, by JamchenChojey (SakyaYeshe), a disciple of TsongKhapa. Whilst it housed more than 5,000 monks in 1959, today it houses a few hundred Buddhist monks.

After the Chinese invasion of Tibet and the destruction of the majority of Tibet's monasteries, Sera monastery was reformed in Bylakuppe, India, near Mysore. As none of the monks of the NgagpaDratsang (Tantric College) survived the invasion, only the Sera Mey College and Sera Jey College were reformed in India. 

We then make our way to Drepung Monastery. Situated at the foot of the GamboUtse Mountain, Drepung Monastery is known as the most important monastery of Gelugpa in Tibetan Buddhism, another of the 'Three Great Monasteries' along with Sera and Ganden Monastery. Covering an area of 250,000 square meters, it held 7,700 monks in total and possessed 141 fazendas and 540 pastures in its heyday! Seen from afar, its grand, white construction gives the monastery the appearance of a heap of rice. As such, it was given the name 'Drepung Monastery' which, in Tibetan, means Monastery of Collecting-Rice.

Our final stop for the day is Norbulingkha, the Summer Palace of the Dalai Lamas. Just a short drive from Lhasa, in the low-lying surrounding hills. In the palace there are many splendid murals painted by a Fourteenth Dalai Lama's painter depicting Tibetan officials, Sakyamuni preaching under a Bodhi tree and Tibetan history.

This morning, it is sadly time to check out of our hotel and bid farewell to Tibet, as we make our way to the airport and board our flight back to Kathmandu. 

We will be met upon arrival and transferred to our hotel in the city, where the rest of the day is at leisure. 

After breakfast at the hotel, we transfer to Kathmandu airport for our flight to Paro, in Bhutan.

This flight is a befitting introduction to the spectacular beauty of Bhutan. In clear weather, magnificent views of the world’s highest peaks give way to the lush green Paro Valley as we land. Your first impression of Bhutan will be the cool, clean fresh air as you step out of the plane. After clearing customs and visa control we head to Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan.

Thimphu has a population of about 100,000. This capital city is made up of just three lines of shops and is the only capital in the world without traffic lights.

The Takin Reserve, in Mothithang is on our itinerary for this afternoon. Here we take a quick stroll to a viewing area where you can capture sights of the takin, the national animal of Bhutan. The Takin, sometimes called the goat with attitude, is listed by international conservation agencies as a vulnerable species and it is a very rare animal found only in this region of Asia. This animal has been chosen as the national animal of Bhutan for its uniqueness and it association with the country’s national religious history and mythology. If we're lucky, we may also see a few sambar and barking deer.

As evening falls we will visit the Trashichhodzong, the beautiful medieval fortress and monastery that is Bhutan’s administrative and religious centre. This building houses most of the government's offices and also the King's Throne Room.

We relax into our hotel this evening as we begin our Bhutan adventure.

After breakfast, we depart Thimphu for a short scenic drive into the surrounding hills.

We begin our day at the starting point for the hike to Tango Monastery, one of Bhutan’s most important centres of Buddhist learning. The walk to the monastery takes approximately one hour, ascending gently through pine forests. Along the way, pass a striking rock painting of Guru Rinpoche, believed to bless all who journey here.

Perched dramatically above the valley, Tango Monastery dates back to the 12th century and serves as a monastic school where monks study Buddhist philosophy, metaphysics, and sacred texts. The site itself is steeped in legend—said to be where great masters meditated in caves, leaving behind a spiritual energy that still defines the monastery today.

We will continue our day with a second hike to Cheri Monastery, crossing a traditional wooden bridge over the Thimphu River before ascending through dense woodland. Founded in 1620 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, Cheri is regarded as one of Bhutan’s most sacred meditation retreats. The climb is steeper, but the peaceful setting and sweeping views make it deeply rewarding.

Following our hikes, we will return back to Thimphu for further cultural explorations.

If time permits, we will visit a traditional handmade paper workshop, where this centuries-old Bhutanese craft, dating back to the 8th century, is still practiced using natural fibres. The process remains unchanged, preserving an important part of Bhutan’s cultural identity.

Next we head to the Drupthob Lhakhang Nunnery, one of the few surviving nunneries in the kingdom. Set in a quiet hillside location, it offers a tranquil insight into monastic life for Bhutanese nuns, along with views across the valley.

Later, we visit Kuensel Phodrang, home to the magnificent Buddha Dordenma statue. Towering over the valley, this impressive structure offers panoramic, bird’s-eye views of Thimphu and its surrounding mountains.

As evening approaches, we return to the city and enjoy a leisurely walk along Thimphu’s main street. The atmosphere here is vibrant yet relaxed, monks in crimson robes, local families, and traders all moving through a town that retains its traditional charm.

After a day rich in culture, nature, and spiritual discovery, return to your hotel for dinner and a well-earned rest!

We make an early start today from Thimpu to begin our drive to Punakha.

Later we will drive towards Wangdiphiodrang. En route we will visit the Simthokha Dzong, a historic fortress built in 1629 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the man who unified Bhutan. The fortress now houses a language school, where scholars study both Dzongkha (the national language) and English.

We continue into the countryside towards the Punakha valley, the winter capital of Bhutan. The drive ascends gradually to the Dochula Pass at over 10,300ft, with magnificent vistas of the Himalayan range. The Dochula Monastery, also known as the Druk Wangyal Khangzang Chortens, is a tribute to the service and leadership of His Majesty the King. The design inspired by the Queen is a unique cluster of 108 Chortens seen from all directions.

The descent to Punakha is vibrant and colorful, with the fluttering prayer flags adding to a rich topography dotted by terrace farming and rivers flowing through. 

Later, we traverse the Punakha countryside walking through paddy fields to the Pana Village to see the 'Chimi Lhakhang’ built by the great Lama Drukpa Kinley in 1400 to subdue local demons. The temple is a popular pilgrimage point for all Bhutanese and is specially revered by women for its fertility powers.

Our final visit today is to the historic Punakha Dzong, also built by Shabdrung Nawang in 1637, and lies sprawled at the confluence of the Phochu (male) and Mochu (female) rivers.

After an early breakfast, begin a scenic hike to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten, set on a ridge high above the Punakha Valley. The walk takes approximately one hour through countryside and offers beautiful views across the valley below.

Built by Her Majesty the Queen Mother, Ashi Tshering Yangdon Wangchuck, this striking four-storey temple took nine years to complete and was constructed according to ancient Buddhist scriptures rather than modern engineering methods. It stands as a fine example of Bhutanese architecture and is dedicated to the well-being of the kingdom and all sentient beings.

Afterwards, enjoy lunch in Punakha before beginning your journey back to Paro. En route, visit the Royal Botanical Garden, home to a diverse collection of Himalayan flora, including an impressive orchid house showcasing Bhutan’s rich biodiversity.

Continue to Paro Dzong (Rinpung Dzong), one of Bhutan’s most impressive fortresses. Dating back to the 15th century and later expanded in the 17th century, it remains a remarkable example of traditional Bhutanese architecture and continues to function as a monastic centre.

Cross the traditional covered wooden bridge, Nyamai Zam, spanning the Paro River, before returning to town.

The remainder of the day is at leisure to explore Paro’s main street, where you can browse local shops and experience everyday Bhutanese life.

After breakfast, we take a short drive to Ramthanka for a hike to view one of the most revered pilgrimage sites of the Buddhist world - the Taktshang Lhakhang, popularly known as the Tiger’s Nest Monastery.

Today's trek offers spectacular views of this sacred monastery, perched precariously on a sheer rock face 3,000ft above the valley floor.

After around 2hrs walking, the cafeteria serves as our midway point and has wonderful views of the Tiger’s Nest. From here it’s about another 1-2 hour’s trek through stunning landscape scenery to reach the monastery.

The trek to the Tiger's Nest is approx 4 miles round trip in which you ascend to 10,232 feet in elevation - there are many steps up to reach the monestary. On average, it takes 4-5hrs for the round trip hike, plus an extra hour touring the monastery.

We will stop once more at the cafeteria for lunch during our descent to Ramthanka.

On our way back to Paro, we will visit the nearby Kyichu Lakhang, one of the oldest and most sacred shrines of the Kingdom dating back to 7th century. Composed of two temples, the first temple was built by Tibetan King, Songtsen Gampo in the 7th century and in 1968, H.M. Ashi Kesang, the Queen Mother of Bhutan, built the second temple in same original pattern

Today we bid farewell to the serene beauty of Bhutan as we fly back to Nepal, beginning our journey home.

On arrival in Kathmandu, we will check into our hotel, where the rest of the day is at leisure.

This evening, we come together one final time for a farewell dinner.

Today we all say goodbye to our time in the Himalayan Kingdoms with many new, cherished memories of an experience of a lifetime.

We will be transferred to the airport in time for flights for our onward journey home.