17 Days India Nepal Bhutan Culture Tour

Highlight: Meet your warm guide and get prepared for the wonderful journey.

Welcome to India!

When you arrive at the Airport in New Delhi you will be met by your Indian guide and transferred to your hotel to rest from your flight. You can spend the rest of the day relaxing and exploring the area around the hotel.

Stay overnight in Delhi.

New Delhi City

Highlight: Take a high-speed train from Delhi to Agra and visit Taj Mahal and Agra Fort.

Today you will board the high-speed train for Agra, one of the major tourist cities in India. Once you arrive, you will go straight to enjoy the world-famous Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. You can enjoy the spectacular architecture, take some brilliant pictures, and walk through the history of India. You will also explore the famous Agra Fort, the awesome military fort situated down river from Taj Mahal.

Stay overnight in Agra.

Visit Taj Mahal

Highlight: Get to Jhansi by train and Orchha village.

In the morning, you will again board the fast trains that India is renowned for, to head for the town of Jhansi. From there, you will head out to the small quaint village of Orchha. This ancient rustic village is the location of several ancient forts, palaces, and temples, which jostle for supremacy in the crowded square of the village. The square is renowned for having more history in every square inch than anywhere else in the world.

Stay overnight in Orchha.

Visit Orchha village

Highlight: Visit the Eastern and Western Temple Groups and local markets in Khajuraho.

After a good breakfast at the hotel, which was a former palace, you will get an early start for the drive to Khajuraho, around four hours away. This beautiful town is renowned for its erotic sculptures, with the Hindu and Jain Temples of the town depicting lascivious acts with both people and animals.

In the afternoon, you will tour around the Eastern and Western Temple Groups, and then spend some time strolling around the local markets in the small township. The evening is free for you to do whatever you like.

Stay overnight in Khajuraho.

Visit the Eastern and Western Temple Groups and local markets in Khajuraho

Highlight: Take a domestic flight from Khajuraho to Varanasi and relax yourself upon arrival.

After breakfast, you will transfer to the Khajuraho airport, around 3km south of the town, for the flight to Varanasi, in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. Renowned as the spiritual heartland of India, the city is a huge draw for Hindu pilgrims, who come to bathe in the sacred waters of the Ganges River. You will spend the afternoon exploring the city and the riverbank, famed for its funeral rites on the banks of the river. In the evening, you will walk out to the bathing ghats that are located alongside the river, where you can bathe if you wish. As the sun sets over the temples, the priests begin the aarti, the sacred Ceremony of Light.

Stay overnight in Varanasi.

Visit Ganges River

Highlight: Enjoy a cruise along the Sacred Ganges River, stroll through the Heritage Walk, and visit the local silk weaving community in Varanasi.

In the morning, you will board a small local charter boat for a cruise along the Sacred Ganges River. The cruise along the river will give you the chance to witness everyday life of the people of this holy city, as they arrive at the ghats to take their ritual bathing. You can also see people along the riverbank performing yoga, washing their clothes, and dropping offerings of flowers into the river.

After breakfast back at the hotel, you will head to the old part of the city to take a stroll through the narrow lanes of the Heritage Walk. You will be accompanied by a local expert, who will be able to answer your questions and weave his charming tales of this ancient Indian city. The stroll through the old quarter takes you past ashrams, flower shops, restaurants, and local market stalls, so feel free to take the opportunity to get a souvenir or a snack.

After lunch, you will visit the local silk weaving community in the city, who still follow the ancient methods of weaving that their ancestors did for thousands of years. This age-old practice is what makes the famous “Varanasi Silk” one of the most sought-after silks in the world.

Stay overnight in Varanasi.

Varanasi City Tour

Highlight: Take the international flight from Varanasi to Kathmandu.

In the morning, you will take the flight from Varanasi to Kathmandu in Nepal. The flights are normally best taken in the morning, as there is a stopover in Delhi on the afternoon flights.

The direct flights to Kathmandu depart early in the mornings. If you have morning flights, you will depart for Kathmandu, saying goodbye to your local guides. If direct flights are not available, you will fly to Delhi, and you can take a connecting flight from there in the afternoon.

When you arrive at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, your guide will collect you from the airport and take you to your hotel, where you can spend the rest of the day relaxing, or take in the local sights.

Stay overnight in Kathmandu.

Highlight: Visit Kathmandu Durbar Square, Swayambhunath Stupa and Patan Durbar Square.

In the morning, you will start your tour of the spiritual and historic sites of the Kathmandu Valley, several of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The morning tour includes the sites of the ancient Durbar Royal Square, in the city itself, which is the site of the Royal Palace and is surrounded by a number of ancient buildings that date back to around the 16th century.

In the afternoon, you will travel outside the city proper to visit the stunning Swayambhunath Pagoda, known as the Monkey Temple. One of the oldest Buddhist sites in Nepal, this gilded stupa is festooned with prayer flags and sits on a hill that overlooks the city. You will also travel to the beautiful Patan City, the second largest city in the Kathmandu Valley. The location of one of the most ancient Buddhist temples in Nepal, the Patan Durbar Square allures visitors with its cultural and historical sets carved with beautiful art and architecture.

Stay overnight in Kathmandu.

Swayambhunath Stupa

Highlight: Visit Pashupatinath Temple, Boudhanath and Bhaktapur's Durbar Square.

Today you will travel a little further afield, and head out to the ancient Hindu temple of Pashupatinath. One of the most famous UNESCO Sites in Nepal, the temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is situated on the shores of the Bagmati River, where river burials regularly take place. You will also stop off to visit the Boudhanath Stupa, one of the largest of its kind in Asia. The ancient stupa is one of the major focal points for Buddhism in Nepal, and is a beautiful example of ancient Tibetan architecture. Located on an ancient trade route from Tibet to Nepal, the stupa was originally one of the main centers for trade in ancient times, and a place for Tibetan traders to worship away from home.

Later in the day, after a local lunch, you will take a trip to visit the Bhaktapur Durbar Square. The Royal Square of the city, the pagodas and shikhara temples are strewn randomly around the square, with the focus being on the famous Royal Palace. As one of the oldest Durbar Squares in Nepal, this square highlights the ancient construction skills of the Newari people of the Kathmandu Valley in its unique architecture.

Stay overnight in Kathmandu.

Visiting Kathmandu Durbar Square

Highlight: Enjoy relaxing boating on Phewa Lake.

In the morning, you will take the long 6-hour drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara, to the east of the capital. Sitting in the shadow of the mighty Annapurna Range, this beautiful city is one of the centers for trekking in Nepal.

In the afternoon, you will drive out to Phewa Lake, and take paddle boats out to the small island that houses the Barahi Temple. There you can explore the unique temple on the lake and enjoy the view of the mountains in the distance, before heading back to shore.

Stay overnight in Pokhara.

Phewa Lake

Highlight: Sightseeing besides Phewa Lake and visit Seti River gorge.

After breakfast, you will spend the morning enjoying the sightseeing around the city itself, which is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Nepal. You will take a trip along the banks of the lake, to where you can view the beauty of the Fish Tail’s Peak, as it reflects in the silvery surface of the lake. The view is backed by the panoramic landscape of the Annapurna Range.

After the lake, you will move to visit the Seti River Gorge, where you can explore the inside of the Mahendra Gufa caves, which were once renowned for their giant stalactites. The evening will see us wandering around the famous late-night market in the city center.

Stay overnight in Pokhara.

Pokhara city

Highlight: Appreciate beautiful landscape along the drive back to Kathmandu.

In the morning, you will take the 6-hour drive back to Kathmandu, and you can enjoy the stunning vista of the mighty Himalayas along the way. Back in the capital, the rest of the day is yours to rest or explore further.

Stay overnight in Kathmandu.

Stay overnight in Thimphu.

Highlight: Arrive in Paro and visit Tschogang Lhakhang, Tashichho Dzong and King's Memorial Chorten in Thimphu.

In the morning, your guide will pick you up from your hotel in a private car, take you to the airport, and help you with your luggage and checking in for your flight to Bhutan from Nepal.

On your arrival in Bhutan, you will be met at the airport by your tour guide and driver, who will then take you to Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan, around 54 kilometers away from Paro. En route to Thimphu you will stop at the beautiful Tschogang Lhakhang, known as the “Temple of the Excellent Horse”, as well as the confluence of the Paro Chhu and Wong Chhu rivers, where stupas in the styles of Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan can be seen.

After checking into your hotel in Thimphu, you will take the afternoon for a visit to the famous Tashichho Dzong, one of the most eminent fortresses in Bhutan, which houses the National Government and the Central Monastic Body, two of the three governing sectors of Bhutan. The Dzong is also the summer residence of the Je Khenpo, the Head Abbot of Buddhism in Bhutan. After visiting the Dzong, you will head out a little way to visit the famed National Memorial Chorten, built in memory of the third Druk Gyalpo (Dragon King) of Bhutan, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. The Chorten was commissioned by the mother of the king, Ashi Phuntsho Choden, in 1974.

Stay overnight in Thimphu.

Thimphu National Memorial Chorten

Highlights: Cross the Dochula Pass to Punakha and visit the famous Punakha Dzong and Chimi Lhakhang.

Today you will take the long drive along the Lateral Highway to Punakha, which takes around three hours. The route takes you along the main highway that traverses central Bhutan, and gives you some of the most amazing views of the mighty Himalayas to the north.

En route, the road passes over the Dochu La Pass, at 3,140 meters, which is the site of the renowned 108 chortens. Known as the Druk Wangyal Chortens, or Chortens of Victory, they were built in memory of the soldiers who died during the Assamese insurgency into Bhutan in 2003.

On our arrival in Punakha, you will first head for the outstanding Punakha Dzong, standing at the confluence of the Mo Chhu and Pho Chhu rivers. One of the most impressive and important Dzongs in Bhutan, this ancient fortress is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the kingdom, and is a treasury that holds many of the numerous Buddhist relics and historic artifacts.

After stopping to visit the Dzong, you will then continue on to visit the Chimi Lhakhang, a stunningly beautiful monastery located on a small round hillock near the village of Lobesa, just outside Punakha town. An ancient monastery, it was built in 1499 by the 14th Drukpa, Ngawang Choegyel.

Stay overnight in Punakha.

Punakha Dzong

Highlights: Back to Paro to visit the famous Paro Rinpung Dzong, Ta Dzong and Drukgyel Dzong in Paro.

In the morning, you will take the long drive back to Paro, which takes around 4 hours 30 minutes, and passes by the Simtokha Dzong.

On arriving in Paro, you will first visit the Ta Dzong, which houses the Bhutan National Museum. Home to a huge number of valuable relics, national treasures, and collections from the kingdom’s long history, this is a great place to expand your understanding of the Kingdom of Bhutan and its devout people.

Then you will head to the Rinpung Dzong, also known as the Paro Dzong. Built to repel invaders from the north in the 15th century, this amazing fortress now houses an administration center for monastic studies and a school for young monks. After the fortress, you will drive to the north of Paro to visit the ruins of the Drukgyel Dzong, which was destroyed in a fire. Built in the 17th century by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, known as the unifier of Bhutan, the ruins have been left as they are as a reminder of the great victories of the father of a united Bhutan.

You will also visit the famous Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest and most beautiful temples in the kingdom. This ancient 7th century temple is a popular pilgrimage site for Buddhists in Bhutan, and it is common to see many pilgrims making their way around the temple’s kora route in a clockwise circumambulation.

Stay overnight in Paro.

Visit Paro Rinpung Dzong

Highlight: Enjoy the wonderful trekking to Tiger’s Nest Monastery

Today is one of the most stunning days of the tour, as you will take the hard hike up the cliffs above the Paro Valley to visit the Taktshang Monastery. You will make an early start, as it takes around 5-6 hours to get to the monastery and back. The hike up the cliff to the monastery takes around three hours for most people, and you can rest at the café halfway up. There are also horses that can take you as far as the café if you are not feeling too energetic.

Stay overnight in Paro.

Trek to Taktshang Monastery

After a good night’s sleep from the hard hike, and a decent breakfast, you will collect you from your hotel to take you to the airport for your flight out of Bhutan.