10 Days Scenic Nepal Bhutan Tour

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

Upon your arrival in Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, you will be warmly welcomed by your local representatives. After a brief introduction, your local guide and driver will take you to the hotel. On the way to the hotel, you can have a glimpse of the local architecture, crafts, and life.

Stay overnight in Kathmandu.

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

Today, we will enjoy a full day valley sightseeing in Kathmandu. Visit Kathmandu Durbar Square, the place of the Malla and then the Shah Kings of Nepal, visiting Kumari Temple, house of the virgin goddess, visiting Swayambhunath Stupa (Monkey Temple), a stupa on the top of hill - from here you can overlook the scenery of Kathmandu, Visiting Patan Durbar Square, the second largest town in the valley, with Krishna Mandir, Golden Temple etc.

Stay overnight in Kathmandu. 

Swayambhunath Stupa

Highlight: Take the flight to Paro and visit Tschogang Lhakhang in Paro and Tashichho Dzong in Thimphu.

In the early morning after breakfast, you will take the flight from Kathmandu to Paro. During the flight, if the weather is clear, you can have a breathtaking view of the Himalaya Mountains. Your Bhutan local representatives will welcome you at the arrival hall of Paro International Airport. Your local guide and driver will then drive you to your hotel in Thimphu.

On the way, you will first encounter a private temple - Tschogang Lhakhang, the temple of the excellent horse. Keep driving to Thimphu, you will have a short stop at Chuzom, a confluence where the Paro Chhu and Wong Chhu meet. It is decorated with three different styles of stupas, namely Tibetan, Nepalese and Bhutanese.

After arriving at Thimphu, your guide will help you check in the hotel. And you can have a brief rest at your hotel if you need. Later, you will pay a visit to Tashichho Dzong, the eminent fortress where the national government and central monastic body are located. In addition, here sits the summer residence of Je Khenpo, the Chief Abbot of Bhutan.

Stay overnight in Thimphu.

Tashichho Dzong

Highlights: Explore the essentials of Thimphu, such as King’s Memorial Chorten, the Buddha Point, the Changangkha Lhakhang, and Folk Heritage Museum, etc.

Today’s tour will firstly bring you to visit the King's Memorial Chorten (National Memorial Chorten), a stupa built in memory of the third king in 1974. The display inside shows good statues of tantric Buddhist and its philosophy.

Then, you will head to visit the Buddha Point (also known as Buddha Dordenma Statue). This massive statue of Shakyamuni measures in at a height of 51.5m, making it one of the largest statues of Buddha in the world. Here, you can also get a breathtaking view of Thimphu valley.

After that, you are going to explore Changangkha Lhakhang. It is a Buddhist fortress-like monastery and also is one of the favored sightseeing places in Thimphu. Later, you will drive to upper Motithang in Thimphu to visit Motithang Takin Preserve, a wildlife reserve area for takin (Budorcas taxicolor), the national animal of Bhutan. It's worthwhile taking the time to see these oddball mammals here.

In the afternoon, your guide will bring you to visit the National Library of Bhutan. Built in 1967, the library houses about 6,100 Tibetan and Bhutanese books, manuscripts, and xylographs and about 9,000 printing boards and the wood printing blocks for religious books. If you are interested in the history of Bhutan, the National Library can be the best place for you to have a deeper understanding of this unique country.

Thereafter, you will head to the National Institute for Zorig Chusum (also known as the Painting School). It operates four to six-year courses that provide instruction in Bhutan's 13 traditional arts. In the showroom, it displays good value pieces made by students.

Next, you can pay a visit to Bhutan Textile Museum. The museum has garnered a substantial collection of antique textile artifacts of Bhutan. After visiting the museum, we just go ahead to visit the Folk Heritage Museum. It will offer you a glimpse of the traditional Bhutanese lifestyle. Except for artifacts from rural households, it also displays an impressive collection of typical household objects, tools, and equipment.

Finally, you can visit Tashichho Dzong, the eminent fortress where the national government and central monastic body are located. In addition, here sits the summer residence of Je Khenpo, the Chief Abbot of Bhutan.

In the evening, you are able to take a stroll in the town or visit the Local Crafts Bazaar. The bazaar is full of hand-woven textiles, thangka paintings, masks, ceramics, etc. If you like, you can choose some gifts for your friends and relatives here.

Stay overnight in Thimphu.

Buddha Dordenma Statue

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

Today, you will drive from Thimphu to Punakha (1,242m). The distance between Thimphu to Punakha is 71 kilometers, and it will take you 3 hours to get there. One the way, you will have an excellent opportunity to enjoy the panoramic view of the solemn Bhutan Himalaya Ranges and even take photos at the impressive collection of 108 chortens at Dochula Pass (3,140m).

After arriving at Punakha, your guide will help you check in the hotel. In the afternoon, you will head to visit the Punakha Dzong. Standing by the riverside of Pho Chu and Mo Chu, Punakha Dzong is one of the most impressive buildings and one of the top favorite attractions in Bhutan. Moreover, the rectangular shape fortress is also an honorable treasury where preserves numerous Buddhist relics and historical legacies.

After witnessing the superb Punakha Dzong, you will have a 20-minute hike to Chimi Lhakhang, also known as Chime Monastery. The monastery is a beautiful Buddhist monastery located in the Punakha District of Bhutan. It stands on a small round hillock close to the village of Lobesa and was built in 1499 by the 14^th Drukpa hierarch, Ngawang Choegyel.

Stay overnight in Punakha.

Punakha Dzong

Highlights: Move on to Trongsa and visit Mangde Chhu Valley and Trongsa Dzong.

After breakfast, your local representatives will take you to a scenic drive to Mangde Chhu Valley. To reach your destination, you will pass by Pele la (3240m) mountain pass.

We will then visit Trongsa Dzong. As the largest Dzong in the country, the temple was constructed in the 16th Century. Located in the central area of Bhutan, Trongsa Dzong has an extensive and complex structure as it should have as a strong and powerful fortress.

Stay overnight in Trongsa.

Trongsa Dzong

Highlights: Enjoy the beautiful scenery in Phobjikha Valley and visit the ancient Gangtey Goenpa Lhakhang.

In the morning, after breakfast, you will drive to Gangtey. During the drive, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery and wild life along the road.

Then, arriving at Phobjikha, your guide will take you to the Gangtey Goenpa Lhakhang, sitting on the hilltop overlooking the Phobjikha Valley. This is also home to the endangered Black neck Crane.

Stay overnight in Gangtey.

Gangtey Monastery

Highlights: Back to Paro to visit the famous Paro Dzong and Drukgyel Dzong.

In the morning, after breakfast, we will say goodbye to the wonderful Probhikha Valley and drive back to Paro.

After lunch, we will visit the Paro National Museum and the Paro Dzong. The museum is in a round building in the shape like a conch shell. A good collection of thangkas and festival masks are exhibited in the museum.

Then we will drive to visit the ruins of Drukgyel Dzong, which is built by the Tibetan Emperor in the 7th century and is one of the oldest temples in Bhutan.

Stay overnight in Paro.

Paro Rinpung Dzong

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

Today, you will go to enjoy the exciting trek to the Taktshang Goemba, also known as Tiger's Nest. Standing incredibly on the side of a sheer cliff 900m above the Paro Valley, Taktshang Goemba (3210m) is the landmark of Bhutan and also the holiest temple of the country. Legend has it that Guru Padmasambhava (also known as Guru Rinpoche) had flied here on the back of a tigress and meditated in the caves on the cliffside for three months. The temple has therefore become the holy site worshipped by all Bhutanese devotees, and known as one of the world’s top ten temples. 

The rest of the day at leisure. You could also take a stroll around the valley to explorer more about the local lifestyle.

Stay overnight in Paro.

Trek to Taktshang Monastery

Your tour guide will transfer you to Paro International Airport for your next destination.

Tour service end.