Bhutan-Thimphu-Dochu-La-Punakha And Nepal Overview

Arrival and completion of formalities. Meeting and welcome by our staff and transfer to the planned accommodation. Tour briefing according to arrival time (possibly also the next day). Rest of the day available for an appropriate rest from the trip or (we recommend) a visit to the historic or tourist center of the capital on foot, useful for the body after prolonged inactivity in flight. Overnight at Hotel. Meals: - / - / -

In the morning visit of Pashupathinath, with the most important Hindu temple in Nepal, also known as the "little Benares" and then visit in spectacular contrast, the cultural center of the Tibetan Buddhists, the huge Stupa of Bhoudanath, surrounded by monasteries and a Tibetan bazaar. In the afternoon we will visit the Swoyambhunath stupa, the oldest Buddhist site in Nepal that offers a panoramic view of the capital, before returning to the city for an orientation visit. Overnight at Hotel. Meals: B / - / -

According to the flight plan, transfer to the airport and flight to Paro (2340 m). While flying along the Himalayas you can see Cho Oyu (8210m), Everest (8848m), Lhotse (8516m), Makalu (8463m), Kanchenjunga (8586m) and the sacred mountain of Bhutan, Jomolhari ( 7314 m). Once in Paro, handling of the formalities and accommodation in the hotel. Visit of the Ta Dzong tower, built in the 17th century in defense of Paro and transformed into the National Museum, and of the Rimpung Dzong (Dzong fortress-monastery), the imposing symbol of the city of Paro. Overnight at Hotel. Meals: B / L / D

After breakfast, transfer by car to Thimpu (2320 m, about 65 km, about 1.5 hours of travel) and accommodation in the hotel. Visit the fortress-monastery of Changangkha Lhakhang, located on a hill above the capital. Built in the 12th century by Lama Phajo Drukgom Zhigpo of Ralung (Tibet), it contains a statue of Chenrezig (Avolokitesawara) which protects the monastery. The importance of the monastery derives precisely from the fact that Bhutanese Buddhism (Drukpa) comes from the Ralung monastery. Return to Thimpu and visit the Memorial Chorten, built by order of King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk in 1974 for world peace and prosperity. Before visiting Thimpu, you will visit the tiny Thimpu "Zoo", where you can see the Takin, the national animal of Bhutan. Finally, visit the Trashichho Dzong ("Fortress of Glorious Religion"), the summer home of the Jhe Khenpo (the superior abbot of Bhutan) which also contains the throne room and government offices. Rest of the afternoon available to shop in the city center among the various craft shops. Overnight at Hotel. Meals: B / L / D

After breakfast, in the morning transfer to the Talaka viewpoint and visit the Talaka Goemba monastery (3080m) which offers a spectacular view of the Himalayas. Return to the valley and visit the national library, which has a large collection of ancient Buddhist texts, manuscripts, modern academic books and stencils of praying for flags, the school of painting, famous for traditional thangkha paintings; institute of traditional medicine (drugs of precious herbs, abundant during the reign, are prepared here, the institute also imparts the practice and art of medicine with herbs), the small museum of textile and folkloristic heritage, testimony of the culture Butanese and the traditions of life and finally the Trashichodzong, the beautiful fortress / monastery seat of the government offices; artisan emporium, wide assortment of beautiful artistic products and hand-woven. Dinner and overnight in Thimpu. Overnight at Hotel. Meals: B / L / D

After breakfast, transfer to the Dochu-La pass (3088m) through dense forests. The pass in good weather offers a view over a large part of the Himalayas from Masagang (7158m), Tsendagang (6960m), Terigang (7060m), Jejegangphugang (7158m), Kangphugang (7170m), Zongphugang (7060m) up to Gangkar Puensum (7570 m), the highest peak in the country and the highest mountain still untouched by mountaineering. We descend into the fertile Phunaka Valley through the forests. Once in Phunaka (1300 m, 77 km, about 3 hours of travel), the capital of Bhutan until 1955 and settled in the hotel, visit the Punakha Dzong, built in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, considered the founder of Bhutan. Phunaka Dzong is considered the most beautiful in Bhutan with three inner courtyards and is the summer home of the Jhe Khenpo. Overnight at Hotel. Meals: C / P / C

Return beyond Dochu-La (3088 m) to Paro passing through the Thimpu valley. View of the Simtokha Dzong, which according to the Bhutanese would be the first Dzong built, is certainly the first built by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1627. Continue down the Thimpu Chu valley and the Wamg Chu river to Chusum (approx. 35 km) and then passing through Dobji Dzong and Sili Gompa. Shortly after, you enter the Haa Chu valley to go up it in a slight ups and downs to Haa (2774 m), a rarely visited valley. In Haa you will visit the two Lhakhang Karpo and Lhakhang Nagpo (black and white monastery). Go up the serpentines to Chele La (3988 m), here the view over the Haa valley and especially the Himalayas is breathtaking. Weather permitting, you can take a walk of approx. 30 minutes. for a lookout above the pass where you can see the distant Kanchenjunga (8586m), otherwise the Jomolhari (7314m) to Kulu Kangri (7554m). We descend through the beautiful woods of the Paro valley (2340 m, 180 km in total, approx. 5-6 hours of travel) to return to the hotel. Overnight at Hotel. Meals: B / L / D

After breakfast we visit the famous Satsam Chorten or Taksang (completed in 1694), one of the most important monasteries of Bhutan, spectacularly perched 900 meters above the Paro valley, which can be reached on foot in the morning. To facilitate the climb (about 3 hours in total), you can rent a horse or a mule, with which you can reach a beautiful refuge from which you can enjoy a wonderful view. Here we continue on foot for an hour and a half through a magnificent forest and visit the Sibolo monastery of Bhutan. Guru Padmasambhava is said to have landed here after a flight with his tirge from eastern Bhutan. It was declared the holiest place, visited by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1646, and now by all Bhutanese, at least once in their lifetime. After the visit, return to the valley and visit the nearby Drukgyel Dzong, now in ruins but where you can see the peak of Mount Jhomolhari (7314 m). Drukgyel Dzong is one of 4 Dra Dzong built for defense against invaders from Tibet. Before returning to Paro, you will visit the Kyichu Lakhang, consisting of two temples and one of the oldest monasteries in Bhutan, built in the 8th century. Overnight at Hotel. Meals: B / L / D

After breakfast transfer to the airport and flight Paro-Kathmandu and immediate transfer to Nagarkot (2100 m) in the Resort. The view of the Himalayas and the landscape invite you to a relaxing afternoon or stroll in the surrounding area. Overnight at Hotel. Meals: B / - / D

Wake up early in the morning to admire the sunrise rising over the Himalayas. In the morning we go down to the Kathmandu valley to visit the city of Bakhtapur. The historic and charming city is one of the most beautiful cities in Asia. Return to the hotel in the afternoon for Kathmandu. Overnight at Hotel. Meals: B / - / -

In the morning visit the city of Patan, known for the beautiful Durbar square with its temples and the very interesting museum in the old royal palace. Later in the afternoon, a visit to Bungamati and Kokhana, two typical villages of the hinterland, is scheduled. Overnight at Hotel. Meals: B / - / -

Rooms reserved until noon. Day off. In good time, according to the departure time of your flight, transfer to the airport for boarding and end of our services. Meals: B / - / -