Nepal and Bhutan Tour

Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, visit Swayambhunath, located on a lovely little hill in the northwest city centre, the most sacred site for Buddhists. The self-originated shrine is believed to have been built in its current form around 250 B.C. The stupa, painted with a pair of the Buddha’s all-seeing eyes, stands on a lotus mandala base on all four sides. The site offers a complete view of Kathmandu Valley, its surroundings, and the northeast Himalayas.

In continuity, drive to Patan, one of the three medieval cities of Kathmandu Valley and one of the World Heritage sites among the seven World Heritage sites of Kathmandu Valley, located 7-kilometres southwest of Kathmandu. The city known as Lalitpur, the City of Arts, was a renowned Buddhist centre in Asia and has four Ashoka-built Stupas and a multitude of miniature stupas, monasteries, viharas and temples. At Patan, we visit its Durbar Square, the Golden Temple, Thousand Buddha, and its museum, among other sites, which explain Buddhism and Hinduism in extensive labels within the living traditions and context.

In the evening, visit the Durbar Square of Kathmandu, an example of the urban architecture of the Malla dynasty with 19-storey buildings, temples and palaces, and the residence of the living goddess Kumari. Kathmandu Durbar Square, the old palace complex that exhibits a mass of temples and palaces, including the Gaddi Baithak Durbar, constructed in 1908, the Basantapur Durbar, or the old Royal Palace, and the Kumari Chowk or the residence of the Living Goddess. Basantapur is amongst the most attractive sites in the bustling centre of Kathmandu, and a Western traveller around two hundred years ago wrote that there were more temples than houses and idols than people in its city. Lying in the heart of Kathmandu, the Durbar Square is a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and not to miss sites. The individual building, palaces, and temples have intricately carved doors, lattice windows, and struts full of mythic and erotic figures.

We finalise with the tour and ride a rickshaw and roll through its old city market centre, the Ason Bazaar, seeing what the Nepalese people buy and sell in their daily run—accommodation in Hotel Shanker, a 4-star hotel (breakfast included).

Breakfast at the hotel. The Pasupathi is one of the holiest sites for Hindu Word and is also worshipped by Buddhists as one of their Dharma Protector, the presiding deity of Hindu Nepalese royalties. Pashupati is also the cremation ground in the ghats (cremation group) along the bank of River Bagmati, where the recently deceased Hindus of the Valley are cremated.

Then visit the Boudhanath, the great stupa of Nepal, one of the most important Buddhist sites in Nepal, with a diameter of over 200 meters.

Then we take a 13-kilometres drive to Bhaktapur, east of Kathmandu. Its original name is Bhadgaon, or the village of Devotees, and it is one of the living museums of Kathmandu Valley. Bhaktapur is filled with the 55-windowed Royal Palace, the Palace of the Kumari, the temple of Taleju, the temple of Pashupati, the main square of Taumadhi Tole, Nyatapola Temple (the most imposing the tallest such architecture in all of Nepal), the temple of Akash Bhairab (the second most important temple of Bhadgaon), the Dha Hateya and the Square of the Potters. UNESCO recognises Bhaktapur as a World Heritage Site.

After the visit, we leave by road toward Nagarkot, at an altitude of 2,099m and 32km east of Kathmandu or 19 kilometres northeast of Bhaktapur. Nagarkot is one of the most beautiful hill resort areas to enjoy seeing sunrises and views of the Mountain Range, from the Langtang to Everest. Accommodation at the Club Himalaya, a 4-star hotel, breakfast included.

Sunrise view tour. Breakfast at the hotel and departure by road to Pokhara, located 200 kilometres west of Kathmandu, is the third-largest city in the country. Due to its location, the temperature is always warmer than in Kathmandu. The driving takes you through an exciting country highway overlooking mountains and hills and scattered villages until we reach Pokhara—Annapurna, Machhapuchhre Himal, and Lamjung, which rim the northeastern horizons of the town.

Accommodation in Temple Tree, a 4-star deluxe hotel (breakfast included).

Breakfast at the hotel and transfer 13-kilometres to Pumdikot, a strategic hill with an ancient fort in ruins and recently converted into a Shiva temple; it is a beautiful viewpoint. The views of Annapurna, Pokhara and the peace stupa are beyond description. From Pumdikot, we take a scenic drive to Peace Stupa, enjoying magnificent views of Phewa Lake, the Himalayas, Pokhara City and its surroundings. The Peace Stupa site is equally beautiful, with splendid views.

The World Peace Stupa stands gloriously on a hill saddle above Phewa Lake and Pokhara City from where you get panoramic views of Phewa Lake, the city of Pokhara and Mount Annapurna and Lamjung (on a clear day). A Peace Stupa is a Buddhist monument to inspire peace in all races and creeds and to help unite them in their quest for world peace. Most of them were built since World War II under the direction of Nichidatsu Fujii (1885-1985), a Buddhist monk from Japan and founder of the Nipponzan-Myohoji Buddhist Order. In 1947, he started the construction of peace pagodas as world peace shrines, and in the year 2000, there were eighty Peace Pagodas built around the world between Europe, Asia and the United States.

Enjoy the landscapes of the site, visit the stupa, explore, go down to the lake shore, cross the lake by little boat, have a late lunch and visit the International Mountain Museum in Pokhara, where we will see and better understand the history of the mountain and mountaineering on the highest peaks in the world. We will understand the importance of the Himalayas of Nepal and the benefits that the Himalayas give to the millions of people and their natural habitat. After the visit, return to the shore of the lake for free time.

Accommodation in Temple Tree, a 4-star deluxe hotel (breakfast included).

Early in the dawn, sunrise view tour to Sarangkot viewpoint. Sarangkot, the most famous lookout in Pokhara, offers a grand panorama of the Annapurna ranges, Machhapuchare, Manaslu, Lamjung Himal, and Dhaulagiri range. From the Sarangkot lookout, you can also see the beautiful view of Pokhara Valley and its unique landscapes with Lake Phewa, Lake Begnas and Lake Rupa. A short 25-minute drive from the hotel in Pokhara lakeside puts you on Sarangkot, which offers a striking view of sunrise and a platform for Paragliding. Finalise the tour and drive back to the hotel for breakfast.

Then continue the drive to Chitwan National Park for a two-night and three-day safari program. Chitwan is the best national park in Asia, with an area of 967 km and 200km south of Kathmandu in the Terai floodplain formed by the Narayani and Rapti rivers system. This park is well known for wildlife preservation. Arrive at to resort and check in, and have lunch. In the afternoon, visit the Tharu Village and sunset view tour. At night Tharu Culture Show. Dinner and accommodation at the Barahi Jungle Lodge, a 4-star resort (full board).

Full day in the park with different activities included, such as a safari on the elephant back exploring the fauna and flora, highlighting the one-horned rhinoceros, deer, monkeys, wild boars, bison, bears, leopards and hopefully the Bengal tiger. In this area, there are 276 species of birds out of a total of 519, which makes it a true paradise for bird watchers. We will also do a canoe excursion on the Rapti River and visit the elephant area—lunch at the resort. In the afternoon, nature walks. Dinner and accommodation at the Barahi Jungle Lodge, a 4-star resort (full board).

Early morning nature walking—breakfast at the resort and departure by road to Kathmandu. Sightseeing driving takes you through the plains of Terai and ascends slowly to the hill and then into the valley of Kathmandu. Finally, arrive and transfer to the hotel. The rest of the day remains for leisure on your own.

Accommodation in Hotel Shanker, a 4-star hotel (breakfast included).

Accommodation at Namseling Boutique Hotel or Khang Residency, a 3-star resort (full board).

Accommodation at Namseling Boutique Hotel, a 3-star resort (full board).

Accommodation at Drubchhu Resort, a 3-star hotel (full board).

Accommodation at the Drubchhu, a 3-star hotel (full board).

Accommodation at Dewachen Resort, a 3-star hotel (full board).

After breakfast, transfer to Paro airport for a regular flight to Kathmandu in tourist class with Druk Air (or similar airlines). Finally, arrive and transfer to the hotel. The rest of the day remains in leisure on your own.

Accommodation in Hotel Shanker, a 4-star hotel (breakfast included).

Breakfast and the rest of the day are leisure on your own. The Representative of Happy Feet Nepal will arrive at your hotel with transport three hours before your departure flight time. Get escorted from the hotel to the International Departure Terminal, see off formalities, and go through the immigration and departure.

Breakfast included.