Upon your arrival at the Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu, a representative from Nepal Trek Ways will receive and transfer you to your hotel. After you are greeted with welcome drinks at the hotel, we will have a quick pre-trip meeting to discuss on the necessary formalities and trekking itinerary. You can then check in to your room, freshen up and rest. Or if you are not one of those “lay back” types, you can take a stroll around the vicinity of your hotel and get the feel of this hyperactive capital city of Nepal. On the streets, people seem to be on sheer rush, barely noticing one another, but if you utter “Namaste”, they will definitely reciprocate with a smile! Well, that’s Nepal’s Nepalese for you. Overnight at hotel in Kathmandu; breakfast included.

Short stroll in the evening yesterday might not have acquainted you to Kathmandu. So we want to make sure that you know this city like you know yourself. Once done with your breakfast, let’s hop in to our reserved vehicle and then head on for a comfy ride with one of our experienced city guides. You will be visiting the most renowned historical/cultural landmarks in Kathmandu. Our guide will take you to the Pasupatinath Temple (the most revered Hindu shrine), Swayambunath (the Monkey Temple) and Kathmandu (Basantapur) Durbar Square. All these sites are enlisted in the UNESCO world’s heritage list. After this informative and interesting tour, we drive back through the busy and noisy streets of Kathmandu to the serene premises of your hotel. Overnight at hotel in Kathmandu; breakfast included.

Paro Airport, Bhutan. Fly from Kathmandu to Paro (2200m/1hour) and drive from Paro to Thimphu (2350m/1 hour) The flight into Paro on Bhutan’s national carrier, Druk Air, is a befitting introduction to the spectacular beauty of our country. In clear weather, magnificent views of the world’s highest peaks give way to the lush green Paro valley as you land. First gift from Bhutan will be the cool, clean fresh air as you step out of the plane. After clearing customs and visa control you will be brief by our guide and transferred to Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan. We then depart for Thimphu, the modern capital of Bhutan. The drive will take around 1 hour. Thimphu has a population of about 100,000. The town is made up of just three lines of shops and is the only capital in the world without traffic lights. In the evening, we will visit the Handicrafts Emporium, where all types of Bhutanese handicrafts are made and sold. Overnight at hotel in Thimphu; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

After breakfast drive at Sangaygang, a field of Bhutanese prayer flags, perched high above the city. Colored flags send prayers to the heavens and white flags honor the dead. Visit the Motithang Mini Zoo where you can see the National animal Takin research centre where these odd animals graze peacefully in a small protected park. Walk to the Zilukha Nunnery. Thimphu sightseeing continues with the Folk Heritage Museum (a beautifully restored Bhutanese farmhouse from the last century) and the National Painting School. Visit the Weekend market where vendors from throughout the region arrive on Friday afternoon and remain till Sunday. Here you will find indigenous goods, handicrafts, locally produced goods, etc. In the evening visit the National Memorial Chorten built in honor of our 3rd king Jigme Dorji Wangchuck (a wonderful opportunity to mix with the local population). All the buildings in Bhutan conform to national building principals and are beautifully carved and decorated. Overnight at hotel in Thimphu; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Dochu La Pass (3116m), in Bhutan is dramatically hemmed by 108 small chortens. After breakfast depart to Punakha. Leaving Thimphu the road climbs steeply through a forest of pine and cedar, festooned with hanging lichen high up near Dochu La pass (3,116 m). This pass often offers panoramic views of the Himalayan mountain ranges. After stopping for tea and the view, then enjoy an hour’s downhill walk through magnolia, hydrangea, vibernam and evergreen oaks, and through blankets of the wild orchids before once again reaching the road, where we board our transport and drive into the Punakha Valley. Lunch served at your hotel. Then we drive the short distance to Punakha Dzong, the winter seat of the Je Khenpo and ancient capital of Bhutan, which is located between the rivers of the Mo (Female) Chu and Pho (Male) Chu. The dzong is open to visitors only in summer when the Je Khenpo and the Monk Body are in Thimphu. Je Khenpo is the highest religious office in Bhutan, and the formal head of the Drukpa sect. The (Central) Monk Body is Bhutan’s main monastic body of Lamas (monks). The dual system of governmental power in Bhutan is divided between the religious branch led by the Je Khenpo and the administrative branch headed by Druk Desi. Overnight at hotel in Punakha; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

The Wangdue Dzong in Thimphu, Bhutan was founded by the Zhabdrung in 1638.) In the morning drive to Wangdue (1350m) and visit Wangdue Dzong. Then drive to Paro. Overnight at hotel in Paro; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Tiger Nest Monastery also popularly known as Takstang Monastery is located in Paro, Bhutan. After breakfast, we drive to the winding road to the Drugyel Dzong (2580 m), the ruined fort, which was once defended this valley from Tibetan invasions, and also visit a Bhutanese farm house of a local family at Drugyel for a close up view of everyday Bhutanese life. We then drive beyond Satsam Chorten to hike up (or horse ride) to the Taktsang monastery (Tiger Nest Monastery/3120m) which will take around 1 hour. At the view point, you will enjoy the stunning view of the monastery, where Guru Padmasambhava landed on the back of a tigress in the 8th century. We then walk back to the road point and visit Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest temples in Bhutan. Overnight at hotel in Paro; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

After breakfast our representatives will help you with exit formalities and bid you farewell and arrival in Kathmandu Int’l Airport by our airport representative and transfer to hotel. Overnight at hotel in Kathmandu; breakfast and dinner included.

Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal A representative from Nepal Trek Ways will escort you to the Tribhuwan International Airport, three hours prior to your flight schedule. As you wave us good bye and enter the terminal block, you would perhaps recall your arrival at this place. No wonder everything seems so familiar now because, you had come here as tourist, but you are going back as a friend! Have a safe flight back home and we look forward to being your travel companion in Nepal again!