Itinerary
Day 1: Kathmandu, Nepal
Arrive in Kathmandu, the storied capital of Nepal. For centuries this city backdropped by the Himalayas has been a center of religious art and architecture in both Hindu and Buddhist traditions and is renowned for its ancient temples and urban squares. Settle in at Dwarika's, a heritage lodge that evokes the palaces of Nepal's Newar kings, where we stay among artifacts dating back to the 14th century. This evening, gather with our Expedition Leader for a welcome dinner in a private room at our hotel.
Day 2: Bharatpur / Chitwan National Park
Fly this morning to Bharatpur on the Terai plains of southern Nepal and transfer to our luxury ecolodge, Meghauli Serai, for the next three nights. This serene safari base is ideally situated on the edge of the Rapti River near Chitwan National Park, in the largest area of undisturbed wilderness along the base of the Himalaya. Its location is the best in the Chitwan region for wildlife viewing, which we take full advantage of during our stay. The area surrounding the lodge has a high sighting rate for one-horned rhinoceros, crocodile and gharial.
Days 3 & 4: On Safari in Chitwan National Park
Chitwan National Park, established in 1973, is Nepal’s first national park and was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984. It covers 360 square miles of subtropical lowlands and is home to about 50 mammal species and more than 500 species of birds. We spend our days exploring the park on 4x4 safari drives, hoping for views of the park's most famous wild residents. While sightings are never guaranteed, we have good chances to observe rhinoceros, Asian elephant, crocodile, leopard, sloth bear, sambar deer, wild boar, monkeys and jungle fowl, all in their natural habitat. River safaris can also be arranged. Conditions permitting, a chance to track tigers is a special highlight, as we join our Expedition Leader and a local guide to search for footprints and pugmarks that mark the tigers' hidden presence in the park.
Day 5: Bharatpur / Kathmandu—Patan Durbar Square
Return to Bharatpur airport this morning for our flight back to Kathmandu. This afternoon, visit Patan, one of seven designated cultural sites in the Kathmandu Valley that have earned the region UNESCO World Heritage status. Patan lies a few miles outside Kathmandu and is home to the valley’s finest craftsmen who have preserved ancient techniques used in exquisite sculptures and carvings. The city retains much of its old charm with its narrow streets, brick houses and multitude of well-preserved Hindu temples, Buddhist monasteries and monuments. As in Kathmandu, Hinduism and Buddhism have co-existed here for centuries, and the cultural and religious harmony are evident. At the city’s heart lies Patan Durbar Square, where the kings of Patan resided. On a guided tour, we wander among the melange of palace buildings, artistic courtyards, graceful pagoda temples and shrines—a display of Newari architecture that reached its pinnacle during the reign of the Malla kings in the 17th and 18th centuries. Continue to our hotel in Kathmandu to spend the night.
Day 6: Paro, Bhutan / Thimphu
Fly this morning to the “Land of the Thunder Dragon”—the tiny Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan. If the skies are clear on our flight to Paro, we'll see the highest peaks on the planet visible below in a serrated white spine, setting a striking backdrop as we approach the green trough of the Paro Valley. Rich in culture, lush in scenic beauty, and steeped in history and legend, Paro offers a bucolic welcome to the kingdom. From Paro we drive to Thimphu, Bhutan’s idyllic capital and a stronghold of traditional Bhutanese art, architecture and culture. Surrounded by mountains and monasteries, this seat of government and commerce on the Wang Chuu River is a harmonious mix of modern development and ancient traditions. It's also the only national capital without traffic lights.
As we arrive in Thimphu, we visit the Iron Bridge of Tachogang Lhakhang, built 600 years ago by legendary bridge builder Thangtong Gyalpo, a renowned engineer believed to be the first to use heavy iron chains in the construction of suspension bridges, which influenced building methods in Europe and Asia. Late this afternoon, we visit Thimphu Dzong. This striking Buddhist monastery and fortress was built in the 13th century, reconstructed over the years, and has served as the office of the king and seat of civil government for the country since 1952.
Day 7: Exploring the Thimphu Valley
Our day begins with a visit to the capital's new Buddha statue, one of the tallest in the world at 170 feet. The structure houses more than 100,000 smaller Buddha statues inside, each made of bronze and gilded in gold like the larger icon. Then we head outside town to hike through a serene forest to a temple complex on the edge of a ridge. The trail offers magnificent views of the Thimphu Valley and is often used by His Majesty the fourth king for mountain biking. After lunch, tour a handmade paper factory and a traditional arts school. We also visit the Motithang Takin Preserve on the edge of the city. The takin, a large, shaggy hoofed mammal closely related to the muskox, is the national animal of Bhutan, so designated due to its prominent place in a popular Bhutanese myth from the 15th century. The preserve is also home to a few sambar and barking deer. On a hike through verdant meadows near the preserve, admire the landscape marked by colorful prayer flags fluttering from nearby homes and small temples.
Day 8: Dochula Pass / Punakha
En route to Punakha, cross Dochula Pass, a 10,171-foot saddle marked by 108 chortens, fluttering prayer flags and a panorama of the entire eastern Himalaya. The road drops dramatically into the Punakha Valley, descending through evergreen oak and rhododendron forests into fertile lowlands lush with rice, oranges, bananas and guavas. Punakha is the former capital of Bhutan and the winter residence of the monastic body. After lunch at a traditional local restaurant, set off for a short hike to Chimi Lhakhang Temple, a small shrine dedicated to one of Bhutan’s favorite saints, the 15th-century Lama Drukpa Kunley. A rag-clad lotharian who used humor, songs and outrageous behavior to dramatize his teachings, he became known as the "Divine Madman" and is still beloved as such today. The peace of the Bhutanese landscape is palpable as our path to the temple ambles through green pastures and rice paddies, passing farmers and livestock in the terraced fields.
Day 9: Punakha Valley—Temple Hike / Punakha Dzong
This morning we visit Khamsun Yuelley Namgyal Chorten, a temple dedicated to the well-being of the kingdom, its people and all sentient beings. Built atop a high ridge, the temple offers magnificent views of the Punakha Valley. After a picnic lunch, explore the massive Punakha Dzong, known as the "Palace of Great Happiness." Straddling the confluence of the Po (Father) and Mo (Mother) rivers, the monastery is Bhutan’s best-known fortress. Built in 1637, it was the seat of government until 1955 and home to Bhutan’s religious establishment. The palace occupies one of the most scenic dzong sites in Bhutan; maroon-robed monks and guests must cross a wooden footbridge over the river to reach it.
Day 10: Royal Botanical Gardens / Paro Valley—Archery Lesson
A half-day drive returns us to Paro, though we stop en route for a visit to the Royal Botanical Gardens at Lampelri on top of Dochula Pass. Opened in 2008, this is the first botanical garden in Bhutan, encompassing 125 acres of lush forest, flowers, a lake, and walking paths that lead to striking mountain viewpoints. A highlight is the park’s 46 species of rhododendron, which thrive in the Himalayas, including 18 species native to the park—they bloom in a profuse show starting in mid-spring. We may also see musk deer roaming the misty woods. Continue on to the Paro Valley in the mountainous northwest of Bhutan, a region rich in natural beauty and culture and abounding with myths and legends. We visit a local farmhouse where we'll participate in a traditional archery lesson. Archery is the national sport of the kingdom, and tournaments and competitions are held throughout the country, often during public holidays and local festivals called tsechu. Though archery historically is a martial art, it is practiced by the peace-loving Bhutanese for physical exercise and to hone concentration.
Day 11: Paro—Tiger's Nest Monastery
Our final morning in Bhutan holds a most impressive sight: Taktsang Monastery, also known as the “Tiger’s Nest.” The famous subject of many photographs, this complex of 17th-century temples clings to the side of a precipitous cliff nearly 3,000 feet above the valley floor. Its name is derived from myth, which holds that Guru Rinpoche, the tantric mystic who brought Buddhism from India to Bhutan in the 8th century, landed here on the back of a flying tigress and stayed to meditate in a cave for three months. Gain an initial vista as we hike to a viewpoint opposite the monastery, while those who choose to tackle the entire challenging journey will have their effort well rewarded with unsurpassed views of the temples, surrounding peaks and valley below. Afterward, there may be time to do some last-minute shopping before saying farewell to this most captivating country.
Day 12: Paro / Bangkok, Thailand / Depart
Our Himalayan sojourn concludes as we depart from the Paro airport on a group flight to Bangkok, where we connect with onward flights.
Arrive in Kathmandu, the storied capital of Nepal. For centuries this city backdropped by the Himalayas has been a center of religious art and architecture in both Hindu and Buddhist traditions and is renowned for its ancient temples and urban squares. Settle in at Dwarika's, a heritage lodge that evokes the palaces of Nepal's Newar kings, where we stay among artifacts dating back to the 14th century. This evening, gather with our Expedition Leader for a welcome dinner in a private room at our hotel.
Day 2: Bharatpur / Chitwan National Park
Fly this morning to Bharatpur on the Terai plains of southern Nepal and transfer to our luxury ecolodge, Meghauli Serai, for the next three nights. This serene safari base is ideally situated on the edge of the Rapti River near Chitwan National Park, in the largest area of undisturbed wilderness along the base of the Himalaya. Its location is the best in the Chitwan region for wildlife viewing, which we take full advantage of during our stay. The area surrounding the lodge has a high sighting rate for one-horned rhinoceros, crocodile and gharial.
Days 3 & 4: On Safari in Chitwan National Park
Chitwan National Park, established in 1973, is Nepal’s first national park and was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984. It covers 360 square miles of subtropical lowlands and is home to about 50 mammal species and more than 500 species of birds. We spend our days exploring the park on 4x4 safari drives, hoping for views of the park's most famous wild residents. While sightings are never guaranteed, we have good chances to observe rhinoceros, Asian elephant, crocodile, leopard, sloth bear, sambar deer, wild boar, monkeys and jungle fowl, all in their natural habitat. River safaris can also be arranged. Conditions permitting, a chance to track tigers is a special highlight, as we join our Expedition Leader and a local guide to search for footprints and pugmarks that mark the tigers' hidden presence in the park.Day 5: Bharatpur / Kathmandu—Patan Durbar Square
Return to Bharatpur airport this morning for our flight back to Kathmandu. This afternoon, visit Patan, one of seven designated cultural sites in the Kathmandu Valley that have earned the region UNESCO World Heritage status. Patan lies a few miles outside Kathmandu and is home to the valley’s finest craftsmen who have preserved ancient techniques used in exquisite sculptures and carvings. The city retains much of its old charm with its narrow streets, brick houses and multitude of well-preserved Hindu temples, Buddhist monasteries and monuments. As in Kathmandu, Hinduism and Buddhism have co-existed here for centuries, and the cultural and religious harmony are evident. At the city’s heart lies Patan Durbar Square, where the kings of Patan resided. On a guided tour, we wander among the melange of palace buildings, artistic courtyards, graceful pagoda temples and shrines—a display of Newari architecture that reached its pinnacle during the reign of the Malla kings in the 17th and 18th centuries. Continue to our hotel in Kathmandu to spend the night.
Day 6: Paro, Bhutan / Thimphu
Fly this morning to the “Land of the Thunder Dragon”—the tiny Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan. If the skies are clear on our flight to Paro, we'll see the highest peaks on the planet visible below in a serrated white spine, setting a striking backdrop as we approach the green trough of the Paro Valley. Rich in culture, lush in scenic beauty, and steeped in history and legend, Paro offers a bucolic welcome to the kingdom. From Paro we drive to Thimphu, Bhutan’s idyllic capital and a stronghold of traditional Bhutanese art, architecture and culture. Surrounded by mountains and monasteries, this seat of government and commerce on the Wang Chuu River is a harmonious mix of modern development and ancient traditions. It's also the only national capital without traffic lights.
As we arrive in Thimphu, we visit the Iron Bridge of Tachogang Lhakhang, built 600 years ago by legendary bridge builder Thangtong Gyalpo, a renowned engineer believed to be the first to use heavy iron chains in the construction of suspension bridges, which influenced building methods in Europe and Asia. Late this afternoon, we visit Thimphu Dzong. This striking Buddhist monastery and fortress was built in the 13th century, reconstructed over the years, and has served as the office of the king and seat of civil government for the country since 1952.
Day 7: Exploring the Thimphu Valley
Our day begins with a visit to the capital's new Buddha statue, one of the tallest in the world at 170 feet. The structure houses more than 100,000 smaller Buddha statues inside, each made of bronze and gilded in gold like the larger icon. Then we head outside town to hike through a serene forest to a temple complex on the edge of a ridge. The trail offers magnificent views of the Thimphu Valley and is often used by His Majesty the fourth king for mountain biking. After lunch, tour a handmade paper factory and a traditional arts school. We also visit the Motithang Takin Preserve on the edge of the city. The takin, a large, shaggy hoofed mammal closely related to the muskox, is the national animal of Bhutan, so designated due to its prominent place in a popular Bhutanese myth from the 15th century. The preserve is also home to a few sambar and barking deer. On a hike through verdant meadows near the preserve, admire the landscape marked by colorful prayer flags fluttering from nearby homes and small temples.
Day 8: Dochula Pass / Punakha
En route to Punakha, cross Dochula Pass, a 10,171-foot saddle marked by 108 chortens, fluttering prayer flags and a panorama of the entire eastern Himalaya. The road drops dramatically into the Punakha Valley, descending through evergreen oak and rhododendron forests into fertile lowlands lush with rice, oranges, bananas and guavas. Punakha is the former capital of Bhutan and the winter residence of the monastic body. After lunch at a traditional local restaurant, set off for a short hike to Chimi Lhakhang Temple, a small shrine dedicated to one of Bhutan’s favorite saints, the 15th-century Lama Drukpa Kunley. A rag-clad lotharian who used humor, songs and outrageous behavior to dramatize his teachings, he became known as the "Divine Madman" and is still beloved as such today. The peace of the Bhutanese landscape is palpable as our path to the temple ambles through green pastures and rice paddies, passing farmers and livestock in the terraced fields.
Day 9: Punakha Valley—Temple Hike / Punakha Dzong
This morning we visit Khamsun Yuelley Namgyal Chorten, a temple dedicated to the well-being of the kingdom, its people and all sentient beings. Built atop a high ridge, the temple offers magnificent views of the Punakha Valley. After a picnic lunch, explore the massive Punakha Dzong, known as the "Palace of Great Happiness." Straddling the confluence of the Po (Father) and Mo (Mother) rivers, the monastery is Bhutan’s best-known fortress. Built in 1637, it was the seat of government until 1955 and home to Bhutan’s religious establishment. The palace occupies one of the most scenic dzong sites in Bhutan; maroon-robed monks and guests must cross a wooden footbridge over the river to reach it.
Day 10: Royal Botanical Gardens / Paro Valley—Archery Lesson
A half-day drive returns us to Paro, though we stop en route for a visit to the Royal Botanical Gardens at Lampelri on top of Dochula Pass. Opened in 2008, this is the first botanical garden in Bhutan, encompassing 125 acres of lush forest, flowers, a lake, and walking paths that lead to striking mountain viewpoints. A highlight is the park’s 46 species of rhododendron, which thrive in the Himalayas, including 18 species native to the park—they bloom in a profuse show starting in mid-spring. We may also see musk deer roaming the misty woods. Continue on to the Paro Valley in the mountainous northwest of Bhutan, a region rich in natural beauty and culture and abounding with myths and legends. We visit a local farmhouse where we'll participate in a traditional archery lesson. Archery is the national sport of the kingdom, and tournaments and competitions are held throughout the country, often during public holidays and local festivals called tsechu. Though archery historically is a martial art, it is practiced by the peace-loving Bhutanese for physical exercise and to hone concentration.
Day 11: Paro—Tiger's Nest Monastery
Our final morning in Bhutan holds a most impressive sight: Taktsang Monastery, also known as the “Tiger’s Nest.” The famous subject of many photographs, this complex of 17th-century temples clings to the side of a precipitous cliff nearly 3,000 feet above the valley floor. Its name is derived from myth, which holds that Guru Rinpoche, the tantric mystic who brought Buddhism from India to Bhutan in the 8th century, landed here on the back of a flying tigress and stayed to meditate in a cave for three months. Gain an initial vista as we hike to a viewpoint opposite the monastery, while those who choose to tackle the entire challenging journey will have their effort well rewarded with unsurpassed views of the temples, surrounding peaks and valley below. Afterward, there may be time to do some last-minute shopping before saying farewell to this most captivating country.
Day 12: Paro / Bangkok, Thailand / Depart
Our Himalayan sojourn concludes as we depart from the Paro airport on a group flight to Bangkok, where we connect with onward flights.
