Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour Highlights A cultural tour of...
Trip Summary
| Label | Detail |
|---|---|
| Geography | Mountain and Hills |
| Location | Tibet, Bhutan, and Nepal |
| Level Of Difficulty | Moderate |
| Duration | 12 days |
| Max Aaltitude | 3120 m |
| Religion | Buddhism and Hinduism |
| Ethnic People | Tibetan, Bhutanese, and Nepali |
| Accommodation | lodges, tent, hotel |
| Transportation | Private Vehicle/Flight |
| Minimum Pax | 5 |
Detail Information
12 Days Nepal Bhutan Tibet Tour Highlights:
- Explore the mystical city of Kathmandu with a visit to some of the world heritage sites.
- Tour the Tibetan Plateau visiting ancient monasteries and Palaces having great importance with views of the Himalayas adding value to the experience.
- Visit the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan where life seems to be in balance with the balance of culture and Nature.
There is something mysterious about the countries that reside in the South-Eastern part of Asia. To be more specific, Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet have given people a lot to question about in the past years. Either in terms of landscape or in terms of culture, these countries are always shrouded in mysteries. This 12 days Nepal Bhutan Tibet tour aims to solve this conundrum of travelers by taking them into the revered sites of these countries, that too in a small-time period. Find meaning at the street markets of Basantapur, find culture at the Tiger’s next, and finally understand grandeur at the mighty Potala Palace.
While in Kathmandu, we shall visit the holy temple of Pashupatinath which is one of the biggest temples of Lord Shiva. Bhaktapur Durbar Square is another sight we visit on this day. This historic site filled with temples, courtyards, and palaces and is listed as a world heritage site by UNESCO. We end our day driving to the nearby hill station of Nagarkot. On the second day, we visit the Swayambhunath stupa which is a place of utmost importance for the Buddhist community.
We visit Kathmandu Durbar Square which was a historical palace of Malla kings of Kathmandu in the past. The next day, we shall fly to Lhasa. In Lhasa, we visit the famous palace of Dalai Lama which is now open to the public, the Potala Palace. This is a spectacular sight both in terms of scale and beauty. Continuing our tour around the city we visit the Jokhang temple. We end our day enjoying a stroll around the local market of Barkhor Bazaar.
The next day, we visit the sites some of the largest artistic monasteries like Drepung and Sera monastery. From here, we fly back to Kathmandu followed by another flight to Paro in Bhutan the next day. We drive to Thimpu and visit the Memorial Chorten which is the most visible touristic destination in Thimpu. By the end of the day, we drive to Punakha, an administrative town in Bhutan. The next day, we take a tour of some famous Dzongs like Punakha Dzong, Wangdi Dzong, and Simtokha Dzong. These places show the rich architecture of ancient Bhutan.
The same day, we drive back to Paro to visit the sites of the National Museum where the historic art and paintings from the past are well preserved. The next day we head to Paro Dzong and Satsam Chorten. On the final day in Bhutan, we visit the Taktsang monastery and explore the local Paro Market. The trip ends at Paro where we shall fly back to our home.
We at Nepal Alibaba Treks, have been organizing tours of Nepal-Tibet- Bhutan for the past X years. Our experienced tour guides will brief you completely during the trek and ensure you have a pleasant tour. We offer quality services at unbeatable prices.
Itinerary Summary
Outline
Day Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu (1335m)
On your arrival in Kathmandu, you will meet our representative at the Tribhuvan International Airport. He/she will then guide you to your hotel. You will have plenty of time to rest that day and prepare for a sightseeing tour the following day. Overnight in Kathmandu.
Day Day 2: Kathmandu - Sightseeing Tour of Pashupatinath/Bhaktapur and drive to Nagarkot
We visit the holy temple of Pashupatinath, which is one of the most revered sites for Hindus all over the world. Pashupatinath is also one of the ten UNESCO listed world heritage sites of Nepal. After Pashupatinath Temple, we visit another major tourist attraction site, the Bhaktapur Durbar Square located in Bhaktapur. Temples, palaces and courtyards cover the Bhaktapur Durbar Square. We end our day by driving to Nagarkot. It is a hill station just 30 km outside Kathmandu, which provides amazing views of sunrise and sunset. Overnight in Nagarkot.
Day Day 3: Back to Kathmandu and Sightseeing Tour of Swayambhunath/Kathmandu Durbar Square (Palace area)/Hanuman Dhoka Palace
Today will be our second day of sightseeing in Kathmandu. We drive back to Kathmandu and visit the popularly named “Monkey Temple”. Originally known as Swayambhunath, this place gets its name from the fact that there are hundreds of monkeys living here. We enjoy the spectacular view of Kathmandu city and spend some time exploring the holiest Buddhist stupa of Nepal. From here, we head towards the Kathmandu Durbar Square, which is a historical site and was home to the Malla kings of Kathmandu in the past. Palaces like Hanuman Dhoka and many other ancient Palaces and temples are present here. Overnight in Kathmandu
Day Day 4: Fly to Lhasa Gonggar Airport, Transfer to Hotel
On this day we fly to the Gonggar Airport in Lhasa. We will be introduced to our Tibetan guide here. Lhasa sits at an altitude of 3550m and is at the base of Mount Gephel. It is an administrative capital of Tibet. Filled with monasteries and palaces, this city hosts the famous Potala Palace which is the residence of the Dalai Lama. This city has an average temperature of 8°C, so be sure to wear warm clothes. The major religion here is Buddhism. Overnight in Lhasa.
Day Day 5: Lhasa Sightseeing Tour of Potala Palace/Jokhang Temple/Barkhor Bazaar
Today, we start our exploration with a visit to Potala Palace which is situated at the top of a red hill. This palace was the residence of the Dalai Lamas for a long time in the past. It is now a UNESCO world heritage site and is open to visitors. You can see tombs, gallery, and chapels of Dalai Lamas inside. From outside, you get the best view of the bustling city. After that, we visit the Jokhang temple which is a spiritual hub and is situated at the heart of Lhasa. Located in Barkhor Square, this is also a UNESCO world heritage site. Within the temple, you can see an amazing blend of Nepalese and Tibetan art as well as architecture on wood and metal. We shall explore the busy Barkhor Street at the end of the day. Overnight in Lhasa.
Day Day 6: Lhasa Sightseeing Tour of Drepung/Sera Monastery
On the 2nd day of sightseeing tour in Lhasa, we visit the historic and religious site of Sera Monastery and Drepung monastery. Sera Monastery is one of the three largest monasteries in Lhasa. During the Cultural Revolution in Tibet, this place was destroyed and later built again. It is now open to visitors and is a major tourist attraction. Sera monastery holds utmost religious and historic importance. From here, we visit the Drepung monastery, which is located 6kms. west of Lhasa. This is the biggest monastery in the Tibet. It is home to more than 7000 monks. The place has a huge prayer hall, meeting hall, kitchen, and many chapels. We spend another night in Lhasa.
Day Day 7: Lhasa to Kathmandu (Flyback)
We take an exciting flight over the Himalayas covering some parts of both Tibet and Nepal. The view is panoramic and beautiful. Meet your guide in Kathmandu. He/she will escort you to your hotel. In Kathmandu, you can choose to kill time by visiting Thamel, Lazimpat, and the Kathmandu Durbar Square. Overnight in Kathmandu.
Day Day 8: Fly to Paro from Kathmandu and drive to Thimphu, Transfer to Hotel
On this day, we take a flight from Kathmandu to Paro, Bhutan. Its takes one and half hour to reach Paro. Here, we meet our Bhutanese guide. Upon arriving in Paro, you'll be hit by the immensely fresh air. More than 60% of Bhutan is forested, and as a result, it is the world's only carbon-negative country. From here, we will drive towards Thimpu, which is the capital of Bhutan. He will guide you to your hotel. Depending on the time remaining and your preference you could explore or rest and be prepared for the next day.
Day Day 9: Thimphu, Tour of Memorial Chhorten/Nunnery and Drive to Punakha
For the first half of the day, we visit the Memorial Chhorten located on Doeboom Lam in the southern-central part of the city. This stupa was built to honor the third Druk Gyalpo, Jigme Dorji Wangchuk. It is a prominent landmark with golden spires and bells which enhance the beauty of this magical place. It is also known as the “most visible religious Landmark of Bhutan”. For the second part, we drive to the town of Punakha in the Himalayas of Bhutan. The drive goes through the dwindling hills of Bhutan. Overnight in Punakha.
Day Day 10: Punakha Sightseeing Tour of Punakha Dzong/Wangdi Dzong/Simtokha Dzong and drive to Paro and Sightseeing Tour of National Museum/Paro Dzong/Satsam Chorten
This day involves a lot of touring. Firstly, we visit the historic 17th century fortress of Punakha Dzong. It is also the administrative center of Punakha district. We also visit Wangdi Dzong, a palace built in 1638 to prevent the excursions from the south. Similarly, a tour to Simtokha Dzong, which is an administrative center is the only Dzong to have survived in its original form. This important historic monument and Buddhist monastery now house a Dzongkha language learning institute. From here, we drive to Paro to visit the National Museum. This museum in western Bhutan houses some of the finest specimens of Bhutanese art reflecting the 1500-year-old cultural heritage of Bhutan. Bronze statues and paintings are elegantly displayed representing the remarkable blend of the past with the present. Similarly, we also visit the architectural masterpiece of Paro Dzong which is now an administrative hub. But, the architecture itself is historic and a wonderful sight to see. Satsam Chorten is another historic site which once marked the no man’s land between two rival communities. We spend the night in Paro.
Day Day 11: Paro Sightseeing Tour of Taktsang Monastery/explore Paro Market
We visit the Taktsang Monastery on this day. It is a sacred Himalayan Buddhist site popular for its exotic location on the cliff-side in Upper Paro. It holds utmost importance in Buddhist community and all over the world as Guru Padmasambhava is said to have been meditated here for three years, three months, three weeks, three days and three hours in the 8th century. After exploring this beautiful cave, we also visit the local Paro Market. Locally produced stuff is mostly seen in the market. Overnight in Paro.
Day Day 12: Fly back from Paro
We wave our goodbyes and depart from here. Our representative will drop you off at the airport in Paro. We wish you all the luck for your future endeavors.
Reviews
Write Your Review.
Feature Activity
Similar Activities
Nepal Tibet Overland Tour with EBC
Nepal Tibet Overland Tour with EBC Highlights Driving...
View Detail