Tour route: Nepal: Kathmandu - Patan - Bhaktapur - Pokhara, Bhutan: Paro - Thimphu - Punakha
Welcome to Nepal! Upon arrival, you are greeted by our representative. Transferred to hotel where your tour guide helps you check in and briefs you about the following tours. Relax and recover from jetlag at hotel.
Overnight: Kathmandu
City tour starts with an exploration of Kathmandu Valley from Ason Tole Vegetable & Spice Market which offers vivid local life of Nepali people. Continue your visit to Kathmandu Durbar Square where you will see Kumari Temple which houses the living Goddess and have an external view of Taleju Temple and Kala Bhairav. Afternoon, proceed to Patan city (about 15min driving) to visit the Panta Durbar Square - one of the three Durbar Squares in the Kathmandu Valley.Later at dusk visit Swayambhunath, a stupa on the top of hill, offering the panorama of Kathmandu city.
Overnight: Kathmandu
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
After breakfast visit Boudhanath Stupa, one of the biggest Buddhist shrines in the world, where you can observe Buddhist monks in prayer in the monasteries surrounding the stupa. Followed by a visit to Pashupatinath, the most famous Hindu temple in the country.
Afternoon you are escorted to Bhaktapur city where you will discover Bhaktapur Durbar Square, one of the seven UNESCO's World Heritage Sites of the Kathmandu Valley. Later continue to the oldest temple in the Kathmandu Valley, Changu Narayan Temple which boasts a beautiful view of the surrounding countryside. Drive back to Kathmandu.
Overnight: Kathmandu
Meal: Breakfast
Today is a trip on the road. After breakfast, you will be picked up and transferred by private vehicle to Pokhara (approx 4.5 hrs) directly. En-route visit Bandipur - a hilltop settlement in Tanahu District as well as a living museum of Newari culture. After arrival Pokhara, you can explore around Pokhara Bazaar on your own.
Overnight: Pokhara
Meal: Breakfast
Morning take a private boat ride to experience the charm and serenity of Phewa Lake. Then ascend to World Peace Pagoda, a perfect viewpoint which provides a panoramic view of Phokara and Phewa Lake. Followed by the visit to Devi's Fall, Gupteswor Mahadev Cave, and International Mountain Museum.
Overnight: Pokhara
Meal: Breakfast
Optional: In the evening, unwind with a cultural feast of Nepali traditional dinner and dancing.
Overnight: Kathmandu
Meal: Breakfast
In the morning, Odyssey representative will escort you to the airport for your flight to Bhutan. Upon arrival in Paro airport, be greeted by your local travel guide and transferred to the capital Thimphu. En route pass by Tamchog Lhakhang iron-bridge. After hotel check-in, have lunch at local restaurant. Then visit National Memorial Chorten, gigantic Buddha Dordenma Statue and Takin Sanctuary. Ends today in Thimphu Dzong(Trashichho Dzong), the largest religious building in Thimphu as well as the seat of the central government.
Overnight: Thimphu
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today leaves Thimphu behind and head for Punakha. Stop at Dochula Pass to have a coffee break and admire the grand 108 Stupas. And take in the enchanting views of Mt. Himalaya when in good weather. Continue to drive to Punakha and have lunch at a local restaurant en route before a 1.5-hour walking tour to Chimmi Lhakhang, a temple dedicated to the Devine Madman and a sacred place where people pray for children. The 1.5 hours walk offers beautiful views of paddy fields and countryside life. Next embrace the highlight - Punakha Dzong, a very beautiful Bhutanese architecture armed by the Pho Chu and Mo Chu rivers, with rich Buddhist collections. You will also visit the Suspension Bridge nearby, the longest bridge in Bhutan, which offers different angle to see the elegant Punakha Dzong.
Overnight: Punakha
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Drive back to Paro (driving time 4 hours) and start today's tour with Paro Dzong, perhaps the finest example of Bhutanese architecture as well as a local religious administrative centre. Later visit Ta Dzong, an ancient watchtower housing the National Museum, with abundant culture relics. Next go to Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest temples in Bhutan and ends at a local farm house, where you can chat with local people, see how they live and may taste some homemade wine.
Overnight: Paro
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning, hike to visit Taktsang (Tiger's Nest), be amazed by the view of this sacred temple hanging on the rocky cliff, and take in the beauty of Paro valley. After that, move to the ruins of Drukgyel Dzong, built to commemorate Bhutan's victory over the Tibetan invaders. If in good weather, you'll see a great distant view of Mt. Chomolhari.
Overnight: Paro
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Say goodbye to Bhutan. After breakfast, we will escort you to the airport for your onward flight.
Meal: Breakfast
Recommended Accommodation for Your Journey
Good accommodation choice will in no doubt enhance your tour experience. Our well-established partnership network with key hotel chains in India, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri-Lanka will bring you the benefits of competitive hotel rate and guaranteed room availability.
We pick hotels for you based on:
Location: geographically convenience values for your precious holiday time. So properties we use are either in downtown area close to main city attractions and amenities, or convenient for sightseeing or transportation.Hotel Criteria for Each Tour Class
Note: Bhutan is less developed with fewer hotels criteria for choice, and most of the hotels there aren't as high standard as those in Western society.
Hotel Arrangement for Standard Tour Class
Usually conveniently located and meet the basic requirements of a comfortable stay: decorative lobbies and nice guest rooms with AC, TV, hot water, shower and private bathrooms. On-site restaurants may be average in size but offer breakfast, lunch and dinner. In most cases, staffs have basic command of English. Usually 3 star hotels are adopted.Hotel Arrangement for Comfortable Tour Class
Normally you'll stay at formal and large hotels conveniently located with shopping, dining and entertainment facilities nearby. Quality service, fully furnished rooms, restaurants, room service, fitness center and swimming pool (in some cases there is no pool) all together offer an above-average accommodation experience.
Usually good 4-star hotels are adopted or boutique hotels at request. Hotels best available will be arranged if no qualified choice, e.g. in remote area.
Hotel Arrangement for Superior Tour Class
Usually properties are conveniently located with shopping, dining and entertainment facilities nearby and offer a better service and hotel facility than that in hotels of Comfortable Tour Class. Usually 4-4.5 star hotels or boutique hotels are adopted.
Hotel Arrangement for First Tour Class
Deluxe hotels with high-end service and an extensive range of facilities for an excellent accommodation experience. Multiple restaurants on site with extensive menus for choice, room service available 24/7, fitness center and concierge service round out the experience. Usually 5 star hotels are adopted.
Hotel Arrangement for Deluxe Tour Class
The most luxury hotels are used and only available in some particular cities. These properties have top-notch service and unique location, such as a lake or a historic site, and usually incorporate some of the country’s most exquisite architecture traditions. Usually top 5 star or the best available hotels are adopted.
Meals
Normally, India Odyssey Tours put breakfast in your itinerary except for in Bhutan (all meals included). Lunch won’t be included for the sake of tour convenience, while dinner is also excluded as some travelers might want a little culinary adventure themselves. But surely your tour guide/driver is always glad to offer their advice.
It is normally served at the hotel where you stay. Depending on the hotel, the breakfast would be in western style, local style, or a combination.
Usually lunch won’t be included considering the fact that sometimes travelers may want to stay somewhere longer/shorter or need other minor changes during daily sightseeing, and it’s better to decide the lunch site then rather than pre-arranging it. For sure our tour guides/drivers will be happy to advice good places to you, and we strongly suggest qualified local restaurant or hotels around the scenic spots for the sake of your health.
Dinners will not be included in your meal plan unless you have that requirement. Enjoying the local food could be one of your best experiences in the incredible India & South Asia. This is why we offer you this flexibility of food choice, and you can always get advice from your tour guides/drivers.
If you have certain food allergies or special requirements such as vegetarian food, let us know. We will do our best to accommodate your needs.
Private Guide & Transfer
You will have a private tour guide, private driver, and an air-conditioned vehicle escorting you at every destination you travel across South Asia. This will provide you with maximized personal care, security, and flexibility.
All tour guides of India Odyssey Tours are qualified professionals and registered English Speaking Tourist Guides who are reassessed annually. All of our tour vehicles are clean and in excellent condition, manned with licensed & experienced drivers.
You will always be greeted punctually on arrival at each destination airport. At every departure, you’ll be escorted & assisted until you have checked in and passed through the security checkpoint.
All of our tour guides in every destination are locals. Knowing the area well, they are good at guiding you around and telling background stories of the tour sites, as well as showing you the secret spots for best photos.
If any change of itinerary is needed for unexpected reasons, your private tour guides will be more than accommodating in suggesting alternatives to ensure that you always have a wonderful experience.
With our comfortable and safe private transportation, your tour will be more relaxing and less tiresome, keeping you in the best spirits to make the most out of your journey across South Asia.
Your vehicle in each destination is air conditioned, insured, clean, and regularly maintained. Your private driver is licensed and always put your safety first.
Any part of this itinerary can be altered to fit your need, e.g. accommodation, add/skip city, tour length.
Start Tailoring Now Free & EasyYour final trip plan will be 100% tailored to your needs, incl. itinerary, activities, hotel, meal plan etc.
Start Tailoring Now
