Cultural Highlights of Nepal, Bhutan & Tibet

Day 1 - Fly London to Kathmandu.

Depart the UK to fly to Kathmandu.

Overnight: In flight

Day 2 - Arrive Kathmandu. Transfer to hotel.

On arrival in Kathmandu you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

You could eat in the hotel or head off into nearby Thamel to one of the famous restaurants there, such as Rum Doodle Restaurant, a place frequented by trekkers and climbers alike, with pride of place given to a board with the signatures of many Everest summiteers.

(Your Tibet permit will be finalised while you are in Kathmandu, so our local agents will ask you for your passport and payment).

Overnight: Hotel Shanker Or Similar, Kathmandu

Day 3 - Sightseeing in Kathmandu. Drive to Dhulikhel, 1,550m/5,085ft.

In the morning you will have a guided sightseeing tour in Kathmandu city. Firstly you will go to Swayanbunath, called the 'Monkey Temple' because of the large numbers of monkeys that live there. This temple is said to be the divine lotus flower floating above the lake that once covered the Kathmandu Valley. This is the most famous image of Nepal - the all-seeing eyes surveying every corner of the valley. You then continue to Kathmandu Durbar Square, the ancient medieval centre of the city, now a UNESCO world heritage site. Here you will see a host of wonderful temples and palaces, including the temple of the Kumari, the so called 'living goddess'.

In the afternoon you will drive to Dhulikhel, a small town located about an hour and a half's drive from Kathmandu along the main highway leading to Tibet, on the eastern rim of the Kathmandu Valley. Dhulikel is famous for its panoramic views of the Himalaya. Dhulikhel has an been important trading centre on the commercial route linking Nepal to Tibet for many centuries, with people of Nepal travelling to Tibet to bring home salt and gold and Tibetans coming with huge flocks of sheep to sell in Nepal, especially during the great Hindu festival of Dassain. The town still has some old houses and a couple of ancient temples which are worth visiting. On arrival you should have time for a visit to town and then to enjoy fine sunset views in the evening.

Overnight: Dhulikhel Lodge Resort

Day 4 - In Dhulikel.

The mountain views from Dhulikhel are some of the finest in the Himalaya, with dawn being especially spectacular - on a clear day from here you can see from Everest in the east to the Annapurna range in the west, as many as twenty major Himalayan peaks. It is worth arranging an early morning wake-up call to be sure of catching the views at their best.

Later you have the day free to relax and enjoy the beautiful countryside around Dhulikhel. You could perhaps take a walk to a nearby village, such as Panauti, with its traditional farmhouses set on hillocks among the rice fields, or visit Namobuddha Monastery, a sacred spot which commemorates the legend of the Buddha's selfless action of offering his own flesh to feed a starving tiger. In these surroundings you can immerse yourself in the simple pleasures of traditional rural life in Nepal.

Overnight: Dhulikhel Lodge Resort

Day 5 - Return to Kathmandu with sightseeing in Bhaktapur on the way. Afternoon at leisure.

Today you will drive back to Kathmandu visiting the ancient city of Bhaktapur on the way. Bhaktapur is one of the three cities built in the Kathmandu valley by the former Malla kings. It is more laid back than Kathmandu city and still has quite a rural feel to it, being a town of farmers and craftsmen. The Durbar Square area has some beautiful examples of magnificent Newari craftsmanship in its temples and palaces, especially the famous Palace of Fifty Five Windows which, in its elaborately carved windows and doors, features some of the finest examples of Newari wood carving. The side streets of Bhaktapur have a wonderfully medieval feel to them, most of its buildings having their origins in the 15th Century and the back streets bring brick paved. The city is still very much lived-in, with much of it being closed to traffic - this makes walking around it a real pleasure and you can get a real taste of how things must have been in medieval times.

When you get back to Kathmandu you will have the afternoon free and you can either relax at the hotel or do some more sightseeing. The ancient Buddhist Stupa of Boudhanath is well worth a visit - it is a focus of Buddhist culture and is visited by pilgrims from all over the region. You might also visit the important Hindu Shiva temple and the cremation ghats on the banks of the Bagmati River at Pashupatinath.

Overnight: Hotel Shanker Or Similar, Kathmandu

Day 6 - Fly to Paro, 2,200m/7,218ft. Drive to Punakha,1,242m/4,075ft - 125km, 3½ hours.

Transfer to the airport for the short flight up to Paro in Bhutan. On a clear day the panoramic views of the Himalaya are sensational, including Everest, but particularly exciting is the approach through the Bhutanese foothills and the landing at the tiny airstrip in the Paro Valley. Although you are at the mercy of the Druk air computer, if possible try to sit on the left hand side of the plane for the most spectacular views.

On arrival you will be met by your guide and driver and will set off on the drive to Punakha. You may have lunch on arrival in Paro or on the way, possibly at the Dochu La. Firstly after about an hour's drive you will by-pass the turn off to the capital, Thimphu, and climb to cross the Dochu La Pass, a pass at 3,048m/10,000ft, a spot is marked by 108 chortens. Here, weather permitting, you will have a magnificent mountain vista. On clear days there are fabulous views of the eastern Himalaya from here - but this is a beautiful spot even on misty days. You then drive down through incredibly beautiful, varied forest to arrive in the lush Punakha Valley.

Overnight: Zhingkham Resort Or Similar, Punakha

Day 7 - In the Punakha Valley. Attend the Talo Tsechu, visit Punakha Dzong and Chimi Lakhang.

Today you will have the opportunity to visit a Bhutanese Festival. After breakfast you will drive the short distance into the hills above Punakha to the village of Talo at 2,800m/9,186ft. This is a very pretty and well-kept village and it is well known for its fine Gompa, the Talo Sangnacholing, built on a plateau above the village and enjoying majestic views. Festivals in Bhutan are important cultural and religious events and are a chance for local people to attain merit as well as dressing up in their best clothes, socialising and generally having fun. The Talo Tsechu is famed for its masked dances - such masked dances and the other colourful ceremonies at festivals are thought to dispel the evil spirits that have accumulated over the last year. Beware the very naughty clowns (called atsaras) who tease the crowd and the dancers!

In the afternoon you will visit the Punakha Dzong. The fabulous Punakha Dzong is one of the most spectacular and important dzongs in the kingdom. It is situated in a stunning position at the confluence of two rivers. In 1994 there was a major flood in the town which caused a lot of damage to the dzong, but it has now been beautifully renovated and is a real showcase for Bhutanese craftsmanship and painting. Unless there are VIPs visiting you are normally allowed to visit the inside of the dzong.

Later you will also visit Chimi Lakhang, a temple built by Drukpa Kunley. Known as the 'The Divine Madman', Drukpa Kunley was a 15th Century Bhutanese Lama and is Bhutan's most popular saint and one of the most important figures in Bhutanese folklore. Despite the apparent conservatism of the Bhutanese people, Drukpa Kunley with his unconventional views on sex is a great favourite throughout the country - the phallus symbols painted on the outside walls of many houses date back to his teachings. Chimi Lakhang is especially popular with women who come here to make offerings and to pray for children. This charming lakhang is reached by a short walk across the paddy fields and the short excursion takes about 45 minutes each way.

Overnight: Zhingkham Resort Or Similar, Punakha

Day 8 - Drive to Thimphu, 2,320m/7,612ft. Sightseeing.

You will drive back over the Dochu La to Thimphu and you will have some sightseeing of the principal places in town. Firstly you could drive up to visit the huge Buddha statue for views over town.

Later you could visit the huge Tashichhodzong, part monastery, part administrative centre. Other highlights in Thimphu include the late king's memorial chorten, the textile museum, a visit to the indigenous hospital specialising in herbal medicine, and the school of painting. You can also visit a workshop to see handmade paper being made or the post office for some of Bhutan's fine editions of stamps. The handicrafts emporium Is a good place to buy traditional crafts or traditional dress.

Overnight: Phuntso Pelri Hotel or Similar, Thimphu

Day 9 - Wangditse Monastery walk and drive to Paro. Sightseeing in Paro – Kyichu Lakhang and Paro Museum.

This morning you will drive up to Sangaygang next to the Bhutan First Broadcasting Service tower, located in the north west of Thimphu. It is only about a mile drive up to the tower so if you feel like you would like to burn a bit more energy you can always walk up instead. From the tower you will have great views over Thimphu Dzong and the Thimphu valley as you start your walk contouring the beautiful hills to visit Wangditse Gompa. This walk should take around 1½ hours. You will have time to visit the gompa before you walk down for another 30 minutes to reach Dechen Phodrang Monastery. This monastery houses around 450 student monks enrolled in a 8 year course and is also home to some fantastic UNESCO monitored 12th century paintings. You will then meet your vehicle and be driven back to Thimphu.

Later you will drive to Paro where you will visit a couple of its sights. Firstly will visit the temple of Kyichu Lakhang, one of the oldest and most beautiful temples in Bhutan. According to tradition the temple is said to have been built in the 7th century, one of 108 temples built by the famous Tibetan king, Songtsen Gampo, to pin down an enormous demon that was believed to be thwarting the establishment of Buddhism in the region. You may then visit the impressive Paro Dzong, one of Bhutan's most impressive and well-known dzongs, and perhaps the finest example of Bhutanese architecture you'll see. The massive buttressed walls that tower over the town are visible throughout the valley. You may also visit the Ta Dzong, the watch tower above the Dzong where you will see some of the treasures from Bhutan's National Museum. Displays include an impressive and fascinating collection of ancient thangkas depicting Bhutan's important saints and teachers and the wide range of Bhutan's history and culture. You will also find some fearsome festival masks, a collection of religious statues, some early stone carvings and the original iron links from the nearby Tamchhog Bridge.

Overnight: Hotel Olathang Or Similar, Paro

Day 10 - Walk to Taktsang Monastery, 3,100m/10,203ft - 4-5 hours. Afternoon sightseeing in Paro or time at leisure.

A short drive beyond Paro town takes you to the trail head for the walk up to the famous Tiger's Nest, Taktsang Monastery. The monastery is perched some 600m/2,000ft up on a cliff overlooking the valley and was said to be where the legendary Indian saint, Guru Padma Sambhava, flew from Tibet on the back of a tiger to defeat five demons, who were opposing the spread of Buddhism in Bhutan. It's a steep uphill walk through woods, of about 1½-2hrs, to reach a tea house (an ascent of 340m/1,115ft.) Apart from offering welcome refreshment this tea house is one of the principle viewpoints of Taktsang, and those who prefer not to climb any further can relax here whilst others continue on. If there is a particular religious gathering or VIP visit in progress, you will not be able to enter the monastery but the further half an hour's ascent is well worth it in any case, as it brings you to another viewpoint directly across from Taktsang. If you are able to make a visit, the final section of the walk takes you from here steeply down 100m/330ft into the gorge that separates you from the monastery and then climbs back up again to reach the monastery gate.

After your Taktsang visit, you will descend back down to the valley floor and have the afternoon at leisure or for some more sightseeing including anything in the Paro Valley that you did not manage to see yesterday.

Your guide may suggest you drive up the valley to visit the ruined monastery fortress of Drukgyel Dzong, This dzong was built in 1649, during the time that Bhutan was resisting foreign invasion and consolidating its power, and it was an important base for the defence of the region right up until 1951 when it was destroyed by fire. Some imposing stone walls and rammed earth ramparts still remain to indicate what an impressive structure it must have been. From here there are good views to the north, and if the skies are clear, you can see Mount Chomolhari, the second highest peak in Bhutan.

Overnight: Hotel Olathang Or Similar, Paro

Day 11 - Day trip to Visit Dzongdrakha temple and Kila Nunnery.

You will visit two interesting spiritual sites today that lie to the west of Paro. Taking Bhutan's highest motorable road you climb out of the Paro Valley for a few km before turning right on a small road to reach the temple (gompa) of Dzongdrkha. Here there are a string of chapels perched on a cliff ledge, seemingly defying gravity. The site is one of several in Bhutan where the legendary Guru Rinpoche is said to have suppressed demons as he spread Buddhism across the country.

Returning to your vehicle you contine upwards for around 25km to Kila Nunnery - believed to be the oldest nunnery in Bhutan having been established in the 9th century by Chogyel Norbu. There are several small temples and residential buildings here, nestled dramatically beneath the cliff face. The complex is primarily used as a retreat nowadays with a small community of nuns. The views are truly awe inspiring.

You then make the scenic return journey to your hotel in Paro.

Overnight: Hotel Olathang Or Similar, Paro

Day 12 - Fly to Kathmandu. Afternoon at leisure.

You will be taken to the airport to check in for your flight. Again you have a sensational take-off and scenic Himalayan flight back to Nepal, where you will be transferred back to your hotel. Depending on the flight schedule you should then have the afternoon free to relax by the pool or do some shopping or sightseeing.

Overnight: Hotel Shanker Or Similar, Kathmandu

Day 13 - Free day in Kathmandu.

Today you will have a full day at leisure in Kathmandu. You will have time for shopping or for some sightseeing. You might visit the town of Patan which as a very handsome Durbar Square and a fine musuem, or the Hindu temple at Pashupatinath. For shopping, the central tourist district of Thamel has plenty of souvenir shops plus lots of bars and cafes.

Overnight: Hotel Shanker Or Similar, Kathmandu

Day 14 - Fly to Lhasa, Tibet. Drive to Tsedang, 3,550m /11,647ft - 2-3 hours.

Transfer to the airport for the flight to Gonggar in Tibet. This is an exciting flight which goes east along the Himalaya, passes Everest (on the left hand side of the plane) and then cuts through the chain to continue north east towards Lhasa. At Gonggar (the airport for Lhasa) you will meet your Tibetan guide and your driver. Remember to put your watch forward - there is a time difference of 2 hours and 15 minutes between Kathmandu and Lhasa.

You then drive east alongside the mighty Tsangpo River (called the Brahmaputra when it reaches India) to Tsedang at 3,550m/11,647ft. Tsedang, the capital of Shannan prefecture and the second largest city in Tibet after Lhasa, has some Tibetan buildings but as in so much of Tibet, Chinese influence is now predominant. But Tsedang does have an important place in the history of Tibet. It was here, on the nearby hill called Gongpo Ri that, according to legend, the Tibetan race originated, from the union of a monkey and an ogress. Tsedang was said to have been their playground.

There might be time this afternoon for a little exploration - Tsedang has a Tibetan quarter with traditional houses and several monasteries of interest - but it is probably best to rest and take it easy to help acclimatise to the altitude. In the main street outside the Tsedang hotel there are lots of restaurants serving good food - so in the evening you might try locally caught fish served with lots of chillies, or a Chinese hotpot.

Overnight: Tsedang Hotel or Similar

Day 15 - Explore Samye and the Yarlung Valley.

Today you will have a full day around Tsedang. Firstly you will visit Samye Monastery. The drive by the newly built road to Samye now takes one hour. Until recently this important monastery could only be reached by taking a ferry across the Tsangpo River. This was an exciting boat ride but with the building of the road the ferry now only runs sporadically if at all.

Samye was founded 1200 years ago and was the first monastery with monks in Tibet. It was the royal temple up to the end of the Yarlung Dynasty and is built in the shape of a Mandala. It is most closely associated with the Nyingmapa order of Buddhism, which is one of the oldest orders of Tibetan Buddhism and dates back to Padmasambhava, an Indian Buddhist master who is credited with bringing monasticism to Tibet in the eighth century. After your visit inside the monastery you might like to climb nearby Hepori Hill, considered one of the four sacred mountains of Tibet, for fantastic views over Samye. From the summit there are also wonderful views out across the Tsangpo Valley. After the visit to Samye you return to Tsedang.

The area around Tsedang is considered to be the cradle of Tibetan civilisation. In the nearby Yarlung valley, a short half-hour drive from Tsedang, is the fortress/chapel of Yumbulakhang, a distinctive tapering structure perched on a crag, said to be the oldest building in Tibet and to have been built for the legendary King Nyentri Tsenpo. Its origins may date back more than 2,000 years. If you climb the ridge above Yumbulakhang you will get good views of the Yumbulakhang and the Yarlung Valley and the mountains to the south. The first cultivation in Tibet is thought to have started in this valley. It was also from Yarlung that early Tibetan kings unified Tibet in the 7th century. In nearby Chongye are found the burial mounds of these earliest kings. One of the larger mounds, topped by a monastery, is that of King Songsten Gampo who was the first royal patron of Buddhism in Tibet and in whose reign building of the Jokhang Temple was started. Tandruck Monastery, also situated near Tsedang, is one of the earliest Buddhist monasteries in Tibet, dating to about the same time as the Jokhang in Lhasa and you should have time to visit it on the way to Yarlung.

Overnight: Tsedang Hotel or Similar

Day 16 - Drive to Lhasa, 3,658m/12,001ft. Visit Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Market.

After breakfast you will drive to Lhasa with visits to a couple of places on the way. Firstly you drive a short way off the main road to see the old manor house at Namseling. Built in the 14th century this large and ancient building was an aristocratic manor house and is one of the very few remaining non-religious buildings to be found in Tibet. Sadly it was allowed to fall into a state of some disrepair but there has been some restoration work and hopefully this wonderful old building is now saved from dereliction. Until the mid 20th century the house was the centre of a grand estate and was surrounded by farm buildings and thriving orchards and gardens. Some people in the village still remember the old days when the estate was fully functioning. Later, also within living memory, in the 1960's, the building was used as a school. There are lovely views from Namseling over the Tsangpo valley and towards Hepori Hill, which marks the area where Samye monastery is situated. Continuing towards Lhasa it is also worth taking a detour to visit the famous monastery of Mindroling, one of the few monasteries in Tibet belonging to the Nyingmapa sect (this is the sect to which the Sherpas of Nepal belong). You then continue, past the airport, and drive through a tunnel through the mountains and continue to Lhasa alongside the Kyichu River. Lhasa looks a very modern Chinese city and as you drive in you will pass the new railway line coming in from China. But despite this apparent modernity your first view of the Potala Palace will still take your breath away. Your hotel is in the Tibetan section of Lhasa and within walking distance of the Jokhang Temple and Barkhor market.

After lunch you will visit the Jokhang Temple. This is the most sacred temple in Tibet and the centre of the Tibetan city. Pilgrims from all over Tibet flock to visit it. You will see them circling the Barkhor turning their prayer wheels or making full-length prostrations around the temple. To visit the Jokhang you will join these pilgrims as they shuffle round inside, making their offerings and feeding the thousands of flickering butter lamps. The temple was initially established in the 7th century by King Songtsen Gampo. It takes its name from the sacred image of the Buddha, the Jowo Shakyamuni, the most highly revered image in Tibet, a statue which was brought to Tibet by Songtsen Gampo's Chinese wife and which is now housed in one of the chapels of the Jokhang. The Jokhang itself was however originally designed by Nepalese craftsmen brought to Tibet by Songtsen Gampo's second wife who was from Nepal. Since that time the temple was further enlarged during the reign of the Fifth Dalai Lama. It is worth visiting the roof of the Jokhang for wonderful views of the city and surrounding hills.

The Barkhor market is the area surrounding the Jokhang and is full of vendors selling all manner of wares; stirrups for dashing nomad horseman, tacky souvenirs for Chinese tourists and all sorts of other ephemera. Shops in the nearby streets display huge slabs of butter which pilgrims purchase to feed the butter lamps in the Jokhang temple. The characteristic rather cheesy smell of such temples is from these butter lamps. Part of the Barkhor market is now housed in a nearby building.

Overnight: Kyichu Hotel or Shambala Hotel or Similar, Lhasa

Day 17 - Sightseeing in Lhasa including the Potala Palace, Norbulingkha and Sera Monastery.

Today you have a full day sightseeing in Lhasa. This will include the Potala Palace and the Norbulingkha, the former summer palace of the Dalai Lama. In the afternoon you will visit the Monastery of Sera.

In the morning you will visit the Potala Palace. Luckily the Potala remained largely undamaged throughout the years of the Cultural Revolution. Songtsen Gampo was the first Tibetan ruler to establish a palace on this outcrop, the 'Red Hill', but construction of the grand palace that we see today began in 1645 during the reign of the Fifth Dalai Lama. The palace is named after Mount Potala, a sacred mountain in South India, and served as the home of successive Dalai Lamas and their monastic staff. You will start your tour at the top of the building where the view from the roof is stunning. You then work your way down through successive storeys and through a maze of rooms - through the living quarters of the Dalai Lama and down through numerous highly decorated chapels and colourful assembly halls. Walls are decorated with intricate murals and hung with painted thangkas. One of the most awesome rooms in the Potala is the Chapel of the Dalai Lamas' Tombs, which contains the massive golden stupa of the Fifth Dalai Lama and smaller stupas containing the relics of other Dalai Lamas. When you have completed your tour you may like to make a kora (circuit) right around the building, along with many Tibetan pilgrims who will be making the same circuit.

Your will next visit the Norbulingkha. The name means 'Jewel Park' although nowadays it is known as 'People's Park'. The Norbulingkha was formerly the summer palace and recreation gardens of the Dalai Lama and it was from here that the present Dalai Lama escaped in 1959. The nearby Tibet Museum is also well worth a visit. Pass rapidly through the galleries justifying the Chinese occupation and you will find that the galleries on Tibetan Buddhism and Tibetan arts and crafts along with objects of everyday life are well worth the visit. There are many outstanding pieces on display.

In the afternoon you will drive 40 minutes to Sera Monastery, one of the three great Gelukpa monasteries near Lhasa. This monastery dates back to the 15th century and was formerly a monastic township housing over 5,000 monks. Although many of the outlying buildings have been destroyed the principal buildings were left relatively intact and nowadays the monastic population is again over 300 monks. Sera is particularly famous for its great monastic debates and monks can still be seen debating in the debating courtyard. More prosaic but equally fascinating are the large monastic kitchens where monks prepare industrial quantities of food in huge copper cauldrons. It is quite a sight to see Tibetan tea being blended with a mixer the size of a road drill!

Overnight: Kyichu Hotel or Shambala Hotel or Similar, Lhasa

Day 18 - Visit Drepung Monastery. Afternoon at leisure.

This morning you will travel to Drepung Monastery, just a few miles out of Lhasa. Drepung, Sera and Ganden Monasteries make up the three great Gelukpa Monasteries of Tibet with Drepung arguably the most important of all. The name Drepung means piles of rice and comes from its appearance when seen from afar. Drepung was founded in the 15th century and was long a centre of Buddhist study with as many as 10,000 monks. Even today it is a centre of resistance to Chinese authority and was closed down by the authorities for several years at the beginning of the century. The 'debates' held by Drepung's monks are famous.

Finally, you return to Lhasa where you will have some free time to do some shopping or simply relax at your hotel.

Overnight: Kyichu Hotel or Shambala Hotel or Similar, Lhasa

Day 19 - Drive to Gonggar. Fly to Kathmandu. Transfer to hotel.

You will have a fairly early start for the hour's drive to Gonggar International Airport and the hour long flight to Kathmandu. The best views of Mount Everest are from the right hand side of the aircraft, although seating is allocated. However if you are on the left hand side you will get wonderful views of Mount Kangchenjunga. The flight to Kathmandu usually arrives by mid morning and you will hopefully be back at your hotel before lunch. This leaves the afternoon free for some or sightseeing.

Overnight: Hotel Shanker Or Similar, Kathmandu

Day 20 - Day at leisure in Kathmandu.

A day for some futher sightseeing if you wish or simply to relax at your hotel and enjoy the pool and other facilities.

Overnight: Hotel Shanker Or Similar, Kathmandu

Day 21 - Time at leisure. Transfer to the airport and depart for London.

The morning will be free and later there will be a group transfer to the airport for your overnight flight back to London.

Overnight: In flight

Day 22 - Arrive London.