Sampurna Adventure

Monastery of Nepal and Bhutan Tour

Duration
8 days
Max. Elevation
3120m
Group size
Min 2+
Level
Easy
Transportation
Best Season
Sep to May
Accomodation
Hotel/Lodge/Resort
Meals
7 Breakfast, 4 Lunch, 4 Dinner
Starts at/ Ends at
Kathmandu / Kathmandu
Trip Route

Highlights

Overview

BHUTÁN - A celestial dwelling in the heart of immense Himalaya, but little known for the outer inhabitants, rocked between immense neighbors and shut in by some of the highest mountain ranges. Your tour begins visiting Kathmandu Valley with its beautiful ancient medieval capital of Malla dynasty’s old palaces, monuments of Hindu & Buddhist places as Swoyambhunath, Kathmandu & Patan Durbar Square 
Later one & half hour flight takes you to Paro international airport, in few days could be explored the great culture, history, geography, the tradition of people around the capital with its famous Dzong and Chorten, additionally the cities, towns and valleys of Thimphu, Paro, Punakha, Wangdi and Gangtey. 

Trip Itinerary

The flight towards the Himalayan kingdom, Nepal reveals stunning views of the great peaks Mount Dorje Lakpa, Mt Ganesha, Mt Purbi Chhyachu, Mt Langtang, etc., (weather permitting). You will arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport. After customs, immigration procedures and baggage claim, upon leaving the arrivals terminal, a representative of Sampurna Adventure will greet and welcoming you then transferring you to your hotel (Check-in: 1400 hours).

The Kathmandu Valley, the capital and heart of the country, essentially symbolizes everything that is Nepal. Having lived through the rule of several dynasties, the culture and society of Kathmandu has evolved over time to give it a more than unique characteristic. Today it is an urban city that has its ancient myths and at the same time is a testimony to the greatness of people who have lived there for centuries, a melting pot of everything that is Nepali.

Spend the rest of the day at leisure for personal activities following your program briefing or you may familiarize yourself by exploring the narrow lively, and endless streets filled with shops, good restaurants, ATMs and exchange money, full of typical Nepali handicrafts, fine jewelry, clothing, and trekking gear stores, etc.

Max. altitude

1325

Accomodation

Hotel

Meals

None

(Optional: Early morning an optional Mount Everest flight tour – The Highest Mountain on Earth).

Visit Kathmandu Durbar square (a UNESCO World Heritage site), the most important monuments of the Nepalese capital in the open-air museum filled with the temples, courtyards and palace of the Malla Kings, who ruled over the city. Other impressive sights include a giant statue of Kal Bhairab, the God of Destruction, stunning Shiva-Parvati temples, Taleju, and the Kumari Palace, where the Kumari acknowledges their greetings from her window.

Swoyambhunath Stupa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is probably the most sacred ancient Buddhist pilgrimage site soaring above the city on a lofty hilltop, the fascinating, chaotic jumble of Buddhist and Hindu iconography, ancient carvings, the smell of incense and butter lamps, the mystical atmosphere is heightened by devotees who make a ritual circumambulation of the stupa, spinning the prayer wheels set into its base. This famous stupa is surrounded by typical houses of priests, Chaityas and monasteries.

Later on, we will stroll famous to famous Indra Chowk market, Machhendra Bahal, Ason, Naradevi, Shreeghaar, we will have an experience by rikshaw ride to Thamel neighborhood). After arriving in Thamel, we have free time to explore around the famous tourist hub in town (One hour or more). In the afternoon drive back to the Hotel.

Max. altitude

1325

Accomodation

Hotel

Meals

Breakfast

Transfer to the airport in the morning at the scheduled time to catch a flight to Bhutan, on arrival you will receive at Paro Airport (7,000ft) and then transfer to Thimphu, drive through the beautiful valleys of Paro and Thimphu to the capital of Bhutan - Thimphu. 

In the afternoon if time permit, visit the famous King's memorial Chorten built in the memory of Lt. His Majesty the King by Royal Queen Mother, where one could see the devotion of the local layman spinning prayer wheels and murmuring mantras, while circumambulating the Chorten, 

Visit Tashichodzong, situated on the banks of Wang Chhu. It is home of the National Assembly and the summer residence of capital's venerated monastic community. The Dzong is the impressive result of a redesign of the original medieval structure sanctioned by the Third King, HM Jigme Dorji Wangchuck.

Max. altitude

2648

Accomodation

Hotel / Resort

Meals

BLD

Morning drive to Kuensel Phodrang, the biggest Buddha statue and magnificent viewpoint of Thimphu valley, visit Changangkha Lhakhang, Takin preserve center, to see the National Animal the Takin. Bhutan's National Library is located close to the Thangka painting school and contains arguably the best collection of religious and historic literature in the Himalayas. The country has its own brand of Himalayan medicines and this can be seen at the Indigenous Hospital. The Textile and Folk Heritage Museum opened in year 2001 is fascinating testimony of the Bhutanese material culture and living traditions.

Later in the afternoon transfer to Punakha over the Dochula pass, (3,050 m) from where we could see the beautiful view of eastern Himalayan range on the clear sunny day.

Max. altitude

3100

Accomodation

Hotel / Resort

Meals

BLD

In the morning, Visit Chimi Lhakhang, an important Buddhist monastery/ temple in Punakha, Bhutan. It stands on a round hillock and was built in 1499 by the 14th Drukpa hierarch, Ngawang Choegyel, after the site was blessed by the "Divine Madman" the maverick saint Drukpa Kunley (1455–1529) who built a Chorten on the site.

He was known as the "Mad Saint" or “Divine Madman” for his unorthodox ways of teaching Buddhism by singing, humor and outrageous behavior, which amounted to being bizarre, shocking and with sexual overtones. He is also the saint who advocated the use of phallus symbols as paintings on walls and as flying carved wooden phalluses on house tops at four corners of the eves. The monastery is the repository of the original wooden symbol of phallus that Kunley brought from Tibet. This wooden phallus is used to bless people who visit the monastery on pilgrimage particularly women seeking blessings to beget children. The tradition at the monastery is to strike pilgrims on the head with a wooden phallus (a symbols of a male organ) by which in Bhutan have been intended to drive away the evil eye and malicious gossip. 

Visit Punakha Dzong, stands at the confluence of the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers, which is the winter home of the head of Central Monastic Body led by HH the Je Khenpo (the chief abode), this place is the old capital of the country and the seat of government until 1955, later the capital was moved to Thimphu.

The Dzong was constructed by Tuebi Zaow Balip in 1637; the country's most beautiful Dzong. The Dzong houses the most sacred relics of the Southern Drukpa Kagyu School including the Rangjung Kasarpani, in 1907, Punakha Dzong was the site of the coronation of Ugyen Wangchuck as the first King of Bhutan. Three years later, a treaty was signed at Punakha whereby the British agreed not to interfere in Bhutanese internal affairs and Bhutan allowed Britain to direct its foreign affairs. Later walk around the Punakha valley to see the farmhouse and the Bhutan architecture. Later transfer to Paro and in the evening stroll down town. 

Max. altitude

3100

Accomodation

Hotel / Resort

Meals

BLD

After breakfast, transfer to Taktsang Monastery base point, later we hike to Taktsang Palphug Monastery (known as Tiger's Nest), a prominent most sacred site located in the Cliffside of the upper Paro valley. Built in 1692, the Taktsang cave where Guru Padmasambhava is said to have meditated for three years, three months, three weeks, three days and three hours in the 8th century. Padma Sambhava is credited with introducing Buddhism to Bhutan and is the tutelary deity of the country where most people visit in their lifetime. 

Visit to the ruins of Drugyel Dzong. This Dzong is of historical importance, from whose ramparts the Bhutanese repelled Tibetan invaders. On a clear day one can view the sacred Mount Chomolhari, Mountain of Goddess.

Walk to the traditional wooden bridge and visit Kyichhu Lhakhang / Jowo Temple of Kyichhu is one of the oldest temples in Bhutan, built in the 7th century by the Tibetan Emperor Songtsen Gampo. It is considered to be one of the four (4) border taming temples he built. Ever since then the annual rites of great accomplishment for the deities Vajrasattva, Palchen Heruka, and Vajrakilaya have been held in this temple for the wellbeing of the country under the patronage of Kesang Choden Wangchuck. 

Later we will cross the traditional wooden bridge and visit Paro Rinpung Dzong (monastery/fortress Built in 1645 A.D), On the hill above the Dzong stands an ancient watchtower called Ta Dzong which since 1967, has been the National Museum of Bhutan, a fascinating place housed in an old museum holds a fantastic collection of Bhutanese national treasures ranging from ancient armor to textiles and Thangka paintings. 

Max. altitude

3120

Accomodation

Hotel / Resort

Meals

BLD

At the scheduled time, transfer to the airport to catch a flight to Kathmandu, after immigration formality on arrival you will be greeted and welcome by Sampurna Adventure personal & transferred to your Hotel, 

Later, we will visit the Patan Durbar Square (World Heritage Site), the city of fine arts & craft in metal, stone, terracotta, and one of the largest cities of Nepal, it is famous for its rich cultural heritage, where you will see in its ancient palace with golden gate and window, temples of Krishna, Shiva, Golden temple (Hiranya Barna Mahabihar) as well as monasteries & beautiful courtyard. 

Visit Boudhanath, "UNESCO World Heritage site", its massive mandala makes it one of the largest spherical Stupa in the world, where many Tibetan refugees residing since 1960, in its premises have built more than 50 Buddhist monasteries. The Stupa is said to have buried the remains of Kassyapa Buddha.

Max. altitude

1325

Accomodation

Hotel

Meals

Breakfast

Breakfast, in the morning free for personal activities, later at the arranged time, transfer to the airport for final departure to connect onward flight. We wish you have a safe flight and hope to serve you back in near future. 

End of Service.

Accomodation

No Hotel

Meals

Breakfast
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Includes

  • Meeting & Assistance on Arr. / Dep. at airport / Hotel by Sampurna travels Representatives.
  • All suitable transfers on A/C car, van, coach & bus
  • Nonalcoholic welcome drinks on arrival at hotel
  • Sgl / Dbl sharing room with Breakfast basis in Nepal
  • Sgl / Dbl sharing room with full board basis In Bhutan, Lunch will serve at the tourist standard restaurant
  • English/Spanish/French/German/Italian/Chinese/Russian Speaking local tour guide in Kathmandu.
  • English Speaking local tour guide in Bhutan
  • Monument entrance fees at all places
  • Bhutan visa and Bhutan visa processing fee
  • All mentioned hotels/resorts or similar
  • All services are on a private tour basis
  • All presently applicable Govt tax & service tax,

Doesn't Include

  • Nepal entry visa fee, pay in cash at Kathmandu airport
  • Any meal which is not mentioned in the program
  • Photography fees inside the monument
  • Personal Travel insurance
  • Extra cost due to natural and political causes such as landslides, unrest, snow, strikes etc.
  • All personal / nature expenses of table drinks, laundry, telephone, restaurant etc.
  • Tips to Guide, escort, porters, driver etc. (customary)
  • Due to any reason, expenses of any extra transfer, hotel accommodation & other services abandoning the trip before/after scheduled
  • Any other service not mentioned in the column service includes

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Duration
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Grading
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