Day 01 : Arrive Delhi
Assistance and transfer to hotel near airport.
Day 02 - Delhi -Paro flight / Paro-Thimphu drive- 54 km/2 hours
Transfer to airport for flight to Paro.
Meeting and assistance on arrival and drive to Thimphu, the capital town passing
via idyllic countryside, through villages and paddy
fields, Enroute visit the Simtokha Dzong, the
oldest fortress of the country now houses the
School for Bhutan studies.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 03 : Thimphu
Fulll day sightseeing of Thimphu valley, visiting Taschihhodzong; the seat of the Government, Memorial Chorten, the Stupa built in the memory of Bhutan's third King and Handicrafts Emporium displaying rich traditional crafts of the Kingdom, National Library which has fascinating collection of ancient Buddhist manuscripts and texts, the Painting School: famous for traditional thankhas paintings and traditional Medicine Institute where centuries old healing arts still practiced.
Day 04 Thimphu-Punakha, 76 km
After early breakfast proceed to Dochula pass (3050 M) which provides a superb view of the highest peaks of Bhutan, such as Gangkar, Puensum, table Mountain, Masakhang etc.
Arrive Punakha and check-in at the hotel.
Afternoon visit Punakha Dzong.
Punakha until 1955, served as the capital town of Bhutan and still it is the winter seat of
Je Khenpo, the Chief Abbot. Punakha Dzong built by Shabdrung Ngawang, Namgyal in 17th
century and situated at the junction of Pho Chu and Mo Chu rivers.
Day 05 Punakha-Paro, 120 km
After breakfast proceed to Paro enroute visit traditional Bhutanese Farm House.
Arrive Paro and check-in at the hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 06 : Paro
After breakfast, drive to Drukgyel Dzong, a ruined fortress where Bhutanese warriors
fought Tibetan invaders centuries ago. The snowy dome of sacred Chomolhari, "mountain
of goddess" looms directly over the dzong. Along the way, see the 7th century Kyichu
Lhakhang, one of the 108 temples built by Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo.
After lunch visit Ta Dzong, originally built as watch tower, now houses National Museum of
the Kingdom. It boasts antique thankhas, textile, weapons and armou, household objects
and a rich assortment of natural and historic artifacts. Then walk down the train to visit Rinpung Dzong, meaning 'fortress of the heap of jewels" which has a long and fascinating history. Along the wooden galleries lining the courtyard of the Rinpung Dzong are fine wall paintings.
Day 07 : Paro-Kathmandu flight
Transfer to the airport for flight to Kathmandu.
Assistance and transfer to the hotel.
Day 08 : Kathmandu
Morning city sightseeing tour.
Machhendra Nath Temple, a two tiered bronze roof pagoda, Hanuman Dhoka - the historic seat of Royalty, Durbar Square which houses Teleju temple built in 1549 AD, figure of Kal Bhairav - God of Destruction, statue of King Pratap Malla, Temple House of Kumari - the residence of living Goddess. The buildings housing Virgin Goddess has profusely carved wooden balconies from where they acknowledge greetings of her devotees. The National Museum houses a splendid collection of weapons, as well as an outstanding collection of artifacts from
ancient, medieval and modern Nepal.
Afternoon visit Patan and Swayambhunath.
Patan, the ancient city (Lalittpur) stands of a raised ground, 5 km southeast of Kathmandu. The main attraction is Durbar Square which has Hiranya Varna Mahavihar - the three storied golden pagoda of Lokeshwar (Lord Buddha) built in the 13th century, Rudra Varna Mahavihar - the unique Buddhist monastery boasts a fine and amazing collection of images and statues in metal, stone and wood, Krishna Mandir built in the 16th century, Jagat Narayan Temple - an imposing temple of Lord Vishnu, Machhendra Nath Temple built in 1508 AD. The Ashokan Stupa believed to have been built in 250 BC
Swayambhunath - said to be 2000 years old and one of the world's most glorious Buddhist Chaityas. The Chaitya or Stupa which forms the main structure is composed of a solid hemisphere of brick and earth supporting a lofty conical spire capped by a pinnacle of copper gilt. Painted on the four sided base are the all seeing eyes of Lord Buddha.
Day 09 : Kathmandu
Morning visit Pashupatinath and Bodhnath.
Boudhnath - the colossal Stupa, one of the biggest in the world, has the all seeing eyes
f the Buddha. The shrine is ringed by houses of Goddess Mani Jogni. It is built on an octagonal base inset with prayer wheels and is situated 8 kms east of Kathmandu .
Pashupatinath Temple - situated 5 kms east of Kathmandu on the bank of sacred Bagmati river, the temple of Lord Shiva with two tiered golden roof and silver doors is famous for its super architecture. It is a centre of annual pilgrimage on the day of Maha Shivaratri
Aftenoon visit of Bhadgaon (Bhaktapur)
Bhadgaon (Bhaktapur) means the city of devotees, situated at an altitude of 4600 ft., 13 km east of Kathmandu. Durbar Square - the main Square of the city contains the Lion Gate with the lovely stone figures of Hanuman, Bhairav and Narsingha Narayan. The Picture Gallery which displays ancient paintings belonging to Hindu and Buddhist schools of Tantricism of various periods, the Golden Gate with its palace of 55 windows is one of the most beautiful and richly carved specimens of its kind, statue of Bhupatindra Malla, three storied temple of Bhairavnath built in 1718 AD, the temple of Nytapole - a five storied pagoda style built in 1702, the tallest in Nepal with stable workmanship
Day 10 : Kathmandu
Day at leisure.
Day 11 : Kathmandu-Lhasa flight
Transfer to hotel upon arrival in Lhasa (11,650ft).
Rest of the afternoon free for acclimatization.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 12 : Lhasa
Sightseeing of Drepung, Jokhang & Barkhor Bazar.
Drepung Monastery situated to the west of Lhasa city was founded in 1416 AD by one of the disciples of Tsong Khapa. It was the largest and richest of the three major yellow sect monasteries in Lhasa. Jokhang Temple was built in 647 AD and is the spiritual center of Tibet and the holiest destination of Tibetan Buddhist Pilgrims. It houses the sitting statue of Sakyamuni when he was 12 years old. Barkhor Bazaar is the earliest street of old Lhasa City circling the Jokhang temple.
Overnight at hotel Lhasa, Lhasa.
Day 13 : Lhasa
Sightseeing of Potala Palace, Sera Monastery & Norbulinga. Potala Palace located on the red hill was built in 640 AD during the reign of Songtsan Gampo. The original Potala was destroyed in the 9th century but was rebuilt in the 17th century during the reign of the 5th Dalai Lama.Sera means Hail stone in Tibetan. Set on the foot of the Wudu Hill to the north of Lhasa City, Sera comprises of a great Sutra chanting hall and a college.Norbulinga is located on the banks of Kychi River. There is a tree and flower filled park known as Norbulinga 'Jewel Park' covering a total area of 360000 square meter. Norbulinga is also the site of the summer palace of the Dalai Lamas (8th to 14th ). Overnight at hotel Lhasa, Lhasa.
Day 14 : Lhasa-Gyantse drive, 260 km
Morning drive to Gyantse via Yamdrop Tso.
Sightseeing of Kumbum Stupa & Phalkor Monastery in Gyantse. Gyantse (13,050 ft.) is a small agricultural town famous for its wool carpets and the Palkhor Choide Chorten. Amongst the ruins of the lamasery and the fort, this unique structure built in 1414 AD consist of five stories representing the five steps to enlightenment, topped by thirteen rings which symbolizes the stages of advancement towards buddhahood. There are 108 halls inside, each with frescoes and Buddha shrines. The frescoes show a strong Indian influence. Before 1959, traders coming from India used to enter Tibet through Yadong and then to Gyantse, enroute to Lhasa.
Also visit bustling flee market at the foot of the ruins of the Shigatse fortress where one can buy local handicrafts embedded with coral and turquoise, Tibetan daggers, Chinese porcelain and yak butter
Overnight in Gyantse
Day 15 : Gyantse-Shigatse, 90 km
Morning drive to Shigatse, check-in at the hotel.
Afternoon visit Tashilunpo Monastery which is the seat of the Panchen Lama, who is regarded as the reincarnation of the Buddha of Endless Enlightenment. Items of interest inside this monastery built in 1447 AD by the first Dalai Lama are : the relics of Sakyamuni, the hall of Maitreya, and a huge collection of thankas, frescoes and statues.
Overnight at hotel Shigatse.
Day 16 : Shigatse-Tingri drive, 277 km
Morning drive to Tingri, town close to Xegar.
'Xegar (13,800 ft) It is a new Chinese commune built at the foot of the ruins of Xegar Dzong
and is 7 km from the main road. With a population of 3000, its importance lies in the fact
that it is the centre of this large and remote country and also because it is the base
from where expeditions to Mt. Everest and other peaks are launched.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 17 : Tingri-Zhangmu drive, 242 km
Drive to Zhangmu.
Zhangmu (7000 ft) better known by its Tibetan name, Khasa, is a small settlement clinging to a hill side 10 km inland from the friendship bridge across the Bhotekosi. the climate is quite different from the interland. The hills around Zhangmu are heavily wooded with innumerable waterfalls in the summer and frozen 'icicles' during the winter.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 18 : Zhangmu-Kathmandu, 115 km
Morning drive to Kodari border. After Chinese and Nepalse immigration formalities, drive to Kathmandu.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 19 : Kathmandu-Delhi-Dep
Morning at leisure.
Transfer to airport for flight to Delhi (1600-1715 hours)
On arrival, connect onward flight.
