Nepal & Bhutan with Luxury & Style (13 Days): A Sample Itinerary

ID #: DT-NB-13-7-23-10-RAIJ


 
Tigers Nest
Prayer Flags in Kathmandu
One Horn Rhino in Chitwan National Park

DavidTravel Itinerary Highlights include:

Journey to Nepal and Bhutan and discover cultures that are off-the-beaten path. Walk on the wild side in Nepal, tracking tigers from atop an elephant, and delight your senses on this journey to the heart of the subcontinent. Bhutan, the “Land of Dragons,” is known for its high valleys linked to India by the scenic plains. Here, the people still wear their traditional dress as they perform a wonderful Bhutanese cultural dance for your enjoyment. This is a journey that will overwhelm you with its mystical, cultural and historical relevance.

• Visit the Temple of the Living Goddess, Durbar Square, with its array of temples, and Hanuman Dhoka Palace, the ancient palace of the Nepalese Royalty

• Enjoy a full day hike to the Sarangkot hill (5220-feet.) and take in the view of the Annapurna range and the Machapuchhre peak as well as Phewa Lake and the entire Pokhara valley

• Drive through Chitwan National Park in 4WD jeeps to look for tigers, the great one-horned rhinoceros, leopards, bears as well as deer, monkeys, birds and more

• Discover the arts at the Handicraft Center and see handwoven Tibetan carpets be made and molding of metal statues

• Visit the newly built “Druk Wangyal Khangzang Chortens”, a unique cluster of 108 Namgyel Khangzang Chortens that spiral up to a main monument Chorten

• Explore the sacred Chimi Lhakhang Monastery, built by Lama Drukpa Kuenley, the “Divine Madman.” explore the sacred Chimi Lhakhang Monastery, built by Lama Drukpa Kuenley, the “Divine Madman”

Overview:

Soaring ice-topped mountains shimmer with rainbows of prayer flags, while the intense streets of Kathmandu are a ceaseless frenzy of honking mopeds, chattering vendors and garish signs: Nepal is a thoroughly colorful slice of Asia.

If there is a hikers' paradise, then this is it. Nepal's craggy chunk of the Himalayas offers world-class trekking terrain - from leafy Annapurna to distinguished Everest - peppered with rustic mountain villages, and hundreds of undulating trails that have been trodden upon for centuries.

But spiritual and nature-rich Nepal is certainly not only for mountaineers set on scrambling to Everest Base Camp; from the lime-green grasses of Chitwan National Park rustling with the charcoal flash of an Indian rhino, to the eclectic cafés and bohemian vibe of lake-side Pokhara, Nepal is an intriguing and welcoming destination for all.

The Kingdom of Bhutan has adopted a cautious approach to tourism to avoid any negative impact on the country's culture and environment. All tourists, group or individual, must travel on a pre-planned all inclusive guided tour through a registered tour operator in Bhutan or their counterparts abroad. The basic rate is fixed by the government.

There are still plenty of takers wanting to explore the breathtaking mountains and valleys of this astonishing country. The tourism industry in Bhutan is founded on the principle of sustainability, meaning it must be environmentally friendly, socially and culturally acceptable and economically viable. The number of tourists is also kept to a manageable level by the limited infrastructure.

The Bhutanese name for Bhutan, Druk Yul, means 'Land of the Thunder Dragon'. Much of Bhutanese history is lost in legends but the first major event was the arrival of Guru Rinpoche, believed to have brought Mahayana Buddhism from Tibet in the eighth century. Bhutan, the world's last Mahayana Buddhist kingdom, became a coherent political entity around the 17th century and has never been conquered or ruled by another foreign power.

Bhutan is a peaceful country with strong traditional values based on religion, respect for the royal family and care for the environment.