Himalayan Kingdoms
Himalayan Kingdoms
Himalayan Kingdoms
12 Days Starting and ending in 27.717245,85.323959
Visiting: Bhutan, Nepal
Tour operator:
Tour code:
319
Recommended For:
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 12
Age range:
8-75
Special diets catered:
Request dietary needs
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Tour Overview
Any visit to Bhutan needs to be combined with at least a little time in either Nepal, India, Thailand or China, and this tour takes in a few days in the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal at either side of your time in Bhutan. Bhutan is a unique and fascinating place, and your 8 days in the country allow you to explore several fascinating Dzongs, visit beautiful temples, and enjoy some short walks through spectacular scenery. Throughout the trip you'll learn about Bhutan's cultural and religious heritage and how it permeates everyday life. Travelling in Bhutan is a very different experience to nearby India, Nepal or China, and one never to be forgotten.
The tour starts in Kathmandu with a tour through its busy streets and surroundings seeing stupas, temples and palaces. After a spectacular flight to Bhutan (not included, see Tour Notes), you visit the Paro Dzong (a combination of a monastery, fort and town hall) and national museum and your guide begins his introduction to the country's history and way of life.
From Paro you follow slow winding roads through mixed forests and over the Dochu La Pass to the Punakha Valley. Here you visit the huge and beautifully situated Punakha Dzong and enjoy an easy riverside walk from a hilltop temple through mixed forest and fields of vegetables and chillies. We'll also visit the Phobjika Valley, famous for being the migratory destination of the endangered Black Necked Crane, and Gangtey Dzong.
We then time the tour to visit the capital Thimphu during the huge weekend market. Returning to Paro you climb up to Taktshang monastery (Tiger's Nest), possibly Bhutan's most famous and recognizable site.
When back in Nepal, you visit the ancient centre of Bhaktapur, the important Pasupatinah temple and Boudhnath stupa, and spend a night enjoying beautiful mountain views from the rim of the Kathmandu valley.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Extras:
Accommodation Name: <STRONG>Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu, transfer to your hotel </STRONG>You arrive in Kathmandu today where we meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. Our rep will help you settle in and give you an introduction to the surrounding area. The re
Extra day in Kathmandu - pre-tour, Single Room Supplement (NPSGHK)
Day 2 : Extras:
Accommodation Name: <STRONG>Day 2: Kathmandu tour to Durbar Square & Swayambunath </STRONG>This morning we start with a walking tour from the tourist centre of Thamel, through Kathmandu's busy winding streets passing numerous tiny shops, workships and street corner temples t
Everest Mountain Flight
Day 3 : Extras:
Accommodation Name: <STRONG>Day 3: Fly to Bhutan, Paro tour </STRONG>We pick you up from the hotel this morning and transfer to the airport for the spectacular flight over the Himalaya to Bhutan (try and sit on the left side of the plane for the best views). While en route,
Kathmandu-Paro-Kathmandu flights
Day 4 : Day 4: Cross The Dochu La Pass To The Punakha Valley
Accommodation Name: The tour will depart from Paro today and make its way to the Dochu La Pass, driving along the bendy roads through the dense forests. You will be taken past an array of chortens at the top of the pass. If the weather is good and clear, you will be able to
Day 5 : Day 5: Valley Walk: Punakha Dzong: Drive To Gangtey
Accommodation Name: You will enjoy an early breakfast this morning, before getting back on the road for a drive through the valley to the north of Punakha. Here, you can experience a morning stroll to Khamsum Yuelley Namgyel Chorten. This chorten is a striking sight, situate
Day 6 : Day 6: Phobjikha Valley Walk: Gangtey
Accommodation Name: The tour will leave from the Punakha Valley and return back onto the mountain roads through oak and rhododendron forests into the Phobjikha Valley (approx. 70km, 3hrs). These dense forests are also the winter roosting grounds for the endangered and famous
Day 7 : Day 7: Drive To Thimphu Via Wangdue Phodrang
Accommodation Name: Most of this day will be spent driving along the scenic route by the Dochu La Pass to the capital of Bhutan, Thimpu. En route, the tour will stop off at the Dzong Wangdue Phodrang. This significant building was destroyed in a fire in 2012 and is still un
Day 8 : Day 8: Thimphu Tours And Weekend Market
You will get the chance to really explore in and around Thimphu with the help of your driver and guide. We keep the groups small so that you can be flexible with your time and the itinerary. There is so much to do and see so we suggest chatting to your guide to arrange your day.
Day 9 : Day 9: Taktshang (Tiger's Nest) Walk: Drukgyel Dzong
Accommodation Name: Breakfast will be eaten early this morning, as the tour will drive to the base of the Taktshang cliff. You will set off from here on a 2-3 hour hike, up to the monastery, set on a steep 800-rock face. Taktshang is one of Bhutan's most famous sites and mea
Day 10 : Extras:
Accommodation Name: <STRONG>Day 10: Fly to Nepal, visit Bhaktapur ancient centre </STRONG>This morning we fly back to Kathmandu (aim to sit on the right hand side of the plane for the best views) and transfer to the ancient centre of Bhaktapur. (Note - flight not included in
Kathmandu-Paro-Kathmandu flights
Day 11 : Day 11: Sunrise Mountain Views And Villages: Temples & Stupas
Accommodation Name: After waking early to enjoy the sunrise views, we have a downhill ridge walk through the Tilkot Forest Reserve, tiny Chhetri villages and traditional terraced farmland to the somewhat crumbling but atmospheric Changu Narayan Temple. Before arriving at our
Day 12 : Extras:
Accommodation Name: <STRONG>Day 12: Kathmandu, tour ends with airport transfer </STRONG>Your time is free today until we transfer you to the airport in time for your flight home. A range of options are available if you would like to extend your tour in Nepal. These include w
Extra day in Kathmandu - post-tour
What's Included
What's Not Included
Mode of Transport
A/C minibus/people-carrier
Internal flight
Accommodation
3 to 4-star & boutique hotels
Check out our Q&As
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Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?
Nepal Visa
Visa arrangements are the responsibility of the traveller, and requirements are subject to change by the local authorities.
Many nationals can obtain their Nepalese visa in Kathmandu airport upon arrival (including UK, EU, US, CA, AU, NZ, SA citizens). The costs for a single entry visa are currently:
- up to 15 days - US$ 25
- 16 to 30 days - US$ 40
- 31 to 90 days - US$ 100
An additional $20 fee is charged to convert these into a multiple entry visa which will be needed for any tours returning to Nepal after visiting Bhutan or Tibet.
The visa is obtained in the immigration area at the point where your passport is stamped. Forms to fill in are available in this immigration hall and may also be given out on your flight (if so, do fill them in before you land as it will reduce your queuing time). You will also need to fill in an arrivals card. Once your paperwork is completed, head to the immigration desk and hand over your forms, 2 passport photos, your visa fee and passport. The visa fees are set in US Dollars, but you can also pay in other currencies, but don't rely on getting given change.
Passport Photos: You will need two passport photos for your Nepal visa if you are obtaining it on arrival. If you are doing any trekking, rafting or visiting a National Park (i.e. on many of of our tours), you should bring extras, as some of the permits we may need to get require these. Please bring at least 4 passport photos with you - they will always come in useful later if you don't need them all. -
Is travel insurance compulsory?
Yes! Travel insurance is compulsory on all of our tours and needs to cover personal accident & liability, medical expenses and repatriation, travel delay & abandonment. We also strongly recommend that you take out cover against cancellation and lost/stolen baggage. Personal medical insurance does not normally provide sufficient cover and is generally not suitable for travel on our tours. You will not be able to join your tour if you have not provided us with details of your insurance or if you arrive without cover in place (no refunds will be due in this event).
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
You are always able to change your travel date. However, some charges may apply depending on how long before your departure you make the change. Our flexible booking conditions and reduced charges will apply if you are changing date because of a Covid-19 reason or because your government is advising against travel to your destination. Please check our detailed booking conditions for full details.
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When is my balance payment due?
60 days prior to departure
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
On most of our group tours, solo travellers may choose to form a temporary 'tour bubble' and share a room with another traveller of the same sex in the group. If a room share is not available then a single room supplement may be payable, with the costs for these kept as low as possible. We have also removed compulsory single supplements from many of our tours, and are reducing the cost by 50% on s
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Can I transfer my booking to someone else?
Customers may transfer their booking or any Credit on File to another person who satisfies all the relevant conditions to the tour, provided that we are notified not less than 7 days before departure, and the transferee agrees to these booking conditions and all other terms of the contract between us. The Client and new booker are jointly and severally responsible for any outstanding payments and a transfer administration fee of GBP50 / USD75 / CAD100 / AUD100 / NZD100 / EUR75 / ZAR1000 / INR5000 or GBP100 / USD150 / CAD200 / AUD200 / NZD200 / EUR150 / ZAR2000 / INR10,000 if the transfer is made less than 60 days before departure. Important Note: Certain arrangements may not be amended or transferred after they have been confirmed (for example flight tickets, Gorilla Permits) and any alteration could incur a cancellation and rebooking charge of up to 100% of that part of the arrangements.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Encounters Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform encounters travel, 60 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Encounters Travel requires a minimum deposit of 150 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of encounters travel charges.
Up to 61 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 35% of booking price.
At 41 days before tour starts: Forfeit 70% of booking price.
At 27 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.