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Nepal, Tibet & Bhutan
Prices From: $5230 AUD
Tour Code: PHTB
Countries Visited: Bhutan, China, Nepal, Tibet (China)
Upon arrival in Kathmandu, you are met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Our airport representative will be waiting for you in the arrival hall, located after passing out of the customs area. Look out for the Peregrine signboard. The drive from the airport to the hotel is around 20 minutes. A briefing given by our group leader is scheduled for the late afternoon. Your passport will also be collected for lodgement at the Chinese Embassy to obtain our group visa. The evening is free, but usually our tour leader will organise an evening meal (optional) at one of Kathmandu’s fine Nepali restaurants. Alternatively you can enjoy a dinner at the hotel.
Day 2: Kathmandu (1360m)
In the morning we explore Kathmandu on an organised sightseeing tour. We visit Bodhnath Stupa, one of the biggest Buddhist shrines in the world, where we observe Buddhist monks in prayer in the monasteries surrounding the stupa. We also visit Pashupatinath, the most famous Hindu temple in the country, located on the banks of the holy Bagmati River. Here we see Hindu holy men (sadhus) meditating, pilgrims bathing and occasionally funeral pyres burning on the ghats. The rest of our time in Kathmandu is free for further sightseeing and exploration. You may wish to take the option of wandering into the centre of town and exploring the Durbar Square area or just relaxing in the spacious hotel gardens. Alternatively you may wish to arrange for a taxi to take you out to Bhaktapur, probably the most fascinating of the medieval towns in the Kathmandu Valley. A visit to Thamel gives you a chance to do some last-minute shopping. Later, we are supplied with our Trek Pack and departure information for tomorrow.
Meals included: 1 breakfast
We are transferred from our hotel to Kathmandu Airport for our flight to Tibet. This is one of the most spectacular flights in the world as we follow the high mountain peaks before crossing over the Himalayan chain to the high Tibetan Plateau. On arrival at Gongkar Airport we are met and driven by coach to the fabled city of Lhasa, which lies at 3650 metres above sea level.
Meals included: 1 breakfast
In Lhasa we have two days to explore this once-isolated city, with its monasteries and markets bulging with pilgrims and traders. This includes an organised tour to the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and Sera and Drepung Monasteries. Free time to explore the city is subject to the Chinese authorities and the ever-changing 'political climate', although there are never any problems with filling in the days to great advantage in such a fascinating city. In your free time you may wish to visit the Norbulingka Summer Palace or the interesting Tibet Museum.
Meals included: 2 breakfasts
After our wonderful experience in Lhasa we drive to the airport for a morning flight back to Kathmandu. On arrival in Kathmandu we are met and transferred back to our starting hotel. The rest of the day is free to do souvenir shopping or further sightseeing. Located in the south of the city, Patan is also worth a visit with its own Durbar Square full of historic structures and statues of past kings.
Meals included: 1 breakfast
Our flight to Pokhara leaves in the mid morning, although please be aware that delays can occur if fog lies in the valley. The flight time is approximately 45 minutes and given a clear day there are superb views of the Ganesh, Manaslu and Annapurna mountain ranges on the northern horizon. Upon arrival at Pokhara we transfer to the Shangri La Village Resort in time for lunch. Lying at the foot of the Annapurnas, Pokhara is located in a beautiful position with views of the fishtail peak, Machhapuchhare (6693m), and other peaks of the Annapurna range visible from the hotel. In the afternoon we can relax in the large hotel gardens, enjoy the swimming pool or visit the lakeside area of Phewa Tal, where we can browse through the tourist shops or enjoy boating on the lake. The evening is free and our tour leader will organise an optional dinner at either the hotel or in one of Pokhara’s many lakeside restaurants.
Meals included: 1 breakfast
We enjoy a full day in Pokhara to explore the valley. An early morning drive to Sarangkot enables us to enjoy a sunrise panorama over the Annapurna and Manaslu ranges. Both peaks are above eight thousand metres and the view here can simply be described as awe-inspiring. We return to the hotel for breakfast and for the rest of the day we are free to relax in the beautiful grounds of the Shangri La Resort or join your tour leader in exploring more of the sights of the Pokhara Valley. Options include visiting the mountaineering museum and the caves at Devin's Falls or wandering down to the lakeside and hiring a boat for a row on the lake. The adventurous can even hire bicycles to get around. The evening is free and our leader can organise another meal (optional) at either the hotel or we can visit another of the great lakeside restaurants.
Meals included: 1 breakfast
We leave Pokhara In the morning and drive to Royal Chitwan National Park. After arriving and settling in, we are introduced to the camp staff and resident naturalists who will discuss our program at Royal Park Wildlife Resort. There is some flexibility and activities may vary with the time of the year and known wildlife movements and locations. We may visit the elephant camp to see how their handlers, known as phanits, care for these beautiful animals. A late afternoon safari riding on elephants takes us into the forest and grasslands to observe the varied and exciting wildlife in the park. In the early evening the local Tharu dance troupe may perform a cultural program. We then enjoy dinner and afterwards we are free to relax in the bar and discuss the day’s sightings or listen to the exotic sounds of the jungle at night. The Jungle Bar or terrace bar with a deck over the riverbank enables us to look out for animals coming down to drink at the water holes.
Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner
An early morning excursion could include either another elephant safari to different parts of the park in search of the great Indian rhino or a jungle walk in search of exotic bird life and deer. Tiger sightings are rare these days, but these magnificent animals do inhabit the park. After breakfast we leave the lodge for a trip by dugout canoe on the Rapti River. This is an exciting trip with chances to view marsh mugger crocodiles and various birds that inhabit the riverbanks. A program is organised for us for the rest of the day that may include further walks with a naturalist guide, excursions by jeep or a visit to one of the nearby villages.
Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner
There is an early morning safari and a final chance to catch a glimpse of more of the exotic wildlife of the area. This is also our last chance to spot some of the animals that we may not have previously seen. After breakfast we drive on to the Nepalese capital of Kathmandu. The evening is free but usually our group leader will organise another evening meal (optional) at one of Kathmandu’s fine Nepali restaurants.
Meals included: 1 breakfast
We leave the hotel mid-morning and transfer to the airport for the flight to Paro, in Bhutan. The plane flies parallel to the main Himalayan range and those on the left of the aircraft should be fortunate enough, in clear weather, to enjoy good views of some of the Himalayan giants, including Everest, Kanchenjunga and Chomolhari - Bhutan’s second highest peak. Flight time is approximately one hour. On landing at Paro we are met by our local representatives who will help us with the formalities before we take a two-hour drive to the capital, Thimphu. After checking into our hotel the rest of the day is free to explore the town.
Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner
After breakfast we view Tashicho Dzong (Fortress of the Glorious Religion), the administrative and religious centre of Bhutan located on the right bank of Thimphu Chhu. The original building dates back to 1216, whilst the present dzong was built by Shabdrung Nawang Namgyal in 1641. We then drive to the Memorial Chorten, built in 1974 in memory of King Jigmi Dorjee Wangchuk. Other sights in the capital include the Painting School, an institution where children receive formal education in the art of traditional painting, sculpture and woodcarving. We may also visit Drubthob Gompa Nunnery, which houses about 40 nuns and also provides shelter for aging women and orphaned girls. Thimphu has an excellent range of handicrafts, most notably woven cloth, wooden masks, thangkas, silverware, jewellery and bamboo craft that come from all parts of Bhutan.
Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner
We begin with an early morning drive from Thimphu for an excursion to the legendary Taktsang (Tiger's Nest) - a small monastery, clinging on a rock cliff 900 metres above the valley floor. A few years ago the monastery was seriously damaged by fire but has since been rebuilt, although tourists are not permitted to enter the interior of the monastery. Legend has it that the Great Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhawa) flew here from Tibet on the back of a tigress to subdue the demons of Paro Valley. During our stay in Paro we also visit Drukgyal Dzong, a famous 17th Century fortress that repelled many Tibetan invasions. Time permitting, we may also visit Ta Dzong, a circular fortress built in the mid 17th century and now converted into the National Museum that houses an excellent collection of Bhutanese antiquities. We then drive to Paro for our overnight stay. The following day we enjoy further sightseeing options and there is also have free time to explore the beautiful Paro Valley.
Meals included: 2 breakfasts, 2 lunchs, 2 dinners
After breakfast we are transferred to the airport for our flight out, bringing to an end to this exciting journey. (Please note that your departure flight is not included as part of the trip and must be booked separately.)
Meals included: 1 breakfast
Tour Grade:
| Start Date | End Date | Price |
| 16 Oct 2008 | 31 Oct 2008 | $5653 |
| 12 Mar 2009 | 27 Mar 2009 | $5653 |
| 02 Apr 2009 | 17 Apr 2009 | $5653 |
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