Bhutan, Nepal & Tibet: Himalayan Passages—A Cultural Tour with The Himalayan Adventure Experts

Arrive in Bangkok (most flights arrive in the evening). Take a complimentary shuttle to the Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel, a 5-minute ride from the airport. The hotel operates 24-hour free shuttle bus service between the terminal and the hotel, and runs every 10-15 minutes.

NOTE: Most airlines arrive late at night into Bangkok, and our flight from Bangkok to Paro departs very early the next morning. If your flight into Bangkok is delayed by even just a few hours, it would be easy to miss the group departure flight to Paro. We therefore encourage you to arrive a day or two early in Bangkok to explore this fascinating city, or to help overcome jet lag before the tour actually starts. There are many sightseeing possibilities. We’d be happy to make additional hotel reservations if requested. Additional costs will be reflected on your invoice.

Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel - Bangkok

Fly to Paro (7,500'), Bhutan, on Druk Air, the national airline of Bhutan. If the weather cooperates, you might have spectacular views of four of the ten highest peaks in the world—Everest, Cho Oyu, Makalu, and Kanchenjunga—plus peaks in Bhutan such as Chomolhari, Jichu Drakye, and Tsering Kang. After meeting the Mountain Travel Sobek trip leader at the Paro airport, we'll drive into town for lunch. We then drive to Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan, where we check into our hotel. In the afternoon we will visit some of the sites in town. These may include the Memorial Chorten, a shrine built in the memory of the late king, Jigme Dorji Wangchuk; Tashichho Dzong, seat of Bhutan's administrative and religious center; the Traditional Hospital of Herbal Medicine; and a school that trains students to paint, sculpt, and carve religious artwork.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner / Druk Hotel - Thimphu, Bhutan

After breakfast we drive to the north end of the road to Dodina (8,600') and hike an hour up a steep hill to visit Cheri Monastery, or Goemba, built in 1620 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal and established with an original staff of 30 monks. Nowadays the monastery serves as the main meditation center of the country and has more than 70 monks undergoing their three-year, three-month retreat. Inside is a silver chorten holding the ashes of the Shabdrung’s father. On our return we’ll visit Tango Goemba (another steep one-hour climb), founded in the 12th century (the present building was constructed in the 15th century). It is now a Buddhist institute for higher learning. Return to Thimphu for dinner and overnight. (1 hour driving; 4 hours hiking)

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner / Druk Hotel - Thimphu, Bhutan

Morning drive across the Dochu La pass at 10,000 feet, where we might view the snow-covered peaks of the eastern Himalaya (weather permitting). The pass is marked by hundreds of colorful fluttering prayer flags and is an awesome sight. Continue to Punakha, winter seat of the highest lama in Bhutan until the 1950s. We will visit the ancient Punakha Dzong dating back to the 17th century, which is spectacularly situated at the confluence of the Mo and Phu Rivers.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner / Hotel Zangthopelri - Punakha, Bhutan

Morning drive to Paro. In the afternoon, we’ll visit the National Museum, housed in an old watchtower above the Paro Dzong. The museum’s collections include displays of spectacular thangkas (religious scroll paintings), bronze statues, Bhutan’s beautiful stamps, and the Tshogshing Lhakhang ("Temple of the Tree of Wisdom"), with its carvings depicting the history of Buddhism. Time permitting, we will also visit the Paro Dzong, built in 1644 by the Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner / Hotel Zangthopelri - Punakha, Bhutan

Today we’ll take a steep, 1-hour hike to a teahouse, where we enjoy a great view of Taktsang Monastery (its name means “tiger’s nest”), perched on a cliff 2,700 feet above the floor of the Paro Valley. Our hike follows a steep switchback trail through the forest. After a break with tea and cookies, you have the option to sit outside the tea house and admire the monastery and its beautiful surroundings or, if you feel energetic, continue another hour to a closer viewpoint. Much of Taktsang was destroyed by a fire in April 1998, but it is now completely rebuilt. We’ll have some time in the afternoon to explore Paro on our own.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner / Zhiwa Ling Hotel - Paro, Bhutan

Transfer to the airport and fly to Kathmandu and connect with your flight to Pokhara (3,000'), a lively town set beside Phewa Lake with fantastic views of the Annapurna Range. Rest of the afternoon free to rest or wander around this beautiful valley.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner / Hotel Shangri-La Village - Pokhara, Nepal

Today, we’ll take a short hike around Pokhara, in the magical foothills of Annapurna and Lamjung Himal. Walks in this region provide memorable opportunities to meet the people of Nepal’s middle hills and take in the Pokhara Valley’s astounding Himalayan views. Return to the hotel in the late afternoon.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner / Hotel Shangri-La Village - Pokhara, Nepal

Early morning flight to Kathmandu. We’ll tour the temples and monuments of the Kathmandu Valley, including the remarkable Buddhist stupas of Bodhnath (largest in Nepal) and the Hindu temple of Pashupati on the banks of the Bagmati River. There will be some time to stroll Kathmandu’s busy streets and shop in the bazaars in the afternoon. Lunch and dinner on your own.

Breakfast / Yak & Yeti Hotel - Kathmandu, Nepal

In the morning, we’ll visit Bhaktapur, a nearby city in the Kathmandu Valley that has preserved its ancient character and does a wonderful job of displaying medieval Nepalese town life. A highlight is Durbar Square, with its many temples, remains of an ancient palace, and intricate Sun Dhoka (“Golden Gate”), a gilded copper gate crafted in 1753. Return to Kathmandu. Lunch and dinner on your own.

Breakfast / Yak & Yeti Hotel - Kathmandu, Nepal

Transfer to the airport and take a “Lost Horizons” flight to the Gongkar airport, located about 75 miles from Lhasa. Drive 48 miles to Tsedang (11,152') in the Yarlung Valley, which sheltered the ancient kingdom of Yarlung, the cradle of Tibetan civilization. Tsedang is the capital of this modern administrative region, and together with the adjacent town of Nedong, is a green oasis in the middle of the high altitude desert.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner / Tsedang Hotel

Drive west about 20 miles, then take a ferry across the Yarlung River to Samye, the first monastery to be built in Tibet (775 AD). It was founded as a school to train monks during the reign of King Thrisong Detsen and has the unusual affiliation with all three sects of Tibetan Buddhism: Nyingmapa, Sakyapa, and Gelugpa. We will tour the extensive buildings and then return to Tsedang for the evening.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner / Tsedang Hotel

Drive four hours to Lhasa (11,800'), the “Forbidden City,” and check into our charming Tibetan hotel. We will have three full days to explore the major sites, including excursions to the following places. We will also wander the age-worn streets of the Barkhor bazaar, mingling with pilgrims, monks, traders and nomads.

The Jokhang   The Jokhang is the principal and holiest Buddhist temple in Lhasa, as well as all of Tibet. It is the focus of devotion of hundreds of Tibetans from near and far who circle it to gain spiritual merit. The Jokhang was first constructed in the 7th century and has a large gold image of Sakyamuni Buddha.

Sera and Drepung   Sera, founded in 1419, is a monastery of the Gelugpa order. Its many white buildings sit at the base of a rocky hill. Gilded, bell-shaped gyamtschens grace the roofs of many of the larger buildings. Drepung used to have 8,000 monks who were taught in the traditions of Vajrayana, Mahayana, and Sutrayana, the three vehicles of Tibetan Buddhism. While at Drepung, we will hike the kora (sacred circuit) for acclimatization. (1½ hours hiking)

Potala Palace   The 13-story Potala Palace is reputed to contain 1,000 rooms and hundreds upon hundreds of brilliant thangkas, frescoes, and images built in an era when religious art was created anonymously as a means of gaining merit for future lives. It’s one of the world's most extraordinary buildings and completely covers the mountain it stands upon. When remarkable late 19th- and early 20th-century explorer Alexandra David-Neel saw the Potala, she remarked, “…even the best photograph will fail to convey a true idea of its imposing appearance, as it stands, a red palace capped with gold roofs, uplifted high in the blue sky, on a shining pedestal of dazzling white buildings.”

Ganden Monastery - We will visit Ganden Monastery, about 25 miles outside of Lhasa. Ganden was almost completely destroyed during the Cultural Revolution but is now being painstakingly restored. It was founded in 1409 by Tsongkhapa, the founder of the yellow hat sect (Gelugpa); it was the first Gelugpa monastery and is still considered the main seat of this major Buddhist order (Dalai Lama’s sect). The views here are spectacular; we will hike the two-hour kora and have stunning views of the whole Kyichu Valley. Along the way we’ll light juniper and hang prayer flags and then enjoy a picnic lunch overlooking the monastery. Return to Lhasa in the afternoon, with time to rest, shop, or explore on your own.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner / Kyichu Hotel - Lhasa, Tibet

Early morning wake-up for the 1½ hour drive to the airport, where we’ll fly to Chengdu, China. Connect with homeward-bound flight (your departing flight from Chengdu should be scheduled for after 3:00 p.m.).

NOTE: Most homeward-bound flights will require an overnight in either Beijing, Bangkok, or Hong Kong.

Breakfast