Since you have travelled this far, why not take this unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the wisdom and freshness of the whole of the Himalayas.
The Journey: Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan, are the last Shangri-La’s of the Himalayas, preserving ancient cultures full of wisdom that have been influencing the western thought for years. Being able to enjoy these three countries in a single programme, all in the same area of the Himalayas, but with their distinct landscapes and cultures, has to be the supreme experience of this exalted part of the world. Came and join us for this spiritual adventure.
The fixed departure for this programme starts in Kathmandu, Sunday 4th September 2011 at noon at the designated hotel, meeting our representative and with a welcome dinner in the evening to present the complete programme, and ends in Paro, Bhutan on Wednesday 21st September at noon.
This programme can be combined with any of the other itineraries we have to offer in the Himalayas, or extensions in Nepal or India, either individually or in groups. For more information please go to our website www.MysticalAsia.com part of the Dharma Adventures Group or contact our team at sm@dharma.com.np
Selected hotels: On a tour such as this, so varied and visiting three different countries, we will encounter very different tourism standards and services. During the programme in Tibet some hotels/guesthouses are basic, because there are no other options, but in the major cities, we have selected hotels that although not deluxe, nevertheless offer high standards of quality and service.
Kathmandu: Malla Hotel Lhasa: Hotel Kyichu Gyantse: Hotel Jian Zhang Shigatse: Hotel Mansarovar Shega: Hotel Shanghai Dhulikhel: Mirabel Resort Hotel Paro: Hotel Olathang Thimphu: Peaceful Resort
Note: For extra hotel nights in Kathmandu, Paro, or Thimphu, please contact our team at sm@dharma.com.np
Visa information: For this program your clients can get the Nepal visa at arrival 30 or 90 days multiple entries, depending on how long before or after our program start they are planning to stay. For Tibet and Bhutan we can take care from here. Please refer to our Tibet & Bhutan visa information posted @ our website www.MisticalAsia.com if your clients are planning to extend their stay in India, it is very important to get the India visa, before departure, from their own countries.
Day 01: Kathmandu Arrival at the designated hotel, check-in time after 12.00 pm, meeting with our representative to give an overview of the entire program with a welcome dinner in the evening.
Day 02: Kathmandu Sightseeing tour around the old part of town, with its pagoda-style temples and stunning wood carvings, we also will visit the holy stupas of Swoyambhunath and Boudhanath, revered since ancient times. In the afternoon a visit to Kopan Tibetan Monastery.
Day 03: Kathmandu Half day excursion to visit the city of Patan, also known as the City of Fine Arts, the traditional centre for carving and Newar Buddhist sculpture.
Day 04: Kathmandu – Lhasa Flight to Lhasa, where we will cross the Himalayas from south to north, with breathtaking views of the Everest region. Afternoon will be free in Lhasa to acclimatize to the altitude (3,658m).
Day 05: Lhasa Tibet's capital, the City of Gods, a place of pilgrimage par excellence, for all Tibetans. We will visit the Jokhang temple, in the heart of the city, which houses the most sacred statue of Tibet the JowoSakyamuni, we will also visit the Barkhor bazaar surrounding the temple, filled with pilgrims and merchants from all parts of Tibet. In the afternoon visit the stunning Potala Palace, the landmark of Tibet, the old palace of the Dalai Lamas.
Day 06: Lhasa Full day excursion to visit the monasteries around Lhasa, visiting Drepung, the largest, and Sera Monastery, and the Norbulingka Summer Palace.
Day 07: Lhasa – Gyantse Travel by road through the mountain passes of Kamba La at 4,700m, with wonderful views of Lake Yamdrok (Turquoise Lake) and the Karo La pass, at 5,045m before descending to the town of Gyantse. In the afternoon, a visit to the important town of Gyantse, where the famous Choten of Khumbum (100,000 images), one of the most important monuments of the country, with its countless frescoes and statues, hidden in small chapels around the six floors that make up this impressive architectural model stupa. Overnight stay at Gyantse.
Day 08: Gyantse – Shigatse Ravel by road to the city of Shigatse, the second largest city of Tibet. Afternoon tour of the city, where the famous palace/monastery of the Panchen Lamas, the Tashilunpo, which houses a magnificent statue of the future Buddha Maitreya.
Day 09: Shigatse – Shega travel by road on the magnificent Tibetan plateau, with breathtaking views of the north face of Everest and other major peaks of the Himalayas.
Day 10: Shega - Dhulikhel (Nepal) By road, visiting en route the cave where the great Tibetan saint and poet Milarepa meditated. The impressive road steeply descends from the Plateau with views of natural waterfalls as it enters into Nepal. After passing custom formalities between China and Nepal, we will experience the contrast of the foliage and greenery of the southern side of the Himalayas, with its gorges, along the river Bhotekoshi followed by the fertile terraced fields, until we reach the picturesque town of Dhulikhel. Overnight stay in Dhulikhel.
Day 11: Dhulikhel – Kathmandu By road visiting on the way, the medieval city of Bhaktapur. This city displays an impressive array of temples. In the main square we will have the opportunity to see the best example that exists in Nepal of the pagoda architectural style, the famous temple of Nyatapola.
Day 12: Kathmandu Day at leisure to enjoy the atmosphere of the city and its small shops and local restaurants before departing for Bhutan.
Day 13: Kathmandu – Paro (Bhutan) Today we will fly parallel to the Himalayas with stunning views of the highest snow peaks in the world. Arrival at Bhutan international airport in Paro and transfer to the hotel. In the afternoon we will visit the National Museum (Ta-Dzong) located on top of a hill overlooking the entire Paro valley, we will also visit the city's main Dzong, the Rinchen Pong.
Day 14: Paro Today we will have a walking hike (you can also rent horses) to the hermitage of Taktsang, perhaps the most emblematic of the monasteries of Bhutan, whose name means ‘The Tiger's Nest’. The temple stands on a rocky ledge with a vertical drop of nearly 800m. In the afternoon we can visit the DrugyalDzong, a ruined fortress, where on clear days you can see, the summit of Mount Chomolhari ‘Mountain Goddess’ the highest peak in Bhutan (7,314m).
Day 15: Paro – Thimphu; after breakfast, we leave for Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan through a picturesque road along the river Paro. In the evening after 5.00 pm when they allow the visitors in, we can visit the main city Dzong, the Trashichhoe, a magnificent example of Bhutanese architecture, set in the lush banks of the Wang Chhu river.
Day 16: Thimpu - full-day sightseeing Visiting the memorial Chorten (Buddhist monument) the Changangkha Lhakhang temple with its stunning views of the city, the Motithang or small zoo where we can see the Takin, the rare national animal. We will also visit The National Library with its magnificent collection of traditional Buddhist texts and the School of Arts and Crafts, where we can see the making of the famous paintings of Thangkas and Buddhist clay statues.
Day 17: Thimphu – Punakha – Thimphu Early in the morning, depart for Punakha, 76 kilometers away, passing through the mountain pass of Dochu La at 3,140m, with splendid views of the Bhutanese Himalaya, weather permitting. Once in Punakha we will visit the magnificent Punakha Dzong, in a privileged place at the confluence of the male (Pho) and female (Mo) rivers, with exquisite work of polychrome carvings and colourful religious frescoes decorating the walls. The Punakha Dzong is the living testimony to the wealth of architecture and sacred art of the Bhutanese people. Near Punakha we will visit the enchanting temple of Chime Lhakhang, the temple is dedicated to the Lama Drukpa Kuenley, an unorthodox Buddhist saint whose life history forms the basis of many local and regional legends.
Day 18: Thimphu – Paro After breakfast departure to Paro airport to catch the flight to your next destination and end of our services.
Airfare for the sector Kathmandu-Lhasa: US$ 450.00 per person including all taxes/ subject to change if revised. Airfare for the sector Kathmandu – Paro: US$ 230.00 per person including all taxes/ subject to change if revised.
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China Visa Fee: US$ 85.00 per person for all nationalities except US$ 175.00 per person for US Nationals.
Cost Includes and Excludes
Cost Includes
Arrival/Departure Transfers.
Meet assistance at the airport by our representative.
05 night’s hotel accommodation at Hotel Malla – Kathmandu in a twin sharing room on bed and breakfast basis.
03 night’s accommodation at the Hotel Kyichu or similar - Lhasa in a twin sharing room on bed and breakfast basis.
01 night accommodation at Hotel Jian Zhang - Gyantse in a twin sharing room on bed and breakfast plan.
01 night accommodation at Hotel Manasarovar - Shigatse in a twin sharing room on bed and breakfast plan.
01 night accommodation at Shanghai Chomulangma – Shegar in a twin sharing room on bed and breakfast basis.
01 night accommodation at Mirabel Resort – Dhulikhel in a twin sharing room on bed and breakfast basis.
02 night’s accommodation at Hotel Olathang or similar – Paro in a twin sharing room on full board basis.
03 night’s accommodation at Peaceful Resort or similar – Thimpu in a twin sharing room on full board basis.
Surface transfer for Kodari – Kathmandu via Dhulikhel.
Bhutan Visa fee.
Tourism development fund & Entrance fee in Bhutan.
Private transfers by minivan/mini coach in Tibet.
Sightseeing tour and all surface transfers in Tibet will be provided as per the itinerary with local English speaking Tibetan guide by private vehicle.
All the sightseeing tour and transfers in Bhutan as per the itinerary with local English speaking Bhutanese guide by private vehicle.
All the sightseeing tours in Kathmandu will be provided as per the program with local guides by private vehicle.
Tibet Travel Permit.
02 dinners (Welcome & farewell dinners) at best available local restaurants In Kathmandu and Bhutan.
All surface transfers as per the itinerary by private vehicle.
All entrance and monuments fees as indicated in the program.
Cost Excludes
Nepal entry visa fee.
Chinese Visa Fee. Quoted Separately.
International & domestic airfare. Quoted Separately.
Lunch and dinner in Nepal and Tibet [except in Bhutan]
Refreshments, bottled drinks.
Tipping.
Insurance and rescue of any form.
Expenses of personal nature and any other expenses not mentioned in the above cost.
Photography charges in the monasteries and monuments.
Meals not mentioned in the itinerary.
Important note: Please refer to our web site for the general conditions under which our company operates. Thank you.
: Airfare for the sector Kathmandu-Lhasa: US$ 450.00 per person including all taxes/ subject to change if revised. Airfare for the sector Kathmandu – Paro: US$ 230.00 per person including all taxes/ subject to change if revised.
: China Visa Fee: US$ 85.00 per person for all nationalities except US$ 175.00 per person for US Nationals.
