Best of the Himalayas: Bhutan, Nepal & Tibet

(13 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis)
Thimphu, Punakha, Paro, Kathmandu & Kathmandu Valley, Lhasa

Enjoy personalized touring and luxury hotels in Bhutan, Nepal and Tibet on this ultimate private tour of the Himalayas.

Begin in Thimphu, the bustling capital of Bhutan and one of the best places to experience Bhutanese heritage. During private touring, visit important Buddhist sites, local markets, crafts workshops (Buddhist thangkas, sculptures, weavings and more) and museums to learn about Bhutanese traditions and history. Artisans of Leisure will also arrange a visit to Tashichho Dzong, an impressive traditional fortress that’s the seat of the Bhutanese government, and, if desired, a meeting with a local astrologer, an important figure in Bhutanese daily life. Depending on your interests, touring can also include privately guided hikes to temples and monasteries in the foothills of the Himalayas, visiting a handmade paper factory, a private Bhutanese cooking lesson at a local home, a visit to the takin preserve to see Bhutan’s unusual national animal, watching an archery competition and private meditation sessions with monks.

Next, enjoy a scenic transfer through the mountains to Punakha, the ancient winter capital of Bhutan. Stop en route at Dochu La Pass to see its 108 chortens and take in views of the snow-capped Himalayas. Descend into Punakha, a subtropical valley filled with rhododendrons, banana plants and rice paddies. During private touring, visit Chimi Lhakhang fertility temple, enjoy peaceful walks through farming villages, light a butter lamp at a local Buddhist temple, tour stunning Punakha Dzong, visit a Buddhist nunnery in the hills and take a short hike to a hillside chorten with panoramic views. Depending on your interests, touring can also include hikes to mountain monasteries, blessings by monks, private river rafting, a tour of Wangdue Phodrang Dzong and other top activities around Punakha.

Continue to Paro, a picture-perfect Bhutanese town in a verdant river valley and the base for visiting iconic Tiger’s Nest Monastery. During private touring, see Bhutanese cultural treasures in the National Museum, admire the views from Paro Dzong, and browse for locally made crafts and Buddhist items in the traditional wooden storefronts on Paro’s charming main street. One day, enjoy a privately guided excursion to Tiger's Nest, a breathtaking cliffside Buddhist monastery (also known as Taktsang Goemba) that’s a highlight of Bhutan. Depending on your interests, touring can also include a biking excursion and a private Bhutanese archery lesson. Artisans of Leisure can also arrange yoga sessions and a traditional Bhutanese hot-stone bath—the perfect way to relax after the hike to Tiger’s Nest.

Artisans of Leisure can arrange additional activities in Bhutan, such as attending festivals, blessings by Buddhist monks, private meditation lessons, butter lamp lighting ceremonies at Buddhist temples, hiking excursions and more.

Fly to Kathmandu, the endlessly fascinating capital of Nepal. During private touring with your expert guide and driver, walk through the lively backstreets of Old Kathmandu to see artisans' workshops, traditional markets, and active Buddhist and Hindu temples. Explore the cultural highlights in the numerous UNESCO World Heritage-listed monument zones around the city and in the surrounding Kathmandu Valley. Tour the beautiful courtyards, palaces and historic monuments of Kathmandu's Durbar Square. Circumambulate the mammoth white stupa at Boudhanath, the most important Tibetan Buddhist temple outside Tibet, with throngs of pilgrims and worshippers, and perhaps duck into one of the smaller temple buildings to light a candle or spin a giant prayer wheel among the faithful. Venture to the hilltop Swayambhunath, another important and photogenic Buddhist temple with an iconic white stupa, flapping prayer flags, and panoramic views of Kathmandu and the foothills of the Himalayas. Observe ceremonies at Pashupatinath, a sprawling Hindu temple complex that's the oldest and most revered Hindu site in Kathmandu. Other highlights include seeing Kumari Devi—a living goddess—and relaxing in the Garden of Dreams, a soothing green oasis.

In the Kathmandu Valley, tour the extensive palace districts in the former royal capitals of Patan and Bhaktapur. See beautiful traditional brick buildings with finely carved wooden windows. Visit the Patan Museum, a former palace and one of the best museums of traditional Nepalese art in the country. Peruse fine metal crafts such as singing bowls, brass tableware and gold-leafed religious icons produced in the small workshops of Patan. Browse for woodwork and ceramics created by artisans in Bhaktapur. Find the perfect shawl made of the finest Nepalese pashmina (cashmere). Learn about the iconography in Buddhist thangka paintings, and perhaps select one to take home. You will have ample time to shop for these and other typical Nepalese products, such as handmade paper and prayer wheels during your tour. Also sample local foods such as juju dhau, Bhaktapur's unique "king yogurt."

Finally, journey to Lhasa, Tibet, a high-altitude city steeped in Tibetan Buddhism. With your private guide and driver, enjoy flexible touring of the city's most compelling sights. Tour iconic Potala Palace, the 17th-century fortified palace that was the home of the Dalai Lama for more than 300 years and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit ancient Jokhang Temple, the most sacred temple in Tibetan Buddhism, to be immersed in Buddhist traditions. Walk along the Barkhor, a wide pedestrian street encircling Jokhang Temple, where pilgrims circumambulate, and small shops sell Buddhist items and household goods. Also enjoy an excursion to important monasteries on the outskirts of Lhasa, such as Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery, where monks study and engage in lively debates. Another option is Drak Yerpa Caves, a Buddhist hermitage built into cliffs.

A highlight of this tour is staying at incredible luxury lodges and hotels that offer the opportunity to experience traditional Himalayan hospitality, design, cuisine and spa treatments, as well as spectacular views of the surrounding nature.

Booking Information >

All Artisans of Leisure tours are private and depart daily.

Please Contact Us for more information regarding the above tour, or to begin customizing your own itinerary.

The Artisans of Leisure Style of Travel:

• Private touring with your own personal guides and drivers
• Preferred rooms in the very best luxury hotels
• Firsthand, sophisticated destination knowledge and recommendations from our travel specialists
• Itineraries that are customized according to your interests and schedule
• Artisans of Leisure upgrades and amenities
• A seamless travel experience, including all logistics, skipping lines during touring whenever possible, restaurant and spa reservations, performance tickets, private airport transfers, internal transportation, VIP and fast-track airport assistance in many destinations
• Around-the-clock support in each destination during your trip
• Unique, insider travel experiences and access to the Artisans of Leisure network of experts around the world