Essence of Nepal & Bhutan

(14 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis)
Kathmandu, Chitwan, Thimphu, Punakha, Paro

This private tour is the perfect introduction to the Himalayan countries of Nepal and Bhutan. Stay at the best luxury hotels, experience the rich local culture and traditions, and see incredible landscapes and wildlife. ALl touring is private, with your own private guides and drivers.

Begin in Nepal in Kathmandu, the crossroads of the Himalayas. Located at an altitude of 4,261 feet, the country’s capital boasts a history dating back to the 12th century as well as plenty of 21st-century comforts. With your expert private guide and driver, explore the best of Kathmandu as well as the most interesting towns in the surrounding valley: Patan and Bhaktapur.

Browse atmospheric streets lined with boutiques selling jewelry, prayer wheels, Buddhist thangkas and more. See spectacular squares featuring traditional architecture. Visit Hindu temples, such as Maju Deval, with its erotic carvings and assortment of marigold sellers, and Shiva Parvati, where a likeness of the god and his consort peer down over the square. Also enjoy excursions to the much-photographed Buddhist temples at Boudhanath and Swayambhunath, with their massive white stupas and fluttering prayer flags. Optional activities include a private fixed-wing scenic flight to view Mount Everest or privately guided trekking.

Next, explore the natural wonders of Chitwan National Park, Nepal’s first national park located in subtropical lowlands. Home to a variety of species, the park is most famous for its sizeable population of endangered one-horn Indian rhinos, as well as tigers, sloth bears and wild elephants. From the comfort of your jungle lodge, you’ll enjoy opportunities to spot and photograph these animals during a variety of lodge-based activities, including an elephant-back or Jeep safari, canoeing and walking tours through the jungle. The area’s rivers are also home to the unique gharial, an endangered crocodilian found only in India and Nepal.

Return to Kathmandu for an overnight stay before flying to Bhutan. Stay in Thimphu, Bhutan's charming capital, and enjoy comprehensive touring of Thimphu’s many cultural attractions and important Buddhist highlights. Meet local people, learn about local traditions, explore a bustling market, and visit various small museums specializing in textiles, folk heritage, and traditional Bhutanese arts and crafts. Other activities can be incorporated based on your interests, such as a private day hike to rural villages and monasteries, a private Bhutanese cooking lesson at a local home, a meeting with a Bhutanese astrologer, or a private meditation session with monks.

Continue your drive through the mountains, passing the 108 stupas, to Punakha, the ancient winter capital located in a sub-tropical valley where rhododendron and magnolia bloom and orange and banana trees flourish. Relax at your luxurious farmhouse-style lodge, set among rice terraces, chili and cabbage fields and traditional Bhutanese farmhouses. Enjoy a peaceful walk through rural farming villages, receive a blessing from a monk, opt to hike up a mountain for beautiful panoramic views of the valley, and visit the stunning Punakha Dzong.

The tour concludes with three nights in Paro, a resort town nestled between the Himalayas. Visit the National Museum, explore the surrounding valleys, and visit Tiger's Nest, a breathtaking monastery clinging to a cliff that is one of the most important icons of Bhutan. Other options include shopping for crafts and Himalayan and Buddhist items, a private archery lesson, or private yoga lessons.

Upon request, Artisans of Leisure can incorporate activities such as overnight treks, meetings with local specialists, farm visits, monastery visits, soft-adventure activities (hiking, biking, archery rafting, or golf), shopping, cooking classes, blessings and meditations led by monks, and more.