Mountain Kingdoms of the Himalayas

Day 1 London to Kathmandu, Nepal.

Fly by scheduled indirect flight.

Day 2 Kathmandu.

Arrive today in the Nepalese capital and transfer to our hotel, the Marriott Hotel Kathmandu. The remainder of the day is free to relax or explore independently before we meet for dinner in the hotel. (D)

Day 3 Bhaktapur & Kathmandu.

After breakfast in the hotel we drive the short distance to Bhaktapur, which was founded in the 9th century and, like Kathmandu, is a city of the Newar people. One of the three Medieval city states in the Kathmandu Valley, Bhaktapur is the best preserved with remarkable architecture and exquisite woodcarvings. The centre is Bhaktapur Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where we see the Lion Gate, the Golden Gate and the statues of kings on stone monoliths. The Golden Gate was erected by King Ranajit Malla as the entrance to the main courtyard of the Fifty-five Window Palace. Meanwhile in the alleys we will see the local artisans weaving cloth or drying pottery. After lunch in a local restaurant we will return to Kathmandu for some free time. This evening we will have dinner in the city and will be joined by a Sherpa who will talk to us about their experiences climbing Mount Everest. (B, L, D)

Day 4 Swayambhunath, Patan & Kathmandu.

Spend the morning at the UNESCO site of Swayambhunath situated on a hill overlooking the Kathmandu Valley. Built in 460 AD it has become one of the holiest Buddhist stupas in Nepal but also incorporates Hindu temples on the site. The white dome and golden spire painted with the eyes of Buddha and with prayer wheels at the base are also mobbed by the resident monkeys causing it to be known as the “Monkey Temple”. Continue to the ancient city of Patan where we visit the historic Durbar Square, the Golden Gate, the sky piercing temple of Taleju and the statue of Yogendra Malla, Krishna Mandir, Hiranya Varna Mahavihar and Mahabouddha. After some free time for lunch we return to Kathmandu Durbar Square which is located in the heart of the old city. There are around 50 temples in the vicinity and we will see the 17th century Durbar complex, Hanuman Dhoka, Parvati temple, great Bell and Drum, Bhairav and Taleju Temple. All around the splendour of these historical monuments is the hustle and bustle of the market place. (B, D)

Day 5 Kathmandu to Thimpu, Bhutan.

This morning we transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight to Paro. The flight is one of the most spectacular in the entire Himalayas offering fascinating views and an exciting descent into the Kingdom. Bhutan’s first gift to you as you disembark from the aircraft will be cool, clean fresh mountain air. On arrival we drive to Thimphu, Bhutan’s capital city, and check in to our hotel, Le Meridien, where we have lunch before driving to the Great Buddha Dordenma statue offering wonderful views over the valley of Thimphu. Before this evening’s dinner in the hotel, we will be joined by a Bhutanese scholar who will talk to us about Bhutan and Gross National Happiness. The Gross National Happiness philosophy serves as a beacon for Bhutan in its search for greater wellbeing and advancement of the Bhutanese people. (B, L, D)

Day 6 Thimpu.

Spend the day exploring the city’s main highlights including The National Library, which was established in 1967 to preserve ancient Dzongkha and Tibetan texts. At the Textile Museum we learn about the national art of weaving and see the exhibitions introducing the major weaving techniques, styles of local dress and textiles made by women and men. Meet the students at the Institute for Zorig Chusum, known as Arts & Crafts School where students learn the 13 traditional arts and crafts of Bhutan. The Folk Heritage Museum is dedicated to connecting people with the rich Bhutanese Folk heritage and rural history through exhibits, demonstrations, educational programs and documentation of Bhutanese rural life. After lunch, enjoy a leisurely afternoon to explore at your own pace before we meet later this evening for dinner. (B, L, D)

Day 7 Thimpu to Punakha.

Leaving Thimpu we will drive to Dochula Pass, take in the view and admire the chorten, mani wall, and prayer flags which decorate the highest point on the road. If skies are clear, we can see many Himalayan peaks including Zongphugang, a table-mountain that dominates the isolated region of Lunana and Gangkar puensum, the highest peak in Bhutan at 7,497 metres. From here we visit the Royal Botanical Park, the first botanical park in Bhutan which forms the backdrop of the Dochula Pass before arriving in Punakha which served as the capital of Bhutan and seat of government until 1955 and still it is the winter seat of Je Khenpo. Blessed with a temperate climate and owing to its natural drainage from the Pho Chhu (male) and Mo Chhu (female) rivers, the fertile Punakha valley produces abundant crops and fruits. Check in to the Dhensa Resort and after lunch take a short walking excursion to Chimi Lhakhang, situated on a hillock in the centre of the valley. The trail leads across rice fields to the tiny settlement of Pana, meaning ‘field’. A walk through the village near the temple will give you rare glimpses into the daily life and lifestyle of the villagers. The remainder of the day is at leisure to relax and enjoy the hotel facilities. (B, L, D)

Day 8 Punakha.

Today we will visit Punakha Dzong (or Palace of Great Happiness), built at the junction of the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers in 1637. This majestic dzong served as both the religious and the administrative centre of Bhutan in the past. It measures some 600 by 240 feet and has a six-story, gold-domed tower. Inside are courtyards and religious statuary that hint at the depth of history and spiritual tradition embodied here. (B, L, D)

Day 9 Punakha to Paro.

After breakfast we take the scenic highway to Paro. The beautiful valley of Paro encapsulates within itself a rich culture, scenic beauty and hundreds of myths and legends. It is home to many of Bhutan’s oldest temples and monasteries, the National Museum and the country’s only international airport. Mount Chomolhari reigns in white glory at the northern end of the valley and its glacial water plunge through deep gorges to form Pa Chhu (Paro river). Paro is also one of the most fertile valleys in the Kingdom producing a bulk of the locally famous red rice from its terraced fields. Check in to Le Meridien hotel, our base for the next two nights, and after lunch we visit Ta Dzong (National Museum) where an extensive collection includes antique Thangka paintings, textiles, weapons and armour, household objects and a rich assortment of natural and historic artefacts. We then take the trail to visit Rinpung Dzong (Paro Dzong), meaning “fortress of the heap of jewels”. Along the wooden galleries lining the inner courtyard are fine wall paintings illustrating Buddhist lore such as four friends, the old man of long life, the wheel of life, scenes from the life of Milarepa, Mount Sumeru and other cosmic Mandala. After our visit enjoy free time to explore Paro before dinner in the hotel. (B, L, D)

Day 10 Tiger’s Nest Monastery & Paro.

This morning, those feeling active can take the long trek to the Taktsang Monastery or Tiger’s Nest. It is one of the most famous of Bhutan’s monasteries, perched on the side of a cliff 900 metres above the Paro valley floor. It is said that Guru Rinpoche arrived here on the back of a tigress and meditated at this monastery and hence it is called ‘Tiger’s Nest’. This site has been recognised as a most sacred place; it was visited by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1646 and is now visited by all Bhutanese at least once in their lifetime. For those not wishing to hike you will drive to the base of Drukgyel Dzong, a 17th century fortress burned down in the early 1950s. Here we will also see the beautiful typical Bhutanese farmhouses which are very colourful, decorative and traditionally built without the use of single nail. The majority of the population of Bhutan continues to live as it has for centuries – in small isolated farms and hamlets, surrounded by terraced fields of rice, maize and buckwheat. Also see Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the 108 temples built in the Himalayas by Tibetan King, Songtsen Gampo. The building of this temple marks the introduction of Buddhism in Bhutan. (B, L, D)

Day 11 Paro to Darjeeling, India.

After breakfast drive to Paro airport and board our scheduled flight to Bagdogra airport from where we transfer to Darjeeling and check in to The Elgin for our three night stay. Spread in ribbons over a steep mountain ridge, surrounded by emerald-green tea plantations and towered over by majestic Khangchendzonga, Darjeeling is the definitive Indian hill station and for many, West Bengal’s premier destination. Here we can admire colonial-era architecture, Buddhist monasteries, and take a ride on the 140-year-old steam-billowing Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. Meanwhile, the steep and winding bazaars at the foot of the town bustle with an array of Himalayan products and faces from across Sikkim, Bhutan, Nepal and Tibet. (B, D)

Day 12 Darjeeling.

Early risers have the option to visit nearby Tiger Hill for a sunrise view before returning to the hotel for breakfast. Later this morning we will take a ride on the Toy Train, a narrow-gauge course connecting Darjeeling and Siliguri which began operation in 1881 and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. The train ride combines heritage, the marvel of engineering and is one of the best ways to experience the natural beauty of Darjeeling. From the train we will see the local markets, towns and bridges as well as passing through some lush green hills, jungles and tea farms with the mesmerising view of snow-covered Himalayan peaks and the world’s third highest peak, Kanchenjunga as a backdrop. After an independent lunch we will explore Darjeeling further with a walk along Mall Road, a vibrant pedestrianised walkway lined with shops, boutiques and restaurants. (B, D)

Day 13 Darjeeling.

This morning spend time at the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute which preserves and teaches about past mountaineering expeditions, especially about the Mount Everest Expedition by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, since the early 20th century. Continue to the Zoological Park which is the only specialised zoo in India, internationally recognised for its conservation breeding programmes of Red Panda, Himalayan Newt, Snow Leopards, Tibetan Wolf and other highly endangered animal species of the Eastern Himalaya. We will take lunch with a local family before making our way to the Tibetan Refugee Centre, which includes a Tibetan Buddhist temple, workshops producing carpets, woodcarvings, wool and woollen items and a photographic exhibition on Tibetan history. End the day at one of the tea estates where we can walk through a tea garden on the gentle hill slopes of Darjeeling and see the tea processing methods before enjoying a freshly brewed cup. (B, L, D)

Day 14 Darjeeling to Kolkata.

Check out from the hotel and transfer to Bagdogra airport from where we will take a scheduled flight to Kolkata. Arrive this afternoon and transfer to the JW Marriott Kolkata hotel where you can enjoy time at leisure before we meet for dinner tonight. (B, D)

Day 15 Kolkata.

A morning city tour will include the Victoria Memorial, a huge monument made of white marble located in the heart of the city and St Paul Cathedral. After an independent lunch in the city we embark on an afternoon cruise on the Hooghly River. From the river we can see many of the city’s landmarks as well as temples, ghats and historic buildings. (B, D)

Day 16 Kolkata.

Today we visit the vibrant flower market before continuing to Dalhousie Square, an oasis at the heart of modern Kolkata where the plaza is ringed by historic architecture and contains the Lal Dighi, a body of water that reflects the buildings above. Return to the hotel for a leisurely afternoon to explore at your own pace before our farewell dinner in the hotel this evening. (B, D)

Day 17 Kolkata to London.

Check out this morning and transfer to the airport for our scheduled indirect flight to London. Arrive this afternoon. (B)