Itinerary
- Day 1
Paro to Thimphu
Paro to Thimphu- Meals
- Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided presentation on Gross National Happiness (GNH) by a Bhutanese scholar
- Evening exploratory walk around Thimphu main street and market area
Landmarks Thimphu - Day 2
Thimphu
Thimphu- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Thimphu city main attractions
- Visit Textile Museum - learn about weaving techniques and traditional dress
- Visit National Library - view ancient manuscripts and traditional printing blocks
- Visit Institute for Zorig Chusum (Arts & Crafts School) - observe students learning 13 traditional arts
- Visit Simply Bhutan Museum - view traditional Bhutanese architecture and lifestyle exhibits
- Visit Memorial Chorten - Buddhist monument built in memory of Bhutan's third King
- Visit Buddha Point (Kuensel Phodrang) - view Buddha statue and Thimphu Valley panoramic views
- Meditation opportunity at Buddha Point
- Visit Trashichhoedzong - fortress of the glorious religion, government and religious center
Landmarks Textile Museum National Library Institute for Zorig Chusum Simply Bhutan Museum Memorial Chorten Buddha Point Trashichhoedzong - Day 3
Thimphu to Punakha
Thimphu to Punakha- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional Bhutanese lunch at Aum Toeb Zam homestay in Thinleygang village), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Dochu La Pass - enjoy sweeping Himalayan views and prayer flags
- Lunch at Aum Toeb Zam homestay in Thinleygang - rural Bhutanese culinary experience
- Hands-on introduction to traditional cooking techniques and ingredients
- Village activities - archery, khuru (darts), or degor
- Visit Chimi Lhakhang - Temple of Fertility built in 15th century
- Stroll through Khuruthang town
- Explore Kaja Throm market area
Landmarks Dochu La Pass Chimi Lhakhang - Day 4
Punakha
Punakha- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike to Khamsum Yuelley Namgyel Chorten
- Visit to Punakha Dzong
- Visit to Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Nunnery
- Visit to Nalanda Buddhist Institute (time permitting)
Landmarks Khamsum Yuelley Namgyel Chorten Mo Chhu River Yebisa village Punakha Dzong Po Chu River Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Nunnery Nalanda Buddhist Institute - Day 5
Punakha to Paro
Punakha to Paro- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Simtokha Dzong - school for Dzongkha language study
- Visit Ta Dzong - National Museum with antique thangkha paintings, textiles, weapons, armor, and historic artifacts
- Visit Rinpung Dzong - fortress with wall paintings illustrating Buddhist lore and cosmic mandala
Optional Activities
- Visit Namgay Artisanal Brewery for local beer tasting (payment on the spot)
Landmarks Simtokha Dzong Ta Dzong Rinpung Dzong - Day 6
Paro
Paro- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch in Paro town or at trailhead cafeteria), Dinner (Traditional home-cooked dinner at local farmhouse with cultural show)
Included Activities
- Hike to Taktshang Monastery (Tiger's Nest) - 900 metres above Paro Valley
- Visit cafeteria viewpoint at 1.5-2 hour mark on hiking trail
- Optional continuation to monastery entrance - additional 1.5-2 hours
- Visit Kyichu Lhakhang - 7th-century temple built by Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo
- Traditional home-cooked dinner at local farmhouse
- Hot stone bath experience
- Try on national dress - Gho and Kira
- Cultural show with dinner
Landmarks Taktshang Monastery Kyichu Lhakhang - Day 7
Paro to Kathmandu
Paro to Kathmandu- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Patan - Day 8
Kathmandu Valley
Kathmandu Valley- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Pashupatinath Temple
- Visit to Boudhanath Stupa
- Visit to Kathmandu Durbar Square
- Visit to Hanuman Dhoka Palace Complex
- Visit to Kumari Ghar
- Visit to temples within Durbar Square - Jagannath Temple and Shiva-Parvati Temple
- Observation of Kal Bhairav statue and Gaddi Baithak palace
Landmarks Pashupatinath Temple Bagmati River Boudhanath Stupa Kathmandu Durbar Square Hanuman Dhoka Palace Complex Kumari Ghar Jagannath Temple Shiva-Parvati Temple Kal Bhairav statue Gaddi Baithak - Day 9
Kathmandu to Neydo
Kathmandu to Neydo- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Bungmati village
- Visit to Khokana village
- Witness monks' debating session at 5pm
- Attend daily protection puja with traditional rituals
Landmarks Bungmati Khokana Ganesha Temple (Khokana) Neydo Tashi Choeling Monastery - Day 10
Bhaktapur and Panauti
Bhaktapur and Panauti- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch in Panauti), Dinner (Meal prepared by host family at women-led community homestay)
Included Activities
- Guided exploration of Bhaktapur's main square and landmarks
- Visit to Palace of 55 Carved Windows
- Visit to Golden Gate
- Visit to Lion Gate
- Visit to Vatsala Devi temple
- Visit to King Bhupatindra Malla statue
- Observation of the 'Bell of Barking Dogs'
- Lunch in Panauti
- Experience at women-led community homestay
Optional Activities
- Participate in cooking with host family at the homestay
Landmarks Bhaktapur Layaku (Bhaktapur main square) Palace of 55 Carved Windows Golden Gate Lion Gate Vatsala Devi temple King Bhupatindra Malla statue Bell of Barking Dogs Panauti Rosi River Punyamati River - Day 11
Panauti to Kathmandu
Panauti to Kathmandu- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Namobuddha pilgrimage site
- Visit to Dhulikhel View Tower with panoramic Himalayan views
Landmarks Namobuddha Dhulikhel View Tower - Day 12
Kathmandu to Lhasa
Kathmandu to Lhasa- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Mount Everest Kanchenjunga - Day 13
Tsedang to Samye
Tsedang to Samye- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Excursion to Drak Yangzom cave complex
- Excursion to Dzong Kumbum cave complex
- Visit to Samye Monastery
- Exploration of local town
- Short walk to Hipuri Hill
Landmarks Drak Yangzom cave complex Dzong Kumbum cave complex Samye Monastery Mount Meru Hipuri Hill - Day 14
Samye to Samding
Samye to Samding- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Yamdrok Lake (Yamdrok Tso)
- Visit to Ani Sangkhung Nunnery
- Tea stop at Ani Sangkhung Nunnery
Landmarks Yamdrok Lake Ani Sangkhung Nunnery - Day 15
Samding to Lhasa
Samding to Lhasa- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Ani Tsankhung Monastery
Landmarks Lhasa Potala Palace Ani Tsankhung Monastery Chenrezi 
- Day 16
Lhasa
Lhasa- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Lhasa
