Small group or private
12 Days Nepal Bhutan Leisure Vacation Tour
12 Days $1,290 per person Overview Itinerary Tips & FAQ Kathmandu Pokhara (Nepal) Paro (Bhutan) Tiger’s Nest Monastery (Paro Taktsang) Thimphu Punakha Dzong Himalayan flights This is the ultimate Himalayan vacation. You…
- 12 Days / 11 Nights
- Kathmandu → Pokhara (Nepal) → Paro (Bhutan) → Tiger's Nest Monastery (Paro Taktsang) → Thimphu → Punakha Dzong → Himalayan flights
- Moderate pace
- Best: April to October
- No Deposit — Ever
- Cancel Free Before Permit Issued
- Full Refund except $100 Permit Fee
- Bring 7, Your Spot Is Free
- Our Own Office in Lhasa, Since 1999
The trip at a glance
- Kathmandu → Boudhanath, Pashupatinath, Durbar Square
- Kathmandu → Swayambhunath and Patan Day Trip
- Pokhara → Phewa Lake, Sarangkot Sunrise, Peace Stupa
- Paro → Tiger’s Nest Monastery (Paro Taktsang)
- Paro → Punakha Dzong via Dochula Pass
- Punakha → Thimphu (Bhutan’s Capital)
Day by day
Kathmandu → Pokhara (Nepal) → Paro (Bhutan) → Tiger's Nest Monastery (Paro Taktsang) → Thimphu → Punakha Dzong → Himalayan flights
Day1
Arrive Kathmandu — Hotel Check-in
Arrive in Kathmandu and transfer to hotel. Evening orientation walk through Thamel.
Day2
Kathmandu — Boudhanath, Pashupatinath, Durbar Square
Full day sightseeing in Kathmandu: Boudhanath Stupa, Pashupatinath Temple and the historic Durbar Square — all UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Day3
Kathmandu — Swayambhunath and Patan Day Trip
Visit the Monkey Temple and explore Patan — one of the finest medieval cities in the Kathmandu Valley with its stunning Durbar Square.
Day4
Fly Kathmandu to Pokhara — Rest
Fly to Pokhara — Nepal’s most beautiful city set beside Phewa Lake with spectacular views of the Annapurna range.
Day5
Pokhara — Phewa Lake, Sarangkot Sunrise, Peace Stupa
Sunrise views of the Annapurna range from Sarangkot. Explore Phewa Lake and the World Peace Pagoda with extraordinary mountain panoramas.
Day6
Fly Pokhara to Kathmandu — Then Fly Paro (Bhutan)
Fly back to Kathmandu and then on to Paro, Bhutan. The flight over the Himalayas offers extraordinary views. Arrive in the pristine mountain kingdom of Bhutan.
Day7
Paro — Tiger's Nest Monastery (Paro Taktsang)
Hike to the legendary Tiger’s Nest Monastery — one of the most photographed buildings in the world, perched on a cliff face at 3,120m. A profoundly spiritual and physically rewarding experience.
Day8
Paro — Punakha Dzong via Dochula Pass
Drive over the Dochula Pass (3,100m) with views of 108 chortens and snow-capped Himalayan peaks. Visit the magnificent Punakha Dzong at the confluence of two rivers.
Day9
Punakha — Thimphu (Bhutan's Capital)
Drive to Thimphu — the world’s only capital city without traffic lights. Visit the giant Buddha statue, the Folk Heritage Museum and the vibrant weekend market.
Day10
Thimphu — City Exploration and Takin Reserve
Explore the Memorial Chorten, the National Library, traditional weaving centres and the Takin Reserve (Bhutan’s national animal). Thimphu is a unique blend of tradition and modernity.
Day11
Thimphu — Paro
Drive back to Paro. Final afternoon free to explore the Paro valley and its ancient farmhouses.
Day12
Paro Departure
Transfer to Paro International Airport for your departure. End of your Nepal-Bhutan Himalayan vacation.
Meals: Breakfast Tibet Permit — Required for All Visitors Every visitor to Tibet must hold a Tibet Tourism Bureau (TTB) permit. It is mandatory, cannot be obtained on arrival, and differs by nationality. We handle the full application once you book — please allow at least 15 days before your departure date.
What is included
Included
- Tibet Entry Permit and Alien’s Travel Permit
- Nepal and/or Bhutan entry visa assistance
- All entrance fees for tourist sites listed in the itinerary
- Professional English-speaking tour guide throughout
- All ground transportation as listed
- All accommodation listed in the itinerary
- Tourist accident/casualty insurance
Not included
- Single room supplement — free of charge for any group booking 5 rooms or travelling with 10 or more.
- International flights
- Meals not specified in the itinerary (lunch and dinner unless specified)
- Tips for guides and drivers
- Personal expenses (laundry, snacks, optional activities)
- Visa fees for China, Nepal or Bhutan
Photos from this route
Questions travellers ask
How large will my group be?
Join-in departures run with a minimum of 3 travellers — usually 3–8 pax, and never more than 16. You choose the departure date, the starting point and the itinerary length that suits you; guests on different day counts travel together on the shared legs, and each group leaves when their own itinerary ends. If you prefer, this route can also run as a private tour for your own party only. A 3–8 group costs a little more per person and is quieter, with more freedom to change the day on the road; a 3–16 group costs less per person and gives you more people to travel with.
Which permits does this tour need?
We arrange all required Tibet permits for you as part of the booking — you only need a valid passport. Depending on the areas visited this can include the Tibet Travel Permit (TTB), the Aliens’ Travel Permit (PSB), the Frontier Pass and, for sensitive areas, a Military Permit.
How do I get to the starting point of the tour?
The tour starts in Kathmandu. You can reach it by flight or by the Qinghai–Tibet railway — either way we meet you on arrival. Many travellers fly in and take the train out (or the other way round) to see both faces of the plateau. We are happy to advise on flights and train tickets as part of your booking.
Can this tour be customized?
Yes — every tour on this site can also run as a private departure with your own dates and pace, arranged by our own office in Lhasa. Send us your dates, group size and interests and we will adapt the itinerary around you.
Before you send your inquiry
- No deposit — ever. Your dates are held with a free inquiry, and nothing is due until we confirm. On fixed group departures, book early to secure your seats.
- Cancel free before your Tibet Travel Permit is issued — full refund, every dollar.
- After the permit is issued: the USD $100 permit fee is non-refundable, everything else is refunded. Refunds within 7 business days.
- Bring a group of 7 and your spot is free (7+1).
- Single room supplement — free of charge for any group booking 5 rooms or travelling with 10 or more.
- Tell us your dates and route on the form below — you will have a written itinerary and an item-by-item quote within 12 hours, with no obligation to book.
- Prices depend on group size, hotel standard, season and how you travel into Tibet, so we quote each trip individually rather than from a price list.
- Hotel details — the exact hotels we use — come with your quote. Ask below for the standard you would like and we will match it.
- A Lhasa-based Tibet tour operator since 1999 — our own guides, vehicles and office in Lhasa, 7,200+ travellers from 40+ countries, 4.9★ on TripAdvisor.
