14 Days Bhutan Trekking and Cambodia and Nepal Adventure

ITINERARY

Day 1: Kathmandu | Arrive Kathmandu | Art Galleries and Crafts

International Flight: Excluded
Meals: Lunch Dinner
Welcome to Nepal! Upon arrival in Kathmandu, our guide will greet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel for check-in. Then, go to visit the Siddhartha Art Gallery(opens 8 AM), a private gallery promoting Nepalese contemporary art. Continue to the nearby Nepal Art Council(opens 10 AM) – a non-profit established over 50 years ago for displaying local artistic talent. With over 28,000 square feet of various genres, you’ll get a good sense for the art scene in Kathmandu.

Next, visit The Cashmere Outlet(opens 10 AM) – where the producer Tricot wholesales any excess export products. Top cashmere certified products at very affordable rates. Continue to the Gorkha Zone Khukuri House – a specialty shop which specializes in Nepalese traditional knives(gorkha). Last stop is a visit to the SK Handicraft Exports – a shop with many knicks and knacks such as prayer wheels, teapots, statues, bells, and much more. Then return to the hotel for leisure time.

The evening will start with a dinner show featuring Nepalese cuisine at Nepali Chulo, traditional live music and dance to welcome you to Nepal.

Accommodation: The Dwarika’s Hotel

Day 2: Kathmandu | Mount Everest Scenic Flight | Ancient Bhatapur Kingdom | Himalayan Sunset

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
In the morning, enjoy a 1-hour scenic plane ride over the Himalayas and Mt. Everest – the tallest mountain in the world.

Mount Everest

In the afternoon, transfer to the ancient city capital of Bhaktapur to visit the Bhaktapur Durbar Square – a square which sets in front of the old royal palace of the Bhaktapur Kingdom. It is one of the best-preserved palace courtyards and distinguishes the old architecture and styles. Finish the day with a visit to the oldest temple in Nepal, the Changu Narayan Temple. The original pillar dates back to 464 AD.

Continue to Nagarkot – a hill station with spectacular views of the Himalayas on a clear day. Enjoy the sun setting on the Himalayan mountains in the distance.

Accommodation: The Dwarika’s Hotel

Day 3: Kathmandu – Nagarkot | Sunrise on the Himalayas | Scenic Hike

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Rise early for a stunning sunrise. Have a hearty breakfast at the lodge. Then go for a scenic 3-hour hike with our guide. The hike takes you through two Nepalese villages where you can see daily life up close. There are several great viewpoints along the way. Then return to the lodge for check out and transfer back to Kathmandu.

Accommodation: Hotel Mystic Mountain

Day 4: Kathmandu | Kathmandu Highlights

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
In the morning, start exploring the capital of Nepal with a stop at a vegetable and spice market. Learn a bit about Nepalese cuisine and observe the daily life of locals in the morning. Then continue to Kathmandu Durbar Square. First, you’ll visit Taleju Temple – where Nepalese have selected a young girl to embody the goddess of Taleju. The temple is her palace and where locals come to worship her. Then continue to Kal Bhairab – an icon that many locals pay homage to. Next, stop at the Nepalese Parliament Building before lunch.

Bhatapur Dubar Square

In the afternoon, visit the Monkey Temple – an important Buddhist site that overlooks the Kathmandu Valley. Then transfer to Patan Durbar Square where lay the ancient royal palace of the Mayla Kings. It is said one could spend a day looking at the architecture and temples of the Patan Durbar Square and not take in all its grandeur. When you’re ready, you’ll transfer back to your hotel for the evening.

Accommodation: The Dwarika’s Hotel

Day 5: Kathmandu – Jakar | Flight to Paro | Continue to Bumthang

Internal Flight: Included
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Take a flight today to Bumthang with a stopover in Paro. Upon arrival in Jakar, our guide will greet you with Bhutanese hospitality. Transfer to the lodge for check-in.

Climb up the steps to Kharchu Monastery for exploring this important monastery in Jakar with 500 monks, most of whom are very young. The large “tshokhang” contains many statues of the revered Guru Rinpoche, Buddha, and other Buddhist icons. Then enjoy a stunning sunset over Chhoehkor valley from the Gonpa’s terrace. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: The Village Lodge

Day 6: Jakar | Road Trip to Swan Temple

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, go to visit the Kenchosum Lhakhang – a temple notable for its beautiful decorations and art. Then begin a hike along the Bumthang River starting at Thangbi Lhakhang(bring good hiking boots!). Your road will take you through the peaceful countryside with the occasional cottage and farmhouse surrounded by verdant hills covered in blue pines. Hear the melody of birds in the trees and the rushing water of the river nearby. Friendly faces will greet you along the way while faded prayer flags whip in the wind. Small fields of buckwheat and wildflowers whistling in the gentle breeze. The area is referred to as “Swan Land” – Ngang Yul.

Cross the suspension bridge over the river, then continue to Ngala Lhakhang – “Swan Temple”. Explore the 16th-century temple which was built by a Tibetan lama. Enjoy a delicious picnic lunch packed by our guide. Then return on foot back to Thangbi Lhakhang. There you will transfer to the nearby Kurjey Lhakhang. Our guide will provide you with a kabney and rachu to wear(traditional clothes required to enter). The Kurjey Lhakhang is a Buddhist monastery built in the hillside overlooking the Bumthang River and Chamkhar valley. Stunning statues depicting the Guru Rinpoche and local demon are found here. Then return back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: The Village Lodge

Day 7: Jakar – Trongsa | Tang Valley Hike

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After a hearty breakfast, transfer to Mebar Tsho – “The Burning Lake”. Legend has it that a Terton from the 15th century had a vision of a sacred treasure hidden in the lake by Guru Rimpoche. The story goes that he jumped in with a butter lamp burning bright in hand and re-emerged a while later holding the treasure while the lamp was still aflame. Bhutanese consider the lake a sacred site and offer butter lamps upon the lake.

Continue with hiking up a steep terrain up to the Kunzang Drak. It is one of the 4 temples built within a cliff which is famed throughout all of Bhutan. It is said that the site was visited by Guru Rinpoche while on the back of a tigress and left his footprint on the rocks nearby. Have a picnic lunch and enjoy some meditation with stunning views and crisp mountain air. Return to the hotel for check out and transfer in the afternoon to Trongsa for overnight.

Accommodation: Yangkhil Resort

Day 8: Trongsa – Jakar | Trongsa Highlights

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Dzong of Trongsa

After breakfast, start with a visit to the Trongsa Dzong. Early morning is an enchanting time when the morning mist of the valley is met by the piercing Sun. The Dzong is located above the Mangde River, providing a scenic view of the surrounding hills and valleys covered in green forests. Continue to the Ta Dzong Tower and Museum. Built in 1652, the tower lies on a steep hill overlooking the town and was used to defend the nearby Dzong during a divided Bhutan many years ago. This outpost is now a museum hosting two hermits, eleven galleries, and royal artifacts. Continue to the Thru Epang Palace, once home to the royal family during winter months. It’s a modest residence by western standards of two stories. What it lacks in luxuries, it makes up for in grand views of the valley and Dzong below.

Have lunch then return back to Jakar for overnight.

Accommodation: The Village Lodge

Day 9: Jakar – Paro | Temples of Jakar | Flight to Paro

Internal Flight: Included
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Start in the early morning and transfer through scenic countryside to the Temple of Maitreya. Gongs and drums play while chanting rings low. The monastery is often filled with music and has enjoyed a long musical tradition of over 1,300 years. The temple is also known for an unusual tradition occasionally carried out at night, “The Naked Dance of Jampa Lhakhang”.

Go on to see the Jakar Dzong towering over the Chamkhar valley with a splendid view.

Return back to the hotel for check out, then fly to Paro for overnight.

Accommodation: Le Meridien Paro

Day 10: Paro – Siem Reap | Flight to Siem Reap

Internal Flight: Included
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Today, you’ll fly to Siem Reap, Cambodia with a stopover in Bangkok(three hours transit to allow time for you to get your luggage and check into the next flight). Upon arrival, our guide will greet you and transfer you to the hotel for check-in.

Be prepared to enjoy a beautiful traditional dance performed by a team trained in the Dance of Apsara.

In the evening, you will be picked up from the hotel lobby and transferred to Angkor Village Hotel Theater for a traditional Apsara Dinner Show. where you will have a unique dining experience which will bring ancient Khmer culture to life in spectacular surroundings while you enjoy the very best in Cambodia cuisine. This one-of-a-kind cultural experience highlights the mysterious civilization and heritage of Khmer spoken through choreography and music. Colorful costumes and playful activities will give you insights into the Khmer daily life and wedding traditions while you enjoy a delicious meal to welcome you to the Kingdom of Wonders.

Accommodation: Shinta Mani Angkor

Day 11: Siem Reap | Biking in Angkor Thom Ancient City | Wat Thmei Killing Field | Pre Rup Pyramid Sunset

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
In the morning, enjoy a relaxing cycling tour in ancient Angkor Thom – a stone city built around the time of Angkor Wat.

The biking tour will start at the South Gate – a photogenic bridge at the gateway of the stone city of Angkor Thom which has made its way into many Hollywood movies. Angkor Thom which was the last and most enduring capital city of the Khmer Empire. Enter the stone city and explore shaded trails and ancient monuments. Take scenic jungle trails with our guide to visit much of the ancient city, saving Bayon for last. At Bayon Temple, a renown scholar will join you to share with you the epic stories she has discovered her research. Explore the ruins as she brings the carvings and stories to life, discussing both the politics of the Angkor period and the advances in human rights.

South Gate of Angkor Thom

On the way back to the hotel, visit The Killing Fields of Wat Thmei where you’ll see the atrocities of the Pol Pot regime. The location is kept by local monks at a monastery which you will also have a chance to explore and start up a chat to see their take on politics and the tragedies of the recent past. Then return back to the hotel for leisure in the afternoon.

As dusk approaches, transfer to Pre Rup Pyramid for a view of the sunset over Cambodian countryside(can be moved to the next day if the weather is an issue).

Accommodation: Shinta Mani Angkor

Day 12: Siem Reap | Kompong Kleang Floating Village

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
In the morning, you’ll take a boat trip on the water of the Tonle Sap Lake to a floating village called Kampong Kleang. This floating village is one of the most remote and least visited on the lake. You’ll transfer to the village then go by boat to explore the stilted homes and lake. See pet dogs and pigs in people’s homes over the water. Watch as community members get around on small boats. Visit the mangrove forests nearby home to diverse fauna. Then continue to the local pagoda, a colorful Khmer architecture with monks tending to their daily chores and studies. Have an opportunity to meet with the monks and discuss with them about their life and beliefs. Those studying English are always excited to practice. Then return to Siem Reap. On the way back to the hotel, stop at the Made in Cambodia Market.

In the evening, you’ll go to visit Phare Cambodian Circus. Be amazed by stunts and choreography unique to Cambodia’s performing arts. You’ll watch as a story written by locals is acted out with an impressive stage show. Be prepared for laughter and wonder as you enjoy the performance. After the hour-long spectacle, you’ll return to your hotel for the evening.

Accommodation: Shinta Mani Angkor

Day 13: Siem Reap | Angkor Wat Sunrise | Ta Prohm and Women Citadel

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Before the light of day, our guide will pick you up from your hotel and escort you to the front of Angkor Wat Temple. From here, you’ll watch one of the most revered sunrises in the world. Our guide will arrange a light picnic breakfast for you to enjoy in front of the world’s #1 Heritage Site. Then in the early hours, you’ll explore the vast temple with our guide bringing to life the stories of Angkor. In the morning, the rays of the light shine through the chambers as the morning haze settles giving the temple a mystical ambiance while there are few tourists who visit during this time of day.

Angkor Wat Sunrise

Spend the morning time exploring Ta Prohm Temple, an ancient university built of stone and which has mostly been succumbed to by the jungle.

Then continue to Banteay Srei Temple: The Citadel of Women. Its structure is small and delicate, but the attention to detail – absolutely exquisite. Visit the galleries and library to see some of the most admired stone-carving work in the world. Then return to the hotel for some rest.

Accommodation: Shinta Mani Angkor

Day 14: Siem Reap | Farewell!

Meals: Breakfast
Today our guide will transfer you to the airport before your homeward flight and will bid you a fond farewell. Thank you for traveling with us!

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