Nepal and Bhutan share Himalayan geography and Buddhist heritage, but they're not the same place. Nepal is ancient, open, and stratified — centuries of trade and invasion visible in every layer of the Kathmandu Valley. Bhutan is curated. Not in a manufactured way, but in the way of a country that decided decades ago to protect its architecture, its forests, and its culture from the kind of development that makes every city look the same. The contrast between them is real and it's the point of doing both.
The itinerary opens in Kathmandu at Gokarna Forest Resort, inside a 70-hectare royal forest east of the city. The heritage circuit — Bhaktapur, Patan, Boudhanath, Pashupatinath — takes two full days with a specialist guide. Then the flight to Bhutan: Thimphu and the National Museum, Punakha Dzong at the confluence of two rivers, the Paro valley, and the Tiger's Nest hike, four to five hours up to Paro Taktsang Monastery at 3,120m clinging to a vertical cliff face. The hike is not optional. It is where the Bhutan leg earns everything that precedes it.
Bhutan includes the government-mandated Sustainable Development Fee (USD 100/night as of 2024), certified guide, accommodation, and in-country transport — all in the package. For a Nepal-only luxury circuit, see our Grand Nepal Tour in Style.
Duration: 14 days (Kathmandu to Kathmandu) | Style: Luxury cultural circuit — two countries, one itinerary | Best Season: October-November, March-May | Highlights: Gokarna Forest Resort Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Patan, Thimphu, Punakha Dzong, Tiger's Nest hike
Arrive at Kathmandu airport (1345meters). We meet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel. Evening short brief about the your Nepal Holiday. Evening meal in the hotel. Overnight in Kathmandu. Hotel Gokarna Forest Resort.
After breakfast, we leave for full day sightseeing tour around Kathmandu Valley which includes our visit to Kathmandu Durbar Square, Monkey Temple, Swyambhunath Temple. Evening meal in the hotel and overnight stay in Kathmandu. Gokarna Forest Resort.
Breakfast in the hotel and leave for Chitwan National Park. it is about 4 hours drive. About Chitwan National Park: At the foot of the Himalayas, Royal Chitwan National Park is one of the few remaining undisturbed vestiges of the Terai region, which formerly extended over the foothills of India and Nepal. It has a particularly rich flora and fauna, one of the last populations of single-horned Asiatic rhinoceros and is also one of the last refuges of the Bengal tiger. The park can be explored in a variety of ways; on foot, by boat or on elephant back. Your lodge will discuss this in more detail with you. Hotel Barahi Jungle Lodge.
This morning enjoy the park including exciting and invigorating walks through the lush sub-tropical jungle. You will also have the opportunity to enjoy an elephant safari, a canoe tour along the Rapti River and visit the elephant breeding centre. Throughout this day you might also spot a number of endangered animals such as the enigmatic Royal Bengal Tiger, crocodiles, rhinos, wild boar, monkeys, leopards and birds. Evening meal at your hotel and overnight. Hotel Barahi Jungle Lodge.
Today enjoy some relaxing bird watching in Chitwan with the opportunity of spotting over 500 species unique to this area before departing for beautiful Pokhara. On arrival in Pokhara, check into your hotel and enjoy an evening boating trip on Phewa Lake. Evening meal at your hotel and overnight. Hotel Pokhara Tiger Mountain Lodge.
Today enjoy a sightseeing tour of Pokhara Valley including visits to the beautiful Devis Fall, Gupteswar Cave, Mahendra Cave, the International Mountain Museum, Bindya Basini Temple and Bahari Temple. Evening meal at your hotel and overnight. Hotel Pokhara Tiger Mountain Lodge.
Morning drive to Sarangkot to watch the sunrise over the Himalayas from Annapurna and Dhaulagiri. Afternoon take 30 minutes flight back to Kathmandu. Hotel transfer in Kathmandu and free time for relaxing. Hotel Dwarika's Kathmandu.
Early morning drive to airport and take an our Everest Experience Flight trip over the Himalayas. Return to hotel for breakfast and half day tour around Boudhanath Stupa. Afternoon you have free time for shopping. OBreakfast in the hotel. Take an hour drive back to Kathmandu. Hotel check-in and afternoon you have free time for your own activities. You can go for shopping. Hotel Dwarika's Kathmandu.
Enjoy delicious breakfast. Fly to Paro and receive a tashi khadda (traditional welcome). In Thimphu, visit the National Memorial Chorten. Later, see the Tashichhodzong Fortress, and attend a welcome dinner.
See the Folk Heritage and National Textile Museums and literature at the National Library.
Drive over the Dochula Pass, seeing the colorful prayer flags en route to Punakha. Stop at Punakha Dzong, continuing to the Chimi Lhakhang (Temple of the Divine Madman). Return to Thimphu for dinner.
Drive to Chuzom en route to Paro, seeing the religious thankga (scroll) paintings and the natural history collection at the National Museum. Continue to Rinpung Dzong, a monastery and fortress along a mountain river. Enjoy dinner at the hotel.
Hike to the Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest) Monastery, spending the day with the monks. Later, visit the ruins of Drukgyel Dzong and Kyichu Lhakhang, one of Bhutan’s most sacred shrines.
Breakfast in the hotel and leave for airport. Departure from Bhutan, end of the package.
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Why combine Nepal and Bhutan?
Nepal is ancient, open, layered. Bhutan is planned and pristine — one of the few countries that has protected its architecture, environment, and culture by deliberate policy for decades. Experiencing both in sequence gives each country context the other provides.
What is the Bhutan daily tourism fee?
USD 100 per person per night SDF (Sustainable Development Fee) as of 2024. Included in your package along with certified guide, accommodation, and all in-country transport.
Is the Tiger's Nest hike difficult?
4 to 5 hour round trip, 900m altitude gain to 3,120m. Steep in sections, not technical. Most reasonably fit travellers complete it. Horses available for the lower section on request.
Which hotel is used in Kathmandu?
Gokarna Forest Resort, inside a 70-hectare royal forest east of Kathmandu. A quieter base than the city centre, with forest walks on the grounds and a spa.
Getaway Nepal Adventure (P.) Ltd.
Thamel Kathmandu, Nepal
Tel: +977 98510 38 908
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