JArrival in Kathmandu. you are greeted at the airport by our team and then transferred to our hotel. Evening briefing from your guide.

approximately 15 hours of driving to the hotel
Final altitude: approximately 13,50 m
Meals: dinner
Accommodation: night in the hotel

We reserve this day for sightseeing in Kathmandu Valley and to prepare for trekking. After having a warm breakfast, we will leave the hotel in a private vehicle with an experienced tour guide. We will visit several UNESCO-listed world heritage sites in Kathmandu valley and the famous sacred Hindu temple, the Pashupatinath temple, Swayambhunath stupa, and Boudhanath stupa. These places are famous to have inherited ancient religious practices, architecture, and culture.

Tour: full-day tour
Final altitude: approximately 13,50 m
Meals: breakfast
Accommodation: night in the hotel

Depending on your flight schedule, transfer to Kathmandu airport and fly to Paro in Bhutan. It is perhaps one of the most spectacular flights over the Himalayan range. On the left of the device we enjoy the view of three of the highest peaks in the world: Everest (8848m), Makalu (8485m) and Kangchenjunga (8586m). After only 45 minutes of flight, we descend towards the enchanting valley of Paro and its alpine forests. Welcome by your guide and transfer to your hotel. The Paro Valley is one of the most beautiful in the country: wooded hills, clear rivers, terraced fields, all punctuated by a few flat-roofed farms and temples. End of the day free for a first immersion at your own pace in the “land of gross national happiness”.

This morning we leave for the monastery of Taktsang, “the tiger’s nest” (or tiger den), a hermitage hanging on a cliff, one of the most revered places of pilgrimage in the Himalayan world and in particular of the Bhutanese who owe it to themselves to make the pilgrimage at least once in their life. Accessible only on foot, this monastery is clinging to a cliff, 900m above the Paro valley. Its foundation dates back to the 8th century. Guru Rinpoche, Padmasambhava, in his wrathful form of Dorje Dolo, landed in this valley on the back of a pregnant tigress, and came to meditate for several months in a cave hanging on the mountain, today surrounded by the buildings and chapels of the monastery. . He then converts the valley to Buddhism.

To access it, the path crosses villages and pine forests. The original monastery was built in the 17th century. Destroyed by fire in 1999, it was rebuilt exactly identically. After crossing a meadow, the trail progresses through a forest of oaks and rhododendrons. In places the trees are covered with Spanish mosses clinging to the branches in rags, giving a strange, somewhat “fantastic” atmosphere. We pass by many groups of prayer flags, ubiquitous in Bhutan. As you climb, the view becomes extraordinary on the sanctuary and the effort of the climb is largely rewarded! Return to Paro in the afternoon where we prepare the bags for the start of the trek.

Final altitude: approximately 4,400 m
Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner
Accommodation: night in the lodge

Visit of Paro Dzong, where we discover the impressive Rinpung Buddhist fortress, characteristic of Bhutan. We drive to Ta Dzong, the old watchtower that houses the Bhutanese National Museum. This museum offers an initiatory journey on the history, heritage, and traditional culture of the land of the Dragon since the 7th century. The National Museum plays an essential role as a protector and promoter of Bhutanese cultural values. Preserving culture and its values ​​is one of the nine pillars of gross national happiness, the country’s philosophy. Back to our vehicle, we go up the path at about 2800m where we meet our trekking team and the horses. We start the hike through apple orchards and cultivated terraces. VS’ is a steady climb through the forest to Jili La, a pass at about 3490m from where you can see Jili Dzong. We camp in a beautiful little meadow above the Paro Valley.

Final altitude: approximately 3,490 m
Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner
Accommodation: night in the tent

We follow the ridge to Jili Dzong, which was once one of the refugees on the main road between Paro and Thimphu. Some monks who still reside there will perhaps give us the opportunity to take a look inside. The exterior of the dzong is the perfect place for a photo shoot among the waving prayer flags. Continuation along a hilly path, crossing several spurs and descending through dense forest, meadows, where we will stop for a break and lunch. We will reach our second camp (3890m), in a meadow along the ridge, in the middle of the afternoon. If the weather is clear we will witness some great views of the valley.

Approximately 4 hours of walking
Final altitude: approximately 3,890 m
Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner
Accommodation: night in the tent

Today is a beautiful day of hiking that awaits us. We start by following the trail through the forest of conifers, dwarf rhododendrons and then the countryside. We reach Jangchu la (4190m) from where we have a sensational view of the valleys and if the weather permits, of the peaks of the Himalayas in the distance. We can also see the path traveled so far at the end of the day from Jimilangtso Lake (Sand Ox Lake). There is a junction of trails leading into the mountains and passing through Lingshi dzong. Our hike descends to the lake at 3860m which, according to legend, shelters a mystical ox. Farmers in the area still bring their cows to drink in the hope that they can give birth to calves as strong and precious as this creature.

Approximately 4 hours of walking
Final altitude: approximately 3,860 m
Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner
Accommodation: night in the tent

In the morning, we start the hike with the crossing of a small pass. Starting from the lake, we constantly climb towards another small lake, the Janeytsho. The trail once again crosses dwarf rhododendrons which are very common at these altitudes. In spring, these flowering trees add color to the already magnificent landscapes. Continuation to the largest lake, the Simkotra before arriving at a saddle at 4180m below some rocky peaks. Meetings of yaks and their breeders are common here. The latter regularly move their camps with the herd, a tradition practiced for several generations. We will reach a height where yak herders harvest cordyceps, mushrooms used in traditional medicine. Only yak herders are allowed to collect and sell these rare mushrooms. We descend a small pass and go to our Labana camp (“between two passages”, 4130m). From there we can see the Phume La, which we will cross the next day. This will be the highest point of our trek (4210m).

Approximately 5 hours of walking
Final altitude: approximately 4,130 m
Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner
Accommodation: night in the tent

In the morning we must first make a short climb to cross the Phume La (4210m) recognizable by its stone mounds decorated with colorful prayer flags. If the sky is clear, we will be rewarded with a splendid panorama of the Himalayas including Gangkhar Puensum, the highest point in Bhutan (7570m) which remains the highest peak in the world to have never been climbed. We will soon see Thimphu below. We first descend to Phajoding monastery (3960m), then cross a forest of blue pines to the road where our vehicle will be waiting to take us to Thimphu. The afternoon is free to visit this city famous for being the only capital in the world without traffic lights; it is still a police officer who takes care of it punctually.

Approximately 5 hours of walking
Final altitude: approximately 2,400 m
Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner
Accommodation: night in the hotel

Visit of Thimphu in the morning. Many sites are to be discovered such as the Great Buddha Dordenma (the largest seated golden Buddha in the world) or the textile museum where costumes woven from all regions of Bhutan are exposed, and where we have the opportunity to ‘observe some weavers at work. We pass in front of the archery field, hoping to be able to attend a competition of this national sport. The rules for archery in Bhutan are different from those in other countries. Arrows must be shot at a distance of 140m to hit an extremely small target. Each hit or missed target is accompanied by a dance or teasing from the assembly. Archery is ubiquitous in Bhutan and if we are unable to attend a match,

Lunch in Thimphu before leaving for a 3-hour drive to Punakha, the winter capital of Bhutan. In the afternoon the driver will drive us through Dochu La (3000m), the highest road pass in Bhutan. Arriving in Punakha, we can expect higher temperatures and a change of scenery to fertile land, fruit trees, and rice fields. We settle in at the hotel and have free time to relax before dinner.

Approximately 5 hours of walking
Final altitude: approximately 2,400 m
Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner
Accommodation: night in the hotel

We leave to explore Punakha in the morning. We start with a short walk through the rice fields to visit Chimi L’hakhang, the temple of the “divine madman”. This small temple is built next to a Bodhi tree (this tree occupies a particularly important place in Buddhist mythology) and surrounded by flying prayers. The mad monk called Drukpa Kunley, is a Buddhist monk of the Mahamudra tradition. He is known for his controversial approach to teaching and his eccentric demeanor. Then we visit Punakha Dzong, which in winter hosts more than 1000 monks. It is one of the most impressive buildings in the country. It is here that the first king was crowned in 1907. The Hall of Columns is particularly incredible by the works of art depicting the most important scenes from the life of the Buddha and impressive giant golden statues. After lunch, we make the drive back to Paro via Dochu La. As this evening will be the last in Bhutan, we will celebrate it by tasting Bhutanese specialties and taking one last look at the lights of Paro Dzong.

Approximately 5 hours of walking
Final altitude: approximately 2,195 m
Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner
Accommodation: night in the hotel

Transfer to Paro airport for the morning flight to Kathmandu (45mn). On arrival in Kathmandu, transfer to the hotel and end of the day free. Optional visit to the main sites of the city.

flight
Final altitude: 1,350m
Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner
Accommodation: night in the hotel

free time depending on the departure time of your flight and our representative will drop you at the airport, ending your journey in Nepal. We hope to be of service to you again. Thank you and safe travels.

approximately 20 minutes of driving from the hotel
Final altitude: approximately 1,350 m
Meals: breakfast