Asia Discovery Tours Suite 1302, Level 13, 370 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000 Australia A.B.N. 57115 794888 License No. 2TA005740 Tel: (02) 9267 7699 Fax: (02) 9267 7866 Reservation Hotline: 1300 789 252 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.asiadiscoverytours.com.au 16 Day Bhutan and Nepal Explorer Tour (Tour Code: NBT) Day 01: SYDNEY or MELBOURNE – GUANGZHOU – KATHMANDU Depart to Kathmandu via Guangzhou on China Southern Airlines in the morning and arrive in the evening. Upon arrival, you are met and transferred to hotel for the night. Day 02: KATHMANDU – PARO – THIMPHU (B.D) KB401, Kathmandu – Paro 12:45/14:00 (Subject to change) After your breakfast at hotel, you are transferred to Kathmandu airport for your flight to Paro, Bhutan. Our representatives will receive you at the Airport and take you will visit the National Museum of Bhutan and Rinpung Dzong and then drive onto Thimphu. Evening at leisure. Day 03: THIMPHU (B.L.D) Visit the Memorial Stupa. This is a memory stupa built in memory of the 3rd King by his mother. The paintings and statues inside the monument provide deep insight into Buddhist philosophy. This stupa is one of the most visited religious structures in Thimphu. Visit Motithang Takin Preserve to see the National Animal Takin. The Takin is an interesting animal, half goat and half cow style. Visit to National Institute for Zorig Chusum, meaning the 13 Arts and Crafts School. To preserve Bhutanese heritage and promote the arts in Bhutan, the Government initiated this institute in 1971. Students are instructed in Bhutan’s 13 traditional arts and also learn to understand the traditional meaning and spiritual values enshrined in Buddhist art. The 13 arts and crafts comprises of painting, carpentry, carving, sculpture, casting, blacksmithing, bamboo work, gold and silver smithing, weaving, embroidery, masonry, leather work and paper making. On a visit one can actually see students at work. The students follow a comprehensive course that starts with drawing and progresses through painting, wood carving, embroidery, and statue making. This institute not only helps preserve Bhutan’s beautiful heritage but also equips future generations with skills and knowledge to keep their heritage alive. Visit Tashichhoedzong: This dzong is known as ‘fortress of the glorious religion.’ The original building was erected in 1216 before it was destroyed by a fire in 1772. The current building was constructed by King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk as a new seat of government. In 1955, after moving the capital to Thimphu from Punakha, this Dzong was redesigned and sections were rebuilt so it could become the seat of Bhutanese national government. The Dzong houses the main secretariat building and the central monk body. Drive pass Great Buddha Dordenma where a huge Buddha statue is located overlooking Thimphu valley. You have an evening at leisure. Day 04: THIMPHU– PUNAKHA (around 2.3 hrs drive) (B.L.D) Today after breakfast drive to Punakha the old capital of Bhutan. En route pass through Dochula Pass at 3150 metres. If the weather is clear, then the snow capped Himalayas can be viewed from here. There are 108 Stupas built to benefit all sentient beings. Circumambulate and get a happy feel for all the beings and while gaining merit. On arrival at Lobeysa before Punakha, visit Chimi Lhakhang temple the famous temple of Lama Drukpa Kuenley (popularly known as the mad monk). The temple is situated on a small hill top side where you can have a leisurely walk through the paddy fields and its village. It’s just half an hour leisurely walk. On arrival at Punakha, check in hotel and take a short rest. Visit Punakha Dzong, the magnificient Fortress that was the Capital of Bhutan until 1955. It was built in 1637 and was named as Pungthang Dechen Phodrang (Palace of Great Happiness). The establishment of the Wangchuk dynasty on 17th December 1907 took place as well as the first National Assembly in 1953 and the Royal Wedding of 2011. The Dzong is located between the two male and female rivers (Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu). Evening at leisure. Day 05: PUNAKHA – PHOJIBKHA VALLEY/GANGTENG (B.L.D) After breakfast drive to Phobjikha Valley. This valley is home to the rare endangered species bird “Black necked Crane” that flies in from the north- Tibet and China during the winter months from November to the end of February. Visit Gangteng Monastery the oldest and biggest Namdroling Nyingmapa Monastery in the country and its monastic Schools nearby and the villages. Overnight at Dewachen Hotel or similar. Day 06: PHOBJIKHA – WANGDUEPHODRANG/PUNAKHA overnight (B.L.D) Morning visit to the Phojibkha Conservation Area and its village nearby and after lunch drive to Wangduephodrang/Punakha for overnight. Day 07: WANGDUEPHODRANG/PUNAKHA to PARO via THIMPHU (B.L.D) After breakfast, drive to Paro and visit Thimphu en route. Visit one of the oldest and sacred temple, Kyichu Lhakhang, that was built same time together with the Jambay Lhakhang in Bumthang. We also visit a Farm House and at leisure. You will also enjoy a Haa Valley Excursion. Drive to Haa Valley over Chele La Pass. Lunch picnic on the road. Day 08: PARO (TAKTSANG) (B.L.D) Today the day is for the hike to Paro Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest). The trip will be incomplete without hiking up to Taktsang. It is believed that Guru Rinpoche who we believe is the 2nd Buddha flew to this cliff on a Tigress back and meditated for few months and later converted the valley into Buddhism. Guru Rinpoche is the one who introduced Buddhism to Bhutan. The hike up and down will take about 3 – 4 hours depending on individuals. After the hike, take a stroll in the Paro Weekend Market. Day 09: PARO – KATHMANDU (B.L.D) B3773, Paro – Kathmandu 11:00/11:45 (subject to change) After breakfast, you will be transferred to airport for the flight to Kathmandu, Nepal. Upon arrival, you will be met at the airport and start with visiting the the world's biggest stupa located about 2 kilometers to the north of Pashupatinath Temple, then Kathmandu Durbar Square, (World Heritage Site). Most of the interesting things to see in Kathmandu are clustered around the old part of town between Thamel and the new shopping areas along New Road. Around the central Durbar Square are the old Royal Palace, a number of interesting Pagoda and Indian style temples and the Kumari Ghar, residence of the living goddess, then visit Swayambhunath. Tonight we will have Nepali dinner with local culture programs. Stay overnight at hotel in Kathmandu. Day 10: CHITWAN (B.L.D) Breakfast at hotel followed by a drive to Chitwan, one of the most attractive national parks located at Southern Central Nepal. Arrive at Chitwan and check into the Resort. In the evening visit to Tharu village, see the sun set view over the Budhi Ghandaki River. Travel back to the resort for dinner and stay overnight at resort in Chitwan. Following lunch, visit a local village and see the sunset view on Rapti River then travel back to resort for dinner. Stay overnight at resort in Chitwan. Day 11: CHITWAN (B.L.D) After Breakfast, enjoy a 45m canoe ride. Then take a short walk through Chitwan National Park to see the Elephant Breeding Center Chitwan to see the baby elephants and know more about the Asian Elephants. Go back to the hotel by Ox Cart. Lunch at the resort followed by a afternoon Elephant Ride. Go inside the national park to see the wild animals and birds and return back to the resort short time for a show (Tharu Local Dance) with BBQ. Enjoy the dinner and spend overnight at resort in Chitwan. Day 12: CHITWAN – POKHARA (B.L.D) After breakfast at the resort, drive around 3 ½ hours to Pokhara, a tourists’ paradise in Nepal. Arrive at Pokhara, check into hotel sometime after visiting a Tibetan Camp and Davis Falls and then drive to Phewa Lake. You will have free time around the Lakeside. Enjoy an hour boat ride in the evening at outstanding Phewa Lake with Mt. Machapuchhre on the background. You will have your dinner and stay overnight at hotel in Pokhara. Day 13: POKHARA (B.L) Morning drive to Sarangkot to see the sunrise over the Annapurna Himalayan range on the way visit Bindhyabasani Temple and Pokhara Old Market back to hotel. Breakfast and visit to Shanti Stupa with its panoramic view of Pokhara Lake and the Himalayas. Travel back to hotel for lunch. After lunch visit International Mountain Museum and travel back to lakeside for free time. Today you can have dinner by yourselves. Stay overnight at hotel in Pokhara. Day 14: POKHARA – KATHMANDU - NAGARKOT (B.L.D) Breakfast at hotel, then drive back to Kathmandu (around 6 hours). After that, we continue driving to Nagarkot, a beautiful hill station situated 32 km east of Kathmandu at an altitude of 2,175 m above the sea level. The place is famous for the view of Himalayan range, stretching from Dhaulagiri in the west and Everest to Kanchanjunga in the east. Nagarkot is famous for sunrise and sunset viewing. Upon arrival at Nagerkot, enjoy a the sunset view of the Himalayas. Have your dinner and stay overnight at hotel in Nagarkot. Day 15: NAGARKOT – KATHMANDU – GUANGZHOU (B.L.D) CZ3068, Kathmandu – Guangzhou 23:15/05:43 (next morning.) Morning see the sunrise over the Himalaya range and Langtang Himalayan range. After breakfast drive to Bhaktapur, which, also known as Bhadgaon, is both the most medieval and least transformed by progress of the three valley cities.