Himalayan Kingdoms 13 days

The journey begins in the mystical Kathmandu Valley where we visit the bustling bazaars, the Buddhist stupa at Bodnath and the Hindu Pashupatinath Temple complex. We also have the option of a scenic flight towards Mount Everest. From Kathmandu we fly to Bhadrapur on the Nepali-Indian border and drive down the foothills and tea gardens to the historic former British hill station of Darjeeling. We explore this enchanting town and include a short ride on the famous Toy Train, as well as watch the sunrise on the peaks of Everest and Kanchenjunga. Our next stop is Sikkim and its capital, Gangtok, where we explore the famous Rumtek Monastery, the largest in the country, before driving to Kalimpong, previously an important centre for wool trade with Tibet. A highlight of our tour is visiting the Kingdom of Bhutan. We enter the country at the Phuntsholing border and head to the capital, Thimphu. From here we explore the monasteries and fortresses of this ancient kingdom. In Paro we visit Taktsang (Tiger's Nest), a small monastery clinging precariously to a ledge on a rock cliff high above the valley floor. This structure has become a symbol of a beautiful and mysterious kingdom that very few travellers in the world have experienced.

Trip Highlights

• Gallery

  

  Himalayan Kingdoms

  

  Tashichho Dzong

  

  Kids in traditional bhutanese clothing

  

  Laya

  

  Bhutanese art

  

  Kids in Thimpu

  

  Bhutanese girl

  

  Chew on a local delicacy, Bhutan

  

  Buhtan

  

  Gawp at Taktsang Monastery - The Tigers Nest

  

  Thimphu, Bhutan’s capital

  

  Tashichho Dzong

  

  Paro, Western Bhutan

  

  Bhutan’s beautiful valleys

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• Video

  Nepal Adventure

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From Our Blog

Past Travellers' Ratings & Comments

• • five

  The most memorable part of the trip was the fact that we were off the beaten track for most of our trek. It was so great waking up to a different mountain views each day, and then walking along paths without passing other trekkers. I'm so pleased I did the Annapurna Dhaulagiri trek rather than one of the main trails. It was also fantastic to walk through the little villages, observing daily farming life and having brief encounters with the locals.

   

  – Amanda , Newtown, NSW , January 4th 2010

• • five

  Just go. The mountains are more impressive than you can imagine. The views are spectacular and so varied every day of the trek. The locals are friendly and welcoming and the lodges, whilst basic are really comfortable considering your location. Make sure you do some training - there's a lot of walking up and down, but it's not beyond most people. 

  Don't overpack, you tend to wear clothes for multiple days  Cleaning ie showers available almost every day in some form.

  – Amy , Bacdon, QLD , November 19th 2009