Itinerary
Day 1 | Fly to Kolkata Fly overnight from your chosen airport to Kolkata. Day 2 | Explore the landmarks of Kolkata On arrival transfer to the 5-star Taj Bengal Hotel. An afternoon tour visits the marble Victoria Memorial to the Empress of India; Dalhousie Square, the 19th-century St. John’s Church, Jain Temple complex and markets in colonial Calcutta. Day 3 | Take a heritage walk and visit Kalighat Temple Enjoy a heritage walk from the narrow lane and Anglo-Indian enclave known as Bow Barracks, built as a garrison for World War One soldiers, to the Burra Bazaar, a British-era textile market, now India’s largest wholesale market. Visit the Hindu Kalighat Temple and enjoy a tram ride in the city. (B) Day 4 | Fly to Paro and transfer to Thimphu, visit the statue of Dordenma Fly to Paro, and transfer to Thimphu, the capital of the kingdom of Bhutan, revered for its ancient Buddhist shrines and temples, and resplendent with golden spires and graceful monuments. View the gigantic golden statue of the hilltop Buddha Dordenma. Three nights at the Peaceful Residency and Spa. (B, L, D) Day 5 | Visit the local institutes and the National Library of Bhutan Visit the Institute of Traditional Medicine, a working herbal- medicine hospital, with a museum of herbs and minerals used in treatments; the Institute for Zorig Chusum, focused on local arts, crafts, and technical skills; and the National Library of Bhutan, archiving the country’s cultural and religious heritage. (B, L, D) Day 6 | Enjoy a varied cultural tour of the local area Enjoy a varied cultural tour of the local area including visits to the Cheri Gompa Monastery, built in 1620 on the precipitous slope of a hill (approx. 60 min steep walk on uneven footpaths); the very visible landmark of the National Memorial Chorten, an iconic stupa in the city centre; the National Handicraft Emporium of locally crafted goods; and the Tashichho Dzong. (B, L, D) Day 7 | Walk to the Chimi Lakhang temple and Dzong fortress Take a fascinating journey crossing the high Dochula Pass, viewing Buddhist chortens, Mani walls, prayer flags and Bhutan’s highest Himalayan peaks, en route to Punakha, the seat of government until 1955. Walk to the Chimi Lakhang ‘fertility temple’, steeped in legends; visit the Dzong fortress palace, set on the riverbank at the confluence of the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu, and enjoy an evening walk. Overnight at the 3-star YT Hotel. (B, L, D)
Day 8 | Transfer to Paro and visit the local landmarks Travel (4hrs) to Paro, the town lining the banks of its namesake river in a broad and tranquil valley. Visit the Ta Dzong National Museum; the Rinpung Dzong, a Buddhist fortress monastery renowned for its grandeur and splendour; and the 7th-century Kyichu Lhakhang, thought to be Bhutan’s oldest and most beautiful temple. Two nights at the 3-star Hotel Olathang. (B, L, D) Day 9 | Walk to the Tiger’s Nest Monastery Travel by road and continue on-foot to visit the country’s iconic Taktsang Gompa (Tiger’s Nest) Monastery, clinging to its precarious cliff-face perch. A 60 to 90-minute walk along uneven paths leads to sweeping panoramas from the tea house, followed by another hour of more challenging terrain to reach the monastery. But the effort is well worth it for both the monastery itself and the breathtaking views it offers. Later we visit a traditional farmhouse and meet a local family; and take an evening walk through Paro. (B, L, D) Day 10 | Fly to Kathmandu Fly westward above the Himalayas and over the Nepal border to Kathmandu. Despite the devastation caused by the 2015 earthquake, which severely damaged the UNESCO World Heritage site of Durbar Square, the cosmopolitan capital has bounced back, once again bursting with colour and vibrancy. Transfer to the modern, 4-star hotel Vivanta By Taj, in the city’s Patan district. (B, D) Day 11 | Optional Everest flight and cultural Kathmandu Weather permitting, the optional morning tour is a spectacularly scenic flight over the Himalayas and Mount Everest (US$275, bookable locally). Discovery in vibrant Patan includes a ‘singing bowl’ performance; later explore Kathmandu on a rickshaw ride. (B, L, D) Day 12 | Visit Boudhanath and afternoon tour of Bhaktapur Visit Boudhanath, its immense circular stupa a beacon of Buddhist belief, crowned with a white dome, built in the 6th century, shortly after the Buddha’s death, and hugely expanded in the 14th century. Continue to Pashupatinath Temple, named for the patron deity of Nepal, dedicated to the Lord Shiva, and a sacred Hindu place of pilgrimage. An afternoon tour visits the city of Bhaktapur, at the eastern edge of the UNESCO listed Kathmandu Valley. (B, D) Day 13 | Fly home from Kathmandu Transfer to the airport for your return flight from Kathmandu. (B) For the full itinerary for this tour visit: vjv.com/mountain-kingdoms
Unique Experience – A Monastery in the Sky One of Bhutan’s most thrilling and enriching experiences is the journey to the iconic Tiger’s Nest Monastery, known locally as Paro Taktsang. Begin your adventure with a calming cup of tea at the charming Teahouse, before ascending through pine forests and prayer-flag-lined paths to the summit, where you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking, panoramic views.
19 For more information & to book online visit vjv.com or call us on 020 3553 3945
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