Welcome to Shakti Travels and Tours, Trekking and Expedition (P). Ltd.

16 Nights 17 days Nepal,Tibet and Bhutan Tour

Day 01 Wed - Arrive Kathmandu.Flower garlands reception at the airport and transfer to hotel. PM:Free for orientation.
1900 hrs - Welcome Gala Nepali dinner with Nepali folk dance in the evening at Nepali Restaurant.Overnight at hotel.

Day 02 Thu - Breakfast at hotel.
0930-1230hrs:Tour of the city which includes Durbar Square, the historic centre of Kathmandu in which the Temple of the Living Goddess is located. In this temple a small girl is selected from a particular clan of craftspeople after extensive ritual, and is declared a goddess. She lives in the temple until puberty, after which she is given a life pension and a new goddess is found. The central courtyard of the temple is superbly crafted, with extensive carving on windows and balconies and an elaborate shrine. Also visit Hanuman Dhoka, a restored palace and temple complex, devoted to the famous monkey-god Hanuman. By the main entrance to the palace complex is a statue of Hanuman. The figure is shielded by a golden umbrella and his face has been covered with red paste by devotees so that his features are now completely obscured. Inside this large compound are many different courtyards and buildings, both religious and secular.
Then visit Patan, the second largest city in the Kathmandu Valley. Patan was once an independent Malla kingdom, its origins dating back 2,000 years. The city houses the fantastic 12th century Buddhist Monastery, Hiranya Varna Mahavihar, which is among the finest in the country. Its gold-plated roof, courtyard with many prayer wheels and richly decorated three-storied temple are superb. The elaborately-decorated buildings, statues, temples, palaces and shrines found in the Durbar Square here, mostly date from the 17th century, when the artistic patronage of the Malla kings was at its most inspired.
The visit concludes at Swayambunath, a Buddhist temple complex housing a superb stupa set high up on a hill with spectacular views over the Kathmandu valley.Overnight at the hotel.

Day 03 Fri - Breakfast at the hotel.
We visit the ancient city of Bhaktapur, or city of Devotees, also known as Bhadgaon, visiting Durbar square, Lion gate, the five storied Nyatopolo Temple, the tallest of its kind in Nepal, and the palace of 55 windows. The film, LITTLE BUDDHA was shot here, among other places in Nepal.
After lunch we visit Pashupatinath temple and Boudhanath Stupa.Bouddhanath Stupa lies about six km to the east of downtown Kathmandu and is the largest stupa in the Valley. It looms 36 meters high and presents one of the most fascinating specimens of stupa design. Bouddhanath, a World Heritage Site, is also known as Khasti, or dew drops, after an account that builders had to use dew to mix the mortar as Kathmandu was suffering from a severe drought during its construction.
Pashupatinath Temple is one of the most sacred hindu shrines in the world.The richly-ornamented pagoda houses the sacred linga, or phallic symbol,of Lord Shiva. Chronicles indicate the temple's existence prior to 400 AD. Devotees can be seen taking ritual dips in the holy Bagmati river flowing beside the temple, also a World Heritage Site.

Day 04 Sat - Breakfast at the hotel.Transfer to Intl Airport for flight to Lhasa.Airplane (by AIR CHINA) will land at Lhasa Gonggar Airport (96km from the main city) at 1:40pm Chinese time. Transfer
to Tsedang. Afternoon sightseeing tour to Yambu Lhakhang and Cha Duk monastery. O/nt at Hotel
Tsedang.

Day 05 Sun - Wed:Tsedang- Visit to Samye Monastery and the valley of cradle of Tibetan civilization. Overnight at Hotel Tsedang.

Day 06 Mon - Drive to Gyantse via Yamdrok Lake. Later in the afternoon
visit to Khumbum Stupa and Phalkor Monastery. O/nt at Hotel Gyantse.

Day 07 Tue - Drive via Shalu to Xigatse. Sightseeing tour of Tashihunpo Monastery and the free market of Xigatse. O/nt at Hotel Xigatse.

Day 08 Wed - Drive to Lhasa via Northern highway and visit Norbulinka Place. O/nt in Lhasa.

Day 09 Thu - Sightseeing tour of Sera Monastery, Jokhang Temple and barkhor Bazaar.

Day 10 Fri - Sightseeing tour of Potala Palace & Drepung Monastery.

Day 11Sat - Early Breakfast at the hotel.Transfer to airport to board you flight to Kathmandu.Arrive Kathmandu around 0845 AM(local time) and tranfser to hotel.Free day.Overnight at the hotel.

Day 12 Sun - Breakfast at the hotel.Free day.Overnight.

Day 13 Mon - Breakfast at the hotel.Transfer to airport for flight to Paro,Bhutan.Arrive by Druk air BAE 146-100 series, the only national carrier. The flight offers you beautiful view of mountains and landscapes. On arrival and after visa formalities you will be received by STT rep and transfer to Kichu Resort.

Day 14 Tue - Paro Sightseeing - visit the ruined fortress of Drugyel dzong which still attracts visitors due to the strategic location of the fort. The fort defended the Paro valley from the Tibetan invasion from the north in the early 17th century. On clear weather Mount Chomolhari 7320 meters can be seen towering over the dzong. Proceed through the beautiful valley to the watch tower or locally known as Ta-Dzong. It was housed into the National museum in the 1960s by the third King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. The seven floors museum highlights various aspects of Bhutanese culture and history dating back to the 7th century. The drive to Thimphu is 2 hours and will be a pleasant one mainly due to the luxurious Japanese transportation and well maintained road through out Bhutan.
Evening free time. Overnight at Hotel Druk or River view.

Day 15 Wed - AM Thimphu sightseeing - visit the Memorial chorten built in the memory of the
late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, 15 century Changangkha monastery and the new Drupthob
nunnery temple. PM drive 3 hours to Wangduephodrang crossing the Dochula pass 3100
meters. On fine weather you will see the eastern Himalayan ranges including the highest
mountain in Bhutan Mt.Gangar Punsum 7520 meters. The drive from the pass is all the way
downhill dropping to the lower and warmer valleys of lobesa. Visit the Dzong from outside
and the market area. Overnight at Wangdi Kichu Resort.

Day 16 Thu - AM drive 45 minutes to Punakha and visit the Punakha Dzong which served as an
old capital of Bhutan. This remarkable fortress is built between two rivers and has
survived many glacial floods and fire. Every year during the month of February a
procession known as the Punakha Serda takes place to commemorate the victory over the
Tibetans. Drive 3 hours to Thimphu for lunch and proceed 2 hours to Paro via visiting the
oldest building in Bhutan, the Simtokha Dzong. It now serves as a Buddhist university.
Overnight Kichu Resort.

Day 17 Fri - Transfer to Paro airport for fly to Bangkok.END OF SERVICE.(As you can fly direct
from Paro(Bhutan) to Bangkok) the flight back to Kathmandu from Paro is not necessary thus
saving you this airfare as well as the airfare from Kathmandu to Bangkok.We hope this is ok
with you.