Himalaya Highlights

Day 1: Kathmandu
You will be met on arrival at Kathmandu airport and transferred to Aloft Kathmandu for dinner and overnight.

Day 2: Kathmandu
In the morning, you will head out for a city tour in Kathmandu. Visiting the famous sights, including the Durbar Palace Square, Hanumandhoka, the temple of the living goddess, Kastamandap temple, temple of Taleju, Kal Bhajrab temple, the temple of Akash Bhairab, and the Swayaambhunath Stupa (one of the world’s biggest Buddhist stupas). After lunch, you will be heading to Bhaktapur, visit the Durbar Square, Nyatapola, the palace of 55 windows, Dattatreya square, potters square and you will be visiting small women industries in Bhaktapur like paper making and textile making. In the evening, you will be heading back to Aloft Kathmandu for dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Kathmandu - Bhaktapur
After breakfast, you will head out to Boudhanath Stupa for a short visit. You can also enjoy a cup of tea while overlooking the stupa. After this visit, you will head out to Bhaktapur which is also known as the city of temples. You will enjoy lunch on a rooftop terrace before heading out on a city tour. In the afternoon you will head back to Aloft Kathmandu for overnight.

Day 4: Bhaktapur - Paro – Thimphu
After breakfast, you will depart to Kathmandu airport for your flight to Bhutan. Upon arrival at Paro airport, you will be greeted by your guide and driver and you will visit Paro town where you will visit the Rinpung Dzong and the National Museum. After this visit, you will head to Thimphu and visit the Tachogang Lhakhang Temple and the iron suspension bridge. Dinner and overnight at The Capital Hotel.

Day 5: Thimphu Valley
After breakfast, you will visit the memorial stupa which was built for the third king of Bhutan. After your visit to the memorial stupa, you will visit Bhutan Postal Museum where you can also make your own personalized stamps and use them to send postcards to your family and friends around the world. After this visit, you will be taken to the famous Kuensel Phodrang, the Buddha point which is 51.5 meters high and overlooks the Thimphu Valley. After some free time and a short hike around the Buddha statue, you will head to Changagnkha Lhakhang Temple, which is one of the oldest temples in Thimphu. After lunch, you will head to Takin Preserve to see the national animal of Bhutan. You will also visit the TashiChho Dzong / Fortress of Splendid religion and the craft bazaar. In the afternoon you will head back to The Capital Hotel.

Day 6: Thimphu – Punakha
Today you will be heading for a visit to Punakha where you will visit the Punakha Dzong and the iron suspension bridge. On the way to Punakha you will stop at Dochulaa Pass at 3,150 meters/10,330 ft above sea level, where you will visit the 108 stupas and on a clear day have a view over the snow-capped Himalaya. You will continue driving to Punakha for a visit to the Punakha Dzong and the longest iron suspension bridge in Bhutan. Dinner and overnight at Dhumra Farm Resort

Day 7: Punakha - Paro
In the morning, you will visit the temple of fertility while heading back to Paro. Upon arrival in the afternoon, you will walk through the streets of Paro where you will visit some handicraft and souvenir shops and also the vegetable market. In the evening you will go to Naksel Boutique for dinner and overnight.

Day 8: Taktsang Monastery – Paro
In the morning you will be picked from your hotel and taken to the starting point for your trekking to the famous tiger's nest / Taktsang Monastery. This will take approximately 5 hrs. After this hike, you will visit the Kyichu Lhakhang Temple, one of the oldest temples of Bhutan, built in the 7th century. After you return to your hotel you will be offered a traditional hot stone bath and you can participate in a game of traditional archery, the national sport of Bhutan. You will also be able to participate in a real Bhutanese cooking experience and learn some Bhutanese cooking or cook your own meal with local ingredients. Dinner and overnight at Naksel Boutique.

Day 9: Paro International Airport - Delhi
After breakfast, you will be taken to the airport for your departure flight to Delhi. Upon arrival in Delhi, our representative will be waiting for you at the airport to welcome you to the capital of India! After your welcome, you will be taken to your hotel for check-in and a possible time to refresh. After refreshing head out for Delhi sightseeing. Drive past the Rashtrapati Bhavan (the residence of President of India) and India Gate. Then visit Akshardham Temple or Swaminarayan Akshardham, the complex displays millennia of traditional Hindu and Indian culture, spirituality, and architecture. In the evening you will head back to your hotel for relaxation and you can go for dinner in the hotel or in the city with your guide. Overnight at Vivanta Dwarka by Taj.

Day 10: Delhi
After an early breakfast, we will start with a guided tour of Old and New Delhi. After breakfast, set out for Delhi sightseeing, including the Humayun Tomb and Qutub minar. Then visit Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, one of the most prominent Sikh temples, or Sikh house of worship, in Delhi, India and known for its association with the eighth Sikh Guru, Guru Har Krishan, as well as the pool inside its complex, known as the "Sarovar." Then visit Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India. Afterward, visit Raj Ghat, the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial. In the evening visit Chandni Chowk – one of the oldest and busiest markets in Old Delhi. In the evening we will head back to Vivanta Dwarka by Taj for overnight.

Day 11: Delhi – Agra
After breakfast, we will drive to Agra, the city of the wonderful Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal is one of the Seven Wonders of the World and will truly leave you in awe. The city of Agra is rich in culture, history, and architectural works and is one of the top destinations for tourists coming to India. Upon arrival, we will check in at the hotel and enjoy lunch in a local restaurant. Later, we will proceed to visit the massive Agra Fort, an imperialist fort situated on the banks of river Yamuna and was the main residence of the emperors of the Mughal Dynasty till 1638 when the capital was shifted from Agra to Delhi. In the evening head back to Trident Agra for dinner and overnight.

Day 12: Agra – Jaipur
At sunrise, we visit one of India’s most incredible monuments, the Taj Mahal. A dawn visit to the legendary Taj Mahal to experience the color-changing effects of the rising sun on this incredible white marble monument. Later we return back to our hotel for breakfast. After breakfast, we drive to the Pink City - Jaipur, massive forts, magnificent palaces, exquisite temples, and royal culture. Upon arrival in Jaipur, we will check in the hotel and head out for a guided market tour, where you get to experience the colorful shops of Jaipur. Jaipur's colorful markets offer a great break to shop on your tour and give your taste buds a treat with delicious street food. In the evening, you can choose to have dinner at the hotel or in a restaurant in the city, afterward, we will transfer to Trident Jaipur for overnight.

Day 13: Jaipur
After an early breakfast, we set out for a full day of local sightseeing. We will visit the historic heritage sites of Jaipur, including its most distinctive landmark Hawa Mahal, also known as the Palace of Winds. Next, we will visit the City Palace, a perfect blend of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture. Followed by our visit to Jantar Mantar, which is an astronomical observatory. Afterward visit the City Palace, a complex of courtyards, gardens, and buildings. The impressive City Palace is right in the center of the Old City.  We will then head to visit Jal Mahal (the palace in the middle of the lake) which was built in the 17th century. Visit the grand Amer Fort (or Amber Fort) (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). In the evening visit Nahargarh Fort for sunset, which provides a beautiful bird's eye view of the entire city of Jaipur. Overnight at Trident Jaipur.

Day 14: Jaipur - Delhi
After breakfast check out from the hotel and we will back to Delhi for your departure flight.