Nepal & the Mystical Himalayas (2012)

Depart the U.S. on your flight to Delhi.

Arrive in Delhi today. An OAT representative will assist you to your hotel where you can relax after your journey.

Early this morning, fly to Paro (elevation 7,300 feet). In clear weather, the flight to Bhutan provides a wonderful view of Himalayan scenery. It is a fascinating journey, culminating in an exciting descent past forested hills into the kingdom.

Your Bhutanese Trip Leader will meet you on arrival at Paro airport. We'll transfer to our hotel and have lunch together there.

This afternoon, we visit the Paro Dzong: “Fortress on a Heap of Jewels.” Considered by many to be the most impressive dzong in Bhutan, it’s a highlight of our explorations of these magnificent structures. Gleaming white above the surrounding valleys, this dzong was built in 1646 to defend the valley against repeated invasion from Tibet. Later this afternoon we enter Paro by crossing a traditional bridge. We then have the rest of the afternoon to explore the town at leisure. We have dinner together at our hotel in Paro this evening.

In the morning, we hike approximately 90 minutes to the Tiger’s Nest (Taktsang) Monastery viewpoint (elevation 10,240 feet). Perched seemingly impossibly on a cliff 3,000 feet above the valley floor, Taktsang is a place of pilgrimage for locals—and for visitors like us, a hike to the viewpoint opposite the monastery is thrilling and mystical. Legend has it that Guru Rinpoche flew to the site of the monastery on the back of a tigress from Tibet, and meditated there for three months—thus bringing Buddhism to Bhutan. The main building of the temple was destroyed by fire in April 1998 but has now been restored to its original splendor and glory.

Then we’ll enjoy lunch at our hotel. After lunch, we’ll drive to see the Drukgyel Dzong, an abandoned fortress built in the mid-1600s to commemorate Bhutan’s victory over Tibet. The dzong is perched at an altitude of 8,465 feet in the mountains, at a spot where many long-distance mountain trekkers start their journeys.

On the way back to our hotel, we’ll stop to explore sacred Kyichu Lhakhang. The temple was reportedly built in AD659 by King Sontsen Gampo of Tibet. According to legend, it pins the left foot of an ogress so large that she covers Bhutan and most of eastern Tibet.

Tonight you’ll enjoy a dinner at your hotel.

After breakfast, we’ll depart for Punakha. We drive over the stunning 10,000-feet Dochula Pass, one of Bhutan’s most enchanting views. Weather permitting, we can see the craggy peaks of Bhutan’s northern Himalayan border with Tibet. After a short stop at the pass we continue to Punakha, where we'll check into our hotel and enjoy an included lunch.

The fertile valley of Punakha is drained by the Phochu and Mochu rivers and blessed with a temperate climate. Before Thimphu was made the capital of Bhutan, Punakha held the title as the winter capital because of its more temperate climate. Today it is the winter seat of the Je-Khenpo (the Chief Abbot) and the Central Monk Body.

Later in the afternoon we’ll visit the Punakha Dzong (Palace of Great Happiness), built at the junction of the Phochu and Mochu rivers in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. This majestic dzong served as both the religious and the administrative center of Bhutan in the past. It measures some 600 by 240 feet and has a six-story, gold-domed tower. Inside are courtyards and religious statuary that hint at the depth of history and spiritual tradition embodied here. Your guide will illuminate your understanding of this intricate culture that is exotic to us, though long established here.

After dinner at the hotel, our evening is free.

After breakfast, we start the day with a nature drive of the surrounding valleys and learn more about the abundant regional flora and fauna en route. Then we head for Wangdue Phodrang, a nearly 400-year-old town that is home to a dzong located on a ridge with a commanding view of the valleys below. As we enjoy a guided tour here, we’ll be fully immersed in Bhutan’s spectacular Himalayan world, where the works of a long-isolated culture exhibit a dignity and spirituality to match the loftiness of their natural surroundings. You’ll visit Wangdue Phodrang Dzong, which was founded by the Shabdrung in 1638. The dzong is strategically located on a promontory overlooking the meeting point of the Sunkosh and Tangmachu rivers. The district of Wangdue Phodrang is also famous for its bamboo products and slate and stone carvings.

After lunch, you’ll hike to Chimi Lhakhang Monastery, a 30-40 minute gradual hike. Situated on a hillock below the village of Metshina, the temple was built by Lama Drukpa Kuenley (also known as the Divine Madman) and is believed to enable conception to childless women who visit it and receive a blessing.

Dinner is at our hotel tonight.

We travel overland to Thimphu this morning, a journey that brings you through some of the most awe-inspiring landscapes on Earth.

Exquisitely beautiful and brimming with traditional Bhutanese art, architecture, and culture, this tiny capital of Bhutan is nothing less than Shangri-La. As we explore tomorrow, you may notice the touches of modernity, each one introduced thoughtfully and gradually to protect the environment.

We will enjoy lunch en route to Thimphu, and dine together at our hotel this evening.

This morning’s tour is sure to provide a new perspective of Bhutan’s unique culture. We begin with a visit to the National Library, which holds a vast collection of ancient Buddhist manuscripts as well as the world’s largest book, followed by a stop at the arts and crafts school, also known as Zorig Chusum, the traditional school of the 13 arts and crafts. Next, the textile museum offers us rare glimpses into Bhutan’s finest textiles through demonstrations of production techniques such as weaving, dyeing, and spinning. We then enjoy a visit to a factory that produces hand-made paper before returning to our hotel for lunch. Please note: The National Library and Textile Museum are closed on Saturday and Sunday.

This afternoon we’ll visit the Handcrafts Emporium to see the exquisite artistry of traditional crafts and textiles. Then we’ll drive to the Memorial Chorten. Built in 1974 in memory of King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, the “Father of Modern Bhutan,” this multi-storied monument displays numerous paintings and statues that provide a rare insight into Buddhist philosophy.

We will also visit the Takin Reserve, where we will see the national animal of Bhutan—an odd beast that confounds the experts, who haven’t managed to directly relate it to any other animal. A Bhutanese myth suggests that the takin is a cow-goat hybrid, but its strong resemblance to the North American moose is difficult to ignore. We’ll continue up to the highest point in Thimphu for a bird’s-eye view of Thimphu, and we’ll take a brief hike beyond to enjoy a stunning view of the valley.

We'll enjoy dinner at a local restaurant this evening.

After an early breakfast at your hotel, you transfer to the airport in Paro and board a flight to Kathmandu. Your Nepali Trip Leader will meet you at the airport to assist with your transfer to your hotel to begin your discovery of Nepal & the Mystical Himalayas.