Kathmandu · 3 nights
Heritage-style comfort
A restored, quiet property near the old city, with courtyards, a spa and rooftop views toward the valley rim.
- Duration
- 12 days · 11 nights
- Countries
- Nepal & Bhutan
- Style
- Private & tailor-made
- Guides
- Licensed, your own
- Max altitude
- 3,100 m · Dochula Pass
- Fitness
- Easy to moderate
- Stays
- Heritage hotels & lodges
- Internal flights
- Kathmandu–Paro return
- From
- US$4,950 pp
The journey
Two kingdoms, one unhurried route
A private twelve days through the heart of the Himalaya, from the temple towns of the Kathmandu Valley to the fortress-dzongs and prayer-flag passes of Bhutan.
You begin in Nepal, with time to read the Kathmandu Valley properly. Your guide walks you through Boudhanath, Pashupatinath and the royal squares of Patan and Bhaktapur, then lifts you to Nagarkot for a Himalayan sunrise that runs from Annapurna to Everest on a clear morning.
Then comes the mountain flight to Paro. In Bhutan you travel from Thimphu to the warm Punakha valley and back to Paro, ending with the climb to Taktsang, the Tiger's Nest. We run both legs ourselves, with our own team in Kathmandu and a hand-picked guide in Bhutan, so one designer looks after you from first email to final farewell.
Nothing here is fixed. The route below is a starting point that we shape around your dates, your pace and the things you most want to see. We can slow the days down, add a festival, extend into Pokhara, Chitwan or Tibet, or trade a hotel for something grander or simpler.
What you will remember
Trip highlights
- 01Private guiding through the Kathmandu Valley's temple towns and royal durbar squares
- 02A Himalayan sunrise from Nagarkot, with the Everest range on a clear morning
- 03The mountain flight into Paro, one of the finest approaches in aviation
- 04Prayer flags and 108 chortens at the 3,100-metre Dochula Pass
- 05Punakha Dzong, the graceful fortress where the Mo and Pho rivers meet
- 06The cliffside climb to Taktsang, Bhutan's Tiger's Nest Monastery
Day by day
The itinerary in detail
A sample route we tailor to you. Tap any day to open it. Nights, hotels and experiences all flex to your dates and pace.
Nepal
Days 1–4 · Kathmandu ValleyYour designer meets you at Tribhuvan International Airport and drives you to your hotel by Thamel. The rest of the day is yours to rest or wander the lanes for a first coffee. In the evening we walk through the days ahead over a short, unhurried briefing.
OvernightKathmanduMealsOn arrivalPrivateAirport transfer
A short drive lifts you to Nagarkot on the valley rim, near 2,175 metres. On a clear afternoon the Himalaya line the horizon from Annapurna toward the Everest range. You settle into a view lodge for sunset and a quiet mountain night.
OvernightNagarkotMealsBreakfastSeeHimalayan panorama
Morning starts at Boudhanath, one of the largest Buddhist stupas anywhere, as pilgrims circle it. Next comes Pashupatinath, the riverside Hindu temple on the Bagmati. The afternoon crosses to Patan and its Newari courtyards, metalwork and the old Durbar Square.
OvernightKathmanduMealsBreakfastSeeUNESCO sites
Morning starts at Boudhanath, one of the largest Buddhist stupas anywhere, as pilgrims circle it. Next comes Pashupatinath, the riverside Hindu temple on the Bagmati. The afternoon crosses to Patan and its Newari courtyards, metalwork and the old Durbar Square.
OvernightKathmanduMealsBreakfastSeeNewari craft towns
Bhutan
Days 5–12 · Thimphu · Punakha · ParoAfter a dawn look at the peaks you return to Kathmandu for the flight to Paro. The descent between Himalayan ridges is one of the finest approaches in aviation. Your Bhutanese guide meets you and drives an hour to the capital, Thimphu.
DepartThimphuMealsB · L · D
The route
From valley temples to cliffside monasteries
- 01Kathmandu3 nights
- 02Nagarkot1 night
- 03Thimphu2 nights
- 04Punakha2 nights
- 05Paro3 nights
Where you stay
Rooms with a view, chosen night by night
We match every stay to the place and the pace — heritage in the city, valley-view lodges in the hills. Named on request, and tailored to your taste and budget.
Paro & Thimphu · 5 nights
Mountain-view lodges
Timber-and-stone lodges with wood-fired warmth, long valley views and a hot stone bath at the end of the trail.
Punakha & Nagarkot · 3 nights
Valley & river retreats
A lodge above the river in Punakha, and a Himalayan view lodge on the Nagarkot ridge for sunrise over the peaks.
Every property is hand-picked and can be adjusted up or down to suit you. Specific hotel names are shared with your itinerary.
The detail
What the tour includes
Included
- Private, government-licensed guides in Nepal and Bhutan
- All accommodation on a twin-share basis, hand-picked for each night
- Daily breakfast in Nepal, and full board throughout Bhutan
- Private vehicle and driver for every transfer and sightseeing day
- Round-trip Kathmandu to Paro flights
- Bhutan visa and the Sustainable Development Fee
- All monument, temple and permit fees on the itinerary
- A dedicated Peregrine designer from first email to final farewell
Not included
- International flights to and from Kathmandu
- Nepal visa, issued on arrival for most nationalities
- Travel insurance, which we ask every traveller to carry
- Lunches and dinners while in Nepal
- Drinks, tips and personal expenses
- Optional activities and anything not listed as included
Good to know
Trip information
The practical detail, in plain terms. Ask us anything that is not covered here.
Best time to go
October to November and March to April bring the clearest mountain views and mild days. We run the tour year-round and shape it to the season and to festival dates in both countries.
Fitness & pace
Easy to moderate. Most days are sightseeing on foot at a relaxed pace, with one longer half-day walk to the Tiger's Nest. Ponies are available for the lower part of that climb.
Altitude
Gentle. The highest point is the Dochula Pass at 3,100 metres, crossed by road, so there is no altitude concern on this itinerary. Kathmandu and the Bhutan valleys all sit comfortably low.
Visas & permits
Nepal issues a visa on arrival for most nationalities. We arrange your Bhutan visa, the Sustainable Development Fee and all internal permits before you travel, so there is nothing to file yourself.
Flights
The Kathmandu to Paro round-trip flight is included. Your international flights to and from Kathmandu are booked separately, and we are glad to advise on routings, timing and the best side of the aircraft for mountain views.
Who it suits
The trip runs privately for one traveller, a couple, a family or a small group of friends. It works well for first-time visitors to the Himalaya and for anyone who wants culture and comfort over hard trekking.
Why travel with Peregrine
A local company you can lean on
Certified local guides
Government-licensed guides who live in the ranges and valleys they lead. Our senior team includes a seven-time and a two-time Everest summiteer.
One team, both kingdoms
We run Nepal ourselves from Kathmandu and work with hand-picked partners abroad. One designer owns your trip from first email to final farewell.
Fair, responsible travel
Insured, fairly paid crews and a model that supports the places you visit — high-value, low-impact travel done properly.
Before you ask
Frequently asked questions
Test answer to test FAQ
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