Active Himalaya: Nepal to Bhutan
Overview
This epic journey takes you from the bustling streets of Kathmandu to the serene mountain trails of Bhutan (and a fair few places in-between), combining adventure, culture and breathtaking landscapes. You’ll trek through charming villages and pine forests in Nepal before venturing into Bhutan’s Druk Path Trek, where you’ll camp under the stars by high-altitude lakes and witness panoramic views of the Himalayas. Along the way, you’ll explore sacred temples, vibrant local culture and the peaceful beauty of the countryside.
Whether you’re trekking in Nepal or rafting in Bhutan, each day brings new adventures and unforgettable experiences. From spotting wildlife and enjoying cultural performances in Chitwan National Park to hiking to Bhutan’s famous Tiger’s Nest Monastery, this trip offers a perfect balance of trekking, sightseeing and the opportunity to experience the cultures of two of the most beautiful countries in the the entire world.
What's Included?
- Airport Transfers & Local Transport
- Return Flights from Kathmandu to Paro
- Expert Local Guides & Porters
- 4 Nights in Hotels in Nepal & Bhutan
- 4 Nights in Local Teahouses
- 4 Nights Camping in Bhutan
- 16 Breakfasts, 9 Lunches & 10 Dinners
- Park Fees, Permits & Bhutan Visa Fee
- International Flights to Nepal
- Travel Insurance
- Soft Drinks, Alcohol or Drinking Water
- Tips for Guides & Porters
- Personal Equipment & Clothing
- Souvenirs
Trip Highlights
Tiger’s Nest Monastery: It’s Bhutan’s showstopper – a challenging hike with a spiritual twist. Perched high on a cliff, this sacred site offers incredible views and the chance to connect with Bhutan’s ancient traditions.
Kathmandu’s UNESCO Sites: From the holy Pashupatinath Temple to the grand Boudhanath Stupa, Kathmandu’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites offer a deep dive into Nepal’s rich cultural and spiritual heritage.
Druk Path Trek: Trek through Bhutan’s pristine wilderness, camping under the stars with stunning views of the Himalayas. This trek is a perfect mix of activity and tranquility, taking you off the beaten path.
Chitwan National Park: Go on a safari in Nepal’s lowland jungle, where rhinos, crocodiles and over 500 species of birds await. If you’re lucky, you might just spot a tiger!
Daily Itinerary
Welcome to Nepal! Our team will be there, bright and cheery, as you step off the plane, ready to whisk you away into Kathmandu’s bustling streets. After checking in, relax, settle in, and get ready for your first proper taste of Nepal – both literally and metaphorically – with a welcome dinner featuring delicious traditional Nepali dishes. Meals Included: Dinner
On the road to adventure! We’ll set off on a scenic drive to Chisapani before stretching our legs on the trek to Kutumsang. The trail meanders through charming villages, with picture-perfect views of the Himalayas to keep us company. Tonight, we’ll rest in a peaceful little teahouse in Kutumsang, where the serenity of rural Nepal will lull us to sleep. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Time to stretch those legs! Today’s trek is shorter but steeper, taking us through beautiful rhododendron forests. As we climb higher, the views get better, and by the time we reach Thadepati (3,650m), you’ll be rewarded with jaw-dropping panoramic views of the surrounding peaks and valleys. We’ll stay at a cosy lodge for the night, nestled in the heart of the mountains. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
A day of trekking bliss! We’ll descend through lush, mossy forests to the picturesque village of Melamchi Ghyang, home to a beautiful monastery. After exploring the village and soaking in the serene atmosphere, we’ll continue to Tarkeyghyang – known as the “gem” of Helambu. It’s a longer day, but the views and the charm of Tarkeyghyang will be more than worth it. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today, there’s an option to start with a hike up to Ama Yangri Peak for breathtaking 360-degree views – it’s the highest point in the region and totally worth the effort. Then, we’ll continue trekking through traditional villages and rolling landscapes to Sermanthang, where we’ll settle in for the night at a local teahouse. A perfect way to wind down after a day on the trails. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
We’ll head back to the hustle and bustle of Kathmandu today, leaving behind the peace of the mountains. The scenic drive will bring us back to the lively streets of the capital. In the afternoon, we’ll squeeze in visits to two of Kathmandu’s most iconic UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Pashupatinath Temple and the impressive Boudhanath Stupa. Meals Included: Breakfast
Fly to Paro, Bhutan – and the flight itself is a stunner, with views of the Himalayas from your window seat. After landing, we’ll head straight into exploring with visits to the historic Rinpung Dzong and Kichu Lhakhang, two of Bhutan’s most important cultural landmarks. Afterward, enjoy a relaxed evening in Paro at your leisure. Meals Included: Breakfast
Today’s highlight is the world-famous Tiger’s Nest Monastery, perched high above the Paro Valley. It’s a challenging climb, but the reward is in the view and the sheer tranquillity of the monastery. Afterward, we’ll stop by Kyichu Lhakhang, one of Bhutan’s oldest temples, before heading back to Paro to relax for the evening. Meals Included: Breakfast
We’re off on the Druk Path Trek! After a short drive to Damchena, we’ll begin our 10km hike to Jele Dzong. The gradual ascent gives us plenty of time to take in the views of Mount Jumolhari and Paro Valley. Tonight, we’ll camp under the stars, with the stunning backdrop of the dzong for company. Get ready for more trekking adventures tomorrow! Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Another fantastic day on the Druk Path as we hike through forests of pine and rhododendron to Jangchulakha. If we’re lucky, we might spot some yak herders along the way! The views of Jumolhari are incredible, and we’ll camp overnight in this scenic setting, surrounded by nature. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
The trail today takes us to Jimilangtsho, a stunning lake known for its trout and the peaceful surroundings. We’ll camp right by the lake, with majestic views of the mountains all around, including Jichu Drake and Gangkar Puensum. It’s another brilliant day of trekking and camping in the great Bhutanese outdoors. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today’s trek leads us along ridges and through forests to Simkotra Tsho, another beautiful high-altitude lake. The stone structures around the lake create an atmospheric backdrop for tonight’s camp. It’s a peaceful and remote spot, perfect for soaking in the beauty of the Bhutanese wilderness. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Our final day on the Druk Path is mostly downhill, descending through forests towards Phajoding before continuing on to Thimphu. After a long but rewarding trek, we’ll enjoy a well-earned rest in Bhutan’s peaceful capital. Take the evening to explore or simply relax after an epic few days on the trail. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today’s journey takes us to Punakha, with a scenic stop at Dochula Pass for breathtaking views of the Himalayas. In Punakha, we’ll explore the majestic Punakha Dzong and visit the quirky Chimi Lhakhang, also known as the fertility temple – both are must-sees during your time in Bhutan. Meals Included: Breakfast
After a morning hike and a rafting adventure on the Pho Chu River, we’ll drive back to Paro via Dochula Pass. The rafting will get your adrenaline pumping, and the stunning scenery along the way will make the drive back to Paro equally exciting. Enjoy a relaxed evening reflecting on the day’s adventures. Meals Included: Breakfast
Time to head back to Kathmandu! We’ll catch a flight to Nepal’s capital and the rest of the day is yours to either explore a bit more or simply take it easy. After the adventures of Bhutan, this is your chance to relax and soak in the last moments of your trip before heading home. Meals Included: Breakfast
And that’s a wrap! After breakfast, we’ll arrange your airport transfer for your onward journey. Safe travels and we hope to welcome you back for another adventure in the future! Meals Included: Breakfast
Where We'll Stay
We’ve taken on the tough task of staying at some of the best hotels and guest houses around the world to hand pick those that we think you’ll love. They’ll always be locally-owned where possible. Below are some examples of where you’ll be staying on your trip, although please note, we don’t guarantee which hotels or guesthouses we use. On this trip, most of the time we’ll be staying in locally-owned guesthouses and hotels. They’ll always be clean, well-located, provide great hospitality, have breathtaking views and be a welcome place to get some rest after long days exploring! And of course, we’ll be camping along the Druk Path. It’ll be basic but our team will make sure you’re comfortable, well-fed and with all the hot drinks you need!
Like the sound of this trip, have a question or want to check something before you book? Maybe even have a great idea to customise this itinerary? Get in touch and start your adventure!
Interactive Route Map
Check out the interactive map of this trip below. You can simply zoom in and have a look at the route.
Or, if you’re wanting to get a feel for the route or to dive into the daily details then click on any of the steps and you’ll be redirected to our Polarsteps page.
What is Polarsteps?
We’ve loaded all of our itineraries onto Polarsteps. It’s an app that can help you plan, track and relive your travels. We’ve used it to display our trips in all their glory but anyone can easily create on-the-go mementos of their adventures.
Carbon Emissions
This trip emits approximately 618 kg of carbon per person. This includes emissions from transport, accommodation, food, activities, and the operations behind the scenes to run the trip.
What does this mean?
This is roughly the same as driving a typical petrol car about 1,950 miles.
It’s equivalent to the carbon emissions from heating an average UK home with a gas boiler for about 26 days during winter.
Our Approach
We recognize the significant carbon emissions from international travel, but we believe that the positive impact on the countries and communities we visit outweighs these challenges. We provide this estimate to help you make informed decisions about your carbon footprint and consider any offsets you may wish to support.
More Information
What's the fitness level required for this trip?
We grade all of our trips to try and make it easy to understand the fitness levels required. These are broad guidelines however so you’re welcome to chat to us about any specific concerns you might have.
You’ll find more information about these levels here and you can find the difficulty rating for this specific trip at the top of the page.
What if someone under the minimum age wants to travel?
It might not be an issue. Some destinations such as Rwanda have firm rules in place about how old people should be in order to visit the gorillas. In other destinations it’s more of a guideline.
Please do contact us and we’ll be happy to help.
Can I customise this trip in any way?
- adding in extra days or cutting out a day here or there;
- squeezing in other destinations or removing them;
- starting or finishing the trip in a different place;
- staying in a hotel or guesthouse that we don’t list as an option.
What are your payment terms and is my booking financially protected?
Yes, absolutely. Here’s a link to where you can read more about how we are an ABTOT member and have an ATOL licence and what this means for your financial protection when booking a trip with us.
Deposits vary from destination to destination and from trip to trip. Generally speaking we require a deposit of 25%. This amount may be higher for certain trips where more services that usual need to be booked and paid for in advance (such as gorilla permits in Rwanda). Deposits are non-refundable.
Balance payments are required up to 70 days prior to travel.
If you need to cancel your booking, the following fees will apply based on the time before your scheduled departure:
- Immediate loss of deposit (25% of total cost) upon cancellation.
- 50% of the total cost if cancelled after the balance is paid and up to 45 days before departure.
- 75% of the total cost if cancelled 30 to 45 days before departure.
- 100% of the total cost if cancelled within 30 days of departure.
These fees compensate for expenses and bookings made on your behalf in anticipation of your trip.
How do visas work for Bhutan?
There’s a special process for visa applications for Bhutan which need to go through a Bhutanese agency. We’ll sort all that out for you so you will just need to submit your passport details to us and we’ll do the rest.
Which airport do I need to fly into and out of for my trip to Nepal?
Your trip starts and ends in Kathmandu. You will need to book flights to arrive and depart from Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM). This is around a 20-30 minute drive to the hotel you’ll be staying at.
How do I find out which hotels, meals and activities are included?
Unfortunately we can’t provide an exhaustive list of everything included in the ‘What’s Included’ section of this page as we include a whole bunch of stuff on our trips!
If it’s in the itinerary and we’ve not explicitly said that it’s an optional activity, then yes – it’s almost certainly included. If you’re not sure, please ask.
The meals that are included are all listed on the daily itinerary.
For the accommodation, we’ve got a shortlist of properties that we use. You can get a sense of the types of accommodation we use higher up the page in the ‘Where We’ll Stay’ section. We cannot guarantee any specific properties for your trip as it’s based on availability. If you are wanting to specifically request a property then please get in touch as we’re able to customise our trips.
How much should I tip in Bhutan?
Tips are not included in any of our trips. They are entirely discretionary but in most cases are expected by the teams that will be looking after you. We know it can be daunting to work out exactly what to give so whilst this guideline hopefully helps, please remember that it’s a completely personal choice and you should feel free to tip more or less based on the quality of service that you receive.
Guide: $10-20 USD per day
Porters or Support Staff: $5-10 USD per day
Drivers: $5-10 USD per day
Again, tipping is not compulsory and please only do so if the service you’ve received warrants it. It’s hugely appreciated and a way for the teams looking after you to supplement their income.
How much should I tip in Nepal?
Tips are not included in any of our trips. They are entirely discretionary but in most cases are expected by the teams that will be looking after you. We know it can be daunting to work out exactly what to give so whilst this guideline hopefully helps, please remember that it’s a completely personal choice and you should feel free to tip more or less based on the quality of service that you receive.
Trekking Guide: $10-$20 USD per day
Porters: $5-10 USD per day
Drivers: $5-10 USD for short trips; $10-15 USD for full-day services.
Again, tipping is not compulsory and please only do so if the service you’ve received warrants it. It’s hugely appreciated and a way for the teams looking after you to supplement their income.
What should I know about the possible cold climate?
This trip spends time in locations where there might be significantly cold temperatures (below freezing) during the day with further temperature drops at night. You might be staying in poorly insulated accommodation in rural locations. It’s important that you are adequately equipped and that you remain sufficiently hydrated and nourished.
Our guides are trained to mitigate the risks associated with undertaking activity in cold weather but you should be aware of the risks and ensure you’re appropriately prepared.
What should I consider about trekking at altitude?
A lot of our trips spend considerable time above altitudes of over 2,500m. Some people may experience symptoms associated with Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). It’s really important to note a couple of things. Firstly, past experience at high altitudes is not necessarily an indicator of how you’ll fare in the future. Secondly, our itineraries have been curated and our guides have been trained to mitigate the risks associated with trekking at altitude. However, due to the nature of trekking at altitude it’s vital that you report any symptoms to your guide immediately. It’s also important that you have travel insurance covering you up to the maximum altitude at which you’ll be trekking.
Is travel insurance mandatory?
Yes, it is. We run adventurous trips and it’s mandatory that you have suitable travel insurance in place to cover overseas medical treatment as well as evacuation or repatriation.
We can’t recommend which provider you use but the main things we’d encourage you to look out for is that you’re fully covered for the activities you’re taking part in (i.e., covers you up to the altitude you’ll be trekking at) and that it covers cancellation in the event that illness or other circumstances prevent you from travelling.
What information will I receive after I book?
After you book, we’ll get to work confirming that the dates you’ve selected are completely available.
There are extremely rare circumstances that may mean we’re unable to confirm your booking. These circumstances are limited to events beyond our control or not being able to secure the services that you wanted to book.
In the extremely rare event that we’re unable to confirm your booking you will be offered an alternative itinerary or a full refund without any fees. Please do not book any non-changeable travel plans until you receive the confirmation from us. This will be within 72 hours.
A detailed Trip Dossier will then be sent to you after you make your booking. It’ll contain all the information you might need to help you pack and get prepared for your trip, including information on visas, vaccinations, packing and training.
We encourage you to refer to the UK Government’s official travel advisory service when planning your trips. You can find the FCDO advice here.
And when you travel, we work closely with local experts to put together the best itineraries. We’ve worked with them exhaustively to provide safe adventures at great value. They know their destination better than we ever could so you’ll be in good hands! You can read a bit more about why we will only ever have locally-led trips here.
Book Now
Whether you’d like more information about this itinerary or to customise it to exactly what you want to do, drop us a line and let us know your plans!
