Himalayan Trilogy Family Adventure


Potala Palace from Jokhang temple (Photo: Jenny)

Himalayan Trilogy Family Adventure (17 days, 16 nights)

Kathmandu (the Valley of the Gods), Pokhara (the Gateway to the Annapurnas), Lhasa (the forbidden city), and Bhutan (the Land of the Thunder Dragon) - these are the places you will explore in the Himalayan Trilogy Adventure.

The trip begins in Kathmandu, Nepal. Throughout the Kathmandu valley are Hindu temples, Buddhist shrines and ancient palaces. Here you will find seven World Heritage Sites within a radius of less than 10 miles. In Nepal, you will also fly to Pokhara to soak views of the high snow-capped Annapurna mountains. From Kathmandu, you will fly to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. Here you will visit the Potala Palace, the seat of the Dalai Lamas, and other monasteries. An excursion to the Ganden monastery is also included and this will allow you to experience the rustic Tibetan plateau without actually driving off to remote locations in Tibet.

The trip ends in Bhutan from where you will fly to Bangkok. You will visit the three major towns in Bhutan: Thimpu, the capital, Paro and Punakha. Travel in leisure, and absorb local sites and culture. The trip does not include any trekking - just some optional day hikes.

 

Itinerary

(The itinerary can be modified to suit your travel needs)

Day 01, Sunday - Kathmandu, Nepal

Arrive Kathmandu. Met on arrival. Transferred to Hotel Tibet. Rest of day free. Trip briefing followed by welcome dinner in Thamel. (Dinner)

 
Day 02, Monday - Kathmandu

Anapurna
Changu Narayan Temple (Photo: Binaya)

Drive to Bhaktapur for a half-day of sightseeing.  Bhaktapur – the City of Devotees – is a medieval city that is least disturbed by modern life within the Kathmandu valley.  Here, you can absorb the architectural splendor of the five-storied Nyatapola temple, or the sculptural delight of the Peacock Window. Return to Hotel Tibet and prepare for your trek towards Mt Kailash. You can store excess luggage at the Hotel. Overnight Hotel Tibet. (All meals)

Day 03, Tuesday - Pokhara, Nepal

Fly to Pokhara (30 minutes). After arrival in Pokhara, you have the option to hike to Dhampus or stay on in Pokhra. The hike can take between 2 to 3 hours and is mostly steep up hill. Dhampus is a great place to view the Annapurna mountains including Annapurna, Machhapuchhare, Hiunchuli etc. Overnight at a local lodge. (All meals)

Day 04, Wednesday - Pokhara, Nepal

Return to Pokhara by car from Dhampus. In the morning, visit the Nepal Mountaineering museum. In the afternoon free to stroll by the lake side. Overnight Shangrila Village Resort or similar. (All meals)

Day 05, Thursday - Kathmandu, Nepal

Board an afternoon flight to Kathmandu. The remaining day is free. Overnight Hotel Tibet or similar. (Breakfast)

Day 06, Friday- Kathmandu, Nepal

Explore the sights, sounds and pleasant chaos that is Kathmandu: Visit Swayambhunath, the monkey temple, overlooking Kathmandu city. Onwards to Kathmandu Durbar square with its maze of temples and the palace complex. In this complex lives the little girl-goddess – Kumari. Drive to Patan for lunch at Patan Café. After lunch, visit the well-maintained Patan Museum storing ancient Nepali artifacts, followed by a tour of Patan Durbar (palace) Square. Time-permitting, at the end of the day, visit the Tibetan Refugee Centre. Overnight Hotel Tibet. (Breakfast and Lunch)

Day 07, Saturday - Lhasa, Tibet


Ganden Monastery Complex (Photo: Paul Comte)

Fly to Lhasa. Upon arrival at the airport, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel by the Barkhor square in Lhasa. The ride from the airport to Lhasa can take up to an hour. Free to roam the Barkhor square in the evening.

Day 08 and 09, Sunday and Monday - Lhasa, Tibet

Two full days of sightseeing are scheduled on your visit to Tibet. Visit Potala Palace, the ancient palace of the Dalai Lamas, and the Sera Monastery where you can watch the monks debate using interesting hand gestures. You will also drive outside of Lhasa to the Ganden Monastery Complex. This was once the largest monastery in the world where over 5,000 monks lived and studied. Overnight Hotel Mandala or similar. (Breakfast and Lunch).

Day 10, Tuesday - Kathmandu, Nepal

Fly to Kathmandu. Day Free. Overnight Hotel Tibet or similar. (Breakfast)

Day 11, Wednesday - Kathmandu, Nepal

Half day sightseeing in Kathmandu. Evening Free. Nepali dinner. Overnight Hotel Tibet or similar. (Breakfast and Dinner)

Day 12, Thursday - Paro, Bhutan

Fly to Paro. Day free in Paro. Overnight Hotel Kyichu or similar. (All meals)

Day 13, Friday - Thimpu, Bhutan


A dancer at the Paro festival

Hike to Tiger's Nest, a monastery perched by a cliff. The hike can take up to 3 hours. In the evening drive to Thimpu (2 hours). Overnight Hotel Druk or similar. (All meals0

Day 14, Saturday - Thimpu, Bhutan

The following day is a full day of sightseeing in Thimpu. In the evening, visit the weekend market. Overnight Hotel Druk or similar. (All meals)

Day 15, Sunday - Punakha, Bhutan

Drive to Punakha. At Punakha visit the spectacular Punakha dzong. Overnight Wangdi Resort. (All meals)

Day 16, Monday - Paro, Bhutan

Drive to Paro. Evening free in Paro. Overnight Kyichu Resort. (All meals)

Day 17, Tuesday - Bangkok, Thailand

Fly Paro to Bangkok.

End of services

Price includes

Price does not include

TO BOOK THIS TRIP

A completed reservation form must be either faxed to us or scanned and emailed as an attachment.

Email: info@crystalmountaintreks.com
Fax: 977 – 1- 4412647

You must also send us a non-refundable deposit of $500 per person and an additional $1,500 for regional airfare. The deposit can either be wired to us or paid by direct deposit. We will refund up to $30 to cover your wire expenses. Wire details will be provided.

The balance of the amount must be paid on arrival, either in traveler’s checks or cash.

Download reservation form here »

Cancellation Policy

If you cancel at anytime prior to the beginning of the trip, you forfeit your deposit. No refunds will be made for unused services on the trip.

Trip difficulty

This trek is rated moderate. Highest elevation reached is in Lhasa (11,400 ft.). The trip does involve a couple OPTIONAL day hikes and some days of extensive driving.

References

We plan and organize journeys for hundreds of travelers every year. Please ask us for references from clients who have previously trekked with us.

Questions:

Email: info@crystalmountaintreks.com

Phone
Land Line: + 977 1 4416813
Mobile: + 977 97410-33916

Or if you would rather have us call you at a time convenient for you, please email us your phone number and time that works best for you.