Photograph courtesy of Dwarika's Sanctuary
Nepal & Bhutan
Two Kingdoms, Gently
Kathmandu, the Dhulikhel ridge and western Bhutan, with no trekking — eleven days
The two Himalayan kingdoms most travelers mean to see one day, in a single unhurried journey and without a day of trekking. Four nights in Nepal — the courtyards of Kathmandu at Dwarika's, then three on the ridge at Dhulikhel, where the whole range lies along the horizon at dawn — and six in western Bhutan: Thimphu, the warm rice valley of Punakha, and Paro beneath the Tiger's Nest.
One short flight joins them, along the spine of the Himalaya. Everything else is private: your own guide and car in each country, and the finest houses in every valley.
The Journey
Day 1
Arrive Kathmandu
Private welcome and transfer to Dwarika's Hotel, Kathmandu's living museum of Newari craftsmanship. Dinner at Krishnarpan, course after course of Nepal. Dwarika's.
Day 2
The old kingdoms, and up to the ridge
Patan's Durbar Square and the Patan Museum with our historian guide, then Bhaktapur, the best-preserved of the valley's royal cities — pottery squares, the Peacock Window, alleys of woodcarvers — and the short drive up to Dhulikhel. Dwarika's Sanctuary, above the clouds.
Day 3
Dhulikhel
Sunrise over a 100-mile Himalayan horizon. A gentle walking pilgrimage to Namobuddha monastery, lunch with the view, and an afternoon in the resort's Himalayan salt house and spa. Dwarika's Sanctuary.
Day 4
The Sanctuary, at your own pace
Morning yoga facing the range and the Sanctuary's wellbeing program — or a short drive to the riverside temples of Panauti. Dwarika's Sanctuary.
Day 5
Across the Himalaya to Paro, and on to Thimphu
The flight from Kathmandu to Paro runs along the range — on a clear morning, Everest and Kangchenjunga at the window. Private welcome in Paro, then the drive to the capital; evening walk at the Memorial Chorten. Pemako Thimphu.
Day 6
Thimphu, the living capital
The colossal Buddha Dordenma above the valley, the national Textile Museum, the weekend market's chilies and incense, and butter tea at a private home. Pemako Thimphu.
Day 7
Over the Dochula to Punakha
Across the Dochula Pass and its 108 chortens, then down into Punakha's subtropical warmth. Afternoon at Chimi Lhakhang among the rice terraces. COMO Uma Punakha.
Day 8
Punakha Dzong and the rivers
Bhutan's most beautiful building, moored where the Mother and Father rivers meet; a farmhouse lunch and the suspension-bridge walk above the Mo Chhu. COMO Uma Punakha.
Day 9
To Paro
Back west through the pine forests to Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest temples in the Himalaya, and the National Museum in its round watchtower. Taj Paro Resort & Spa.
Day 10
The Tiger's Nest
The morning climb to Taktsang, taken slowly with tea at the halfway house — or, if you prefer, the view of it from across the valley. Afternoon hot-stone bath and a farmhouse farewell dinner. Taj Paro Resort & Spa.
Day 11
Depart Paro
A last valley morning, then your flight out.
Included, always
- Ten nights: one at Dwarika's Hotel, three at Dwarika's Sanctuary (its inclusive three-night program), two at Pemako Thimphu, two at COMO Uma Punakha and two at Taj Paro Resort & Spa — or similar houses of equal standing
- Nepal: private guide and vehicle, breakfast and the Krishnarpan dinner in Kathmandu, all touring and entrances, the Namobuddha walk
- Bhutan: Sustainable Development Fee and visa in full, private licensed guide, driver and vehicle, all meals, all entrances, hot-stone bath
Not included
- Staff gratuities — not included, and yours to give. We publish suggested amounts for both countries in your pre-departure pack and can add them to your final invoice. Bhutan's hotels add a 10% service charge shared among their staff.
- International and regional airfare, including the Kathmandu–Paro flight between the two countries — we will book it for you on request, in economy class unless you ask otherwise; Nepal visa; travel insurance (required); lunches and dinners in Kathmandu beyond those named; personal expenses
The Details
- Price
- $13,950 per person, double occupancy · Single occupancy $4,450What your price includes: All 10 nights, Bhutan's Sustainable Development Fee and visa, private guides and vehicles in both kingdoms, and all touring and entrances.
- Duration
- 11 days / 10 nights, Kathmandu to Paro
- Party
- Always private, always on your dates · Never a mixed group
- Seasons
- March–May and October–November are clearest · Year-round on your dates
- Character
- Gentle · No trekking · One optional half-day hike to the Tiger's Nest · Highest night 2,400m
Booking terms, in brief. A journey is reserved with a signed booking confirmation and a 35% deposit, non-refundable upon our written booking confirmation; the balance is due 90 days before departure. Quoted prices are guaranteed for 14 days from proposal.
Prices are per person, double occupancy, in US dollars; inclusions are exactly as this page states, and Bhutan's Sustainable Development Fee is included.
Cancellations, in writing, are subject to our published schedule: the deposit is retained to 91 days before departure; 50% at 90–61 days; 75% at 60–46 days; 100% at 45 days or fewer. One date change is free of our fees when requested more than 90 days out, for a departure within 12 months, subject to availability and cost differences.
If a named lodge or service becomes unavailable, we substitute equivalent category. Helicopter flights are weather-dependent; lost flights are rebooked within the journey at no charge, and if weather defeats every window we refund the helicopter component's published value.
Comprehensive travel insurance with helicopter evacuation cover, and our signed Assumption of Risk & Release, are conditions of travel on Nepal journeys. Domestic flight disruption within Nepal is managed and re-booked by our Kathmandu operations at no charge; additional nights, meals or transfers it causes are at the guest's expense, typically covered by trip-delay insurance.
Complete terms, including our limitation of liability and Indiana governing law (contracting party: Curated Ascents LLC, d/b/a CuratedAscents, Carmel, Indiana), are at www.curatedascents.com/terms and accompany every proposal.
Bhutan's Sustainable Development Fee is included at the official rate confirmed through August 2027.