This morning you will check out of your hotel and transfer to Bhaktapur, the smallest and most densely packed of the Kathmandu Valley’s historic cities. As you walk its brick-paved streets, you’ll feel as though you’ve stepped into a living museum. Visit the royal palace, the Golden Gate, and intricately carved temples, then try your hand at pottery-making in Pottery Square, a tradition that has endured here for centuries.

In the afternoon, continue on to Dhulikhel, where you will check in to your hotel in the Himalayan foothills outside of Kathmandu.

Today is free to enjoy the offerings of Dwarika’s Resort at your own pace. You may wish to join a yoga or meditation class, set out on a scenic hike, or cycle through the Himalayan foothills. The day is yours to relax, recharge, or explore as you choose.

This morning you will meet your guide and driver for a short drive to Namo Buddha, one of Nepal’s most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites. If you prefer, you may opt for a three-hour hike to reach the monastery. Once there, you will explore the monastery grounds, observe the serene chanting of monks, and learn about the legends connected to this sacred place. Afterward, enjoy walk through a nearby village before returning to the hotel.

This morning you will fly from Kathmandu to Bhutan, where you will be met and transferred by road to Thimphu, Bhutan’s capital. En route, stop at Buddha Dordenma, a towering golden statue of Shakyamuni Buddha overlooking the valley. From here, enjoy sweeping views of Thimphu before continuing into the city to settle into your lodge.

Spend the morning in Thimphu with time to visit sites such as the VAST Art Gallery, the Pangrizampa Astrology School, the Takin Reserve, or the Institute for Zorig Chusum, where traditional arts are taught. Afterwards, you’ll begin your scenic drive to Punakha. If skies are clear, Dochula Pass offers sweeping Himalayan views, as well as a chance to stretch your legs among 108 memorial chortens and the Druk Wangyel temple, a peaceful stop that also makes a good picnic spot. The road then descends through thick forest alive with monkeys and birdlife, eventually reaching Chimmi Lhakhang. This hilltop temple, dedicated to the revered Buddhist master Drukpa Kuenley, remains one of Bhutan’s most beloved pilgrimage sites.

Continuing upstream into the Punakha Valley, you will soon see the imposing walls of Punakha Dzong rising at the river’s edge. After checking in to your lodge, you may wish to stroll the grounds or try your hand at archery, Bhutan’s national sport.

This morning you will visit Talo village, known as the home of Bhutan’s four queens, before walking up to a nearby nunnery high on the mountainside. Continue on foot to Khamsen Namgay Yule Chorten, then tour the magnificent Punakha Dzong, the “Fortress of Great Happiness.” From here, cross Bhutan’s longest suspension bridge and follow a trail along the Po Chhu River, where you may spot the endangered white-bellied heron, before pausing on a riverside beach.

Your rafting team will meet you here for a gentle float trip downstream, drifting past Punakha Dzong and the confluence of the rivers before meeting your driver. Later in the day, experience a traditional Bhutanese hot stone bath, a restorative ritual that combines river water, aromatic herbs, and fire-heated stones believed to release beneficial minerals. Enjoy this time-honored practice as a fitting close to your day in Punakha.

Rise early and bring a sack of rice to a local monastery, where you will share a simple meal of rice, dal, or vegetable curry with the monks. This communal experience offers a rare glimpse into monastic life, with opportunities to ask questions, observe rituals, or even join in post-meal activities such as tea or a friendly game of soccer.

Afterward, return to your lodge before setting out on the drive from Punakha back to Paro. Upon arrival, you will check in to your hotel.

Begin the day with a stroll through Paro’s marketplace, where your guide will introduce you to local produce and crafts and help you select offerings for a small puja at Kyichu Lhakhang, one of Bhutan’s oldest and most revered temples. Continue to Dzongdrakha Lhakhang, a cliffside temple sometimes called the “mini Tiger’s Nest,” reached by a short walk with rewarding mountain views.

In the afternoon, join a traditional Bhutanese cooking class in the home of Sangay Wangmo, a retired schoolteacher and mother of eight. With her guidance, you’ll prepare and share dishes that showcase Bhutan’s distinctive culinary traditions, offering both a hands-on experience and a warm glimpse into family life.

Today you will set out early for the hike to Taktsang Goemba, or Tiger’s Nest Monastery, Bhutan’s most iconic site. Clinging dramatically to a cliffside high above the Paro Valley, the monastery marks the spot where Guru Rinpoche is said to have arrived on the back of a flying tigress, bringing Buddhism from Tibet. The two-hour climb to the viewpoint offers inspiring scenery, followed by a steep descent and final ascent past a waterfall to reach the monastery gates.

After your descent, continue up the valley to visit the recently restored Drukgyel Dzong, a 17th-century fortress built to guard the northern route to Tibet. On your return to Paro, you may wish to stop for last-minute shopping or try your hand at archery once more before heading back to your lodge.

Say goodbye to Bhutan and head to the airport to catch your departing flight.