Across Nepal and Bhutan, tradition is carried through daily life rather than put on display. In Kathmandu, private lama blessings and craft practices unfold within temple courtyards. Beyond the city, the rhythm slows in the Himalayan foothills, before continuing into Bhutan’s western valleys, where monastic learning, Buddhist astrology, and the philosophy of Gross National Happiness guide daily life. With your handpicked Signature Guide, you share time and conversation with monks, artisans, and scholars who sustain these traditions every day.
Venture to the very heart of each destination on our Signature Collection, where every journey is shaped by our unrivalled local connections and insider expertise. Step beyond the ordinary with private invitations, rare encounters, and experiences few will ever share. So when someone says, “I’ve been there,” you’ll simply smile, knowing you’ve experienced it differently.
Signature Experiences:
Join resident lamas for a private blessing at Boudhanath, where ritual prayers for wellbeing and protection unfold within Nepal’s living spiritual heart
Walk slowly through Gokhureshwar Community Forest with local conservation leaders, blending forest bathing and storytelling shaped by community-led stewardship
Meet monks at Pangri Zampa Monastery for a personal Buddhist astrology reading, offering rare insight into Bhutan’s spiritual rhythms and life cycles
Create your own traditional Bhutanese painting at Choki Traditional Art School, guided by master artisans safeguarding skills passed from teacher to apprentice
Signature Day: Experience our distinctive Signature Day, choosing between cycling to Panauti, a guided hill walk, a pilgrimage hike to Namo Buddha, or a hands-on visit to a working permaculture farm
Signature Stay: Restore body and mind at The Dwarika’s Kathmandu, a heritage hotel shaped by Newari craftsmanship, tranquil gardens, and a deep sense of Nepali tradition
Signature Guide: Let your handpicked Signature Guide lead you to the country’s soul — sharing their home, heritage, and heart
Activity Areas
Culture
Region & Country & City
Asia: Bhutan, Nepal
Included in the Price
- Elegant, hand-picked hotels and a Signature Stay in The Dwarika’s Kathmandu, a heritage hotel shaped by Newari craftsmanship - All meals are included, featuring restaurants that capture the authentic cuisine of Nepal and Bhutan - Named Signature Guide with outstanding knowledge and guest satisfaction - Gratuities for local support staff so every detail of your journey feels effortless - Comfortable transport, including private transfers and internal flights - Complimentary transfers on arrival and departure, ensuring a smooth journey
Not Included In The Price
Itinerary
Day 1 Settle into Kathmandu’s living heritage | Welcome reception at the Garden of Dreams
Our journey begins in Kathmandu, Nepal, where devotion and daily life move side by side. Complimentary arrival transfers are included, allowing you to settle smoothly into your elegant hideaway at The Dwarika’s, our Signature Stay, shaped by generations of master artisans and tranquil, temple-like courtyards.
Those arriving early may join an optional excursion to explore Patan’s royal courtyards with a museum curator, tracing Nepal’s artistic lineage through stone, bronze, and wood (available to pre-book).
As dusk falls, gather for a welcome reception in the Garden of Dreams, a historic neo-classical oasis. Lantern-lit pavilions frame music and dance inspired by the vibrant festivals of Nepal, alongside a thoughtfully prepared Nepali dinner at the Kaiser Café.
Overnight at The Dwarika’s Kathmandu
Day 2 Circle stupas and royal squares | Receive a private blessing from resident lamas
Begin the day at Boudhanath, one of the largest Buddhist stupas in the world, where pilgrims move in steady circles beneath prayer flags and turning wheels.
Signature Experience: Step into a private space beside the stupa to receive a blessing led by resident lamas, where ritual chanting and prayer are traditionally offered for wellbeing and protection.
Lunch unfolds at Chez Caroline Café within a restored Rana-era palace enclave. From here, rise to the 2,500-year-old stupa at Swayambhunath, then walk through Kathmandu Durbar Square, once the seat of the Malla kings, now a cluster of ancient temples, palaces, courtyards and streets that date to the 12th and 18th centuries.
The day draws to a close at the historic Chimney restaurant, founded by a pioneer of tourism in Nepal, Boris Lissanevitch.
Second night at The Dwarika’s Kathmandu
Day 3 Cycle through living markets | Shape clay and flavour in Bhaktapur
Depart by cycle rickshaw this morning, gliding through the oldest bazaars in Kathmandu before the daily rush, as trade, ritual, and daily life unfold at street level.
Journey east with a transfer to Bhaktapur, where brick-paved lanes and temple squares preserve a medieval rhythm. Join Newari artisans to shape clay on a traditional potter’s wheel, then sit down to a guided tasting of dishes prepared for season and ceremony.
Later, arrive at Dwarika’s Sanctuary in Dhulikhel, where time stands still, the air softens, and the rhythm of the Himalaya begins to guide your being. After lunch, meet the resident Ayurvedic doctor to set intentions for wellbeing, before evening light, sunset views of the surrounding peaks, and a gentle arati ceremony bring the day to a close.
Overnight at Dwarika’s Sanctuary
Day 4 Signature Day | Trace Dhulikhel through pilgrimage paths, village lives, and working landscapes
Begin with a barefoot walk through the Shiva Linga Meditation Maze. Feel the morning dew beneath your feet as stillness and space bring grounding, silence, and balance.
Then we enter our Signature Day, where you can select a curated experience to connect more deeply with the landscapes and communities around Dhulikhel. You could:
Cycle with a local guide through Newari villages and terraced valleys to historic Panauti, crossing suspension bridges and sharing lunch in one of Nepal’s oldest towns.
Walk between hill communities with a local guide, crossing fields and rivers, visiting family homes, and sharing a simple village lunch.
Follow a guided pilgrimage trail to Namo Buddha Monastery, walking through forests and villages before meeting the senior resident lama at this sacred hilltop site.
Visit a pioneering permaculture farm, learning about land stewardship, seed saving, and self-sufficient living.
Second night at Dwarika’s Sanctuary
Day 5 Step into stillness | Join conservation leaders for a private forest bathing and storytelling walk
Wake as the morning stirs beneath the quiet presence of the Himalaya. Begin with open-air yoga, guided by a resident yoga master as mountain air and morning light ease you into the day.
Later, step into the Himalayan Rock Crystal House for a guided meditation. Join the chef for a hands-on Nepali cooking experience, learning traditional techniques and the nuances of Nepali cuisine before sharing the meal you prepare together.
Signature Experience: Walk slowly through community forest with local conservation leaders, blending mindful forest bathing with storytelling that reveals how collective stewardship has protected this landscape.
Evening is unhurried, returning to the hotel for dinner, reflection, and rest.
Third night at Dwarika’s Sanctuary
Day 6 Cross the Himalaya by air | Settle into the capital of Bhutan
An early start to fly to Paro, Bhutan, tracing snow-lined ridges before a dramatic descent into Bhutan’s western valley, one of the most memorable approaches in the Himalaya.
On arrival, receive a traditional tashi khaddar, a white scarf symbolising an auspicious reception. Travel onward through the picturesque Paro Valley to Thimphu, where the Paro and Thimphu rivers meet and the pace subtly shifts.
Settle into Thimphu, Bhutan’s capital, enjoying a meal at Edelweiss Restaurant, a local favourite.
Later, visit the hilltop Buddha Dordenma, gazing across the city as evening light gathers to view the gilded statue of Shakyamuni, one of the largest in Bhutan. Dinner is served at the hotel, introducing Bhutanese dishes rooted in tradition.
Overnight at Zhiwaling Ascent
Day 7 Listen to wisdom and devotion | Join resident monks for a Buddhist astrology reading
Begin the morning at Drubthob Goema, a hilltop nunnery overlooking Thimphu, where resident nuns share their life shaped by study and quiet devotion.
Signature Experience: Continue to Pangri Zampa Monastery, built in 1529, for personal, one-to-one encounters with resident monks, who offer Buddhist astrology readings, sharing how cosmic cycles and philosophy shape daily life in Bhutan.
Lunch is a picnic taken beside a clear mountain river, followed by a visit to Trashichhoedzong, the seat of Bhutan’s civic and monastic authority.
As evening approaches, a Buddhist scholar introduces the principles of Gross National Happiness, guiding Bhutan’s approach to progress. Dinner is served in a 600-year-old heritage family home, where traditional Bhutanese dishes preserve long-held culinary customs.
Second night at Zhiwaling Ascent
Day 8 Engage with Bhutan’s living arts and village life | Create sacred Bhutanese art guided by masters
Signature Experience: Begin at Choki Traditional Art School, where Bhutan’s artistic heritage is preserved through disciplined practice and belief. Light a sacred butter lamp before Guru Rinpoche, then create your own traditional painting under expert guidance, watching skilled artisans demonstrate techniques passed down through generations.
Continue to Paro, settling into your hillside retreat before visiting Ta Dzong, originally a watchtower, now the National Museum, where we peruse antique thangkha paintings, textiles, weaponry, household artifacts, and a diverse array of natural and historical treasures.
Later, step into a village farmhouse to share local snacks and try traditional archery, the national sport of Bhutan. The day ends at Namgay Artisanal Brewery, where Bhutanese red rice shapes contemporary brewing, enjoyed with views across the valley.
Overnight at Dawa at Hilltop by Heeton
Day 9 Climb with purpose | Raise prayer flags before continuing to the Tiger’s Nest
Set out along a forested trail toward the Tiger’s Nest Monastery (Taktsang Monastery). Considered Bhutan’s most revered pilgrimage site, it rises dramatically from the cliffside above Paro Valley. Along the way, pause to raise prayer flags, a simple ritual of intention.
Continue the ascent at your own pace, with time to rest, reflect, or turn back as you wish. Lunch is taken at a hillside café overlooking the valley before the descent.
After, ease tired muscles in a traditional hot stone bath at Zanta Spa, a long-held Bhutanese practice, then gather on the hillside terrace of your hotel for a farewell barbecue dinner, sharing food, music, and traditional dance with wide views across the Paro Valley.
Second night at Dawa at Hilltop by Heeton
Day 10 Say a fond farewell to Bhutan and Nepal
After breakfast, transfer to Paro airport for your return flight to Kathmandu, where you can connect with onward flights.
This journey may have come to an end, but Nepal and Bhutan linger, in quiet rituals, shared meals, mountain paths, and moments of stillness that travel with you long after departure.
Alternatively, open a new chapter of discovery by speaking to your Signature Collection travel expert about extending your stay.
