Temples, Dzongs and Taj

You arrive in Kathmandu today where we meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. Our rep will help you settle in and give you an introduction to the surrounding area. The rest of the day is free to relax after your flight, and perhaps head to one of the many cafes and bars in the touristic district of Thamel near your hotel.

This morning we'll firstly head to Bhaktapur; formerly a capital of the Kathmandu Valley, the pedestrianised centre of Bhaktapur is a World Heritage Centre and is full of squares and temples with some stunning wooden architecture. You have a guided tour here, as well as time to explore the narrow winding streets which bustle with life.

Next we'll tour the important Hindu and Buddhist pilgrimage sites of Pashupatinath temple and Boudhanath stupa. These are both very important to their respective religions, but have a completely contrasting atmosphere and ambience which is fascinating to see.

This morning we start with a walking tour from the tourist centre of Thamel, through Kathmandu's busy winding streets passing numerous tiny shops, workships and street corner temples to Durbar Square with its splendid array of Hindu temples and the old Royal Palace. We'll then drive up to the 'monkey temple' of Swayambhunath Stupa and see great views over the city and surrounding valley.

An option is available early this morning to take a spectacular flight up to view Everest. If the weather is clear you will also be able to see Everest and many other Himalayan peaks on your flight to Bhutan, but from much further away.

We pick you up from the hotel this morning and transfer to the airport for the spectacular flight over the Himalaya to Bhutan (try and sit on the left side of the plane for the best views). While en route, complete immigration and custom form formalities for later declaration and keep your custom forms safe, as you will need to produce them again on departure. (Note - the Kathmandu-Paro-Kathmandu flights are not included in the tour price but may be purchased separately or added as an extra option. Please see the Options section and Tour Notes for more details).

Paro airport provides a first taste of Bhutanese architecture and is surely one of the world's most beautiful. After lunch and an introductory chat with your Bhutanese guide, we will start our tours by visiting Ta Dzong, originally the Watch Tower for the Rinpung Dzong in Paro. It was later converted into the National Museum of the Kingdom and boasts a wide range of antique thangkha paintings, textiles, weapons & armour, household objects and natural and historic artifacts. You'll then walk downhill from the museum to Rinpung Dzong or the 'fortress of the heap of jewels' which is the seat of the district administration and the residence of the monastic school. The dzong is famous for its wall murals depicting Buddhist parables, symbols and the lives of prominent saints. Here you'll learn how these spectacular buildings have combined the monastic and civic administration of Bhutan for centuries. Finally, you walk down to the cantilever bridge below the dzong where your car awaits to take you to your hotel.

Today the tour leaves Paro and crosses the Dochu La Pass on sheer twisting roads through dense forests. You will be driven past multiple chortens at the top of the pass and be able to see the mountains in the distance, if the weather is clear.

When the tour has descended into the Punakha Valley, your guide will take you on a short walk to the Chimi Lhakhang Temple. It was built by Lama Drukpa Kuenley or 'The Divine Madman' and is known for blessing barren women with fertility.

All bird watching enthusiasts are encouraged to do a pre-breakfast tour in the morning that goes up to the Che La Pass at sunrise. You should keep an eye out for the blood grouse and the remarkable Himalayan monal.

Breakfast will be followed by a scenic drive through the valley to the north of Punakha for a morning stroll to Khamsum Yuelley Namgyel Chorten. You can't miss this chorten with its striking location on a ridge above the Punakha Valley. This notable shrine was inspired by the Buddhist treasure teachings of Thragthung Dudjom Lingpa.

It is a sacred religious haven that helps to ward off negative forces and promotes peace and stability. The structure also embodies the positive forces that transcend all the negative influences in the world. According to Lamas, this chorten is a quintessence of Buddhism and brings about health and happiness for the people.

After exploring the temple, you can meander through the fields of chili, bean and wheat crops and reach the riverbank. Those who want to continue walking can do so along the river to Punakha. If you want to rest your feet, you can be picked up and driven. In Punakha, you will be shown the wonderful Punakha Dzong that is in the middle of the rivers of Phochu and Mochu. These waterways represent the co-existence of masculinity and femininity and their currents are different colours. You will notice how the rivers merge at this spot. Lunch will be followed by a drive to Gangtey.

This morning, the tour will depart from the Punakha Valley and head back onto the mountain roads that cut through the oak and rhododendron forests into the Phobjikha Valley (approx. 70km, 3hrs). These dense forests are the winter roosting grounds for the famous and endangered black-necked crane.

These cranes make a high-altitude migration here from the Central Asiatic plateau to escape the harsh winters in October. A festival celebrates their arrival on 12 November, which is then followed by the birthday of the king. The birds then fly from Tibet in February-March so the best months to view them are November, December and January.

Your guide will lead you into the valley so that you can look out for the cranes, if it is the right time of year. Later that day, the tour will visit the Nyingmapa Monastery in the kingdom of Gangtey Gompa.

This day will consist of a picturesque drive back across the Dochu La Pass to the capital of Bhutan, Thimphu.

On the way back, the tour will make a stopover to view the Dzong at Wangdue Phodrang. This building was destroyed by a fire in 2012 and is still being rebuilt today. This immense task is expected to continue until 2021.

After we have arrived in the city centre, you will have plenty of time to explore the surrounding area before enjoying dinner at the hotel.

This day will be spent traversing in and around Thimphu with the assistance of your driver and guide. You will venture in small groups, which allows for flexibility when it comes to choosing where to visit and what to do. You can speak to your guide and arrange your day.

Activities available:

The National Takin Research Centre where you can view a collection of unique animals while you stroll through an open pine forest with breathtaking views over Thimphu Valley.
The Memorial Chorten - a stupa inspired by the third king to deter negative influences. It was later constructed in his memory by the present king and the queen mother.
The School of Arts & Crafts - an institute that allows students to work on honing their traditional skills.
The Folk Heritage Museum with exhibits that offer insight into the medieval lifestyle of the Bhutanese people.
The National Library - home to the largest book in the world and displays of traditional Tibetan-style books, written on long handmade strips of paper.
The National Institute of Traditional Medicine, which has a small museum and clinic where people are treated with traditional herbal medicines.
A traditional handmade paper factory that sells eye-catching souvenirs and trinkets.
The Textile Museum has displays of local weaving art with weavers at work.
Trashichhodzong - the elaborate medieval fortress/monastery, which houses most of the government's office, the king's throne and is also the summer residence of Je Khenpo, the Chief Abbot.
A variety of short half-day hikes available around the valley.
Lunch will be included during the day and if there is an archery tournament taking place at the National Stadium, our tour will check it out. Traditional folk dancing will also be on display.

It's imperative that you don't miss out on the weekend market with its assortment of stalls selling vegetables, spices and of course, chilies. A handicraft and clothing market is another highlight and an ideal place to purchase some souvenirs. This market runs from Friday afternoon until Sunday lunchtime and we will make sure that our itineraries incorporate the markets.

You will be served breakfast earlier this morning as the tour will drive to the foot of the Taktshang cliff. From here, you will set off on a 2-3 hour uphill hike to reach this monastery, resting on a sharp 800m-rock face. Taktshang is one of Bhutan's most famous sites and translates to 'Tiger's Nest'. Legend has it that Guru Padmasambhava flew to this spot on the back of tigress in the 8th century. It was believed that he meditated here, which makes this temple a sacred pilgrimage destination for Buddhists.

Lunch will be enjoyed at the Taktshang cafeteria located about two thirds of the way up. This trip takes 4-5 hours and you can also arrange to ride a pony for the uphill trek.

That afternoon, you will be taken on a short sightseeing tour to Drukgyel Dzong, the fort of victorious Drukpas. A fire gutted this fort, but it remains famous for being the stand from which many Tibetan invasions were revolted. To the north, you can spot the dome of the sacred Mount Chomolhari or the 'mountain of the goddess'.

The tour also stops at one of the oldest landmarks in Bhutan - the 7th century Kyichu Lhakhang, which was one of the 108 temples built in the Himalayas by the King Songtsen Gembo. This enchanting sanctuary is regarded as one of the holiest shrines in Bhutan that embodies the arrival of Buddhism here.

As night falls, you can amble through the streets of Paro or indulge in a hot stone bath at the hotel to ease your tired muscles.

Your time is free today until we transfer you to the airport in time for your flight to Delhi, India (flight cost not included). Once you arrive in Delhi, you'll be met by one of our local staff, who will transfer your hotel. Once you're settled in, we'll run through the tour itinerary for the next few days, brief you on the local area and arrange a time to collect you tomorrow.

Your day starts with a morning tour of India's capital, New Delhi. Built on the banks of the Yamuna river, New Delhi is a beautiful blend of a historical past and a vibrant present.

We start at India Gate in the centre of New Delhi, a 42-metre high "Arc-de-Triomphe" like archway, a war memorial built to commemorate the 82,000 soldiers who partook in the undivided Indian Army. We'll drive past various government buildings such as the President's Palace and the Parliament of India, before passing Humayun's Tomb - a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Bangla Sahab Gurudwara Sikh Temple.

We'll stop at Connaught Place Station and join the locals on the metro to Old Delhi where we'll walk through one of the oldest and busiest markets in Old Delhi, Chandni Chowk, before exploring the narrow streets of Chawri Bazar which specialises in selling brass, copper and paper products. Throughout the afternoon our guide will also introduce you to the wide range of street food snacks and delicacies so you can get your first authentic taste of the delicious and varied Indian cuisine. Our walking tour will also take in a rickshaw ride and the Jama Masjid mosque, one of the largest in India.

We head to Agra this morning, home of the famous Taj Mahal. After arriving in Agra we'll make a stop for lunch at the Sheroes Hangout Cafe The cafe was set up by the Chhanv Foundation and is run by victirms of acid attacks. The cafe works to raise awareness of acid attacks in India and to empower those who have sadly been the victims of these heinous crimes. Prior to gaining employment in the cafe, many of the 'Sheroes' led solitary lives, rarely going outside due to shame associated with their scars. At Encounters Travel we're proud to support such an organisation, which has the sole aim of helping these women find acceptance, a supportive community and a means of income. Lunch will be included whilst at the cafe.

Once you've checked in into your hotel, we'll spend the afternoon on a Mughal Heritage Walk through the ancient village of Kachhpura and surrounding farmland on the banks of the Yamuna River across from the Taj Mahal and Red Fort. This walk has been designed by a local NGO and helps support the local community through employment and new infrastructure. During the walk one of the villagers will give a guide to their village life, the layout of their homes, with living, cooking & religious areas, the farming done, and the local cottage industry for leather shoe making which helps Agra export shoes all over the world. You'll also see some lesser known but important Mughal era monuments. Finally today we'll stroll around the park at Mehtab Bagh - originally built by Emperor Babur as the last in a series of 11 parks on the Yamuna River's east bank, before taking in the magnificent sight of the Taj Mahal at sunset.

A special evening option is available today, where you can join a Hindu family for a Vegetarian Thali cooking lesson and meal.

We start today early for our tour of the Taj Mahal. Truly one of the wonders of the world this elaborate monument to love was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and took over twenty-two years to complete. Sunrise is a great time to visit as the light changes gradually with the colours of the Taj changing too. Next we'll head to the UNESCO world heritage site at Agra Fort where we'll have time for a visit before returning to Delhi where we'll spend our final night.

Your time is free today with various optional tours available before we transfer you to the airport to catch your flight home. You could also choose to extend your stay in India by going on safari looking for tigers at Ranthambore National Park, or heading south to the beaches at Goa or Kerala.If you would like assistance with a tour extension, please contact us to discuss your plans.