Current as of: December 29, 2025 - 13:28
Signature Nepal & Bhutan | Peaks & Prayer Flags Trip Notes
- Ways to Travel: Guided Group
- Destination: Bhutan, Nepal
- Programmes: Culture
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Activity Level:
2 out of 7 - Easy & Moderate
- 10 Days: Land Only
- Ages: 18+
- Trip Code: LNA
- Carbon Footprint: 59.9kg CO2e
Trip Overview
In mountain valleys and sacred cities, encounter living traditions shaped by ritual, reflection, and Himalayan ways of life
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
Is This Trip for You?
We have graded this trip Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings, please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page.
Driving times: The longest travel time takes place on Day 6 (approximately three hours). All other journeys are under 1hr 30min and are broken up with guided visits, sightseeing, or meal stops.
Prebooking activities: An immersive adventure of your choice awaits on the Signature Day. All you need to do is prebook the activity at least 60 days before departure through our Signature Collection travel experts. Additionally, an optional tour can be pre-booked if you arrive early on Day 1.
Tigers Nest Hike: This hiking trail is rated moderate and is completed in three stages. It typically takes around five hours to complete covering a distance of 5mi (8km).
Flight to Paro: On Day 6 we have a flight to Paro scheduled around 9am. This will require an early check out (around 4:30am) as there is a 1hr 30min transfer to the airport.
Group
When it comes to unlocking a destination, your Signature Guide is the key holder. Hand-selected for their extensive experience and unrivalled local knowledge, they ensure your experience runs effortlessly thanks to their exceptional organisational skills. Our Signature Guides are named on our website, so you can begin your journey with complete confidence and anticipation of the wonders each day will bring.
Adult min age: 18
Min group size: 4
Max group size: 16
Itinerary
Land Only
- Start City: Kathmandu
- End City: Kathmandu
Land Only Itinerary
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
Accommodation
Experience the best of Himalayan hospitality
Every aspect of the Signature Collection is meticulously planned to take you deeper into the destination. That means your accommodation is a refined showcase of local hospitality, whether you’re staying in a pioneering luxury hotel or enjoying privileged access to a characterful stay designed to fully immerse you in the local culture.
Below are the accommodations we use on this adventure:
Kathmandu: The Dwarika’s Kathmandu (nights 1-2)
Your Signature Stay is a celebrated heritage hotel built from rescued architectural elements – a living expression of Nepalese craftsmanship. Courtyards, carved timber, and stone details create a contemplative atmosphere, while spacious rooms and serene gardens offer calm within the capital.
Dhulikhel: Dwarika’s Sanctuary (nights 3-5)
Set in the Himalayan foothills, Dwarika’s Sanctuary is devoted to wellbeing, stillness, and balance. Suites are designed for quiet retreat, opening to mountain air and forested slopes. Daily rituals, thoughtful cuisine, and spaces for meditation and movement encourage a slower rhythm.
Thimphu: Zhiwaling Ascent (nights 6-7)
Overlooking the Thimphu valley, Zhiwaling Ascent blends contemporary comfort with Bhutanese architectural tradition. Natural materials, warm interiors, and considered design create a grounding base from which to explore the capital’s monasteries and civic heart.
Paro: Dawa at Hilltop by Heeton (nights 8-9)
Positioned above the Paro valley, this hillside retreat offers space, quiet, and far-reaching views. Rooms are simple and refined, designed to frame the surrounding landscape rather than compete with it.
- Enhance your stay: Personalise your experience with curated room upgrades and additional nights tailored to your travel plans.
Food & Drink
This journey deepens your connection to Nepal and Bhutan through food shaped by tradition and place. Expect Newari tastings in Bhaktapur, hands-on cooking with a Nepali chef, heritage dining in Bhutanese homes, and contemporary expressions such as red-rice beer brewed in Paro.
Transport
From the moment you land to the moment you depart, all transport is taken care of for you. On this adventure, we use private air-conditioned vehicles in Nepal and Bhutan, with internal flights between Kathmandu and Paro included, coordinated seamlessly by your Signature Guide.
Weather & Seasonality
Spring and autumn offer clear skies and comfortable temperatures across Nepal and Bhutan. Days are generally mild, with cooler mornings and evenings in the hills and mountains. Weather can vary by altitude, especially in Bhutan’s valleys.
Joining Instructions
As with all adventures in the Signature Collection, we take care of your arrival and departure transfers, allowing you to fully relax and immerse yourself in the local culture.
- Arrival airport: Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu (KTM)
- Your adventure begins with a welcome reception at 6pm on Day 1 at our first accommodation.
- Departure airport: Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu (KTM)
- Your adventure concludes after breakfast on the final day.
Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.
Location start: Kathmandu
Location end: Kathmandu
What To Take
Essential Equipment
There’s no specialist equipment you need for this trip. For more information on what you might need to pack, please see our packing guide.
Practical Information
Visa
Nepal
You can obtain your visa in advance or on arrival. The Immigration Department of Nepal has suspended visas on arrival for certain nationalities – please check if this applies to you with your nearest embassy or consulate.
Visa in advance
To get a visa in advance you can apply online at nepaliport.immigration.gov.np and collect it from your nearest Nepali embassy. Find more information at www.immigration.gov.np.
Visa on arrival
- When you arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, there will be three lines. If you have already secured your visa, go straight to the Immigration line. If not:
Fill in a tourist visa form at the electronic kiosks. After inserting your passport, the machine will automatically fill out an application form, take an electronic photograph of you and print a paper slip. If the machine won’t read your passport, complete the details manually using the touchscreen. We recommend taking a passport photo with you just in case.
Top tip: This process can be completed through the online immigration portal (click ‘Visa On-Arrival’) within 14-days prior to arrival in Kathmandu, helping you to avoid lengthy queues at the kiosks when you come through immigration – ensure you print and bring the confirmation with you. If you have completed your visa on arrival form in advance, go directly to the visa fees counters with your printed confirmation and skip the kiosk queues. - Proceed to the visa fees collection counter and pay the visa fee (in cash, if possible). Make sure to keep the receipt. Card payments are not always possible, so paying in cash is easiest, most currencies are accepted but US dollars are preferred.
- Go to the relevant immigration desk and present your tourist visa form, payment receipt and passport to obtain your 15-, 30- or 90-day visa stamp. Please check you have been given the correct visa duration.
Bhutan
You will need a visa for Bhutan, which we will organise for you. The cost of the visa (US$40) is included in the price of the trip.
We need it to organise your Bhutan visa in advance to do this, you will need to send us a clear colour copy (scanned) of your passport at point of booking. You also need to provide a good, coloured passport photo, with white background (and ensure you are not wearing any glasses).
Please make sure we have the passport copy and separate passport photo no later than eight weeks before departure. It should be scanned, making sure the image is very clear and in colour. If you need to get a new passport for the journey, please apply for this immediately, and send us the scan as soon as you receive your new passport. It is vital the information you give us is 100 percent correct, and that the passport copy you send us is the one on which you will be travelling to Bhutan.
Visa regulations can change without notice: please check the current regulations in good time to obtain a visa if one is required.
Vaccinations and Health
Nepal
There are no required vaccinations. However, recommended vaccinations include tetanus, typhoid, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, cholera, Japanese encephalitis, rabies and tuberculosis. You will also need a yellow fever vaccination certificate if you’re arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission or transiting for more than 12 hours through a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. Some travellers may also need proof of a polio vaccination. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.
There is little to no risk of malaria in Nepal; therefore, antimalarial tablets are not usually advised although may be considered for certain high-risk groups. You may wish to consult your doctor or travel clinic for further advice.
Additionally, dengue fever and chikungunya are known risks in Nepal. Both are tropical viral diseases spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for either, and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
Most of our trips to Nepal go to high altitudes where there is a risk of being affected by Acute Mountain Sickness. Our itineraries are designed to enable everyone to acclimatise to these altitudes, but you should be aware that it is still possible for you to be affected. Please refer to the Altitude Warning within the Trip Notes for further advice on AMS.
When trekking at altitude, and particularly in cold weather, there is a higher chance of developing a cough (sometimes referred to here as the Khumbu cough) or cold symptoms. These symptoms could be a result of inhaling cold mountain air or dust (in the Everest region). You can mitigate against picking up coughs and colds by washing your hands with soap and water at available opportunities and using hand sanitiser. Also wear a buff over your neck and mouth when walking at altitude, particularly in colder weather, which will help limit cold, dry air entering your airways and keep your neck and chest warm.
Ticks are known to be present in this region and can carry Lyme disease, tick-borne encephalitis and other diseases. Please take care to protect yourself. You can read more about ticks here.
Bhutan
There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for hepatitis A, tetanus, typhoid, cholera, hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis, rabies and tuberculosis. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.
Local Time
Nepal's time zone: Asia/Kathmandu (UTC +05:45)
Bhutan's time zone: Asia/Thimphu (UTC +06:00)
Electricity
Nepal's electricity: Plug types C (two round pins, European standard), D (three round pins) and M (three round pins) – 230V, 50Hz Mains electric 'load shedding' (planned temporary power cuts) occur regularly throughout towns and cities in Nepal. On teahouse treks, the majority of lodges now have electricity and charging facilities in the communal areas for batteries, for a fee. Battery life can be affected by cold; lithium batteries are best.
Bhutan's electricity: Plug types C (two round pins), D (three round pins) and G (three rectangular pins) – 230V, 50Hz
Money
Nepal's currency: Nepalese rupee (NPR) It is illegal to import or export rupees, but foreign currency is not limited, provided it is declared on arrival. Keep your change receipts, as you will need them if you want to change rupees back into hard currency at Kathmandu airport.
Bhutan's currency: Bhutan ngultrum (BTN)
Tipping
On this adventure, tipping for any local support staff is included and will be taken care of locally by your Signature Guide. Tips for your Signature Guide are not included. We recommend a starting point of US$75 to US$85 per group member, to be given at the end. This is discretionary and you may wish to tip a different amount, depending on the service you have received.
Sustainability and Impact
As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.
We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.
This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.
We also weave Signature Legacy moments into your itinerary, so the positive impact of your trip lasts long after your stay. These are moments to remember which help people and nature thrive, ensuring you build a harmonious, positive connection with the places you visit.
On this journey, you can:
- Engage with Bhutan’s philosophy of Gross National Happiness, joining a Buddhist scholar to understand how spiritual values, cultural preservation, and wellbeing guide national policy and everyday life.
- Support the future of Bhutanese craft at Choki Traditional Art School, where free education empowers young artists to preserve traditional skills through hands-on creative practice.
- Sustain rural traditions through shared hospitality, visiting a family farmhouse near Paro to experience daily life, traditional farming practices, and archery, Bhutan’s national sport.
Important Information
Your Safe Participation
When booking this trip, you should be confident in your ability to participate in all activities described in these Trip Notes. If you have any doubt about your suitability, please call us and ask to speak to one of the experts on this itinerary.
Although our leaders are well trained to deal with different capabilities, if they have any concerns about someone’s ability to safely take part in an activity, or their impact on other people’s enjoyment, we authorise them to take necessary action which, in some circumstances, may involve asking someone to miss that activity.
By booking this trip you agree to our Booking Conditions which clearly state that our leaders have the authority to do this. In these rare instances we will ensure anyone sitting out is safely provided for and offered alternative options where possible. Refunds will not be provided for activities missed and customers may be liable for additional costs incurred.
Seatbelts
All vehicles used by us should be equipped with working seatbelts, except where approved by us based on the vehicle type or journey. Wherever seatbelts are available, we require our customers to use them for their own safety, even where it may not be a legal requirement.
Travel Safety
For additional information please have a look at the travel safety advice page on our website.
How To Book
Speak to our Signature Collection travel experts to plan your adventure:
- Check availability: our website shows real-time availability or contact our team by phone, email or live chat.
- Hold a space: You can provisionally hold a space to give you time to finalise your travel plans.
- Confirm your booking: Payment of a deposit will complete your booking and secure your place on the trip.
After booking
You will receive a confirmation document and invoice, which includes extra information and guidance about your travel arrangements. Our dedicated Customer Operations team will help you with any pre-travel questions or arrangements and can easily add extensions or extra accommodation to your booking. Final Joining Instructions will usually be sent out two to three weeks prior to departure.
Adding transfers to your booking
If you have arranged your own flights and would like to add transfers to your booking, please provide your arrival and departure details to our Customer Operations team around four to six weeks before departure. Where complimentary transfers are included, they are available for any flight but can only be added to your booking once we have received your flight schedule.
Trip Note validity
Trip notes may be updated after booking; if any updates significantly impact the inclusions or itinerary you will be advised in writing. A link to the most up-to-date Trip Notes will be sent out with your Final Joining Instructions before departure.
The information in these Trip Notes is given in good faith. All holidays can be subject to unexpected changes, and occasionally it may not be possible to follow the itinerary as planned. In these circumstances we will make the best-possible alternative arrangements that maintain the integrity of the original itinerary.