Signature Nepal & Bhutan | Peaks & Prayer Flags

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.

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.

Weather

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.