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Rickshaw Travel
Bhutan

India, Bhutan & Nepal: Journey through the Himalayas

Itinerary
  • Itinerary:
    Delhi - Jaipur - Agra - Varanasi - Lumbini - Chitwan - Pokhara - Kathmandu - Thimphu - Punakha - Chimi Lhakhang - Phobijkha Valley - Paro - Neydo Monastery
  • Duration:
    23 days / 22 nights (flexible)
  • Price:
    from £5,085 per person (excluding flights)
Discover a mixture of bustling cities, gleaming white Dzongs, devout monks, elephants and rhinos during this suggested itinerary through India, Nepal and Bhutan. You’ll begin your trip with a visit to the Taj and listening to pilgrims singing softly as you drift along the Ganges at sunrise. You’ll then cross overland into Nepal, crossing small villages and stupas. Wander between temples draped with prayer flags fluttering in the wind, before flying to Bhutan. Here you’ll cross high passes, be the guest of a Bhutanese family, visit Buddhist monastery fortresses and of course the famous Tiger’s Nest monastery.

Days 1-4 – India: Authentic starter pack

Settle gently into colourful and chaotic India, a riot on the senses. Touching down amidst the commotion of Delhi can be something of a culture shock, so this trip is designed to give you a softer landing. You’ll spend one night in Central Delhi before driving on to the Pink City of Jaipur, crammed with fairy-tale palaces, historic splendour and heaving bazaars stuffed with beautiful textiles.

Days 4-7 – India: Sunrise at the Taj Mahal

Visit mystical monkey temples and ghost cities en route to sunrise at the Taj Mahal. A real wonder of the world, it’s a building that will take your breath away. India’s Golden Triangle is the stuff of legend, with the ethereal Taj Mahal at its pinnacle. This trip will take you from the Pink City of Jaipur to Agra, where you’ll watch dawn break over the Taj Mahal. Next up, you’ll be collected from your hotel in Agra and transferred to the train station where you’ll board the sleeper train to Varanasi. This is an overnight trip and will take about 12 hours.

Days 9-10 – India: In the footsteps of Buddha

Take a spiritual overland trip from the holy city Varanasi to the birthplace of Buddha in Nepal. Pass small villages and stupas before crossing into peaceful Nepal. Drive across remote countryside, watch daily life unfold from your window and wave to goodbye to your stint in beautiful India. During this trip, you’ll journey from the ghats of the Ganges to the Nepalese border by private car. Along the way, you’ll see the landscape grow increasingly greener. After crossing the border, you’ll continue into Nepal, a country nestled in the Himalayas, spending a night in Lumbini before continuing onto Chitwan National Park.

Days 10-12 – Nepal: Chitwan jungle and rhinos

Set off on an adventure in search of the one-horned rhino. Glide along twisting rivers in a canoe at dawn, watching golden light flood the plains, and watch elephants gather at the shores in the early morning haze. The lush subtropical lowlands of Chitwan National Park are bursting with wildlife and adventure, so get your binoculars at the ready. Take a walking safari, sleep in a scenic bungalow and sail past crocodiles sunning themselves on the riverbank. It’s a rustic outdoor experience that will bolt your eyes wide open. You’ll then hop on a bus to Pokhara, a journey of approx. 5 hours.

Relax in peaceful Pokhara, where snowy peaks reflect in the calm waters of the Phewa Lake, prayer flags flutter and Buddhist chants seep from every doorway. It’s a laid-back place with a fairytale feeling, dozens of ramshackle, arty cafes and an endless list of adventures in store. Take a white knuckle rafting trip, paraglide over the rippling lake or rent a boat and paddle through the tranquil waters, surrounded by the Himalayas on all sides. After a day spent exploring, stretch out in the sunshine on the shoreline and let it all sink in. Pokhara feels tinged with magic, making it very hard to leave. You’ll then get a bus to Kathmandu, a 7-hour trip.

Accommodation

hotel in jaipur
lodge in chitwan