Self-Launched Gems of the Himalaya: Nepal & Bhutan

Arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM). Pre-arrange a taxi through a reputable app like Pathao or InDrive, or use the prepaid taxi counter inside the terminal — expect to pay around £5–8 to Thamel, the backpacker hub. Check into your guesthouse, grab a local dal bhat dinner on Thamel's streets for under £3, and get your bearings. Pick up a local SIM card (NTC or Ncell) at the airport or a nearby shop for around £2 including data.

🚌Prepaid airport taxi to Thamel (~£6)

🛏Zostel Kathmandu or similar hostel/guesthouse in Thamel (~£10–15/night for a private room)

• →Arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM)
• →Take prepaid taxi or Pathao ride to Thamel (~£6)
• →Check in to hostel/guesthouse in Thamel
• →Pick up a Ncell or NTC SIM card (~£2 with data)
• →Explore Thamel streets and grab a local dal bhat dinner (~£3)

Start the day early at Boudhanath Stupa, one of the largest stupas in the world — entry is around £2. Spin the prayer wheels, watch monks at morning rituals, and sip butter tea at a rooftop café overlooking the stupa. In the afternoon, dive into the chaotic and colourful markets of Ason and Indra Chowk, where you'll find spices, textiles, and local street food. Finish at Machendra Bahal, an ancient courtyard temple. Breakfast and dinner included in guesthouse or local restaurants.

🚌Walk or local microbus between sites (~£1)

🛏Zostel Kathmandu or similar (~£10–15/night)

• →Visit Boudhanath Stupa — entry ~£2, book via GetYourGuide for a guided morning walk (~£8)
• →Explore Ason Markets — free, great for local produce and handicrafts
• →Wander Indra Chowk bazaar — free entry
• →Visit Machendra Bahal courtyard temple — free
• →Sample local street food: sel roti, samosas, and chai (~£3)

Fly from Kathmandu to Paro (PBH) — one of the world's most dramatic airport approaches, surrounded by mountain peaks. Flights with Druk Air or Bhutan Airlines typically cost £150–200 one-way booked in advance. Note: all travel in Bhutan must be arranged through a government-licensed Bhutanese tour operator, and you must pay the Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) of USD $100/day (~£80/day). Choose a budget licensed operator such as Bhutan Eco Tours or similar to keep costs lean. Your operator will arrange a local guide and driver as required. In the afternoon, visit the impressive Rinpung Dzong (Paro Dzong) — a whitewashed fortress-monastery above the Paro River — and Ta Dzong, the former watchtower that now houses the National Museum.

🚌Flight KTM–PBH (~£175); local operator vehicle included as part of mandatory arrangement

🛏Paro budget guesthouse (e.g. Paro Guesthouse or Sonam Trophel) — ~£20–30/night, arranged through licensed operator

• →Fly Kathmandu to Paro with Druk Air or Bhutan Airlines (~£175)
• →Pay Bhutan Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) ~£80/day — mandatory for all visitors
• →Visit Rinpung Dzong (Paro Dzong) — included in SDF
• →Visit Ta Dzong / National Museum of Bhutan — included in SDF
• →Stroll along the Paro riverside in the evening

Today's highlight is the iconic trek to Taktsang Monastery (Tiger's Nest) — one of the most sacred sites in Bhutan, perched dramatically on a clifftop 900m above the Paro Valley. The round-trip hike takes 4–6 hours and is moderately challenging but immensely rewarding. Start early to beat the crowds and midday heat. A rest stop café at the halfway point offers tea and snacks. After descending, your driver will take you to Thimphu (1 hour), with a photo stop at the beautiful Tschogang Lhakhang temple en route. Settle into your guesthouse in Thimphu for the next two nights.

🚌Operator vehicle Paro–Thimphu (included in licensed operator package)

🛏Budget guesthouse in Thimphu (e.g. Druk Deothjung or similar) — ~£20–30/night

• →Trek to Taktsang Monastery (Tiger's Nest) — 4–6 hours round trip, entry included in SDF
• →Rest stop for tea and snacks at the halfway café (~£3)
• →Photo stop at Tschogang Lhakhang temple — en route, free
• →Drive to Thimphu (~1 hour) via operator vehicle

Spend a full day exploring Bhutan's compact and car-free capital. Start at the National Memorial Chorten, a revered whitewashed stupa where elderly locals perform daily circumambulations — a deeply moving sight. Then head up to the colossal Buddha Dordenma statue (51.5 metres tall) for sweeping valley views. Visit the School of Traditional Arts (Zorig Chusum) to watch artisans learning the 13 traditional crafts of Bhutan, then explore the hilltop Changgangkha Lhakhang temple, one of Thimphu's oldest. End at the Motithang Takin Preserve (Thimphu Zoo) to see Bhutan's national animal, the takin.

🚌Walking and operator vehicle within Thimphu (included)

🛏Budget guesthouse in Thimphu — ~£20–30/night

• →Visit National Memorial Chorten — small entry fee (~£1)
• →Visit Buddha Dordenma statue — free entry, panoramic views
• →Visit School of Traditional Arts (Zorig Chusum) — small entry fee (~£2)
• →Visit Changgangkha Lhakhang temple — free
• →Visit Motithang Takin Preserve (Thimphu Zoo) — entry ~£2
• →Browse the Weekend Market for local produce and snacks (~£3)

Drive from Thimphu to Punakha via the spectacular Dochu-La Pass (3,050m), dotted with 108 memorial chortens and — on clear days — commanding views of the eastern Himalaya. En route, stop at Semtokha Dzong, Bhutan's oldest dzong, dating to 1629. In Punakha, visit the breathtaking Punakha Dzong at the confluence of two rivers — arguably the most beautiful building in Bhutan. Wrap up the day with a relaxed walk through terraced rice fields to reach the quirky and beloved Chimi Lhakhang temple, dedicated to the 'Divine Madman' Drukpa Kunley, famous for its fertility blessings.

🚌Operator vehicle Thimphu–Punakha via Dochu-La (~2.5 hours, included)

🛏Budget guesthouse in Punakha (e.g. Meri Puensum Resort or similar) — ~£20–30/night

• →Drive Thimphu to Dochu-La Pass — stop at 108 chortens and Druk Wangyal Chorten (~1 hour)
• →Visit Semtokha Dzong — entry included in SDF
• →Visit Punakha Dzong — entry included in SDF
• →Walk through rice fields to Chimi Lhakhang temple (~45-min round trip) — entry included in SDF

Drive back west to Paro, one of Bhutan's most scenic valleys. En route, stop at Kyichu Lhakhang — one of Bhutan's oldest and most sacred temples, originally built in the 7th century by Tibetan Emperor Songtsen Gampo. The temple complex is small but deeply atmospheric, especially with butter lamp offerings. Spend the afternoon strolling through Paro town's traditional stone-flagged streets, browsing handicraft shops for thangkas, wooden bowls, and woven textiles — great for souvenirs without the Kathmandu markup. Enjoy a farewell Bhutan dinner at a local restaurant.

🚌Operator vehicle Punakha–Paro (included in licensed operator package)

🛏Paro budget guesthouse — ~£20–30/night

• →Drive Punakha to Paro via operator vehicle (~2.5–3 hours)
• →Visit Kyichu Lhakhang temple — entry included in SDF
• →Stroll Paro town centre — free, great for handicraft shopping
• →Browse local craft shops for thangkas, textiles, and wooden crafts (budget ~£10–20 for souvenirs)
• →Farewell dinner at a local Bhutanese restaurant (~£8–12)

Fly back from Paro to Kathmandu in the morning. Afternoon is packed with Kathmandu Valley history. Head to Pashupatinath Temple on the banks of the Bagmati River — the holiest Hindu temple in Nepal and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Non-Hindus cannot enter the main temple but can explore the ghats and cremation platforms freely (entry to outer complex ~£10). Then take a local bus or taxi (£2–5) to Bhaktapur (Bhadgaon), a stunning medieval city of brick temples, wood-carved windows, and narrow alleys largely undisturbed since the Malla dynasty. Entry to Bhaktapur Durbar Square costs £12 for foreigners but is valid for multiple days. Explore the pottery square, the peacock window, and the 55-window palace.

🚌Flight PBH–KTM (~£175); local taxi/bus to Bhaktapur (~£3)

🛏Return to Thamel guesthouse in Kathmandu (~£10–15/night)

• →Fly Paro to Kathmandu with Druk Air or Bhutan Airlines (~£175)
• →Visit Pashupatinath Temple and riverside ghats — outer complex entry ~£10
• →Take local bus or taxi to Bhaktapur/Bhadgaon (~£3)
• →Explore Bhaktapur Durbar Square — entry ~£12
• →Walk through Bhaktapur alleys and pottery square — free
• →View ancient pagoda temples including the 55-Window Palace — included in entry

A final full day in the Kathmandu Valley, starting with the monkey-filled hilltop temple of Swayambhunath Stupa (the 'Monkey Temple') — climb the 365 steps for panoramic city views. Entry is around £2. Head next to Kathmandu Durbar Square (entry ~£8), where you can visit the historic Kumari Ghar — the home of the living Child Goddess, the Kumari, revered in both Hindu and Buddhist traditions. Spot her at the elaborately carved window if you're lucky. In the afternoon, catch a local bus or taxi (£1–3) to Patan (Lalitpur), home to one of the finest Durbar Squares in Nepal, filled with Newari architecture, bronze statues, and craft workshops. Entry ~£8. Enjoy a rooftop café dinner overlooking the square.

🚌Local taxi/walking between Kathmandu sites; local bus to Patan (~£2)

🛏Thamel guesthouse (~£10–15/night)

• →Visit Swayambhunath Stupa (Monkey Temple) — entry ~£2
• →Visit Kathmandu Durbar Square — entry ~£8
• →Visit Kumari Ghar (home of the Child Goddess) — included in Durbar Square entry
• →Local bus or taxi to Patan/Lalitpur (~£2)
• →Explore Patan Durbar Square and Newari temples — entry ~£8
• →Rooftop café dinner in Patan overlooking the square (~£6–10)

Enjoy a final Nepali breakfast — try aloo paratha with masala chai at a local café for under £3. Depending on your flight time, you may have a few hours for last-minute souvenir shopping in Thamel or a quiet visit to a nearby café. Book a Pathao or InDrive taxi to the airport in advance (~£6–8) or arrange through your guesthouse. Tribhuvan International Airport can get busy — allow 3 hours before departure. Safe travels!

🚌Pathao or taxi to Tribhuvan International Airport (~£7)

🛏Check out

• →Final Nepali breakfast — aloo paratha and masala chai (~£3)
• →Last-minute shopping in Thamel for pashminas, thangkas, or trekking gear
• →Book Pathao/InDrive taxi to airport (~£6–8)