South Asia Discovery: Nepal, Bhutan, India & Sri Lanka

Itinerary

• Day 1: Welcome to Nepal

  Welcome to Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal! Upon arrival, a representative will greet you and help you check in to the hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to have a rest and recover from the jet lag.

  • Kathmandu

• Day 2: Kathmandu - Patan (Lalitpur) - Kathmandu

  Today your exploration will start with the vegetable & spice market in Ason and adjacent courtyards to get a feel of local daily life. Passing through jammed bazaars, stop at Kumari Temple which houses the living Goddess. After getting an external view of Taleju Temple, pay a visit to Kal Bhairav.

  In the afternoon, continue your visit to Swayambhunath, which mobbed by monkeys. It is a good place to catch panoramic views of Kathmandu Valley. After that, drive to Patan city (about 15min) to visit the Panta Durbar Square, which consists of temples, idols, open courts, water fountains and more other buildings.

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  • Kathmandu

• Day 3: Kathmandu - Bhaktapur - Kathmandu

  After breakfast at the hotel, set out for a visit to Pashpatinath Temple, where you can watch Hindus hold cremation. Followed by is Boudhanath Stupa, which is one of the largest stupas in the world.

  In the afternoon, spend 40 minutes driving to Bhaktapur city. Walk around the Bhaktapur Durbar Square, the plaza in front of the royal palace of the old Bhaktapur Kingdom. Continue your visit to Changu Narayan Temple, a living museum of embossed works.

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  • Kathmandu

• Day 4: Kathmandu - Paro - Thimphu

  After breakfast, you will have an international flight to Paro (international flight arranged by My Odyssey Tours). Upon arrival, be greeted and escorted to the hotel in Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan. En route, stop to experience the famous iron bridge at Tamchog Lhakang.

  After checking in to the hotel, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and then transfer to the National Memorial Chorten, where you can take in gorgeous paintings and intricate sculptures. Followed by is Buddha Dordenma Statue, the biggest bronze Buddha statue in Asia. After that, head to Motithang Takin Preserve to see Takin, which is the national animal of Bhutan. The last stop is Thimphu Dzong (Trashichho Dzong), one of the most impressive fortresses built in traditional Bhutanese architecture with a wide courtyard (open after 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday).

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  • Thimphu

• Day 5: Thimphu - Punakha

  After breakfast, you will be escorted to Punakha. En route, stop for a coffee break at Dochula Pass, where you can enjoy the grand 108 stupas as well as a superb view of Mt. Himalaya on a clear day. Upon arrival, pay a visit to Chimi Lhakhang, where Childless women pray to a fertility goddess. Continue on to visit Punakha Dzong, the second oldest and second largest dzong in Bhutan. Nearby is Suspension Bridge, the longest bridge in Bhutan.

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  • Punakha

• Day 6: Punakha - Paro (by Car, 3 Hrs)

  After breakfast, drive back to Paro and make a visit to Paro Dzong, which is a high point of Bhutanese architecture. Continue on to Ta Dzong, the National Museum of Bhutan with many artifacts. After that, move to Kyichu Lhakhang, an important Himalayan Buddhist temple built in the 7th century. In the end, you will have a chance to chat with local people while tasting some homemade wine at a local farm house.

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  • Paro

• Day 7: Paro

  Today your tour will start with a hike to Taktsang (Tiger's Nest), which is a prominent Himalayan Buddhist sacred site hanging on a precarious cliff about 900 meters above the Paro valley. Continue your visit to the ruins of Drukgyel Dzong, which was a fortress and Buddhist monastery and almost completely destroyed by fire in the early 1950s. From here you can enjoy a spectacular view of Mt. Chomolhari on a clear day.

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  • Paro

• Day 8: Paro - Delhi

  After breakfast, you will have an international flight to Delhi. Upon arrival at India Gandhi International Airport, our representative will greet you and help you check in to the hotel. After a brief introduction of your India tour, the rest of the day is free for you to have a rest.

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  • Delhi

• Day 9: Delhi

  After breakfast, drive to Old Delhi to visit the magnificent Jama Masjid, one of the largest mosques in India. Continue to Chandni Chowk, one of the oldest and busiest markets in Old Delhi. Enjoy an adventure on rickshaw to get close to local daily life. Close by is Red Fort, a typical Mughal empire-style red sandstone building. Later, transfer to New Delhi for Qutub Minar, a 73-metre tall tapering tower of five

  Later, transfer to New Delhi for Qutub Minar, a 73-metre tall tapering tower of five storeys surrounded by several historically significant monuments of the Qutub complex. After learning about the story of Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat, you will get a glimpse of city landmarks of India Gate, President's House, Parliament House and Government Secretariat Buildings. Your tour will end at Laxmi Narayan Temple, a colorful Hindu temple where you can find Swastikas symbolized perfection (closed on Monday).

  Note: Female tourists are asked to wear robes before entering Jama Masjid. If you don't have one, rent from the temple, which costs 50 rupees.

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  • Delhi

• Day 10: Delhi - Agra

  After breakfast at the hotel, your private driver will escort you to Agra by private A/C car. En route, stop for a coffee break or photography is according to your options. Upon arrival, check in to the hotel and have a rest.

  Note: Driving time in the program is approximate, subject to the traffic, weather and road conditions.

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  • Agra

• Day 11: Agra

  Wake up early and set out for a visit to Taj Mahal, an ivory-white marble mausoleum built by the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan, to house the tomb of his favourite wife. Return to the hotel for breakfast. After that, continue your visit to Agra Fort, which is one of the most beautiful castles in the Mughal dynasty. The last stop is the Tomb of Itmad-ud-daulah (also called Baby Taj), which is often regarded as a draft of the Taj Mahal. The rest of the day is yours to explore this city on your own. Vehicle with the driver is at your disposal.

  Note: Strict security check is needed before entering Taj Mahal. Foods, plastic bags, chargers,etc. are all prohibited things. We suggest you catch the sunrise view in the early morning for the temperature is relatively cool and avoid the peak time.

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  • Agra

• Day 12: Agra - Jaipur

  After breakfast, you will be escorted to Jaipur. En route, pay a visit to Fatehpur Sikri, which was founded in 1569 by the Mughal Emperor Akbar, and served as the capital of the Mughal Empire from 1571 to 1585. Upon arrival, check in to the hotel and the rest of the day is at leisure.

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  • Jaipur

• Day 13: Jaipur

  Today your tour will begin with a visit to Amber Fort, a fort located high on a hill and constructed of red sandstone and marble. As a beautiful part of Amber Fort, the Sheesh Mahal (Palace of Mirrors) is delicately painted and covered with a myriad of tiny mirrors.

  After that, you will drive back to visit the famous Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds), whose unique five-storey exterior is akin to the honeycomb of a beehive with its 953 small windows called jharokhas. Close by is the City Palace Museum, where weapons used by the royalty during war campaigns are displayed. From here it is a short walk to Jantar Mantar, which allows the observation of astronomical positions with the naked eye.

  Note: There are many small traders around Amber Fort selling their goods. If you do not want to purchase, do not talk to them including "no thanks".

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  • Jaipur

• Day 14: Jaipur - Delhi - Colombo - Negombo

  Today you will have some leisure time. Take a rest at the hotel or go out for exploration is up to you. Vehicle with the driver is at your disposal.

  In the afternoon, you will be driven to the airport in Delhi for your international flight to Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka. Upon arrival, your chauffeur guide will greet you and escort you to the hotel in Negombo. After checking in to the hotel, the rest of the day is free for you to have a rest.

  Note: Buddhism is extremely respected in Sri Lanka, any disrespectful words or acts may cause deportation or denial of entry, e.g. Buddha tattoos, kissing/climbing/riding Buddha statue, drinking inside a temple, etc.

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  • Negombo

• Day 15: Negombo - Pinnawala - Dambulla

  After breakfast, you will check out the hotel and transfer to Pinnawala for a visit to the Elephant Orphanage, which was founded to care and protect the many orphaned unweaned wild elephants found wandering in and near the forests of Sri Lanka. You can get close to these cute creatures during their morning feeding and river bathing. Stop for lunch and then continue on to Sigiriya, where Lion Rock is located. The view from the top is gorgeous and totally worth the climb. After that, transfer to the hotel in Dambulla for check in. The rest of the day is at leisure.

  Note: The actual time of driving varies according to the traffic, weather and road conditions.

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  • Dambulla

• Day 16: Dambulla - Kandy

  After breakfast, you will drive to Kandy, the last capital of the ancient kings' era of Sri Lanka. En route, pay a visit to the Dambulla Cave Temple, which is the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka.

  Upon arrival, move to the Temple of the Tooth, which houses the relic of the tooth of the Buddha. The evening Puja Ritual held in the temple will offer you a chance to discover the special atmosphere and ultimate spiritual importance of this famous temple.

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  • Kandy

• Day 17: Kandy - Galle

  After breakfast at the hotel, your chauffeur guide will escort you to Galle. En route, stop for a visit to Royal Botanical Garden of Peradeniya, which includes more than 4,000 species of plants, including orchids, spices, medicinal plants and palm trees. Upon arrival, check in to the hotel and have a rest.

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  • Galle

• Day 18: Galle - Colombo (By Car, 2-2.5 Hrs, 119 Km)

  Today your tour will begin with a visit to Galle Fort, which is a historical, archaeological and architectural heritage monument. Continue on to a turtle hatchery on the beach. You will learn a lot about the turtles while getting close to them.

  After that, head to Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka. Upon arrival, your chauffeur guide will take you to the Gangarama Temple of Colombo, whose architecture is an eclectic mix of Sri Lankan, Thai, Indian, and Chinese architecture. Wander along the Galle Face Green, an ocean-side urban park. The last stop is Colombo's National Museum, the largest museum in Sri Lanka.

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  • Colombo

• Day 19: Colombo, Departure

  Today is free for you until your chauffeur guide transfers you to the airport for your flight back home.

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