Day 10: Paro
A half-day drive returns us to Paro. Situated in the mountainous northwest of Bhutan, the Paro Valley is rich in natural beauty and culture, abounding with myths and legends. At the National Museum, a repository of more than 3,000 works of Bhutanese art housed in a renovated 17th-century round watchtower overlooking the city, view the collection that includes precious bronze statues, thangka paintings, musical instruments, clothing and handicrafts that cover more than 1,500 years of Bhutan's cultural heritage. We also visit a local farmhouse where we'll participate in a traditional archery lesson. Archery is the national sport of the kingdom, and tournaments and competitions are held throughout the country, often during public holidays and local festivals called tsechu. Though archery historically is a martial art, it is practiced by the peace-loving Bhutanese for physical exercise and to hone concentration.
Accommodation: Le Meridien Paro

Le Meridien Paro: Contemporary luxury and traditional Bhutanese design meld within this riverfront hotel that offers expansive views over the Paro Valley with its ornate monasteries and sacred fortresses.

Day 11: Paro—Tiger's Nest & Kyichu Lhakhang
Our final morning in Bhutan holds a most impressive sight: Taktsang Monastery, also known as the “Tiger’s Nest.” The famous subject of many photographs, this complex of 17th-century temples clings to the side of a precipitous cliff nearly 3,000 feet above the valley floor. Its name is derived from myth, which holds that Guru Rinpoche, the tantric mystic who brought Buddhism from India to Bhutan in the 8th century, landed here on the back of a flying tigress and stayed to meditate in a cave for three months. Gain an initial vista as we hike to a viewpoint opposite the monastery, while those who choose to hike the entire way will have their effort well rewarded with unsurpassed views of the temples, surrounding peaks and valley below.

This afternoon, visit the revered Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest and most sacred temples in Bhutan. The temple is one of 108 built across the Himalayas in the 7th century by the Tibetan emperor Songtsen Gampo to subdue a demoness who prevented the spread of Buddhism—in Buddhist mythology, Kyichu Lhakhang pins down her left foot. Inside, fine statues of the Bodhisattva and the Buddha are considered national treasures. The wooden floor of the temple is inlaid with turquoise and coral gemstones offered by pilgrims. We may also have time to do some last-minute shopping before saying farewell to this most captivating country.
Accommodation: Le Meridien Paro

Day 12: Paro / Bangkok, Thailand / Depart
Our Himalayan sojourn concludes as we depart from the Paro airport on a group flight to Bangkok, where we connect with onward flights.

Limited to 11 Travelers: A very important feature of our Bhutan andNepal adventure is the limited group size, as nature travel and cultural encounters are best experienced away from crowds within the intimate setting of a small group.

Activity Level: Moderate to Difficult. You must be able to walk unassisted (without the use of walking aids) for at least two miles at a steady pace over uneven terrain, climb stairs without hand railings, and be active at altitudes exceeding 7,000 feet above sea level in order to participate in this adventure. The Kathmandu city tour may last 2-3 hours (with stops) and include climbing steep stairs in order to visit all cultural sites. Our excursions in Chitwan National Park include easy nature walks over unpaved walking trails and typically last about two hours. Climbing short ladders is required in order to get into and out of safari vehicles, and wildlife drives in the park travel dirt roads that are sometimes very rough and bumpy with potentially dusty conditions. Those with back problems or other health issues that could be exacerbated by such circumstances should take
this into consideration. The trip also involves many very early morning starts and long, full days of activities with little downtime, which can be quite tiring.

All areas visited in Bhutan lie above 4,000 feet, with several over 7,000 feet in elevation. We also drive over a mountain pass that is 10,000 feet in elevation. The most difficult excursion is the hike to the Tiger’s Nest monastery in Paro, which involves a 4-hour round-trip walk with a 3,000-foot elevation gain ending at 10,000 feet above sea level. There are also many stairs to navigate in order to reach the monastery. Mules are available to transport clients partway up (weight restrictions do apply; riders cannot exceed 200 pounds), but guests must walk on their own back down to the bottom. There is a viewing place at the halfway point on the hike, where you can stop to view the monastery without traveling the entire distance.

Please Note: Most guests travel to Nepal for encounters with the country’s wildlife. While nature experiences in this part of the world are indeed remarkable, there is a fundamental difference between a safari in the Nepal jungle and a typical African safari. At times, guests lured to Nepal by tourist brochures promising “wildlife safaris” can be disappointed to see fewer animals than they expected, or at least fewer than they might normally see in Africa. It is not that Nepal's surviving jungle habitat is thinly populated with wildlife, but, similarly to places like Costa Rica where the forest vegetation is very dense, and here, the elephant grass is also very tall, animals have mastered the art of camouflage and can be difficult to spot.

That said, we have carefully designed our itineraries to capitalize on the best conditions to spot wildlife. But various factors can affect potential sightings, including inclement weather, which creates small pockets of water that allow the animals to remain hidden in the forest, rather than being forced into the open to frequent waterholes. The secret to a successful nature adventure lies with the expertise of our Expedition Leaders and park rangers, as well as your knowing what to expect as a traveler, and in understanding that the privilege of stepping into a wild and untouched natural realm is a reward in itself.