The field notes
A journey with rhythm
Private guiding, thoughtful pacing, and enough room to absorb each place rather than simply pass through it.
PrivateThoughtfulLocal
Journey overview
The experience at a glance
The Bhutan Tour from Kathmandu - 7 Days combines Nepal’s rich culture and peaceful valleys in Bhutan, Buddhist traditions, and Himalayan terrain. This guided trip, which is intended for those who want to visit both countries within a week, consists of three nights in Kathmandu and three nights in Bhutan, and the entire trip includes flights, comfortable hotels, guided tours, Bhutan visa processing, and the Sustainable Development Fee.
Your Nepal and Bhutan tour starts in Kathmandu, and the centuries-old temples, royal squares, Buddhist stupas, and colorful local neighborhoods that define the cultural diversity of the Kathmandu Valley. There are five UNESCO World Heritage sites for a tour: Swayambhunath Stupa, Kathmandu Durbar Square, Boudhanath Stupa, Pashupatinath Temple, and Patan Durbar Square. So, together, all of these places can be regarded as a great introduction to Nepal’s Hindu and Buddhist traditions, Newari architecture, sacred rituals, and living heritage.
After exploring Kathmandu, take a memorable flight over the Himalayas to Paro. On a clear day, a flight from Kathmandu to Paro would be an eye-opener with the view of Mount Everest and other snow-covered peaks. When you arrive in Bhutan, meet your local guide and go on to Thimphu, Bhutan’s relaxed capital. Take a tour of the must-see places like Buddha Dordenma, the National Memorial Chorten, Tashichho Dzong, traditional museums, monasteries, and local handicraft markets.
The trip continues to Paro, a beautiful Himalayan valley framed by forested hills, traditional farmhouses, ancient temples, and impressive dzongs. The highlight of this Bhutan package from Nepal is the hike to Tiger’s Nest Monastery (Paro Taktsang). It is situated high on a cliff about 900 metres above the valley and is Bhutan’s most recognizable spiritual landmark. The walk through pine forests decorated with prayer flags is moderate (five to six hours, with a few rest stops and views) in the mountains.
This carefully planned Bhutan tour from Kathmandu includes round-trip economy flights between Kathmandu and Paro, deluxe accommodation, private transportation, English-speaking guides, sightseeing entrance fees, daily breakfast in Kathmandu, and full-board meals in Bhutan. The Bhutan visa fee and Sustainable Development Fee are also included for this trip, making it simple and not costly to travel in Bhutan.
After the tour, you can fly from Paro back to Kathmandu or go to Delhi, Bangkok, Singapore, and Dhaka, and from there onwards. The costs for flights can be calculated based on your travel plans. With UNESCO heritage, the Himalayan landscapes, traditional culture, and the epic Tiger’s Nest hike, this seven-day trip is a great introduction to Nepal and Bhutan.
Trip highlights
What makes this journey
Kasthamandap- a historic wooden pavilion in Kathmandu Durbar Square.
Boudhanath Stupa -Nepal’s largest and most sacred Buddhist stupas.
Ktm to Paro: Choose left-side seats for stunning Everest and Himalayan views.
Beautiful panoramic view of Thimphu City from Buddha Dordenma
Tiger’s Nest Monastery (Paro Taktsang): the Bhutan’s iconic cliffside monastery.
Places covered
Destinations on this trip
The places this journey moves through, in the order they shape the experience.
Pashupatinath
A sacred Temple in Kathmandu
Kathmandu Durbar Square
Kastamandap: a historic wooden pavilion in Kathmandu Durbar Square.
Thimphu
Capital City of Bhutan
Paro
a beautiful Paro Valley in Bhutan.
Tiger's Nest Temple
Bhutan’s iconic cliffside monastery
Day by day
7 days
Walk the route one day at a time — meals, overnight stays, and the details that shape each stage.
Welcome to Kathmandu, the cultural gateway to the Himalayas. When you arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport, our representative will meet you there and take you to your hotel.
After check-in, you can relax after your international flight. If your arrival time and energy permit, we can take a short walk around Thamel and the traditional Ason market area. It’s a great introduction to Kathmandu’s lively streets, local shops, courtyards, temples, and everyday life.
Overnight: Hotel in Kathmandu
- Overnight
- Hotel in Kathmandu
- Altitude
- 1,400m
NoteIf you have taken a long international flight, we recommend taking some time to rest and relax at the hotel, recover from jet lag, and recharge for the exciting Nepal and Bhutan adventure that awaits you.
After breakfast, start your Kathmandu heritage sightseeing.
The Swoyambhunath Stupa, also known as the Monkey Temple, is located on a hill in the Kathmandu Valley. Go to Kathmandu Durbar Square, the historic royal palace complex where temples, courtyards, traditional Newari architecture, and living culture exist.
In the afternoon, visit Boudhanath Stupa, one of the largest Buddhist stupas in Nepal and an important center of Tibetan Buddhist culture. Pilgrims and monks walk around the stupa in quiet.
Overnight: Hotel in Kathmandu
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Overnight
- Hotel in Kathmandu
- Distance
- 15 km
- Altitude
- 1,400m
NoteWear appropriate causal clothing while entering temples and monuments
Today we present two more important UNESCO-listed heritage areas.
Start by visiting Pashupatinath Temple, Nepal's most sacred Hindu pilgrimage site, located right next to the holy Bagmati River. Explore the temple surroundings and experience the spiritual atmosphere of this ancient religious complex.
When it comes to Patan Durbar Square, it has magnificent temples, traditional Newari architecture, artistry, and a historic royal palace. Take a tour of Krishna Temple and browse the surrounding courtyards and monuments.
Return to your hotel and prepare for the next day’s flight to Bhutan.
Overnight: Hotel in Kathmandu
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Overnight
- Hotel
- Distance
- 30 km
- Altitude
- 1,400m
NoteWear appropriate causal clothing while entering temples and monuments
Enjoy one of the world's most spectacular flights into Bhutan, with breathtaking views of the Himalayas and, on clear days, glimpses of some of the highest peaks on Earth. As you descend into the lush Paro Valley, admire its monasteries, traditional farmhouses, the historic Paro Dzong, and the winding Paro Chhu River. Upon arrival, meet your guide and drive to Bhutan's charming capital, Thimphu, a unique city where traffic is directed by police instead of traffic lights. If time permits, enjoy sightseeing in Paro or Thimphu before exploring Clock Tower Square and local markets.
- Meals
- Full Board
- Overnight
- Hotel in Thimphu
- Distance
- 55 km
- Altitude
- 2,320m
NoteOne hour flight | Request left window seat for mountain views
After breakfast, go on a tour of Thimphu, Bhutan's bustling capital. See the grand Tashichho Dzong, the huge Buddha Dordenma, the National Memorial Chorten, the Folk Heritage Museum, and the National Textile Museum for Bhutan's rich history. Be sure to visit Changangkha Lhakhang for the most beautiful valley views and browse the authentic handicrafts at the Craft Bazaar. In the afternoon, drive back to Paro, enjoying the scenic journey through beautiful Himalayan valleys.
- Meals
- Full Board
- Overnight
- Hotel in Paro
- Distance
- 55 km
- Altitude
- 2,250m
NoteWear appropriate causal clothing while entering temples and monuments
After breakfast, embark on Bhutan's most iconic hike to Tiger's Nest Monastery (Taktsang), perched dramatically on a cliff 900m above the Paro Valley. The scenic 4–5-hour round-trip trek passes pine forests, colorful prayer flags, prayer wheels, and a viewpoint cafeteria offering spectacular monastery views. Explore the sacred monastery where Guru Padmasambhava meditated in the 8th century, making it Bhutan's most revered pilgrimage site. After descending, visit the historic Rinpung Dzong, the ancient Kyichu Lhakhang, one of Bhutan's oldest temples, and, if time permits, stroll through Paro Town to browse traditional handicrafts and local markets. Return to your hotel for a relaxing evening in Paro.
- Meals
- Full Board
- Overnight
- Hotel in Paro
- Distance
- 6.4 km
- Altitude
- 3,120m
NoteHigh-altitude, ascend slowly, stay hydrated, Hike Distance: 6.4KM | Duration: 4-5 hours
After breakfast, transfer to Paro International Airport for your flight to Kathmandu. If the weather is clear, enjoy spectacular aerial views of the Himalayas, including Mount Everest, from your window seat. This marks the end of your unforgettable Bhutan adventure, filled with rich culture, breathtaking monasteries, and stunning mountain scenery. Travelers may also choose to continue their journey from Paro to destinations such as Delhi, Bangkok, Singapore, or Dhaka.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Altitude
- 1,400m
NoteNo hotel is booked in Kathmandu for today. We can arrange accommodation according to your requirements.
Private vehicle & English-speaking guide throughout · Kathmandu
Trip essentials
What your journey covers
A clear split between what we arrange and what you budget yourself.
- Accommodation: Twin-sharing rooms in deluxe 4-star hotels
- Bhutan Fees Included: Bhutan Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) and Bhutan Visa Fee.
- Tour Guide: Knowledgeable English-speaking guide throughout the entire Nepal–Bhutan tour (a separate guide for each country)
- Meals: Full board in Bhutan (breakfast lunch & dinner) and daily breakfast in Kathmandu.
- Private Transportation: Comfortable private vehicle for all transfers and sightseeing.
- Airport Transfers: Pickup and drop-off at Kathmandu and Bhutan airports.
- Sightseeing & Entry Fees: All entrance fees for monuments monasteries and cultural sites as per the itinerary.
- Flight: Kathmandu – Paro – Kathmandu. (If you plan to depart from Paro to another destination such as Delhi, Bangkok, Singapore, or elsewhere, the flight cost will be adjusted accordingly.)
- Single Supplement – Additional cost applies if a single room is required.
- Travel Insurance – Guests are required to arrange their own travel insurance.
- Meals in Kathmandu – Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu are at your own expense.
- Personal Expenses – Such as laundry phone calls shopping alcoholic & non-alcoholic beverages.
- Nepal Visa Fee – USD 30 per person for a 15-day multiple-entry visa (payable on arrival).
Guest voices
What travellers say
What guests wrote after this trip — in their own words.
Concierge service when it actually mattered
Highlights Helicopter flight to Everest near base camp. Anup personally going to the airport in Nepal to sort out flights requiring change due to the Iran crisis. Flights that were nothing to do with the tour. An extra unscheduled day in Nepal handled without hesitation, and refused payment for it. Coeliac disease managed throughout without a single issue. Bhutan’s bureaucracy, visas, tourist tax all seamlessly handled Details When I was looking for a tour company for a private tour of Nepal and Bhutan trip, Himalayan Windows stood out for their excellent reviews. What I didn't realise at the time was quite how far they would go when things got complicated. We were due to fly from Bhutan to Dubai after the tour, but late in the day our flights were cancelled due to the Iran crisis. We decided to reroute to Japan instead, but some self-inflicted confusion with the airline left us unable to get anything sorted. At that point, Anup — who runs the company — personally went to the airport and spent considerable time untangling the whole thing, despite those flights having absolutely nothing to do with the tour he'd been hired for. The shuffle of my flights meant that we had an extra unscheduled day back in Nepal. Not only did they agree to host me, covering pickups and an extra day touring, Anup refused to take payment for doing it. There were other things like buying us tape to hold our damaged suitcase together but the main point here is this was a remarkable level of service. In a remote country where problems arise that are nothing to do with the tour company but they take them on and fix them for you is pure gold. Back to the beginning. When I first got in touch, they worked with me to design an itinerary that fitted what I was looking for, with plenty of input on what to consider and what to leave out. We ended up with something well-tailored at a very competitive price. The tour itself was excellent. We spent three nights in Nepal and three in Bhutan, with all breakfasts included and all meals in Bhutan. The guides were always early, knew their stuff and were easy to spend time with. Flights between the two countries were handled for us, including getting us the best seats for the Everest views. On our second day in Nepal, Himalayan Windows organised a helicopter flight to stand near Everest base camp, close to the Khumbu icefall. This may not have been very cultural but it was completely mind-blowing. If you get the chance, take it. In Bhutan we hiked up to Tiger's Nest Monastery — the iconic temple perched on the cliff face. Breathtaking in every sense; the views and the climb. Bhutan comes with its own bureaucratic quirks — when we visited in March 2026, you were required to book through a government-registered company like Himalayan Windows and they handled all of it: visas, tourist tax, the lot. I have coeliac disease, which makes travel genuinely difficult in many places. It was never an issue here. Gluten-free versions of everything were arranged throughout without me having to fight for it. Communication across the whole trip was easy — WhatsApp throughout, always responsive. Himalayan Windows delivered a well-designed itinerary, excellent guides, and smooth logistics. What makes them really special is what they did for us when issues arose through no fault of theirs. Review posted by: Mr. Norry McAllister Source of review: Google (HimalayanWindows Tours)/TripAdvisor
Flawless! This Company is Built on Kindness & Customer Service
I just returned from a tour, impeccably organized by Anup and his company, of Kathmandu, Nepal and Paro/Thimphu, Bhutan. From Anup’s first timely response to my initial inquiry email to the day I departed to come home, he provided exceptional, personal customer service unlike any I have ever received before. As a solo woman traveler, I felt cared for, safe and well taken care of. Anup himself greeted me when I arrived in Kathmandu and, to my surprise, also took time out of his busy day to personally see me off on my last. I also received numerous texts and emails from him throughout my tour, as he checked up on me to be sure I was enjoying myself and that everything was going as planned. He genuinely cared about “little things” to a busy tour organizer, but that were of great importance to me, such as booking me a seat on my requested side of the plane from Kathmandu to Paro to ensure I had the chance to get that perfect picture of Mount Everest from the window (‘got it!). The tour guides and drivers that he booked for me were courteous and caring and I couldn’t have asked for better. The hotels were perfectly fine. I am happy to answer any questions that future travellers to beautiful Bhutan and fascinating Nepal may have. I very highly recommend Anup and his company, Himalayan Windows, for any tours to this part of the world.
Before you go
