Short Nepal Bhutan Tour- 9 days

Best time

The weather patterns of Nepal and Bhutan are similar to the Himalayan region, and learning the seasons can help you maximise your Short Nepal Bhutan Tour. The spring (March-May) and fall (September-November) are the most favourable times to observe the mountain since the weather is good with clear skies, and the mountain can be seen well.

The season of spring is mild weather, and flowering is in place, including rhododendrons in Bhutan and the colourful greenery in the Nepalese valleys. The daytime temperatures at Kathmandu are normally in the comfortable range of 20 degrees C, which makes sightseeing fun.

Spring is also a season in which several cultural festivals are held, such as the colourful Holi festival in Nepal and Paro Tshechu in Bhutan, rounding up the immersion of the Short Nepal Bhutan Tour.

Another recommended time for the Short Nepal Bhutan Tour is Autumn. The air is cool after the summer monsoon, and the Himalayan mountains are very conspicuously clear. The days are mostly sunny and moderate in temperature, which is ideal when you want to sightsee, hike, and take pictures.

It is also the time when significant festivals take place: Dashain and Tihar in Nepal and various tshechu festivals in Bhutan, thus giving the visitors an opportunity to get acquainted with the local culture.

The winter (December-February) is easy when one is fine with colder mornings and evenings. The weather is usually sunny, and the tourism is less hectic and offers an ideal Short Nepal Bhutan Tour; however, the high-altitude regions in Bhutan might be covered in snow.

During summer (June-August), there is the monsoon with some rainfall and a small mountain range. In general, the majority of travellers will choose spring or autumn and have perfect weather and landscape during the Short Nepal Bhutan Tour.

Challenge and High-altitude illness

The Short Nepal Bhutan Tour is easy to moderate and thus is quite easy to do for most travellers. This is more of a cultural and sightseeing tour, and the major part of this trip consists of walking around the city, visiting the UNESCO sites, and taking scenic drives. The tour will have two brief hikes to provide adventure and memorable experiences.

The highest days are the ascent to Tiger Nest Monastery in Bhutan, which is mainly a 4-5 hour round trip at a slow pace, and the gradual descending trek of Nagarkot to Changu Narayan Temple in Nepal, which is approximately a three-hour trek. The two increases are on well-maintained routes, and neither necessitates technical expertise.

The Short Nepal Bhutan Tour can be offered to tourists with a moderate degree of fitness. Guides adjust the group speed, and you could end up having frequent rests to have a comfortable time. There is no previous experience of trekking.

In terms of the elevation, the maximum elevation of the Short Nepal Bhutan Tour is around 3,120 meters at the Tiger Nest monastery. The tour is mainly at moderate altitudes: Kathmandu (1,400m), Thimphu (~ 2, 300m), and Nagarkot (2,175m). This prevents the occurrence of altitude sickness. Other participants might breathe a little out of breath during the uphill, but that is natural.

Slowing down, drinking water, and rest is recommended. Our guides are also trained to be aware of the initial signs of problems caused by the altitude and be able to react to them either with rest, descent, or medical help as needed. Altogether, the travellers will not experience any inconveniences due to the altitudes, and they can enjoy the Short Nepal Bhutan Tour experience.

Insurance, Visa, and Permits

It is imperative to have complete travel insurance before setting out on the Short Nepal Bhutan Tour. Your health insurance would pay you during medical crises, evacuation, and hopefully cancellation or postponement of trips, so that you are not worried about that during this cross-country tour.

The package does not cover travel insurance; it is the duty of the traveller to ensure that he or she has the coverage throughout the whole period of the Short Nepal Bhutan Tour.

In the case of Nepal, a on arrival visa is issued to the tourists upon their arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu. Remember to ensure that your passport is valid for a minimum period of six months and have around USD 30 or USD 50 to get a 15 or 30-day visa, respectively.

The visa procedures are very fast and are normally carried out in 15-30 minutes. In case you intend to exit Nepal in the course of the tour to Bhutan and to resume on coming back to Nepal, then a multi-entry visa is suggested, or you can also acquire a fresh visa on your coming back to Nepal.

Bhutan is more restrictive in its travel policies: most international visitors are not allowed to travel independently. Any other tourists except the Indians, Bangladeshi, and Maldivian nationals should be accompanied by a licensed tour operator.

Nomad Adventure Treks will take care of all Bhutan visas and permits on the Short Nepal Bhutan Tour. We obtain your visa clearance letter before you arrive in Paro, and your passport gets the official visa stamp. The Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) and necessary permits to places such as Punakha and Taktsang Monastery are also included in the package.

We will take care of all entry fees to attractions included in the itinerary, and you will be able to concentrate on the Short Nepal Bhutan Tour and enjoy without worrying about paperwork.

Health & Safety

Health and safety will be among the priorities during the Short Nepal Bhutan Tour. Nepal and Bhutan are both generally friendly and safe tourist places, and people are keen to help whenever required.

Although petty theft may take place in overcrowded locations, severe crime committed against tourists is very rare. Lock up your items and also keep your valuables in hotel safes, such as passports.

The Short Nepal Bhutan Tour takes the form of a sightseeing and hiking expedition guided by professional local guides. Not only are they familiar with the cultural and natural attractions, but they have also been trained in first aid and emergency requirements.

In case of any medical condition, report it to your guide, and he/she can acquire medical services. Kathmandu and Thimphu have modern hospitals and clinics, and smaller towns offer health posts. Even something minor, such as a headache or stomach upsets can be solved by your guide by providing over-the-counter medicines.

On the Short Nepal Bhutan Tour, one should only consume bottled or purified water, avoid ice from an unknown water source, and consume recently prepared foods to be healthy. Both the Nepali and Bhutanese food is safe and tasty, be it rice and dal, or be it soups and noodles. Bring hand sanitiser and practice hand hygiene.

The use of sunscreen and a hat is advisable when engaging in activities in the daytime, particularly when at higher elevations. Drive very carefully in high traffic places such as Kathmandu and on winding Bhutan roads; seatbelts are necessary, and motion sickness pills are recommended where necessary.

At temples and dzongs, observe the local beliefs: take off shoes, keep silent, and listen to the instructions of your guide. These precautions will help you to experience the Short Nepal Bhutan Tour with a lot of safety and comfort.

Transportation

The mode of transportation in the Short Nepal Bhutan Tour is arranged in order to be fully comfortable and convenient so that you can concentrate on matters of sightseeing and culture. In Nepal, a personal car, which has a professional driver, serves airport transfer, sightseeing around the city, and across the countryside.

There is also good maintenance of all vehicles, which are equipped with seat belts, and most of the vehicles have air conditioning or heating facilities as required, which makes the whole tour of the Short Nepal Bhutan Tour safe and easy.

Essentially, the relocation between Nepal and Bhutan is through a short international air flight between Tribhuvan International Airport and Paro, which takes approximately 1 hour. Nomad Adventure Treks helps in making this flight booking, but the costs of the tickets are not included in the package.

Once you land in Bhutan, you are picked up by a caring Bhutanese driver who takes care of all ground transfers in Bhutan. No matter where you are going, be it to Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, or local sites, with the help of private vehicles, it will be comfortable and reliable as well.

The cars in Bhutan are also in fine condition and have safety measures such as seat belts and experienced drivers who have travelled through the coiled mountain roads.

The conditions of the roads are different. Kathmandu has busy streets with some roughness, whereas the roads in Bhutan run through forests and mountains. To break up longer drives, the scenic stops, including Dochula Pass, are included.

All in all, the Short Nepal Bhutan Tour will provide you with a stress-free travel experience, and you will be able to relax and enjoy the trip without worrying about logistical arrangements.

Your Extra Expenses

Although the Short Nepal Bhutan Tour package includes most of the necessities, tour operators have to incur a few additional expenses. Knowing these will make you spend well and have an enjoyable trip.

The highest supplementary cost is meals. The package covers breakfast daily and a goodbye dinner, but does not cover the majority of lunches and dinners. This will allow you to venture into the restaurants located in the area, taste Nepali and Bhutanese culture, and savour your favourites in the course of the Short Nepal Bhutan Tour.

The visa fees in Nepal are paid upon landing at Kathmandu Airport (around USD 30 in the case of the 15-day visa). In the tour package, Bhutan visa and permit fees (along with the Sustainable Development Fee) are paid, and hence you will not bother paying those separately.

Another costly area is flights. Both to Nepal and back, and the round-trip flight between Kathmandu and Paro in Bhutan are not included. There is also obligatory travel insurance that will have to be bought separately, and preferably it should include coverage of medical emergencies, evacuation, and trip cancellations.

The other personal expenses can be snacks, drinks, laundry, phone or internet use, and souvenirs. Guides and drivers should be given tips, which is normal in case you are satisfied with their services, but this is entirely at your convenience. Any additional activities, additional nights, and add-ons to the itinerary are also not included in the package.

The knowledge of these added costs is in order to ensure that, in addition to enjoying the Short Nepal Bhutan tour, you do not have any surprises when running into extra expenses and be able to enjoy the cultural and scenic as well as spiritual offerings of Nepal and Bhutan in a well-organised manner.

Language & Communication

The Short Nepal Bhutan Tour is not a difficult place to communicate in since English is a common language in Nepal as well as in Bhutan. All the guides given on the tour are proficient in English, and as such, there is seamless coordination, explanations, and support on the trip.

Employees in the tourist locations of hotels, restaurants, and shops typically know English, and hence the day-to-day interactions are simple and comfortable.

The official language in Nepal is Nepali. Nevertheless, English is widely spoken in Kathmandu and in big tourist places. Menus, road signs, and travel details are usually written in English, and even a mere handshake, such as Namaste, is received well by the people.

The Nepali people know basic English and are more than willing to assist the tourist, making the tour of Sightseeing and navigation in Nepal easy-going throughout the Short Nepal Bhutan Tour. You do not need to know any Nepali words, but a few words like dhanyabaad (thank you) would increase your cultural experience.

Dzongkha is a national language in Bhutan, though English is the most common language in schools, the government, and in the tourism industry. The majority of the officials, those guiding or other tourism employees, are fluent in English.

Though you can hear people with Dzonghka and regional dialects communicate with each other, they are going to use English when they communicate with strangers. Your guide can also teach you simple words, such as Kuzuzangpo (hello), to get along with people of the country.

The communication in the Short Nepal Bhutan Tour is available throughout the tour, and in case of any communication problems, your guide will be there as a translator. Comprehensively, language barriers are negligible, and you just need to concentrate on experiencing the cultural, scenic, and spiritual spots of the Short Nepal Bhutan Tour.

Mobile Network, Internet, and Charging Facilities

It is not hard to remain in touch when on the Short Nepal Bhutan Tour. Travellers will be able to afford local SIM cards at Ncell or Nepal Telecom in Nepal to use the mobile data and make local calls cheaply. Tourist SIM cards are also available in Bhutan, such as B-Mobile or TashiCell, and these would offer data and calling services to tourists who want to be online.

Mobile internet is optional, but several people have been found using it in the course of the Short Nepal Bhutan Tour through navigation, taking photographs, and communicating with their families.

Internet connectivity is possible in every hotel in Nepal and Bhutan. In bigger cities such as Kathmandu and Thimphu, the connection suffices to browse, send emails, and make video calls, albeit not as fast as back home.

In smaller towns or hill stations like Punakha or Nagarkot, Wi-Fi might not be so fast, but in any case, it is usually sufficient to use the basic functions. In cities and towns, the coverage of cell phones is excellent, but there are spots all along the rural roadways or mountainous areas. An example is that there can be a loss in coverage on the highway towards Punakha, but in populated valleys, the coverage will resume.

Electricity is 230 V in both countries, and Type C, D, and G sockets are commonly used. Use a universal adapter to charge phones, cameras, and other gadgets at night in hotels. Most tourists also bring a power bank to do day hikes, including trekking to Tiger Nest, so that devices remain charged to capture photos.

Power in Nepal is mostly dependable, and short-term power disruptions take place occasionally. These provisions make keeping in touch with each other simple and trouble-free during the Short Nepal Bhutan Tour.

Don’ts on This Trip

To have a local experience on the Short Nepal Bhutan Tour, it is essential to respect and worship the local traditions and the fundamental etiquette. To begin with, respect must always be shown at religious places.

Get off your shoes (and hats) before entering temples, monasteries, or homes and dress modestly, covering a shoulder and knees. Touching the religious images or stepping over the offerings is not allowed, as it can be interpreted as being disrespectful.

The restrictions on photography are typical. Follow all “no photography” directions. In Bhutan, even the majority of the dzongs and temples do not allow the taking of photos inside the building, and it is very polite to ask before taking photos of people, especially of monks or children.

In both Nepal and Bhutan, it is best that you show no open expression of your love, as this will be construed to mean that you are offending the local culture, and in the same case, point with your index finger, rather than employ a gesture of open hand.

Hand use also comes within the scope of cultural norms. In South Asia, it is impolite to use the left hand to offer or accept a thing. Always use your right hand, or hands together, in said practices such as giving and receiving money, food, and gifts.

Respect for the environment is paramount: do not litter, carry your trash until you find an appropriate bin, consume less plastic, reuse a water bottle, and do not disturb other animals and plants.

Last, but not least, is to notify your guide in advance, should you intend to go it alone. In Bhutan this is obligatory to stay with your guide in formal sightseeing; in Nepal, you have freedom, but you still must inform somebody of your intentions.

By following these rules when visiting the Short Nepal Bhutan Tour, you must be safe and not disrespectful to the local culture, and be assured of a pleasant reception as a tourist.

Cultural Festivals on the Trail

To make your Short Nepal Bhutan Tour even richer in cultural experience, it is advisable to arrange it in a way so as to attend the local festivals that take place in various seasons. Dashain, Tihar, and Holi are some of the most vibrant festivals in Nepal.

Dashain is a 15-day festival celebrated around September or October, and these festivals commemorate the victory of good over evil. The families are together, and people fly kites, and the elders present young people with tikas (red blessings).

Right after Dashain, the Tihar (Deepawali, October-November), the festival of lights, when houses are lit with oil lamps, and every day is celebrated by animals and family relations.

The Festival of Colours in Nepal is the spring festival of Nepal, which is held in February-March and consists of the play of colored powders and water by people in high spirits, particularly in Kathmandu, making all the streets a mixture of colours and energy. The participation in these festivals in your Short Nepal Bhutan Tour will be a memorable experience in understanding the culture of Nepal.

The major cultural events in Bhutan are the tshechu festivals, which are celebrated on an annual basis in every district. They are usually attended by visitors these days, Paro Tshechu (spring, March-April) or Thimphu Tshechu (autumn, September).

Monks, besides lay performers, sport fantastic costumes and masks to dance sacred dances in dzong courts, and locals wear their best traditional clothes. There is also another special event, Punakha Drubchen (February), that involves recreating a fight that occurred in the 17th century, and then the masked dances of Punakha Tshechu.

When the date of your Short Nepal Bhutan Tour coincides with these festivities, we will endeavour to incorporate them or recommend the best manner of enjoying them. Festivals are not quiet, and prior effort to them will make the event worthwhile, in order to enjoy the unique cultural detail without any interference, so that your visit becomes even more unforgettable.

Travel Advice for First-Time Visitors to Nepal

First Time Visitors to Nepal Bhutan Tour Short Nepal Tips.

Since the visit to Nepal is the first time, these are some of the practical tips that will help you to enjoy the Short Nepal Bhutan Tour without any problems.

Visa on arrival is also easy: visitors can get a Nepal visa at Kathmandu airport. Bring USD 30 in cash in case of 15 days of visa, and a passport photo. Fill in the registration form, pay the registration fee, and get to stamp your visa within minutes.

The currency is the local currency, Nepalese Rupee (NPR). In Kathmandu, there are numerous ATMs, and it accepts major cards such as Visa and MasterCard. Have pocket change in the form of small bills to use for taxis or tips and to buy on the streets. Hotels, as well as fine restaurants and stores, usually accept credit cards, whereas local markets require cash.

It should be accompanied by respectful greetings and an understanding of the cultures. A smile and a Namaste would go a long way. Wear simple clothes, particularly in temples, over the shoulders and knees, and take off shoes when approaching a religious place or residence. Do not touch the head of anyone, do not point the feet at people or religious objects.

With regards to food and water, use bottled water or purified water and cooked food. Most of the travellers can eat Nepali food such as dal bhat and momos, but be cautious with street food or raw salads, as they can make many have a sensitive stomach.

Kathmandu is not in danger, but the traffic can be congested. Always watch when crossing streets and do not go to dark and lonely places at night. Lock valuables such as money belts or wallets in pockets. Adhering to these tips will make the short Nepal Bhutan Tour hassle-free, fun, and culturally sensitive, and you will have the assistance of the guides and our team throughout the tour.