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From April 05, 2025 to April 19, 2025
Summary Itinerary
Clicking on the days of travel in the summary itinerary will take you to the detailed itinerary for that day and vice versa clicking on the day in the detailed itinerary will return you to the summary itinerary. In the detailed itinerary, in addition to the images and description of the days, we also have the day of the month and the week
Main Program
Detailed Itinerary
Main Program
Flights
After all the preparations have been well taken care of over the last few months, it's time to go to the airport for the flights to Nepal!
Regarding times and days, flights normally leave Guarulhos SP (GRU) early in the morning, around 1 or 2am that night. Therefore, anyone traveling to São Paulo from other states must make their domestic flight the day before. And anyone going to GRU by car must go to the airport the night before. Guilherme will certainly contact you before you go to the airport and will be available when you arrive at the airport to see if you need any help, making sure you are arriving with complete peace of mind. Have a great flight and see you soon!
Arrival
Boudhnath
Welcome to Nepal! From the airport runway, weather permitting, it is now possible to see the mountains surrounding the valley. All details about your arrival, here on the website Chörten Traveller: Arrival in Kathamndu (here). With your visa and suitcase in hand, the group will be received by Guilherme at the airport. Anyone arriving before or after the group's flight, we will arrange to be greeted by our local representative who will be waiting for you with a Chörten sign. In this case, our representative will accompany you to the hotel and then wherever Guilherme is with the group so we can enjoy this afternoon in the Tibetan neighborhood of our hotel.
Around the great stupa (Tib: chörten) of Boudhanath, full of monasteries, you will find nuns, monks and lay Tibetans, sometimes great masters, doing their koras (circummbulations). Spinning the famous prayer wheels with millions of Om Mani Padma Hungs, reciting mantras and making lamp offerings mainly in the late afternoon and early in the morning. We will take advantage of one of the cafes or restaurants around the stupa to observe and assimilate a little of this ancient culture.
Swayambunath
Kathmandu Durbar Square
Thamel
Boudhnath
After a well-deserved rest from the trip to Nepal, breakfast to start our day in the Kathmandu Valley!
We will begin our visits with a short walk in the region of the second largest stupa in the valley, Swayambunath (translation: self-arisen). Legend has it that the hill where the stupa is located was where the bodhisattva Manjushri, the bodhisattva of wisdom, picked a lotus flower after emptying the lake in what is now the Kathmandu Valley. Weather permitting, we will have a view of the entire city. We will make our koras around the stupa and visit its small monasteries.
From Swayambu we will head to Kathmandu's Durbar Square (Palace Square) where a small living goddess lives, the Kumari. The durbar squares of the Kathmandu Valley were built by kings who were heirs of the Malla dynasty, in the 17th century. XII to XVIII, which, in this case luckily for us, competed in architectural beauty. There are numerous temples of different Hindu gods around the palace. We will then walk to the travellers' neighborhood in Kathmandu, Thamel, with countless good restaurants, mountaineering shops, Nepali handicrafts, bookstores, for a good meal and, if anyone needs it, to buy some clothes for the days in Bhutan.
After our visits, walks and lunch, we will return to the Boudhanath stupa, full of flags, famous prayer wheels with millions of Om Mani Padma Hungs and many monasteries of great masters that we can visit.
Bhaktapur
Namo Buddha
Today we will visit the second of the valley's three main ancient cities, Bhaktapur (bhakt: devotion and pur: Hindu city). Along with Patan and Kathmandu, which we will visit tomorrow, they were once capitals of the Malla empire that competed in architectural beauty with the beautiful squares of their palaces. Bhaktapur is a listed city, with limited vehicle flow. Walking through its alleys is like getting to know a little about the daily life of medieval times in Nepal.
Today we will visit another quieter region around the Kathmandu Valley, Dhulikhel and Namo Buddha. In a previous life, Buddha Shakyamuni, when he was still a bodhisattva, encountered a hungry tigress with nothing to feed her cubs. Buddha, due to his level of achievement, offered his own body where there is today a Thrangu Rinpoche monastery. We will visit the monastery and then take a short pleasant walk to the stupa where the Buddha's brothers, in that life, kept his relics. We will arrive at our hotel, where we will have a very peaceful end to the day with a beautiful view. If the weather is clear, we will be able to see the snow-capped Himalaya mountains from the hotel restaurant at sunset and sunrise.
golden temple
Patan Museum
Durbar Square Patan
Pashupatinath
On the way back to Kathmandu, we will head to Patan's friendly Durbar Square. Very famous for its artists and beautiful temples. There we will visit a small, very well designed and very educational museum of Hindu and Buddhist art. Nearby, we will visit the small and beautiful Golden Temple, used to this day by Nepali Buddhists from the same clan as Buddha Shakyamuni himself. Patan has a good option for our lunch, it is an excellent place to walk through these medieval streets and their temples.
Closer to our Tibetan neighborhood, we will visit the Pashupatinath temple complex, which is located around the Bagmati river, sacred to Hindus. In addition to the main temple, dedicated to the most peaceful manifestation of Shiva, Pashupati, there are dozens of small temples also dedicated to the Hindu god of destruction and reconstruction. It is also the place where Nepalis who are able will be cremated to ensure a good passage or release (moksha). We will enjoy the late afternoon in our Tibetan neighborhood, doing our circumambulations, walking around the monasteries, taking advantage of one of the cafes and the stupa to write, read or take some more photography.
Monasteries
kopan
Dudjom
Sakya
Ka-Nying
Shechen
Today we will have the opportunity to visit some of the main monasteries in the Kathmandu Valley. Just as we can use part of today to go back to Thamel to buy some clothes that could help us in Bhutan tomorrow.
One of the possibilities is Kopan monastery. It is the monastery of Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche, where a few hundred monks of all ages live. It is an important study center for Sherpas, often from the Everest region, and foreigners from around the world.
Next to our hotel, we will start by visiting the monastery of Dudjom Rinpoche, called Dudjom Gompa. Dudjom Rinpoche was a great master, master of many masters. There are many very special books with his teachings and his lineage. His (shrunken) body is in the stupa in his monastery. It's worth sitting there for a while.
Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche's monastery, Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling, is one of the oldest if not the oldest in Boudha, built by Tulky Urgyen Rinpoche and his eldest sons, at the request of HH the XVI Karmapa. Known as the white monastery, it has a college for both monks (10 years) and Westerners (www.ryi.org) with bachelor's, master's and shorter courses. The Rangjung Yeshe institute library is worth visiting. We will also visit the monastery of Matthieu Ricard, Rabjam Rinpoche and Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, called Shechen.
The Sakya monastery of Trinchen Rinpoche in the kora of the great stupa of Boudhnath has a beautiful statue of Maitreya. Having visited the main monasteries of Kathmandu, you can return to them to participate in the pujas (monk ceremonies) where we can sit for as long as we wish, and use their libraries and bookstores.
A good dinner and time to prepare our bags for the flight to Bhutan tomorrow!
Flight
Fx Market
Today we say goodbye to Nepal for a few days for a flight that will follow the highest mountains on our planet, the Himalayas, towards Paro airport, in Bhutan. Weather permitting, we will see some of the few mountains taller than 8 thousand meters of altitude across the planet, including Everest.
Stepping onto Bhutanese soil is already an experience… we need to get there to find out. We will continue with our vehicle to the capital, Thimphu, for approx. 1:30 am. On the way, we will stop to see the confluence of the Thimphu and Paro rivers, where there are 3 stupas of different styles: Tibetan, Nepalese and Bhutanese. We will be able to walk at the end of the day and visit the city market.
Memorial Chorten
Buddha Point
School of Art
Tashichho Dzong
We will enjoy our entire day in Thimphu. After breakfast, we will make some koras with the Bhutanese around the King's Memorial Chörten (stupa in languages of Tibetan origin), designed by the country's third king, the 'father of modern Bhutan', in the name of world peace and prosperity. Continuing our tour, we will visit the large Kunsel Phodrang statue, or Buddha Point, from where we will have a view of the Thimphu valley. We will then visit Zorig Chusum, Bhutan's traditional painting, weaving and woodworking school, where students study art on a 6-year course. In the late afternoon we will visit Trashichhoedzong, the 'fortress of glorious religion', which is the country's governmental and religious headquarters, built in 1641.
Dochula pass
Chimi Lhakhang
Nunnery
Today we will continue our journey from Thimphu to Punakha, through the Dochula Pass, with its 3080m altitude. Dochula Pass, where there are many stupas and prayer flags, offers a beautiful view of the mountains on clear days. After crossing the pass and having lunch, on the way, we will walk approx. 1 hour between rice plantations and villages to Chimi Lhakhang, monastery of a great master of crazy wisdom, known as the Temple of Fertility. Locals say that to get pregnant, just pray at this temple! We will be able to read some of his texts.
Just before arriving in Punakha, visit the nunnery Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Lhakhang, full of beautiful statues of Avalokiteshvara, Guru Rinpoche, Buddha, 21 Taras, among others. The nunnery, in addition to being a high-quality Dharma teaching institution, also offers classes in weaving, thangkha (painting) and statue making.
Arrival at the hotel for dinner and rest.
Khamsum Chorten
Rafting (optional extra)
Punakha Dzong
We have another very special day. In the morning, a walk through the pepper and rice plantations, next to the Mo Chhu River, to the special chörten Khamsum. Built to remove negative forces, promote peace, stability and harmony in this impermanent world. At the top of this hill, we will have a very beautiful view of the entire Punakha valley, with its Female and Male rivers, as their names are in Dzongkha, the language of Bhutan.
As an optional (extra) tour, we can take a very pleasant rafting trip along the calm waters of the river that runs alongside the city's Dzong.
In the afternoon, we will visit Punakha Dzong, the Palace of Great Happiness. Built at the junction of the Phochu and Mochu rivers in 1637, it was the seat of government and religion in the past. Return to the hotel for a good dinner.
National museum
Rinpung Dzong
Time to return to Paro, the city where we landed in Bhutan, to first visit the very interesting National Museum, where we can learn a little more about Bhutanese culture, its history, flora and rich fauna. From the museum we then went to Paro Dzong, with beautiful panels and views of the city. We continue to the city where we can enjoy the market, including buying dried fruits, chocolate, flags and incense for our special walk tomorrow!
Walk
Taktshang Monastery (Tiger's Nest)
Gkyichu Lhakhang
Today is the big day of the beautiful and special walk to the Taktshang Monastery, the most famous in Bhutan encrusted in a rock, where Guru Rinpoche arrived there on the back of a tigress and meditated for a while. We will be able to visit and sit for a few moments in front of the cave where Guru Rinpoche meditated. That's why it's called the Tiger's Nest, the most sacred temple in Bhutan. At least once a year the Bhutanese visit it. Walk will be up to approx. 4 hours, with a stop for a few minutes' rest at a café halfway. The return is calmer.
On the way back to the city, we will visit the very important Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the 108 monasteries from the XNUMXth century, built by the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo. The construction of this temple marks the beginning of Buddhism in Bhutan. It will be a very special way to end our days in Bhutan. A good meal and preparations for the flight tomorrow.
Flight
Free afternoon in Boudhnath
After breakfast, transfer to the airport and farewell to the driver and guide who accompanied us all day in Bhutan.
Flying back to our good sort of home now, Kathmandu. If the sky is clear we will see some of the Himalayan mountains over 8 meters high. There are only 14 mountains in the world on this list. The other five are in the neighboring mountain range region, the Karakoram. In order on the flight: Kangchenjunga on the border between India and Nepal (3rd at 8586m), Makalu (5th at 8485m) already in Nepal, Lhotse next to Everest (4th at 8516m), Everest (1st at 8850m) and Cho Oyu soon after (6th at 8188m).
Afternoon free to enjoy Boudha, its cafes, restaurants, make our koras with the Tibetans, take a few more and take care of our photos a little in the last few days. We buy incense, flags and other souvenirs that we want to take home. If someone wants to stop by Thamel or another region in the valley, it might be a good time too.
Free day
Flights
Our last day in Nepal this time! We can fly that night, as well as in the morning or even afternoon of the next day. We will see the best fares, routes and times when purchasing your ticket. Our hotel will be available until tomorrow around noon, as it's always great to be able to rest for a few moments before our flights back to Brazil, like, of course, take a good shower and finish packing our suitcase, probably with some new souvenirs. of the trip!
This day, always highly requested and well spent, can also be enjoyed in any way each Traveller prefers. Revisiting the monasteries, sitting for a while, enjoying the very special Boudhnath stupa and other possibilities that we will already be very familiar with on that day!
Afternoon free to enjoy Boudha, its cafes, restaurants, make our koras with the Tibetans, take a few more and take care of our photos a little in the last few days. We buy incense, flags and other souvenirs that we want to take home. If someone wants to stop by Thamel or another region in the valley, it might be a good time too.
Assisted transfer to the group flight. For those who prefer to fly with another airline, route or time, we organize an extra transfer in the way each Traveller prefers (we will talk during the trip). We hope you have had very fun, interesting moments, special opportunities for us to interact with some cultures with an ancient history, with some similarities and other different aspects of the cultures we are closest to. May the learning we learn here continue with us for a long time, enabling new learning in our lives and for future trips! Very good flight! Guilherme will remain in contact, following his flights until he arrives home in Brazil.
Flights back to Brazil can be this morning, morning or afternoon as explained above.