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Summary Itinerary version until 29 Mar 2023
Detailed Itinerary
Welcome to Nepal! From the airport runway, weather permitting, it is already possible to see the mountains around the valley. With your visa and suitcase in hand, you will be met by our local representative who will be waiting for you with a Chörten sign. You will have already left Brazil with Guilherme's telephone number, who will accompany you on your trip to Nepal, make contact during the transfer and meet you at our hotel. For those arriving in the morning, a peaceful afternoon in our Tibetan neighborhood to start adjusting to the time zone in Nepal. Around the great stupa (tib: chörten)from Boudhanath, filled with monasteries, where Tibetan monastics and laymen make their koras (circumbulations), turning the famous prayer wheels with millions of Om Mani Padma Hungs, reciting mantras and lighting lamps mainly in the late afternoons and early mornings.
After a well-deserved rest from the trip to Nepal and breakfast, we will begin our visits with a short walk in the region of the second largest stupa in the valley, Swayambunath (translation: self-appeared). Legend has it that the hill where the stupa is located appeared at the place where the bodhisattva Manjushri, the bodhisattva of wisdom, picked a lotus flower after emptying the lake in what is now the Kathmandu Valley. We will have a view of the entire city, 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 XNUMXth 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' quarter 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.
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 the group's 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. At the end of the day we will be able to walk through the market and then we can meet for a group or individual meditation, as each traveller prefers.
We will also do some koras together 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.
At the beginning of the day we will visit Trashichhoedzong, the 'fortress of glorious religion', which is the country's governmental and religious headquarters, built in 1641.
We will then travel from Thimphu to Punakha, through the Dochula Pass, with its 3080m of altitude. Dochula Pass, where there are many stupas and prayer flags, offers a beautiful view of the mountains on a sunny day. After crossing the pass and lunch, on the way, we will walk approx. 1 hour between rice paddies 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! 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, dinner and rest.
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. Next, 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.
Time to return to Paro, the city where we landed in Bhutan, where we can enjoy the market, including buying dried fruits, chocolate, flags and incense for our special walk tomorrow!
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 it is said that 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. Today we will also try to visit the stupa (tib: chörten) of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, one of the greatest masters in the history of Buddhism. 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.
Arrival of those coming for the trip to Tibet
flight from bhutan
Free afternoon in Boudhnath
Arrival from Brazil for the trip to Tibet in the afternoon in Boudnath, our Tibetan neighborhood.
For those of you coming from Bhutan, time to leave this holy realm and return to our dear, messy Nepal, in our quieter Tibetan neighborhood. Transfer to the airport early in the morning for another beautiful flight literally next to the Himalayas back to Kathmandu. After checking in at our hotel, always requested and very welcome, today will be dedicated to assimilating everything we experience in these two special countries and cultures. Already quite familiar with our Tibetan neighborhood around the great stupa of Boudhnath, as with various places in the city and the valley, we can take advantage of revisiting some of its many important monasteries, cafes, restaurants, museums and 'shops'. We can contemplate these important places, read a book, write, walk, photograph, take care of the memories if we are going to take them for ourselves as well as for friends and family. At the end of the day we will meet for our farewell dinner.
Swayambunath
Kathmandu Durbar Square
Thamel
Boudhnath
We will start our visits with a short walk in the region of the second largest stupa in the valley, Swayambunath (translation: self-emerged). Legend has it that the hill where the stupa is located appeared at the place where the bodhisattva Manjushri, the bodhisattva of wisdom, picked up a lotus flower after emptying the lake in what is now the Kathmandu Valley. We will have a view of the whole city, we will do our koras around the stupa and we will know its small monasteries.
From Swayambu we will continue to Kathmandu's Durbar Square (Palace Square) where a small living goddess, Kumari, lives. The durbar squares of the Kathmandu Valley were built by heir kings of the Malla dynasty, XNUMXth century. XII to XVIII, which, in this case, luckily for us, competed in architectural beauty. There are numerous temples of the various Hindu gods around the palace. We will then walk to the travellers' quarter in Kathmandu, Thamel, with countless good restaurants, mountaineering shops, Nepalese crafts, bookstores, for a good meal and, if anyone needs to, buy some clothes, for example, for the next trip.
kopan
Durbar Square Patan
Patan Museum
golden temple
Free time
Today we will visit some of the main monasteries of the Kathmandu Valley, having good opportunities to learn a little about the projects of their great masters. First we will try to visit Kopan. 'We will try' because it has been common to have retreats and on those days they are not open to visitors. Still, it is always possible to try the following way: calling or going to the Kopan (15 to 20 min by car from Boudhnath), if they are on retreat, demonstrating that they understand the importance of silence for the retreatants and, thus, asking if they can visit the stupas in silence (whenever we are close to the refugees). It is the monastery of Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche, where a few hundred monks of all ages live. It is an important center of study for Sherpas, often from the Everest region, and foreigners from around the world.
At the end of this morning, we will continue to the friendly Durbar Square of Patan, very famous for its artists and beautiful temples. There we will visit a small, very well done and very didactic museum of Hindu and Buddhist art. Nearby, we will visit the small and beautiful Golden Temple, used until today by Buddhist Nepalese from the same ethnic group as Sakyamuni Buddha himself.. Patan has a good option for our lunch, it is an excellent place to buy Buddhist statues (as in Boudha too), of excellent quality, as well as to walk through these medieval streets and their temples.
Late afternoon free at bookstores, cafes, Buddhist art, craft, mountain clothing and equipment stores, stupa, temples or monasteries in the well-known Patan, Thamel or Boudhnath, as each traveller prefers.
Bhaktapur
Pashupatinath
We will visit the third Durbar Square in the valley, the beautiful Bhaktapur (bhakt: devotion/devotees and pur: Hindu city). A listed city, with a limited flow of vehicles, walking through its alleys, palace, temples, as well as the potters' square, is like getting to know a little of the daily life of a medieval era in Nepal. Bhaktapur is the location where, for example, the film Little Buddha was filmed.
We will take a walk through the temple complex of Pashupatinath, which surrounds the Bagmati River, sacred to the Hindus. In addition to the main temple, dedicated to Shiva's quieter manifestation, Pashupati, there are dozens of small temples also dedicated to Hinduism's god of destruction and rebuilding. It is also the place where any Nepalese who can will be cremated to ensure a good passage or liberation (moksha).
*Tibet Experiences and Purpose Trips are made from Kathmandu, from where we have the best flights, as well as more possibilities for solutions in case of unforeseen events with this flight that, with some frequency, changes its date at the last minute, for it is sometimes canceled due to lack of people or due to the weather. We also apply for a visa for Tibet from Kathmandu. In this way we offer and recommend the Travel Experiences and Objective of Nepal (here) before the days in Tibet, so that we can take care of these possible unforeseen events and documentation in the best possible way. If you have already met Kathmandu and would like to do another program on these important days in Nepal, we can help. It is important that you arrive in Kathmandu at least five days before your trip to Bhutan, for these same reasons.
Early morning transfer to the airport for one of the most beautiful flights on the planet. We'll fly alongside and then cruise over the highest mountain range on this planet, the Himalayas, to our airport landing near the region's capital, Lhasa. Weather permitting, we'll see 4 of the only 14 mountains in the world with more than 8 meters, including Everest. From the airport we will continue our journey for approx. 2:3100 am to Tsedang. As it is slightly shorter than Lhasa, approx. XNUMXm of altitude, will help us a lot so that our acclimatization happens a little more gradually. Check-in at the hotel, rest with teas and a walk around the city.
Next to Tsedang, visit Yambulakhang, the first fort palace built by Tibetan king Nyatri Tsedpo in the century. II. At 2 am from the city, we will visit the first and very important monastery built in all of Tibet, Samye. At the request of King Trisong Detsen and Indian master Shantarakshita, in the form of a mandala, Samye was built after Guru Rinpoche was asked to pacify the local demons. The stage for important philosophical debates in the history of Buddhism, Samye is an important place of pilgrimage. In the afternoon trip of approx. 2h drive to Lhasa, approx. 3500m altitude, capital of Tibet.
Today we will take a walk through the streets of Bharkhor, the traditional Tibetan district of Lhasa, where the Jokhang monastery is located, which houses the holiest statue in all of Tibet, the Jowo Rinpoche. Our second visit will be to the summer palace of the Dalai Lamas, with its beautiful gardens and various temples, the Norbulingkha.
Day to visit the Potala Palace, where HH the Dalai Lama in many of his lives lived together with many other monks. There are countless temples and sacred stupas of great masters for us to discover. We will also visit the important Sera monastic universities, where, in addition to their temples, we will be able to attend a debate between the monks, and Drepung. Together they constitute two of the largest centers for the study of Buddhism in Tibet.
We have a very nice and long trip. On the way, we will pass by two high passes, the Kamba La and the highest Karo La, with an altitude of 5010m that will help us in our very gradual and careful acclimatization to this region. We then descend to the magical emerald lake, Yamdrok. We will arrive this afternoon in Gyantse, with approx. 3950m of altitude. We will visit the ancient Phalkor Chode monastery where we will discover the largest stupa (tib: chörten) in Tibet, from the century. XV, called Kumbum. In this monastery we will see paintings and statues in different styles than those seen so far, as these already have an important influence from renowned Nepalese artists. At night, well-deserved rest after approx. 8h trip through the beautiful Tibetan plateau. Remembering that we can always gather, if not somewhere during the day, in our hotel at the end of the day for a meditation practice, together or individually, as each traveller prefers.
We continue our journey today for approx. 7h, passing through the Lhatse pass, with approx. 5200m. We will visit the important Sakya Monastery, 4th century. XIII, main monastery of which is one of the XNUMX main lineages of Tibetan Buddhism. Visiting your library is a very special experience. We will sleep in the small village of Shegar already on our way to our destination of tomorrow, the base camp of the highest mountain on our planet!
From Shegar we go to the small and special monastery Rongbuk, located at the base of the Sagarmatha for the Tibetans, Chomolungma for the Nepalese, better known as Everest, with its 8850m of altitude. From Rongbuk, said to be the tallest monastery in the world, at an altitude of 5050m, the view of Everest is beautiful. If allowed these days, we go a little farther until we reach the side of Everest base camp. We will sleep at the inn in the monastery, with very simple accommodation but certainly a place that we will remember in a very special way throughout our lives. Especially the view of Everest at sunset, at night and at the beginning of the day from such a special place.
In the morning, return to Lhasa airport for another incredible flight that will cross the highest mountain range in the world. In good weather, it is possible to see six of the only fourteen mountains in the world that are more than eight thousand meters high. Back in Nepal we will go to our hotel in a very quiet region of the valley, Dhulikhel, close to another important Buddhist site, 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. Just below, after a pleasant walk, there is a stupa where the Buddha's brothers, in that life, kept his relics. We will have completed the visit to the three most sacred stupas in the Kathmandu Valley and it will be an important opportunity to sit, read, write, photograph, walk or do our meditation practice for a few minutes now at the end of our trip. From our rooms and our hotel's restaurant, in good weather, we will have a view of the snow-capped Himalayas, the region we have been traveling through in recent weeks.
We hope that you have had beautiful and important experiences through contact with ancient cultures that until today, in more isolated contexts as in modern contexts too, live values that are possibly quite new to us and will be of great help to us in our daily lives. for days.
For those returning to Brazil today, our hotel is available until noon today. Thus, you can choose, according to your preferences and availability of flights, whether you are flying today, in the morning, in the afternoon, at night or even in the next morning. If you need a late check-out (usually available until 18pm for a fee a little less than one night) or one more night to have the room available throughout the day and the next night, please let us know in advance to check availability and value . It is always possible to store your bags at the hotel reception, so you can take a walk around the city that day, have lunch and/or dinner out according to your flight schedule, and then proceed to the airport with the assistance of our representatives and monitoring each I pass by Chörten.
Probably free morning or, as our flights usually leave Kathmandu at night, free day to buy souvenirs and enjoy this country that will surely have offered us incredible experiences and touched us a lot. Going around the places you liked the most, doing a few more koras, walking, photographing, reading, writing, getting to know some other place. As best as each traveller prefers. According to your flight schedule, transfer with assistance to the airport for your flight back to Brazil.