Nepal Bhutan Tour 13 Days

How Difficult is the Nepal Bhutan Tour?

The Nepal Bhutan Tour is not challenging but moderately difficult. The rest of the tour is a guided sightseeing tour of the city, visiting the cultural sites and travelling by car, which does not require much physical effort.

Hiking is the primary activity. In Nepal, it is possible to hike from Nagarkot to Chisapani (16 km / 10 miles, 6-7 hours) at 2,300m (7,546 ft). The path is marked with moderate, low and high areas with ease.

The Tiger’s Nest Monastery hike (approximately 5-6 hours round trip) in Bhutan is offered to reach 3,120m (10,236 ft) and is steep, but has rest stops, or can be completed on a pony ride. It does not require any previous experience in trekking.

The tour is appropriate for adults and children who are reasonably active and healthy. Sneakers and a simple fitness level will be sufficient. The Nature Explore Treks creates the itinerary in such a way that it is relaxed, and the travellers do not have to strain a lot in order to experience the culture and nature.

Visa and Permit Requirements

In the Nepal Bhutan Tour, visas to the two countries are needed. Most tourists in Nepal are allowed to get a 15-day visa upon arrival at Kathmandu Airport at a cost of approximately 30 dollars; the passport must be valid for at least six months. Embassy-prepared visas can also be made.

Bhutan does not allow a visa-on-arrival, so it has to be done through a licensed operator, such as Nature Explore Treks. We do the visa clearance and route permits required, such as visiting Punakha and other places outside Paro/Thimphu.

Upon arrival at Paro, you will get the Bhutan visa clearance letter, and you will be granted the official visa stamp.

We take care of all the permits and paperwork, thus making the process hassle-free and smooth for the traveller. This will be such that your Nepal Bhutan Tour will be well organized and there will be no administrative concerns.

Food & Drink During the Tour

For the meals in Nepal Napal Bhutan Tour, breakfast is served in hotels in Nepal. Travellers select lunches and dinners in Kathmandu or on the hike on their own, with such choices as dal bhat, momos, noodles, and local curries. The prices are between USD 5 and USD 15, depending on the restaurant. Purified or bottled water is recommended for your safety.

In Bhutan, everything is included in the meals. Hotels and the local restaurants serve Bhutanese food such as red rice, ema datshi (chilli-cheese stew), vegetables and meat. There are options of vegetarian food, and spices are modified to suit visitors. There are tea (and butter tea), coffee and optional soft drinks or alcohol at your expense.

Nature Explore Treks makes sure that dietary preferences are taken into consideration in a timely manner. All in all, the meal served on the tour is healthy and nutritious and supplements the other activities, such as culture and trekking, ensuring that the traveller remains healthy during the journey.

Language & Communication

Communication is not difficult in the Nepal Bhutan Tour. In Nepal, the official language is Nepali, but English is widely spoken in tourist spots, hotels and even by the guides. You might not have much English in the rural trekking places, such as Chisapani, but through gestures, your guide can easily understand you. Some Nepali expressions are welcome, e.g. Namaste (hello/greetings).
The official language in Bhutan is Dzongkha, although English is widely spoken in schools, government and amongst guides. The signs are frequently in English, and such polite phrases as Kuzuzangpo La (Hello) are welcome.

Nature Explore Treks have English-speaking guides that facilitate the translation of the instructions so that the travellers can easily communicate. A smile, courtesy and simple words can go a long way. The Nepal Bhutan Tour will not be a barrier due to language, and the guides make it smooth and culturally involving.

Mobile Network, Internet & Charging Facilities

In the Nepal Bhutan Tour, the connectivity is mostly stable in cities and towns. The mobile networks of Nepal (Ncell, NTC) serve Kathmandu and Nagarkot. Chisapani might have a poor signal.

The networks in Bhutan (B-Mobile, TashiCell) are available in Thimphu, Paro, and Punakha, and certain remote locations do not have reception. Wi-Fi is common in most hotels, but small towns might have weaker connections. Hotels have a charging facility, but carry a power bank.
It is suggested that one should have a universal adapter. Nature Explore Treks has guaranteed connectivity and charging information, allowing travellers to be connected when necessary, and also experience periodic digital detox in beautiful and isolated areas.

What Not to Do on a Nepal Bhutan Tour

When visiting Nepal Bhutan Tour, it is necessary to respect the traditions of the locals.

Cover your shoulders and knees at religious places, take off shoes and hats and do not point your feet towards shrines since feet are impure.

You should not take photos within the temples, dzongs or of monks without their consent; your guide will know when to put away your cameras. Touch no one on the head, and also use the right hand in giving or receiving something.

An extreme display of affection that goes beyond hand-holding will not be received well by locals. It is not allowed to smoke in Bhutan or Nepal. Do not comment on the local religion or the Bhutanese royal family in an insensitive way.

These few rules will make one a very welcome guest in the country, and will make the trip both comfortable and respectable. Nature Explore Treks offers information to tourists as they take the Nepal Bhutan Tour in order to observe such cultural norms.

Trip Extensions

Nature Explore Treks will be able to organise extensions of your Nepal Bhutan Tour. In Nepal, Pokhara has the views of Annapurna mountain, boating in the Phewa Lake, and adventure sports such as paragliding.

The other alternative is Chitwan National Park, where one can have a jungle safari to see the rhinos, elephants, tigers, and Tharu cultural shows.

Phobjikha Valley in Bhutan, where black-necked cranes nest, can also be included in your itinerary in Bhutan, as well as Bumthang with its old monasteries.

One of the most cultural experiences to have in the country is to time your extension with one of the local Tshechu festivals in Thimphu or Paro to witness the mask dances and rituals.

Multi-country travellers can also have extensions in Tibet (Lhasa) or India (Darjeeling, Sikkim, Golden Triangle).

Nature Explore Treks makes these extensions easy to add more culture, adventure or nature to your Nepal Bhutan Tour and design these extensions to your interests and schedule.

Travel Insurance

The Nepal Bhutan Tour Travel insurance is strongly advisable for the trip and is practically mandatory in Bhutan. Medical costs and emergency evacuation should be taken care of as far as trekking to about 3,500m.

Although altitudes in this tour are moderate (Nagarkot 2,300m / 7,546 ft; Tiger’s Nest 3,120m / 10,236 ft), there can be some unwanted illness or injury, and help may be needed. It should also be insured on the cancellation or interruption of trips, such as when the Kathmandu to Paro flights are delayed due to weather.

The insurance of lost luggage or theft is handy because there is more than one flight and transfer.
Nature Explore Treks will collect your insurance information before the trip, so in case of any emergencies, they can easily coordinate. Full coverage gives the traveller the opportunity of experiencing the Nepal Bhutan Tour to the fullest and with ease, since he or she is assured that any medical or logistical problem can be solved comfortably.

Extra Expenses on Nepal Bhutan Tour

Although the majority of the significant expenses are included, tourists should consider additional expenses on a Nepal Bhutan Tour. No meals except breakfast are included in Kathmandu or on trekking days, which are usually between $5-15 a meal.

Additional items are drinks, bottled water, soft drinks or alcohol. The cost of a Nepal visa ($30) is excluded, and the Bhutan visa and the principal sightseeing costs are included in the package.
It is customary but optional that tipping guides (5 to 10 dollars a day) and drivers (3 to 5 dollars a day) are tipped.

Extra spending can be done on souvenirs such as pashmina shawls, handicrafts, thangka paintings or products of yak wool. Laundry, snacks, and other small medicines should also be put into consideration.

A buffer of USD 300-500 per person is usually good enough to spend on a 14-day tour, depending on the spending habits. Nature Explore Treks recommends spending prudently so that you do not face a shock without enjoying your Nepal Bhutan Tour.

Health and Safety

The Nepal Bhutan Tour is also considered to be a safe tourist destination with moderately elevated altitudes (Kathmandu 1,300m / 4,265 ft, Nagarkot/Chisapani 2,300m / 7,546 ft, Tiger Nest 3,120m / 10,236 ft). Altitude sickness is not present very often, yet be slow when up the steep slope, be hydrated and inform your guide about dizziness or headaches.

Consume freshly made food and consume bottled or filtered water to prevent stomach problems. Bring prescription medicine and a little personal first aid kit to treat minor ailments. Regular vaccination is advisable; Hepatitis A and Typhoid can be taken into consideration.
In Kathmandu, be aware of pickpockets.

The crime levels in Bhutan are minimal, yet simple measures are still recommended. Adhere to the guide directions in viewpoints and temple locations, and watch out for personal effects.
We put your health and safety as a priority that enables travellers to have an enjoyable and comfortable Nepal Bhutan Tour.

Side Trips and Alternate Routes

The Nepal Bhutan Tour by Nature Explore Treks is not rigid, and there is a scope for side trips or alternative routes. You may choose not to make the entire day hiking of Nagarkot to Chisapani (2,300m / 7,546 ft) and go back to Kathmandu and do sightseeing of the city, including such villages as Bhaktapur.

There are people who are not in good physical condition to take the hike to Tiger Nest Monastery (3,120m / 10,236 ft) in Bhutan, so they may utilise horseback riding to reach the halfway point or engage in less challenging pursuits near Paro.

Your guide can accommodate spontaneous stops, such as visiting a local farmhouse or having a scenic sunset. Premeditated trips can be custom trips, like the short rafting trip in Nepal or additional visits to monasteries in Bhutan.

Nature Explore Treks invites tourists to contact it and share their interests so that the Nepal Bhutan Tour could be customised and every trip could be an adventure and personal at the same time, while visiting the main attractions safely and comfortably.

Photography & Drone Rules

In Nepal Bhutan Tours, photography is indispensable, but regulations should be complied with. In Nepal, it is possible to take photos of landscapes, temples, and local life, but you have to ask. Other places, such as the Living Goddess Kumari, will not allow you to take photos; the guides will tell you.

In Bhutan, it is highly prohibited to take photographs inside the temples, monasteries, and dzongs, but the outside and scenic views are permitted.

The use of drones is highly limited in both Nepal and Bhutan. You must have civil aviation permission to fly a drone, and in Bhutan, tourists are not allowed to fly a drone and may have it seized.

Nature Explore Treks recommends against bringing drones to prevent the complexity. These guidelines would make the photography process respectful and safe, and also capture the beautiful scenery. The tourists can continue taking great pictures without offending the locals, leaving a great experience of the Nepal Bhutan Tour.

Cultural Festivals in Nepal and Bhutan

Local festivals are a part of the experience in the Nepal Bhutan Tour. Dashain and Tihar (Sept-Oct) in Nepal are big events when the families pray, play kites and light homes. Kathmandu observes Indra Jatra, which includes masked dances and a chariot procession of the Living Goddess Kumari. Spring is the time of the colourful festival, Holi.

The best event in Bhutan is the Bhutan Tshechu festival, which is held in each district. The most popular ones are the Paro Tshechu (spring) and Thimphu Tshechu (autumn), where people are blessed by sacred mask dances and folk performances. Other smaller celebrations, temple ceremonies or archery contests (the national sport of Bhutan) can be held even beyond large festivals.

Nature Explore Treks could assist in the planning of the Nepal Bhutan Tour to be in sync with the festivals, and it is a vibrant experience in terms of culture. Visiting them presents the experience of understanding local customs, breathtaking photo views, and thrilling experiences that the trip can provide, besides the scenic and historic scenes.

Tips for First-Time Nepal and Bhutan Visitors

The Nepal Bhutan Tour has first-time travellers who should plan their trip well. Days can be warm in Nagarkot (2,300m / 7,546 ft) or cold in Thimphu. This should include warm layers of clothes, a rainproof jacket, comfortable shoes, a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen in your packing list.

Bring cash (Bhutanese and Nepali) because there are many small shops where it is necessary to pay in cash.

Be flexible: you can alter the schedule under traffic or weather conditions.

Greetings such as Namaste in Nepal and Kuzuzangpo La in Bhutan are some which one should learn to interact well with locals. Wear modest clothes when visiting temples, take off shoes, and seek permission before taking pictures of people.

Also, drink water, keep tissues and sanitiser, and beware of spicy food or street food. The preparation of comfort, cultural norms and health needs can make first-time visitors experience the Nepal Bhutan Tour to the utmost level and leave significant memories and positive interactions.