BhutanEcoRetreat

• Explore the Kathmandu valley and the cultural traditions of the multi-ethnic people who settled in this remote Himalayan valley over the past two millennia.

• Visit the annual Sacred Dance Festival, temples, including the famous Tiger’s Lair, monasteries, nunneries, dzongs (fortress), art projects, schools and Kutira’s special projects

• Sample delicious and diverse local cuisine from street markets, fine dining, and family homes

• Explore the country’s Buddhist tradition and culture with the help of an expert guide

• Hike up stunning trails and enjoy the breath-taking architecture that Nepal and Bhutan has to offer

Trip Includes:

• Nepal:
  • All lodging accommodations and breakfast (no lunch or dinner)
  • All daily activities
  • Kutira’s cultural and spiritual immersion tour
• Bhutan:
  • All lodging accommodations and breakfast, lunch and dinner
  • All transportation
  • Our own English-speaking Bhutanese Guide
  • All daily activities
  • Kutira’s cultural and spiritual immersion tour

And of course, unexpected beautiful surprises!

Accommodations and Food
We will stay in beautiful and clean hotels and guest houses in Nepal and Bhutan with hot water and electricity. (Please note: Our hotels/guest houses will be rated 3 stars and any upgrades to 4/5 star accommodations are at additional cost. Requests need to be made early and may be only available at certain places.)

Nepal:
Breakfast is included, however lunch and dinners will be at many wonderful restaurants (very inexpensive) with international food choices and recommendations can be provided by Kutira herself!

Bhutan:
All meals are included in trip price. Breakfast and most dinners will be in hotels. Lunches will often be in restaurants or picnic lunches during our hikes. Meals are typically served buffet style, with Bhutanese, Indian, and Chinese dishes as the usual offerings. Vegetarians are easily accommodated. A typical breakfast may include cereal and milk, pancakes (sometimes Buckwheat), omelets, fried potatoes, and fruits in season. Dinners will usually be in restaurants or even the homes of local families we have relationships with. Dinner may include rice, noodles, asparagus or cauliflower, a meat entrée (often chicken), and ema datse, the spicy chili cheese dish often considered as the national dish of Bhutan. Beer is typically available for purchase with lunch or dinner, but wine is limited- drinks are not included in the price.

Trip Difficulty
The trip consists of a mix of hiking, cultural and culinary touring. Anyone in good physical condition who is comfortable walking 2-3 hours on a hilly, rocky terrain should have no difficulty on the hikes.  It is important to view the trip as a group activity where the needs of the group may outweigh those of the individual. An open attitude and respect for the culture are important attributes that enhance participant’s enjoyment of the trip. Please feel free to call Kutira and discuss if this would be the perfect journey of your life. It is much easier than you think!

Equipment and Clothing
Hiking boots or trail shoes, a down jacket, and a day-pack are highly recommended. Daytime temperatures will be moderate (approximately 55 to 75 degrees). Nighttime temperatures will be cool (30 to 40 degrees). We will be visiting towards the end of winter and moving into spring so both warm and cool clothing are recommended.

14 Day Journey Pricing

PLEASE NOTE: This price is based on 16 participants, if the group is below 16 people there will be an additional surcharge of $300.

Costs are based on double occupancy, ie. shared twin hotel accommodation.

Single room surcharge $60 per day, if requested and available.

AIRFARE
Flights are extremely limited and ABSOLUTELY must be booked ASAP to reserve your space with Kutira. In-country flights cost about $400 USD

This beautiful and charming Kingdom does not allow any other airlines to enter their paradise and this is also the high season for tourist and the best time of the year to visit, so booking flights 6 months in advance is extremely important. There are only a limited amount tickets available so it is imperative to secure your seat to fly on The Wings of the Dragon (Druk Air = Druk means Dragon in Bhutanese).

Druk Air’s cancellation policy is very good, so you can cancel if you decide that you cannot join us. However, if you wait to book your ticket, you run the risk of no more seats being available! Book your tickets NOW online on Druk Air.