Spiritual Himalayas

Fly west to Pokhara to stay at the peaceful Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge, in a relaxing mountain ridge setting surrounded by the Annapurna Range. From here, guests can enjoy guided birding and daily hikes through the villages and forests in the area and enjoy freshly prepared Nepali dishes, which can be eaten in the company of a Gurkha to learn about their culture and their history. Explore the city of Pokhara, including the the Phewa Taal Lake with the white tipped mountains reflecting in its waters, or head to the skies paragliding for an adventurous birds-eye view of the Annapurna. The lodge itself is in a prime location to enjoy the mountain air and scenery whilst relaxing by the award winning pool, or enjoy Ayurvedic and Shiatsu therapy.

Take a short flight to the sub-tropical Chitwan National Park – a spectacular area with riverine jungles and the Himalayas as a scenic backdrop. Stay two nights at the Meghauli Serai on the banks of the River Rapti for an exciting safari experience in the ‘Heart of the Jungle’. Head out with a trained naturalist for a morning or afternoon game drive to spot the endangered greater one-horned rhinoceros and – if you are lucky – the majestic Bengal tiger. Cruise down the river in a traditional canoe for a chance to see the iconic long snouted ‘Gharial’, a crocodilian species endemic to the Indian subcontinent, or join a mahout with their Asiastic elephant for a bath in the river. Lastly, enjoy relaxing at the hotel with a dip in the pool, a traditional Tharu village dinner or some spectacular stargazing.

Enjoy an overnight stay back at Dwarika’s Kathmandu Hotel before your flight to Bhutan the following morning. Spend the day relaxing by the pool, designed in the style of the 12th century Malla Dynasty Baths, or enjoy a rejuvenating yoga class. Head to the Pancha Kosha Himalayan Spa to pamper yourself with massage treatments based on traditional Ayurvedic and Buddhist treatments. In the evening, head to the hotel’s Fusian Bar for a sundowner accompanied with some local live music entertainment before choosing from a traditional Nepalese barbeque or the Krishnarpan restaurant. 

Drive to Thimpu from Paro to stay two nights at the serene Six Senses Thimpu in this Himalayan Kingdom. Here you can acclimatise to the altitude and enjoy daily yoga and meditation classes at the lodge’s prayer pavilion, with incredible views of the surrounding region and crop fields. Enjoy a dip in the stunning infinity pool or relax with a Hingsangsa Zoni bathing ritual, where you’ll be scrubbed with Himalayan salt and later soak in a traditional Bhutanese hot stone bath. The Wangditse National Forest trail is a great place for a hike through the valley’s pine forests with a local chef to forage for mushrooms or even to spot the takin, Bhutan’s national animal. Try your hand at the national sport of archery or visit the National Memorial Chorten to see Monks chanting at prayer wheels. If you are here on a weekend, head to the craft bazaar and vegetable markets.

Drive to Punakha for a three night stay at the Amankora, reached by crossing a beautiful bridge over the Mo Chhu River, covered in local prayer flags. Nestled in a subtropical valley, this lodge and its infinity pool has spectacular views over orange orchards and rice terraces. From here you can take a trip to the 17th century Punakha Dzong–- ‘The Palace of Great Happiness’ – and the 15th century Buddhist ‘fertility temple’ Chime Lhakhang. Rise early for a morning hike to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten up in the hills, which overlooks the valley and farms, where the views are astonishing. Try your hand at Bhutanese cooking with a cooking class and trip to the morning market to source local produce before heading to the two-storey spa for a grounding face ritual or a quick steam.