Kook's 12-Day Spirit of Nepal & Bhutan
Nepal & Bhutan
$5800 (payment plan dates: Dec 1 / May 1) | $1500 deposit to reserve spot (includes $600 visa fee)
Solo room supplements available, inquire to learn more
November 6 - 17, 2027
18 spots
From the foothills of the Annapurnas to the sacred monasteries of Bhutan, this is the Himalayas at their most spiritual, most dramatic, and most unforgettable.
About the Adventure
There are places in the world that stop you in your tracks. Nepal and Bhutan are two of them, and this 12-day journey takes you through both. Not as a checklist, but as a genuine immersion into two of the most spiritually rich and visually extraordinary countries on the planet.
You will start in Kathmandu, exploring UNESCO World Heritage Sites, ancient Buddhist stupas, and the living culture of one of Asia's most captivating cities. From there the trip moves to Pokhara, where the Annapurna range fills the horizon and a short overnight trek into Ghandruk village takes you into the heart of Gurung country, one of the main Gurkha tribes of the Himalayas.
Then comes Bhutan. The last Buddhist kingdom in the world, a country that measures its success in Gross National Happiness rather than GDP, and one of the most tightly preserved cultures on Earth. You will drive over the Dochula Pass with views of the snow-capped Eastern Himalayas, explore ancient dzongs built into cliffsides, hike to the legendary Tiger's Nest Monastery perched impossibly on a rock face above Paro, and spend time in the wide open Phobjikha Valley, winter home of the rare Black-Necked Crane.
This trip was designed for people who want to travel with intention. Every day here asks something of you and gives you something back that you will carry for the rest of your life.
Trip Led by Kook
Kook (Kaleigh) is the heart and vision behind Kook’s Wild Ride. A passionate traveler and connector, she curates unforgettable adventures that blend epic landscapes, cultural immersion, and meaningful human connection. Her love for exploration has taken her across the globe, from the peaks of the Himalayas to the beaches of Central America, and she’s made it her mission to share that magic with others. Whether she’s leading a trek, swapping stories over a campfire, or scouting the next hidden gem, Kaleigh’s enthusiasm and care make every trip feel like traveling with an old friend.
12-Day Itinerary Overview
B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
Note: Accommodations are subject to change due to availability, but we will ensure any alternatives are of equal quality.
DAY # 1
Arrival in Kathmandu (D)
Arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu where you will be met by your guide and transferred to the hotel. After settling in, the group meets for a trip briefing followed by a welcome dinner together.
Activities:
☯ Group airport transfer from Tribhuvan International Airport
☯ Hotel check in and trip briefing
☯ Welcome dinner at the hotel or nearby restaurant
Accommodation: Hotel in Kathmandu
DAY # 2
Kathmandu Guided City Tour (B, D)
A full day exploring Kathmandu's most significant UNESCO Cultural Heritage Sites, with time to wander through medieval squares and ancient temples before an evening cultural show and dinner.
Activities:
☯ Swoyambhunath (Monkey Temple), the oldest Buddhist stupa in the Kathmandu Valley
☯ Boudhanath, the largest Buddhist temple in the world and an active center of Tibetan Buddhism
☯ Patan Durbar Square, a medieval royal palace area with extraordinary Nepali architecture, metal and stone carving
☯ Evening Nepali cultural show with dinner at an authentic Nepali restaurant
Accommodation: Hotel in Kathmandu
DAY # 3
Fly to Pokhara → Trek to Ghandruk Village (B, L, D)
Fly to Pokhara, one of the most dramatically situated cities in the world, with the Annapurna range dominating the skyline. From here we head into the lower Annapurna region for an overnight trek to the traditional Gurung village of Ghandruk.
Activities:
☯ Flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara
☯ Jeep transfer to Kimche, the starting point of the trek
☯ Trek to Ghandruk village including a 650ft climb on stone carved steps with views over the Annapurna Conservation Area
☯ Explore the traditional Gurung village, cultural museum and local monastery
☯ Jeep support available for anyone who needs it
Hike Details: ~1.5 miles with significant elevation gain
Accommodation: Lodge in Ghandruk village
DAY # 4
Ghandruk → Back to Pokhara (B, L, D)
An early morning sunrise over the Himalayas before a short morning walk and a scenic 2.5-hour Jeep ride back to Pokhara through picturesque rice fields. The afternoon is free to explore Pokhara before a group dinner.
Activities:
☯ Short morning walk through the village
☯ Optional morning walk
☯ Jeep ride back to Pokhara through rice fields and highland scenery
☯ Free time to explore Pokhara
☯ Group dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Pokhara
DAY # 5
Pokhara → Kathmandu → Bhaktapur (B)
A morning sunrise from Sarangkot with panoramic Himalayan views before flying back to Kathmandu. From there a drive to Bhaktapur, one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Asia, renowned for its extraordinary wooden art, metalwork and traditional architecture.
Activities:
☯ Flight from Pokhara to Kathmandu
☯ Drive to Bhaktapur
☯ Explore Bhaktapur's temples, wooden carvings and traditional tankha paintings
Accommodation: Hotel in Kathmandu
DAY # 6
Kathmandu → Paro → Thimphu, Bhutan (B)
Today you cross into the Kingdom of Bhutan. The flight into Paro is one of the most spectacular in the world, weaving through the Bhutanese foothills with sweeping Himalayan views before landing in the mountain valley. Your guide meets you on arrival and transfers you to the capital, Thimphu.
Activities:
☯ Arrival formalities and meet your Bhutan guide
☯ Drive to Thimphu (approximately 1.5 hours)
☯ Visit Tashichho Dzong, a 17th-century fortress now serving as the seat of the Royal Government of Bhutan
Accommodation: Hotel Damisa, Thimphu
DAY # 7
Thimphu → Punakha (B)
A morning hike to Buddha Point with views over the Thimphu Valley before crossing the dramatic Dochula Pass at 3,050m, surrounded by 108 stupas and snow-capped Himalayan peaks, and descending into the warmer, lower-lying valley of Punakha.
Activities:
☯ Hike to Kuenselphodrang (Buddha Point) from Changangkha, approximately 2 hours
☯ Drive to Punakha over the Dochula Pass with spectacular Eastern Himalayan views
☯ Tea stop at Dochula Cafeteria among the 108 stupas
☯ Visit Chimi Lhakhang, a temple blessed by the Divine Madman
Accommodation: Bhutanic Resort, Punakha
DAY # 8
Punakha Sightseeing (B)
A full day in Punakha, home to Bhutan's most impressive dzong and some of the country's most dramatic valley scenery. The day moves between ancient architecture and open countryside at a relaxed pace.
Activities:
☯ Khamsum Yuelley Chorten, a 45-minute hike through paddy fields to a stupa with magnificent valley views
☯ Punakha Dzong, built in the 17th century at the confluence of two sacred rivers and considered the most impressive dzong in Bhutan
☯ Optional 1-hour hike from the Dzong to Gasothang Farm with views over the valley
Accommodation: Bhutanic Resort, Punakha
DAY # 9
Punakha → Phobjikha Valley (B)
A scenic drive to the wide open Phobjikha Valley, one of the most beautiful glacial valleys in Bhutan and the winter home of the endangered Black-Necked Crane. A leisurely afternoon hike and visit to the 400-year-old Gangtey Monastery round out a peaceful day.
Activities:
☯ Drive to Phobjikha Valley (approximately 3 hours)
☯ Gangtey Monastery, one of the most important Nyingmapa monasteries in Bhutan
☯ Leisurely nature hike with panoramic valley views
☯ Look out for the rare Black-Necked Crane in the valley below
Accommodation: Hotel Odiyana, Phobjikha
DAY # 10
Phobjikha → Paro (B)
A long and scenic drive back across the Dochula Pass to Paro, arriving in time to explore the town and visit the imposing Rinpung Dzong before settling in for the final stretch of the trip.
Activities:
☯ Drive from Phobjikha back to Paro over Dochula Pass (approximately 5 hours)
☯ Rinpung Dzong (Paro Dzong), a 17th-century fortress and the center of civil and religious authority for the Paro district
☯ Leisurely walk through Paro town
DAY # 11
Tiger's Nest Monastery Hike and Farmhouse Dinner (B, D)
The most iconic day of the entire trip. The hike to Taktsang Monastery (Tiger's Nest) is one of the great walks in the world, climbing through pine forest to a monastery that clings impossibly to a sheer cliff face 3,000ft above the Paro Valley. The evening ends with a traditional Bhutanese dinner at a local farmhouse.
Activities:
☯ Hike to Taktsang (Tiger's Nest) Monastery, approximately 2.5 hours up through pine forest with dramatic cliff views
☯ Explore the sacred monastery complex perched on the cliff face
☯ Optional pony ride available from the road end to the halfway cafeteria
☯ Evening visit to a traditional farmhouse for a Bhutanese dinner with local wine
☯ Optional traditional hot stone bath at the farmhouse (extra cost of $15 per person)
Hike Details: Approximately 5 miles round trip with significant elevation gain. Descent must be completed on foot.
DAY # 12
Departure from Paro (B)
A final breakfast before transfer to Paro Airport. Nepal and Bhutan will stay with you long after you leave.
Activities:
☯ Breakfast and check-out
☯ Transfer to Paro International Airport for onward departure
Included
Domestic flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara
Domestic flight from Pokhara back to Kathmandu
International flight from Kathmandu to Paro, Bhutan
Bhutan visa fee ($600 value) included
All airport transfers and private transportation throughout the trip
11 nights accommodation in hand-picked hotels and lodges
Breakfast every day throughout the trip
Welcome dinner in Kathmandu on arrival
Dinner on Days 2, 3, 4 and 11 as listed in the itinerary
Lunch on Days 3 and 4 during the trek
Full time English speaking guide throughout Nepal and Bhutan
Guided tour of Kathmandu's UNESCO Cultural Heritage Sites including Swoyambhunath, Boudhanath and Patan Durbar Square
Nepali cultural show with dinner in Kathmandu
Overnight trek to Ghandruk village with jeep support available
All sightseeing and dzong visits in Bhutan including Tashichho Dzong, Punakha Dzong, Gangtey Monastery, Rinpung Dzong and Khamsum Yuelley Chorten
Tiger's Nest Monastery hike with guide
Traditional Bhutanese farmhouse dinner with local wine on the final evening in Paro
All entrance fees throughout the trip
All service charges and taxes
Your dedicated trip operator handling all pre-trip logistics and everything in between so you show up ready to go
Not included
International flights to and from Nepal and Bhutan (not covered in the trip price)
Travel insurance (highly recommended)
Lunches not specified in the itinerary
Personal expenses
Tips for guides and drivers
Optional morning yoga and meditation sessions
Optional pony ride at Tiger's Nest ($extra)
Optional traditional hot stone bath at Paro farmhouse ($15 per person)
Optional private Kagura performance
Frequently Asked Questions
Travel is one of those things that naturally gives rise to queries, so we’re here to put your mind at ease. Which trip is right for me? What do I do about visas? How much do I tip? For questions frequent and otherwise, this is the spot.
Do I Need a Passport?
YES. The second you consider a trip with us, please check to ensure your passport is up to date and does not expire up to 6 months after the trip. At the moment, all of our trips are international. However, if we choose to do a domestic one, you would not need a passport but would need the REAL ID. In general, this is something you should consider getting soon to assist with your travel needs next year
Will I need a Visa?
Whether you need a visa depends on the country we are visiting. We will let you know in advance if a visa is required for any of our trips. Please be aware that visa fees are not included in the trip prices, but they are generally inexpensive. We will guide you through the simple visa application process before each trip.
Do I need to buy Travel Insurance?
Travel insurance is not included in our trip package. While it is not mandatory to join our trips, it is highly recommended. Travel insurance can cover various aspects of your journey, and there are many types and options available. We are happy to assist you in finding the right insurance that suits your needs before the trip.
Are flights included?
Flights are not included in our trip packages unless . However, we are happy to assist you in finding and choosing the best flight options for each trip. Please keep in mind that we recommend purchasing flight insurance for added peace of mind.
We offer flight help for a $60 fee.
Note: some trips include a domestic flight transfer as part of the itinerary, which will be listed as part of the trip details / inclusions on the webpage.
Are transfers to and from the airport included?
Yes, transfers to and from the airport upon arrival and departure are included in our trips. Please note, that if you arrive or depart outside of the scheduled trip dates, we can arrange transfers for an additional fee.
I have special dietary requirements – will they be catered for?
We are dedicated to accommodating special dietary requirements as best as we can. Please inform us of your specific needs in advance, and we will make every effort to ensure you are properly catered for throughout the trip. Please note that the ability to accommodate dietary restrictions may vary by location. We are knowledgeable of the areas we visit though, and will inform you if your specific needs cannot be met.
How do you arrange room sharing on the trip and who will I have to share with?
We arrange rooms based on your preferences. Often, friends and partners sign up together and request to share a room. Alternatively, solo travelers sometimes express a desire to share, and we assist in pairing them up.
On most trips we offer a solo room supplement for an additional fee. Please inquire via email, text, or through Instagram DMs for pricing if you are interested in this option.
If I am traveling with a significant other or friend, how do I ensure we are put in the same room?
When you sign up for the trip, please specify the person you wish to room with. We will ensure that you are placed together in the same room automatically.
Are there options for single rooms if I don’t want to share?
Yes, single rooms are available on our trips. There is an additional fee for solo rooms, which varies by country. We will inform you of this fee when you sign up.
When is the final due date for my trip?
We typically offer payment for our trips in 2-3 installments. The initial deposit is deducted from the total trip price. The final payment is due typically between 35 to 60 days prior to the start of the trip. The exact deadline depends on the country and payment schedule requirements.
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