Upon arrival at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, transfer to your hotel amid the bustling capital’s mix of ancient monuments and modern life. Evening offers optional city walks or light exploration of nearby green spaces.

Catch an early morning flight from Delhi to Bagdogra (approximately 2 hours), then drive 4-5 hours through the lush Teesta River valley and rolling tea gardens of West Bengal, highlighting rivers and verdant hills en route to Sikkim’s capital. Arrive in Gangtok by late afternoon, check into your hotel, and enjoy panoramic views of Kanchenjunga from viewpoints overlooking deep valleys.

In the evening stroll the pedestrian zone of MG Road lined with shops, bakeries, and restaurants. Explore the Lal Bazaar.

Depart Gangtok after breakfast for the scenic 5-6-hour ascent along the winding Lachung River, passing cascading waterfalls, rhododendron groves, and steep valleys flanked by snow-capped peaks. Stop at roadside hot springs and alpine meadows to admire the river’s turquoise flow and terraced hillsides. Arrive in Lachung village by evening, nestled in a high valley with yaks grazing amid rocky landscapes, for a cozy night amid nature.

Drive 1.5 hours into Yumthang Valley, the “Valley of Flowers,” where hot springs bubble beside the Lachung River amid wildflowers, yaks, and dramatic glacial valleys framed by peaks. Continue another hour to Yumesamdong (Zero Point), a high-altitude lake-dotted plateau with panoramic Himalayan vistas and snowfields reflecting in serene tarns. Return to Lachung by late afternoon, soaking in the day’s pristine rivers, meadows, and alpine lakes.

Retrace the scenic route down the Lachung River gorge back to Gangtok. Stop at Phodong Monastery, and take a nice walk to Mindorling and Labrang Monasteries. The descent reveals broadening river valleys and terraced fields, contrasting the upper alpine zones.

We drive full-day today through Sikkim and Bengal’s Dooars region, crossing rivers like the Teesta and Sankosh via forested hills and wildlife corridors, emphasizing expansive valleys and river confluences. Pass tea estates and elephant habitats for landscape diversity, arriving Phuentsholing by evening at the Bhutan border. Settle in with views of the surrounding plains and foothills.

Cross into Bhutan and ascend 5-6 hours through pine-clad valleys and the Wangchhu River gorge, stopping at waterfalls and chortens with river vistas.

Upon arrival in Thimphu, explore the city’s Clock Tower area with street walks, then visit Tashichho Dzong overlooking the rippling river and valley. Evening strolls highlight urban-rural valley blends.

Begin with a short 20-minute drive from Thimphu to the trailhead at Dodena village, the starting point for the scenic 1-2-hour uphill walk to Tango Monastery (2,900 m) through cool pine forests, babbling streams, and prayer flag-draped paths offering glimpses of forested valleys and the distant Wangchhu River below. Perched at 2,800 meters on a cliffside ridge, explore the sacred monastery’s ornate murals, meditation caves, and sweeping vistas of layered hills and river gorges, returning to the vehicle by late morning.

After lunch, visit the serene National Memorial Chorten with its peaceful gardens and circumambulating pilgrims, then head to Buddha Point (Kuensel Phodrang) for expansive 360-degree panoramas of Thimphu Valley, its winding river, and distant snow peaks.

Conclude at Zorig Chusum institute, observing traditional Bhutanese painting and crafts amid verdant hillsides, with afternoon leisure for relaxed valley walks or tea overlooking serene landscapes.

Drive via Dochula Pass (3,050 m) with 108 chortens and sweeping mountain views. Spend some time exploring the area which boasts of some amazing views of the hills and mountains of Bhutan.

Before reaching Punakha, we take a slight detour near Lobesa and make a visit to the famed Chimi Lhakhang. This is a fertility temple initiated by the Lama Drukpa Kuenley, also known as the divine madman. You have to take a serene walk of about 20-30 minutes to reach this temple.

Head to Punakha and visit the imposing Punakha Dzong. This is a giant fortress which houses a monastery and also the administrative offices of Bhutan. This is a perfect way to observe traditional Bhutanese architecture. Walk around Punakha and cross the longest suspension bridge in Bhutan with the beautiful Pochu river flowing below. Overnight in Punakha.

After breakfast, drive to Paro, passing through scenic landscapes. At Paro, visit the circular Ta-dzong building, an ancient watchtower perched above Paro Dzong. Said to be shaped like a conch shell, this unique structure was originally built in 1656 and transformed into a museum in 1968. Inside, it houses some of Bhutan’s finest art, including exquisite bronze statues, paintings, and handicrafts collected from across the country.

Subsequently, visit Paro Dzong, one of Bhutan’s most iconic and impressive dzongs. Also known as Rinpung Dzong, or “fortress on a heap of jewels,” it serves as the administrative seat of Paro district. Overnight in Paro.

Drive 20 minutes to Taktsang trailhead at 2,500m, then embark on a 4-6 hour round-trip hike (or pony-assisted ascent for the first half) up steep stone paths lined with prayer flags, ancient cedars, and cascading streams, revealing ever-widening views of pine-clad valleys plunging to the Paro River gorge far below. Reach Taktsang Monastery (Tiger’s Nest) at 3,120m, clinging impossibly to sheer cliffs where Guru Rinpoche landed on a tigress; explore its cave shrines, butter lamps flickering in alcoves, and a picnic spot with distant lakeside glimpses amid terraced slopes. Descend through cooler afternoon shadows for a relaxing Paro Valley sunset over the river and rice paddies, reflecting on the spiritual pinnacle.

Take a scenic 1.25-hour morning flight from Paro to Kathmandu, soaring over Himalayan ridges and river valleys, then drive 1-hour northeast through terraced maize fields and pine forests to reach Nagarkot. This is a beautiful hill station high up in the hills of Kathmandu valley.

Check in and explore sunset viewpoints like Nagarkot Viewpoint, looking at mountain silhouette amid Langtang peaks, with layered valleys fading into indigo dusk. Evening relaxation highlights the crisp mountain air and distant river glints.

Catch pre-dawn sunrise over a sea of snow peaks including Everest, Annapurna, and Ganesh Himal from Nagarkot’s ridges, bathing rolling valleys in pink alpenglow. Follow gentle 1-2-hour nature trails like Nagarkot Nature Trail through pine forests, rhododendron groves, and bird-filled meadows, with vistas of distant rivers snaking through layered hills and Tamang villages below.

Return to your hotel in the evening and relax looking at the stunning hills all around you.

After breakfast, drive from Nagarkot toward the Kathmandu Valley, descending through terraced hillsides and small villages. En route, stop at Bhaktapur Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its well-preserved courtyards, temples, and traditional brick architecture. Spend time walking through the old town, passing pottery squares, narrow lanes, and historic monuments.

Continue the drive to Kathmandu, arriving by afternoon. Check in to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure, with time to relax or take a short walk nearby.

Trace the Trishuli River’s flow and gorges eastward, then switch to the Marsyangdi Valley’s turquoise flow flanked by Annapurna foothills. Midday lunch overlooks terraced hillsides before entering Pokhara’s basin by afternoon. Stop at Begnas lake enroute and spend some time on its shores looking at the serene surroundings.

Reach Pokhara and explore the evening around Phewa lakeside. This is a perfect introduction to the valley’s serene allure.

Optional: Early start with a 30-minute pre-dawn drive to Sarangkot viewpoint at 1,592m for sunrise over the Annapurna range and Pokhara Valley, where golden light bathes Fishtail, Dhaulagiri, and Manaslu peaks mirrored in distant Phewa Lake amid mist-shrouded hills.

Begin with a drive to Shanti Stupa (Peace Pagoda), a site which reveals a 360-degree panoramas of snow giants framing the valley’s rice terraces, rivers, and patchwork fields below. Continue to Pumdikot for a scenic hike to the towering Shiva Statue overlooking lakes and gorges, then return to lakeside Pokhara.

Enjoy boating across Phewa Lake’s serene expanse reflecting Himalayan silhouettes and Tal Barahi Temple’s island perch amid lotus blooms, followed by leisurely walks along Lakeside’s vibrant strip where you can pause at cafes and pubs with valley breezes and distant river glints.

Take a morning flight from Pokhara to Kathmandu, enjoying views of rivers, hills, and Himalayan foothills along the way. Upon arrival, begin a guided walking tour through the old trading quarters of Kathmandu, starting at Indrachowk and Ason, areas known for their lively streets, local markets, and traditional shops.

Continue walking toward Thamel, the city’s main tourist district. Spend time browsing shops, buying souvenirs, and enjoying the relaxed atmosphere. The remainder of the day is free for shopping or leisure.

After breakfast, transfer 45 minutes to Tribhuvan International Airport for your final departure Safe onward journey with memories of rivers, valleys, and peaks.