Kathmandu Valley &Amp; Bhutan Adventure

Your trip starts in the lively and bustling city of Kathmandu. You’ll be met at Kathmandu Airport by a friendly face from Active Adventures Himalayas who will accompany you to our hotel. If you arrive early, you can head out to explore the city’s labyrinth of back street courtyards, colourful market stalls and ancient temples on your own for your first taste of Nepal’s culture and friendly people. This afternoon, your guide will meet you at our hotel and run through what to expect from the days ahead. Tonight, we’ll take you out for dinner at a local restaurant, for your first experience of Nepalese dining - a culinary crossroad between the influences of China, India and Europe which makes for some really delicious flavour combinations.Marriott Hotel, Kathmandu (All Meals)Elevation: Kathmandu - 1400 metres (4600 feet)

Today you’ll see Kathmandu from a new perspective as we wind our way up out of the valley that defines the capital city. There’s an option here to visit a local school, where children are always happy to greet us and show us their environment. After a tea break we’ll enter the Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park, in the foothills on the northern fringe of the Kathmandu Valley - at this altitude the vegetation transitions from subtropical to temperate and the park is home to a diverse range of wildlife. After our hike, we’ll journey onto Bouldhanath Stupa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site which sits on the ancient trade route from Tibet. For many centuries Tibetan merchants have rested here and offered prayers. Later, we’ll head back to the Marriott Hotel and out for another delicious meal nearby.Marriott Hotel, Kathmandu (Elevation: Kathmandu - 1400 metres (4600 feet)) (All Meals)Hiking Distance: 7 kilometres (4.3 miles), 2-3 hoursElevation Gain: 115 metres (380 feet)Elevation Loss: 310 metres (1020 feet)

Patan (or Lalitpur, ‘city of beauty’), now a part of greater Kathmandu, was once the capital of a powerful independent kingdom. You’ll notice as we explore this area, a calmer vibe - the craftspeople here, many of whom are Buddhist, have created exquisite temples and other works of art which give the area a distinct artisan feel. After lunch we’ll ascend on a classic Nepali road northeast to Nagarkot. It’s refreshing to once again leave the bustling Kathmandu Valley behind as we begin our hike among terraced fields on our way to Mystic Mountain Resort. We’ll have plenty of time this afternoon to check in to our rooms and relax next to the pool, with views of the Himalaya.Mystic Mt Resort, Nagarkot (Elevation: Nagarkot - 2195 metres (7200 feet)) (All Meals)Hiking Distance: Up to 5 kilometres (3 miles) 1 hourElevation Gain: 24 metres (80 feet)Elevation Loss: 45 metres (150 feet)