Monday 26th June – Dhaka – Barishal

Morning

• Arrival at your convenience in the city of Dhaka -Bangladesh’s capital city with great flights connecting from Europe, Middle East and Asia.
• Meet your YPT tour leader at Gloria Jean’s Coffee Gulshan 1 at 1:00pm. This is located downtown in the tourist area with many hotels nearby for those who arrive the day before.

Afternoon

• Visit Lalbagh Fort – built in 1678 it is the most recognized symbols of Mughal rule in Bengal. The fort was built as the official residence of the governor and the complex also includes the tomb of Pari Bibi and a mosque. It’s bright green lawns, fountains and water channels makes this unique landmark stick out in Dhaka.
• Stop by the Shaheed Minar or also known as the Martyrs’ Monument – a national monument to commemorate those killed during the Bengali Language Movement demonstrations of 1952 in then East Pakistan.
• Visit Curzon Hall – a British Raj-era building and home of the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Dhaka. The building was originally intended to be a town hall and is named after Lord Curzon, the Viceroy of India who laid its foundation stone in 1904.
• Explore Dhakeshwari National Temple – the National Temple of Bangladesh and the largest Hindu temple in Bangladesh. The name “Dhakeshwari” means “Goddess of Dhaka”.
• We’ll begin making our journey out of Dhaka and towards Barishal located in the southern region of Bangladesh – we’ll go via Panda Bridge which crosses the mighty Ganges River.
• On the way we’ll stop at the cattle market which will be busy preparing for the Eid Festival – this will be the craziest cattle market you’ve ever been to.
• Once reaching Barishal we’ll check into our guesthouse
• Head for dinner and explore the nightlife of this rural town.
• Overnight in Barishal

Tuesday 27th June – Barishal

Morning

• Begin making our way by private transport to Kuriana (1 hour drive) – the largest floating market in Bangladesh. Stopping for breakfast on the way.
• You’ll board our private boat an embark through the many tiny rivers and canals hidden through remote rural villages arriving at Baukathi – a very popular floating vegetable market where may traditional handmade wooden boats are filled with farmers selling their freshly grown vegetables to the city vegetable vendors.
• Continue cruising down the narrow canals passing through many neighbourhoods until we reach Kirtipasha Zamindar Bari – a century old house abandoned and in a dilapidated condition. Great for urbex.
• We’ll board our boat and head towards a huge timber market that operates on the banks of the river.

Afternoon

• Head to Kuriana Bazar – here we’ll have lunch sampling special local dishes and snacks of the southern region.
• We’ll board our boat once more and set sail to Chakhar Ser-A-Bangla Fazlul Haq Museum dedicated to Abul Kasem Fazlul Huq – he was the first and longest serving Prime Minister of Bengal, presenting the Lahore Resolution and leading the United Front to win the 1954 East Bengali election. In Pakistan he is remembered as one of the country’s founding statesmen. In Bangladesh he is revered as one of the most important Bengali statesmen of the 20th century.
• Our van will pick us up and take us to our hotel in Barishal to check-in and freshen up.
• We’ll then walk to Trish Godaun to experience a local spot of recreation along the Kirtankhola River. You’ll also have the chance to walk through the marketplace and experience the livelihood of the countryside.
• We’ll head to the steamer terminal which is one of the most crowded places in town. After exploring the busy port, we’ll board our overnight ferry to Dhaka.
• Dinner & drinks will be served in your first class cabin with AC as the riverine nightlife passes your window.
• Overnight on ferry

Wednesday 28th June – Barishal – Panam City – Dhaka

• Breakfast on arrival back in the capital at the busy Karan Bazar where we can sample various Bangladeshi curries, pride of a culture! Prepare yourself for a rush of colours, fragrances, noises and people, along with formidable photo ops!
• We’ll head 35km out of the city limits to the ancient Panam City (Panam Nagar) – it is one of the earliest cities in Bangladesh and consists of several historical landmarks built centuries ago which are still standing today. On the way we’ll stop at a small mosque from the 15th century.

Afternoon

• Heading back to Dhaka – now’s your chance to experience Dhakaya Beriany – a long list of incredibly delicious and unique street foods that Dhaka has to offer.
• We’ll continue making our way through the tiny alleys of old Dhaka until we reach Star Mosque – built in the first half of the 19th century, this cute mosque has ornate designs and is decorated with motifs of blue stars.
• We’ll then visit the Armenian Church – Armenians were sent by the Persians to the Bengal region for both political and economic exploitations. Armenian merchants traded in jute and leather and profitability in these businesses convinced some to move permanently to Bangladesh. These days the Armenian presence in Bangladesh is basically nothing but this church remains.
• Stop by the Pink Palace (or Ahsan Manzil) – built in 1872, now a museum it was previously the official residential palace and seat of the Nawab of Dhaka – the head of largest Muslim zamindar in British Bengal and Assam.
• We will then stop outside Parliament building of Dhaka, one of the most impressive buildings in the whole country.
• Dinner, drinks and overnight in Dhaka

Thursday 29th June – Dhaka – Paro – Thimphu 

Morning

• Head to the airport to board Druk Air flight KB127 departing Dhaka at 7:20am and arriving into Paro at 8:30am, Bhutan’s only international airport. Flight not included in tour cost and can be booked online.
• The airport in itself is a sight on its own. Nicknamed the world’s trickiest airport, Paro’s airport was built on Bhutan’s only flat land long enough to accommodate a runway, still, it is surrounded by mountains and requires pilots to be extremely skillful to land and take off here. Only a handful of pilots around the world are qualified to operate in this airport!
• Once at the airport, we’ll meet our local guides for the tour
• Group B members: meet up with group at Paro International Airport, if you are arriving later in the day a driver will collect you from the airport and bring you to the group.
• Our first stop will be Ta Dzong – built in 1649, an ancient watch tower which now houses the National Museum of Bhutan. This unusual building is in a conch shape with 2.5m thick wall.
• Visit Rinpung Dzong – built in 1646, the literally meaning is “The Heap of Jewels”. The Dzong presently functions as the Administrative centre of Paro district.
• Begin our 55km drive to Thimphu, across multiple river valleys, and on our way stopping at Tamchog Monastery built by Thangthong Gyalpo in the 15th century.

Afternoon

• We`ll also stop at Tamchhog Lhakhang, the place of worship for the legendary iron bridge builder. Thang Thong Gyalpo was a Tibetan who came to Bhutan in 1433 looking for Iron Ore. He built a total of 108 bridges across Tibet and Bhutan, out of which 8 were built in Bhutan. His only surviving bridge is in Duksum.
• Arrival in Thimphu, where we will check into our hotel.
• We will then head out for a wander through the streets of the capital, with its busy markets, surrounded by the locals, all wearing the compulsory national outfit.
• Greeting dinner and overnight in Thimphu at Hotel Lhayul

Friday 30th June – Thimphu

Morning

• Today is our city tour of Thimphu, we’ll begin the day by stopping at the Memorial Chorten built in honour of the Third King, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. We can photograph the monument from the outside.
• Visit the huge statue of Buddha Dordenma. It is so big it is possible to enter it to visit three stories filled with chapels and 125,000 smaller statues of Buddha. From the top of the statue, you’ll get a tremendous view of the whole of the Thimpu Valley.
• We’ll visit to the top of Sangaygang viewpoint, this is also where the Bhutan Broadcasting Service Tower is located at an elevation of 2685m.

Afternoon

• Lunch of traditional Bhutanese food at a local restaurant
• After lunch, as it turns out today is also market day in Thimphu, so we`ll make sure to head out for some people watching at the market.
• We’ll drop by Changlimithang stadium, the national football stadium of Bhutan, and watch Archery matches.
• Visit Tashichho Dzong, seat of the National Government and Central Monastic Body.
• Dinner back in Thimphu. You can try Bhutanese butter tea or Ara, the national liquor!
• In the evening, you’ll get the opportunity to wander across the handicraft markets to get some souvenirs. Once everyone is shopped out, we’ll visit the different bars and clubs of Bhutan (yes, they exist!)
• Overnight in Thimphu at Hotel Lhayul

Saturday 1st July – *Due to a DrukAir flight reschedule the below groups have been split*

Group A members: Thimpu – Punakha – Thimpu

Morning

• Today, after breakfast, we’ll be exploring outside of the current capital to head to the ancient capital of Bhutan, Punakha (2 hours driving).
• On the way we’ll take a break at Dochu La Pass. Dochula is at 3050 metres above sea level and offers panoramic views of the Eastern Himalaya ranges. It is also renowned for its meditation caves, where practitioners isolate themselves, trying to achieve enlightenment.

Afternoon

• On the way to Punakha, you’ll notice how climate and vegetation changes as we are progressively getting to lower altitudes.
• We’ll stop by Sopsokha village to visit Chimi Lhakhang the Temple of Fertility built in the 15th century by the ‘Divine Madman’ Lama Drukpa Kuenley. He travelled throughout Bhutan and Tibet as a “Neljorpa” (Yogi) using songs, humour and outrageous behaviour to dramatize his teachings of salvation through sex.
• Then we will visit the imposing Punakha Dzong, “Palace of Great Happiness”. Built in 1637, it is strategically placed at the confluence of two rivers, the Po Chu and the Mo Chu.
• In the evening, we’ll head back to Thimphu with dinner and overnight at Hotel Lhayul.

Group B & C members: Thimpu – Paro – Tiger’s Nest Monastery

Morning

• Today, we’ll drive an hour to Paro.
• We’ve kept the most physical part for the end! After breakfast, we’ll take a 2 hour trek up to Bhutan’s most famous site, the Tiger’s Nest Monastery.
• By its local name, Taktshang monastery, the building clings to the cliff, 900 metres above the valley’s bottom. Guru Rinpoche, revered all throughout Bhutan, is said to have flown to the site riding on a tigress and subsequently meditated here for three months. It is one of Bhutan’s most holy sites and draws pilgrims not only from Bhutan but also from neighbouring Buddhist countries.
• If you wish, you may hoist prayer flags near the Tiger’s Nest and offer prayers inside the monastery.

Afternoon

• Lunch in Paro, and then we’ll head to Drugyel Dzong, built in 1647 by the great Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. It served as a defence post against the Tibetan invasion during the ancient days. This Dzong was destroyed by an accidental fire and has been renovated.
• Explore Kichu Lhakhang, built in 659CE by the Tibetan King Srongsen Gampo. He built 108 Temples in a single day to pin the Ogress to the earth
  forever and at the same time, convert the Tibetan people to Buddhism. Six of these Temples lie in Bhutan; most prominent of them are Jambay Lhakhang in Bumthang and Kichu Lhakhang in Paro. This Temple is said to hold the left foot of the Ogress and Jambay Lhakhang pins the left knee.
• In the evening, we’ll stroll around town observing the finest examples of Bhutanese architecture.
• Dinner and overnight at Tsherim Resort.

Sunday 2nd July

Group A members: Thimpu – Paro – Tiger’s Nest Monastery

Morning

• Today, we’ll drive an hour to Paro.
• We’ve kept the most physical part for the end! After breakfast, we’ll take a 2 hour trek up to Bhutan’s most famous site, the Tiger’s Nest Monastery.
• By its local name, Taktshang monastery, the building clings to the cliff, 900 metres above the valley’s bottom. Guru Rinpoche, revered all throughout Bhutan, is said to have flown to the site riding on a tigress and subsequently meditated here for three months. It is one of Bhutan’s most holy sites and draws pilgrims not only from Bhutan but also from neighbouring Buddhist countries.
• If you wish, you may hoist prayer flags near the Tiger’s Nest and offer prayers inside the monastery.

Afternoon

• Lunch in Paro, and then we’ll head to Drugyel Dzong, built in 1647 by the great Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. It served as a defence post against the Tibetan invasion during the ancient days. This Dzong was destroyed by an accidental fire and has been renovated.
• Explore Kichu Lhakhang, built in 659CE by the Tibetan King Srongsen Gampo. He built 108 Temples in a single day to pin the Ogress to the earth
  forever and at the same time, convert the Tibetan people to Buddhism. Six of these Temples lie in Bhutan; most prominent of them are Jambay Lhakhang in Bumthang and Kichu Lhakhang in Paro. This Temple is said to hold the left foot of the Ogress and Jambay Lhakhang pins the left knee.
• In the evening, we’ll stroll around town observing the finest examples of Bhutanese architecture.
• Dinner and overnight at Tsherim Resort.
• Tour concludes the next morning on Monday 3rd July and you will be dropped off at Paro Airport according to your departure flight schedule.  Druk Air have flights scheduled to New Delhi, Bagdogra and Bangkok on this day.

Group B & C members: – Paro – Kathmandu – Patan

Morning

• Early breakfast at hotel
• Head to Paro Airport to board our Druk Air flight no. KB400 departing at 7:10am arriving 8:10am in Kathmandu. Flight not included in tour cost and can be booked online.
• It wouldn’t be a YPT trip if we didn’t stop first by the Narayanhity Palace. This palace was the home of the Nepalese royal family until in 2007 the Maoist leader and new Prime Minister Prachanda gave King Gyanendra 15 days to leave. It was turned into a ‘People’s Palace’ and is now a museum where we can check out throne room, banquet halls, royal baths and bedrooms of the old royal members.

Afternoon

• Lunch in Kathmandu
• This afternoon we visit Patan, an artistic and architectural jewel founded in 250 AD, and previously known as Lalitpur. Sometimes it is known as the “Town with a Thousand Golden Roofs.” Here we shall visit the Durbar Square which is being reconstructed since a devastating earthquake.
• Patan is known to have some of the most incredible temples of Nepal, and we shall be visiting the Mahaboudha Temple, a buddhist temple in the Indian style and the  Krishna Mandir an hindu temple built to celebrate a war victory.
• The wildest temple we’ll visit today, certainly, is the Hirayana Mahabihar Temple, also known as the Golden Temple. What so special about it? Well believers feed rats, the local inhabitants of the temple here!
• We also do a quick visit to the Tibetan Handicraft Centre, definitely a good place to get that souvenir-shopping out of the way.
• Later afternoon, we visit the Pashupatinath Temple, famous for its superb architecture, two–tiered golden roof and sliver doors. Built in 1696 and dedicated to Lord Shiva, Pashupatinath is the most sacred of Nepal’s Hindu temples and a famous pilgrimage site.
• Before returning to Kathmandu, we will also pay a visit to Boudhanath, nothing less than the world’s largest stupa, and a site of great veneration for Buddhists.
• Dinner of traditional Nepali food in Kathmandu, as we’ll have a feast of local specialities!
• We’ll use the evening to explore Kathmandu’s unsuspectingly busy nightlife and try out the local drinks
• Overnight in Kathmandu

Monday 3rd July – Kathmandu – Pokhara

Morning

• This morning we wake up early as we need to start the 6 hour drive to the Cultural Treasure city of Nepal, Pokhara. The ride won’t feel that long however as it goes through some of the most scenic hills and areas of Nepal. We’ll make numerous stops for pictures and rest breaks and picking up some samosas or other roadside snacks

Afternoon

• Arrival in Pokhara for lunch time and check-in into our hotel
• Once refreshed, we’ll go for a late afternoon walk along the lakeside followed by a boat ride on Phewa Lake. Phewa Lake is the second largest lake in Pokhara. It is renowned for its pristine character and mirror-like appearance. If weather permits, we should be able to see mountains reflected in the lake, the little island and the Tal Barahi temple in the middle, a white stupa on the top of the hill. This is as idyllic as it gets!
• Go for dinner at the famous lakeside market and join the locals for drinks
• Overnight in Pokhara

Tuesday 4th July – Pokhara

Morning

• After breakfast, we head out for an early morning drive to Sarangkot for sunrise. We have to walk for about 45 minutes to reach the top from where we can see the close magnificent views of the Annapurna ranges and the Dhaulagiri ranges.
• Our day will be dedicated to a sightseeing tour of Davis fall, locally known as Pataale Chhango. It is an awesome waterfall lying about two km southwest of Pokhara airport on the way to Tansen.
• We also visit the Bindabasini Temple that is the centre of religious activity in the old bazaar of the town. This white dome-like structure dominates a spacious stone paved courtyard built atop a shady hilltop. It is dedicated to the Hindu goddess Bhagawati
• Visit of the Ghorka Memorial Museum in Pokhara, famed throughout the world for their ferocity and one of the main reasons Nepal was never properly colonised by the encroaching British empire

Afternoon

• In the afternoon we visit Mahendra cave or Ghupa. This limestone cave is locally known as the house of bats lies to the north of Pokhara.
• Dinner in one of the most delicious restaurants of Pokhara
• Overnight in Pokhara at Hotel White Pearl or similar.

Wednesday 5th July – Pokhara – Kathmandu

Morning

• Early morning departure for the long drive back to Kathmandu with snacks along the way with our final destination being Tribhuvan International Airport or you can be dropped off back into the city. Estimated arrival 4:00pm.
• Tour concludes

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