nepal and Bhutan cultural trip: October 22-30, 2026

Into the Wild is a chance to take a moment for you. To dive deep into your wild woman self. To rediscover the wonder and beauty of both earth’s nature and YOUR nature. To gain the experience of enjoying the earth’s wonderful cultures with other women.

Welcome to both Nepal and Bhutan! This trip is one for the books.

This women’s cultural journey, over nine days, will have you moving between vibrant cities, sacred landscapes, monasteries, and villages- immersing yourself in the daily rhythms, traditions, and quiet moments that make these two countries so unforgettable.

In Nepal, we’ll explore Kathmandu and surrounding areas’ living history, from ancient temples and colorful markets to moments of stillness tucked behind busy streets. In Bhutan, a country guided by values of balance and preservation, we step into a slower pace of life, visiting dzongs, prayer flag-lined trails, and mountain valleys that feel both powerful and serene. Throughout the journey, cultural encounters are woven naturally into each day, offering insight into Buddhist traditions, local customs, art, architecture, and cuisine.

This is a thoughtful itinerary built by a small, local Nepalese company whom ITW is using for all of their Nepal travels! We like to keep it with the locals for this kind of trip, making sure the support from us goes straight to them. You’ll be alongside Into the Wild Adventure’s leader Hannah and 12 others while you enjoy an all-inclusive experience designed to feel effortless and enriching. Once you arrive, everything is taken care of including accommodations, transportation, meals, guides, and activities. Traveling as a small group of women creates space for connection, shared curiosity, and meaningful conversation, turning the journey into something far more than sightseeing. You’ll return home with perspective, memories shaped by real human connection, and the rare feeling of having truly been somewhere extraordinary.

This retreat contains sightseeing and experiences with local guides the entire time, and a few of the days will seem long, but worth it. It’s truly the cultrual trip of your dreams (you’ll be staying in 5 star lodgings) and you’ll come home with an intense love for the places and people you meet. You must be able to walk up and down stairs, have flexibility in the legs, and stamina for several hours of sightseeing each day.

Cost for the Nepal and Bhutan trip is $3499 per person for 8 nights. All lodging, transportation, and all meals and excursions during the retreat are included. Read below for instructions on how to book your flights.

Join us and rediscover your inner travel lover! Do you love people and cultures? Is this wonderful part of Asia on your bucket list? This trip is for YOU!

ITINERARY: (and a note about flights below it- Very important to read)

October 22: Arrive at Kathmandu International Airport and check in to the hotel after 3pm. We will be having dinner at 7pm, so if you can only arrive after this, that’s fine, just be aware that you’ll be missing the first dinner. If you arrive earlier than 3pm, you will be transported by our trusted people to to the hotel, and you can either relax there until checkin or sightsee by yourself or with other early arrivals.

October 23: Breakfast, and then a full day of sightseeing. First we head to the Boudhanath Stupa on the outskirts of central Kathmandu. This is possibly the world’s largest Buddhist stupa and a site of great veneration for Buddhists. Around the stupa are a number of monasteries of the different sects of Tibetan Buddhism including one that houses an enormous seated statue of Maitreya Buddha splendidly adorned. Then we will drive to Bhaktapur City (40 min drive). We will walk the 17th century cobblestone streets which link temples, monastery courtyards and monumental squares, and marvel at the ancient architecture. Most traffic is banned and there is a vibrant cultural life with strong communities of potters, carvers and weavers. Lunch and dinner today and every day are included.

October 24: Breakfast, then we visit some UNESCO World Heritage Sites today, as well as other important historical and cultural sites. First, Swayambhunath: established more than 2500 years ago, this Buddhist temple is also known as the “Monkey Temple” and commands a superb view of the entire Kathmandu Valley. Next, we will visit Kathmandu Dubar Square. This complex of palaces, courtyards and temples built between the 12th and 18th centuries used to be the seat of the ancient Mala Kings of Kathmandu. Third, we will visit Patan City. Patan is the city of arts and architecture and is renowned for its fine works in bronze, silver and copper. Throughout the day we will also visit Hanuman Dhoka: house of the Living Goddess and Kasthamandap, Durbar Square, and the Jawalakhel Handicraft and Carpet Weaving Center (JHC).

October 25: Breakfast, then we head to the airport to fly to Paro, and then drive to Thimpu. Thimpu is the capital and largest city in Bhutan and the official residence of the King and Queen. We will also be visiting Kuensel Phodrang (Buddha Point): The Great Buddha Dordenma is a gigantic Buddha statue in the mountains of Bhutan, and houses over one hundred thousand smaller Buddha statues made of bronze and gilded in gold. 

October 26: Breakfast, and then off to Memorial Chorten: The chorten was consecrated in the memory of the Third King of Bhutan, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck on July 28, 1974, following his unexpected death while travelling outside the country. It is a very popular religious monument in the city and the sight of elderly people circumambulating around the chorten is common during the day and night. Then we will visit the Gagyel Lhundrup Weaving Center, where we will have the chance to learn about traditional Bhutanese cloth and be able to shop at the store there. We will also see the National Institute for Zorig Chusum. This Institute provides training in the traditional culture, arts and crafts as it promotes and creates job opportunities by transferring skills to the Bhutanese youth.

October 27: Breakfast, and then we take a drive to our next hotel with some stops along the way. First we will stop in Lobesa where we will take a short walk through farmhouses and fields to Chime Lhakhang. This monastery was built in the 15th century and dedicated to the famous Lam Drukpa Kunley or “divine mad man.” He is one of the most important saints in Bhutan and the temple is a pilgrimage site for women unable to bear children. Our next stop will be Punakha Dzong, a remarkable fortress built between two rivers that has survived many glacial floods and fire. 

October 28: Breakfast, and then we drive to Paro for our day of sightseeing. First, the Rinpung Dzong (Buddhist monastery and fortress). It houses the district Monastic Body and government administrative offices of Paro Dzongkhag. We will also get to visit the National Museum, which is housed in the Paro Ta dzong (a guardian watchtower that kept close watch on the movement of enemy forces from external invasions and internal oppositions.)

October 29: Breakfast, and then a day hike (a moderately challenging, steep ascent featuring forested trails, prayer flags, valley views, and stairs) to the Taktsang monastery(also known as the Tigers Nest). The entire hike will take around 2.5 hours up and 1.5 hours down. The monastery clings to a huge granite cliff and it is believed that the great saint Padmasambhava came in the 7th century on a flying tigress and meditated in a cave for 3 months. It is a pilgrimage site for every Bhutanese to visit once in their lifetime.

October 30: Breakfast and then we fly back to Kathmandu in the morning. You should book your flights home after 5pm today, in order to be sure you make it on time and we aren’t terribly affected by a delayed flight this morning.  Breakfast and then we fly back to Kathmandu in the morning. You should book your flights home after 5pm today, in order to be sure you make it on time and we aren’t terribly affected by a delayed flight this morning. 

NOTE: While it doesn’t really matter what time you get into Kathmandu on the 22nd for this trip (and you are welcome to arrive a day or so early), it does matter when you book your flight home from Kathmandu. We will be taking a short flight from Bhutan back to Nepal on the 22nd in the morning, and we require that you not book your departure to home flight before 5pm that day. Alternatively, you can book one more night in Kathmandu on your own and flight out the 23rd.

Into The Wild Adventure is requiring its trip attendees to provide proof of travel insurance purchase for this trip. Generally this costs an extra $100usd, and can save your bacon when traveling and things go wrong. Please email wendy@itwadventure.com if you have any questions about getting travel insurance. We recommend Worldnomads.com