Squeezed between India and Tibet, Nepal is a melting pot of diverse ethnic groups, stunning mountainous landscapes and dense ancient cities brimming with pagoda-topped temples.
Become one of the privileged few to say they have experienced this beautiful kingdom in this relatively untouched corner of the Himalayas.
Depart on your overnight flight to Kathmandu.
Dinner
Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Patan, one of three royal cities in Kathmandu Valley.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Following breakfast, commence the first foray into Nepal's capital city. Kathmandu is not only the country's core in terms of trading and religion but is also known for the sleepy, all-seeing Buddha eyes which keep watch from the stupas and temples dotted amongst the chaotic jumble of buildings that spread across the valley. Begin with Boudhanath, the largest and holiest Buddhist stupa (a hemispherical shaped monument containing Buddhist relics) outside of Tibet. Continue on to the ancient religious complex of Swayambhunath, also known as Monkey Temple due to the families of macaques that live and roam around the grounds. After lunch your tour returns to Patan, a sprawling city which has almost merged with Kathmandu, separated only by the murky waters of the Bagmati River. Explore the enchanting melange of temples and former royal palaces of Durbar Square before concluding your day with a shopping trip in Thamel where you can barter for souvenirs or take a break to enjoy a sweet pastry from one of the local bakeries.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
In the morning you will begin your drive to the hilltop settlement of Bandipur, arriving in time for lunch. With winding lanes, traditional Newari-style buildings and a community of farmers and traders, this beautiful town is seemingly untouched by modern life. Following a local lunch, venture into the heart of Bandipur to discover Bandipur Bazaar, an area of old shops, houses, temples and meeting places where you can appreciate the extraordinary view of the snow-clad Himalayan skyline.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Enjoy a morning at leisure in Bandipur before journeying to Pokhara, the gateway to the peaks and valleys of the Annapurna mountain range. This sleepy lakeside city enjoys a tranquil and relaxing atmosphere and is the perfect base for day walks or hikes into the spectacular surrounding mountains. Arriving at your hotel in the late afternoon there will be some time to unwind before your evening meal.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After breakfast at your hotel, a tour to the stunning Devi's Falls, follow a series of underground streams and small walkways before reaching the cascading waterfall that bursts through a tunnel and falls into a cave deep below. Next visit Mahendra Cave to appreciate the stalagmites and stalactites before making a stop at the Tibetan refugee camp to browse for handmade jewellery, pashminas, trinkets and local carvings. Finally, take a peaceful boat trip on the serene waters of the lake before enjoying a riverside lunch. Returning to your lodge in the afternoon the rest of the day is at leisure.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today you will depart Pokhara after breakfast for Chitwan National Park, one of the largest havens for the endangered Bengal tiger and home to a rare population of one-horned Indian Rhinoceros. A stop will be made en route at Manakamana to take a cable car ride to the summit of a spectacular viewpoint. Arrive at the hillside temple and a mountain shrine which dates back to the 17th century and is believed to be a place where the goddess Bhagwati has the power to grant wishes to those who are able to make a suitable sacrifice. Following lunch, your journey will continue into the sub-tropical lowlands of the national park where, in the evening you will experience the traditional dances of the Tharu Cultural Show.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Your full day tour of Chitwan National Park begins in the morning with a canoe ride up the Rapti River where you may encounter the rare gharial, a fish-eating crocodile whose population is estimated at less than 235 individuals. Next, visit the Tharu Cultural Village, where you'll immerse yourself in the rich traditions of the Tharu people. Explore traditional mud-and-thatch homes with decorated porches and observe local villagers weaving baskets or crafting handmade jewellery. After lunch, proceed further into the jungle for a guided Jeep safari, led by the locals guides, who will be keen to help you spot deer, rhinoceros, antelope and perhaps even a glance of the 'King of the Jungle', the Bengal tiger.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Leaving Chitwan after breakfast, you will be driven back to Kathmandu, stopping for lunch along the way and arriving back in the city in the late afternoon. Enjoy some free time to venture out into the bustling streets to pick out any last minute gifts before enjoying your final dinner. The sounds of bicycle bells and chanting monks and the intoxicating aromas of Nepalese delicacies will leave you with a memory to cherish for years to come. Namaste - 'the spirit within me salutes the spirit in you', goodbye and farewell.
Breakfast & Dinner
Depart Kathmandu in the morning for your flight to Paro in Bhutan, offering incredible views of the entire Himalayan region. Your guide will meet you on arrival and accompany you to Thimphu, stopping en-route to admire the joining of the Thimphu and Paro Rivers at Chuzom before arriving at your hotel with some time to relax. In the afternoon visit the impressive fortress of Trashichoedzong, then 'Buddha Point' where locals chant prayers to the largest Buddha statue in Bhutan. In the evening explore Thimphu's main market area and browse through paintings, hand-woven textiles and jewellery.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Explore the Thimphu valley with a trip to the National Library and a weaving centre. Taking the scenic highway back to Paro appreciate the dramatic river valleys before arriving at your hotel late morning. Next visit Ta Dzong, originally built as a watchtower during the 1864 Duar War and now home to the National Museum focussing on royal memorabilia and Buddhist art.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Visit the breath-taking Taktshang Monastery perched on the side of a cliff, a place of worship recognised as one of Bhutan's most famous monasteries. In the afternoon drive to the ruins of Drukgyel built back in 1649 as a control point along the route to Tibet.
Breakfast
Depart Paro after breakfast for your return flight to Kathmandu, with the rest of the day at leisure.
Breakfast
Transfer to Kathmandu airport for your flight to the UK.
Use discount code TOUR200 at the checkout to save £200 per person on selected tours departing in February 2026 and June 2026
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We really enjoyed this tour. The size of our group at 14 was ideal. Everyone was friendly and Suca our guide in Nepal and Gembo our guide in Bhutan were both lovely, extremely caring and helpful. Bhutan is a stunningly beautiful country.
Veronica Conway
02 Dec 24Highlights include the tour of Kathmandu, with the Monkey Temple and Durbar Square; Patan Durbar Square; the boat ride on the lake at Pokkhara, with the Himalayas in the background; the canoe and jeep safaris at Chitwan National Park. The cable car ride up to the shrine at Manakamana. And the hilarious, exciting, excellent cultural show
Mark Ward
26 Feb 24Overall a lovely and interesting holiday with so much to see. We loved Nepal, the guide was great, and knew so much. Seeing the Himalayas was fantastic at Fishtail Lodge, we loved Chitwan National Park, and we loved The Taj Mahal. It was all an experience.
Gianna Biamonti-Bello
17 Jan 24A fantastic well well-planned holiday covering the main features of beautiful Nepal. Be aware of lots of bumpy travelling on roads still under construction. However, this is good to see the real Nepal. The hotels were good with helpful and friendly staff.
Theresa Owen
18 Nov 23Another fabulous trip with Mercury, this is now the 4th time I have travelled with you. Each time they do not disappoint; great itineraries, packed days, fabulous sights, and experiences that will be lifetime memories. Great to benefit from the no single supplement for Nepal as booked early, really makes a difference. Can't fault the trip and still reeling from the great experiences shared with a lovely group.
Dawn Goudge
28 Oct 23The order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions or for operational purposes. For this reason, we have indicated approximate times only. Your local guide will inform you of any schedule changes as they are informed of them. The driving times listed are point to point and do not include the duration of excursions or stops en route. Some road construction and/or weather conditions may lengthen the driving times. Our intention is to adhere to the day-to-day itinerary as printed; however order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions.
If booking more than 12 weeks before departure a deposit of £295.00pp will need to be paid at the time of booking with the full amount payable at 12 weeks prior to departure. The deposit applies to adults and children. If you are within 12 weeks of travel then the full balance of the holiday will be payable.
British passport holders can now obtain their Nepal visa prior to departure for Approx £25 per person on this website https://nepaliport.immigration.gov.np/online A Nepalese visa can also be purchased on arrival into Kathmandu; but you will need to complete and download a form from the Nepal Embassy website and present this completed form on arrival at immigration together with your payment (currently USD $30). You must print the form with the barcode and take it with you for arrival. The barcode is only valid up to 15 days after issue so please complete this form within 2 weeks of travel. You will also need to complete an ‘arrival card’ at the airport. We recommend you check the following website before travelling for all the most up to date advice, requirements and any changes uk.nepalembassy.gov.np. We strongly advise you to check with your destinations’ Tourist Board or Embassy for the most up-to-date guidelines regarding required passport validity.
Bhutan entry requirements
Your passport must have an expiry date of at least six months after the date you arrive into Bhutan. British Citizens require a visa for Bhutan but Mercury Holidays will obtain it for you. The Mercury Holidays representative will give this to you before you depart Nepal. To process the Bhutan visa, we require a colour copy of your passport page containing your passport number and picture in either a JPEG or PDF format to be emailed to mypassport@mercuryholidays.com a minimum of 45 days prior to departure. You also need to send us a colour copy of one passport size photo with a white background as well as a colour copy of your insurance confirmation including the company name and policy number. You need to make sure you request a multiple entry visa for Nepal. Failure to send us this information on time could result in you not being able to travel on your holiday and Mercury Holidays will not be liable for your lost holiday.
Please note your final documentation will be sent to you approximately 21 days before departure. Check in baggage is included with your flight. Weight restrictions will be finalized on your final documentation. Should you wish to take additional luggage you will need to pay extra at check-in. Check-in should be at least 3 hours before departure. If you wish to arrange Airport car parking or accommodation at preferential rates, we recommend you book this in advance with Holiday Extras on 0333 188 0407, quoting HX313.
IMPORTANT: A printed E-ticket is no longer required at check-in, all you need to do is present your passport to the staff at the desk and your boarding pass will be given to you. Please note that you should carry your invoice with flight details on it as you will need to show this at the airport.
Please note that you should carry your invoice with flight details on it as you will need to show this at the airport.
Please note we will require your API/Passport information at least 2 months in advance to help with obtaining your Bhutan visa, this can be uploaded via our website on "Manage My Booking".
We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are suitably insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you must have suitable travel insurance. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that suitably covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. To assist you with this, we have arranged travel insurance in partnership with Holiday Extras, including up to a 20% discount, which is given to all Mercury Holidays customers. To arrange your insurance with Holiday Extras, please visit https://www.mercuryholidays.co.uk/info/insurance for more details. Please ensure you provide us with the name of your insurer, policy number and their 24 hour emergency contact number as soon as possible. Mercury Holidays will not be liable for any costs incurred by you due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking.
It is your responsibility to check any health and vaccination requirements applicable to your booked arrangements. We can only provide general information about this. Health and hygiene facilities and disease risks vary from country to country. You should take health advice about your own needs as early as possible and in good time before your departure. Sources of information include; www.fco.gov.uk, http://travelhealthpro.org.uk/, www.hpa.org.uk, your General Practitioner or a specialist clinic.
All our tours feature a “Tour Pace” to help find the right holiday for you. To travel on any of our tours requires unaided mobility and the ability to stroll around the sights, climb stairs and get on and off coaches and boats. The tour pace of Colours of Nepal is rated Active due to the tour being packed with activities and experiences. A good level of fitness is required as you may be on your feet for approximately four hours in a day, though this will be interspersed with regular breaks and will vary from day to day. You will be walking around the sights, and you will be getting on and off coaches, trains and boats and climbing steps which may be irregular. You will stay in variety of hotels throughout the tour. Our guides will always endeavour to provide the highest level of service and assistance; however, they cannot be expected to cater for customers who are unfit to complete the itinerary.
The currency in Nepal is the Nepalese Rupee or NPR, divided into 100 paisa. US dollars are also often accepted should you wish to keep an alternative currency on you. You can take cash or travellers' cheques (in pounds sterling or another foreign currency) and/or a bank card with you and exchange or withdraw rupees once in Nepal. Cash machines will also be available in larger towns through the tour in order to withdraw money in local currency. It is important that you budget carefully and ensure you have the right form of currency before you arrive in the country
The currency in Bhutan is Bhutanese Ngultrum and is officially pegged to the Indian Rupee. Also Indian Rupee is acceptable all over Bhutan. There are ATMs in Bhutan but currently they only operate with their respective Bhutanese banks. Since these ATMs currently do not function with outside banks, so ATM facility can't be used by visitors. Traveller's checks / cash are the best option so please ensure you have enough currency with you when you travel.
As normal practice you may be asked for your credit card details on check-in at the hotel in order to cover any extras incurred during your stay. If you do not have a credit card, you may be asked for a cash deposit. MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in hotels as well as American Express.
You will need to take some extra money with you to cover any personal purchases, such as souvenirs, laundry and extra drinks and snacks. Approximately £100 - £200 will be sufficient for the duration of the tour. It is a good idea to try and maintain a supply of small notes and change in the local currency for tipping or small purchases.
Tipping
It is at your customary to tip your guide and driver. This is at your discretion but we recommend you allow approximately £3 in local currency per person per day. This will be collected at the end of your tour for your convenience. Tips are accepted in the local currency, US dollars and British pounds.
The minimum number of travellers in your group will be 10 and the maximum will be 35. If in the unlikely event there are less than 10 people booked on your tour date, we will endeavour to reduce any disruption to your holiday and try to operate your tour with lower passenger numbers. If we are not able to operate your departure date then you may be asked to change to a different date and a full refund will be made available to you should this alternative not be suitable.
There is no minimum number of travellers for this extension however the main tour passenger numbers will apply for the main part of the tour. If in the unlikely event there are less than the required number of people booked on your main tour date then you may be asked to change to a different date. A full refund will be made available to you should this alternative not be suitable.
This is a fully escorted tour, meaning that you will be met on arrival by your national guide who will remain with you for the duration of your trip ensuring that you have first-hand knowledge at all times.
Private Tour: If you have booked a private tour then you will be accompanied by a Driver Guide or a Driver and Local Guides. These will be available to you during all scheduled sightseeing. Private Tours can depart on any day of the week depending on flight and train schedules and the opening days of the attractions. They will follow the itinerary as described in the brochure unless you have been advised otherwise and you will still have all of the same meals, sightseeing and local excursions included.
Safari vehicles
Your safari will be taken in a canter, this is a large open roofed truck that seats up to 8 people. Safari drivers take you to areas of the park where wildlife are more likely to be seen but as with all wildlife experiences nothing can be guaranteed. Please note that many paths inside the park are bumpy and dusty.
Your accommodation is selected for convenience, location, comfort or character. Hotel accommodation is generally rated as local three to four-star standard, but please note there is no international classification system for hotels, and differences in facilities and quality do exist between the UK and Nepal. All group tours hotels have private bathroom facilities and air-conditioning, where needed. Rest assured that all accommodation used by Mercury Holidays is regularly inspected by our staff and partners to ensure that standards meet your needs. Please note some hotels in Bhutan do not have air-conditioning. A triple room is available but please note that this will be a twin room with a fold away bed for the 3rd passenger.
Breakfast is generally a combination of western and Indian style and served in the hotel each morning. A variety of restaurants are visited giving you the chance to experience a range of local dishes and flavours.
Please contact Customer Experience for questions about other dietary requirements or allergy information. Vegan, vegetarian and non-spicy meal options are available, all meal requests need to be sent over to our suppliers before travel.
It is not recommended to drink the tap water, even in developed countries water may contain unfamiliar elements that can cause upset stomachs. In less developed countries water is not filtered in the same way.
Please note that plastic bottles are banned in the national parks so keep a reusable water bottle for your tour.
On your arrival in Nepal you will be met by a representative from our local agent, NEC Travels and Tours Ltd, holding a sign displaying: “Mercury Holidays”. The Mercury Holidays/Nepal representative will show you to your transfer vehicle. Your guide will be on hand 24 hours a day should you have any queries.
Mystical Bhutan Extension: On your arrival in Paro you will be met by a representative from our local agent, Jayasree Travels and Tours, holding a sign displaying: “Mercury Holidays”. The Mercury Holidays/Jayasree Travels and Tours representative will show you to your transfer vehicle. Your guide will be able to answer any queries
If you need to contact NEC Travels & Tour during your stay the details are: Madan Adhikari Office: 00977 1 4700 771 Mobile: 00977 985 1093896/9841281454 Contact email address for NEC Travels & Tours Pvt Ltd info@nectravels.com/madanadhikari@gmail.com
Mystical Bhutan Extension: If you need to contact Jayasree Travels and Tours, during your stay the details are: Jayasree Travels and Tours F 341-Ground Floor Lado Sarai New Delhi 110030 Contact number: 0091 471 2505067
Emergency contact information: Please find below the emergency contact details for Jayasree Travels Contact Telephone number Mrs Samitha Azhar: 0091 974 471 3380 Mr Biju Unnikrishnan.A.G: 0091 952 618 8860 Mr Harish Kumar: 0091 952 618 8859 Mr Amit Bhardwaj: 0091 995 898 8719
