Male

Flight-seeing over the Himalayas and around Mount Everest, visiting World Heritage sites, exploring the wonders of Bhutan and following a Buddhist pilgrimage route are but a few of the experiences on this extraordinary adventure.

Special Note: Any guests travelling with Portable Oxygen Concentrators (POC), CPAP breathing machines or scooters should read further below for airline stipulations with regards to bringing this equipment on tour. The program is manageable for guests with mobility restrictions as long as they are travelling with someone to assist. Guests must be able to get on and off the tour coaches with little to no assistance. There will be various steps to negotiate at the hotels and sites visited (2-30 steps) and wheelchair ramps are not always available although most sites have them.

DAY 1 – Tuesday April 13, 2027

Disembark the ship in Male, complete immigration and customs formalities and then transfer to the airport for a flight to Delhi. Lunch will be arranged at the Male airport. Your tour host will meet you at the airport in Male.

Upon arrival in Delhi, complete customs and immigration formalities, collect your luggage and then transfer to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

DAY 2 – Wednesday, April 14, 2027

Early this morning, a continental breakfast will be served through room service.

Check out and transfer to the airport for a flight to Kathmandu.

Home to eight of the world’s 10 tallest peaks, the tiny kingdom of Nepal is ringed by the Himalayas. It is a land of contrasts, harboring a wealth of Buddhist and Hindu art and architecture. Nepal’s colorful capital city Kathmandu reflects 2,000 years of peaceful co-existence and exudes a unique blend of Hinduism and Buddhism, which is distinctly Nepalese in character.

Upon arrival, assistance is provided with visa issuance and baggage collection.

Transfer to your hotel for breakfast and to freshen up.

Later, drive to the outskirts of the city and visit the World Heritage city of Bhadgaon, also known as Bhaktapur. Founded in the 9th century, Bhaktapur, also known as the City of Devotees, is revered for its medieval art and architecture. As you meander around Durbar Square, you will see the 55 Window Palace and Nyatapola Temple, considered to be the finest example of Pagoda-style architecture.

Return to your hotel to check-in. Described as a “living, breathing museum, displaying Nepal’s best craftsmanship from the 13th century,” the hotel rooms and public areas reflect medieval architectural traditions. Every brick is handmade, every piece of wood original and centuries old.

Enjoy lunch (on own) and the afternoon at your leisure.

In the evening, visit Pashupatinath Temple, a World Heritage site situated near your hotel. Pashupatinath is one of the holiest Hindu temples and a major pilgrimage place dedicated to the god Shiva. Situated amidst a natural setting on the bank of the sacred Bagmati river, this temple built in pagoda style has a gilded roof and richly carved silver doors. Visitors may view from the east bank, as only Hindus are permitted to enter.

Dinner is at Dwarika’s Nepali fine dining Krishnarpan Restaurant which specializes in Newari cuisine. The interiors and experience symbolize traditional banquets favored by Nepali Kings and royalty in honor of visiting dignitaries.

DAY 3 – Thursday, April 15, 2027

Early in the morning, you will transfer to the airport for a flight-seeing excursion, soaring over glacier-clad, cloud-shrouded peaks and other Himalayan landscapes around Mount Everest. Afterwards, you will return to the hotel for breakfast. (flightseeing is weather dependent).

Following breakfast, you will visit Patan, one of three royal cities in the valley. Commissioned by India’s great emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century, this World Heritage Site within four stupas is known as the City of Fine Arts.

The temples around the main square are impressive as is the Patan Museum, which is housed within a picturesque palace setting. In an international campaign by UNESCO for safeguarding monuments in Kathmandu Valley, the Austrian government joined hands with Nepal to restore and preserve Patan.

Newari architectural style blossomed in the form of temples, palaces, residences and squares between the 12th and 18th centuries, representing a timelessness in Nepalese architecture and its definitive characteristics, often guided by religious and socio-cultural norms.

You will see Patan’s Living Goddess, who typically acknowledges greetings of devotees from the balcony of her temple residence. Known as kumaris, Nepal’s living goddesses live in seclusion and rarely speak in public.

After a private audience with the Goddess, you will stop for lunch at ‘The Lawn’ and then return to your hotel for some time at leisure.

In the early evening, you will visit the great Stupa at Boudhnath, one of the largest of its kind in the world. Constructed in the 14th century, the stupa is built on an octagonal base, inset with prayer wheels. Boudhnath is also a center of the Tibetan community in Nepal, where you will visit a monastery.

Before returning to your hotel, enjoy a cup of coffee or cocktails at one of the cafes surrounding Boudhanath.

DAY 4 – Friday, April 16, 2027

Early breakfast served in the Courtyard before transferring to the airport for a flight to Paro.

As recently as 1961 all entry into Bhutan was still on horseback. Druk-yul, the land of the thunder dragon is only just emerging from the mists of its self-imposed isolation. Also known as “The last Shangri -La”, this is an exotic land of high mountains and lush valleys, snow clad peaks with clear running springs, a pristine ecology and an incredible wealth of wildlife.

A most striking feature of Bhutan is its architecture. The style and color which characterize every building and house in the kingdom is a distinct source of aesthetic pleasure. The Dzongs themselves – imposing 17th century structures built on a grand scale without drawing and without a single nail, are outstanding examples of the best in Bhutanese architecture. Patterns of rich colors adorn every wall, beam, pillar and door in traditional splendor.

Nestled deep in the eastern Himalayas between India and Tibet, the simple pleasure that this country offers gives a sense of kinship with the people and their love for the land. Essentially a rural country with 90 per cent of the people engaged in agriculture or raising livestock, Bhutan is predominantly Buddhist, practicing the Tantric form of Mahayana Buddhism.

The flight to Paro is spectacular in itself as it passes the entire Himalayan Range. Landing in Paro valley is a perfect entry into this other world, with its transparent purity of the air and absorbing serenity.

Visas will be processed at immigration and following customs, meet with your local Bhutanese guide who will be with you through your stay in Bhutan.

From the airport, proceed on an hour’s drive via the picturesque countryside to the capital Thimphu, situated in a large valley, traversed by the Wangchu River and overshadowed by high peaks.

En route, encounter Thimphu’s highlights beginning at Memorial Chorten, with its golden spires shining in the sun, its tinkling bells and an endless procession of elderly pilgrims circling around it. Erected by the royal grandmother Ashi Phuntsho Chagrin in memory of her son, it contains a fine collection of Buddhist statues and is a center of Tantric Buddhism in all its complexity.

Take a walk along Thimphu’s `high street’ with its little shops of all description. There’s always a colorful gathering passing, from ubiquitous monk bodies to Bhutanese businessmen to nomadic farmers that come to trade supplies.

Arrive at the Pemako Hotel for lunch and use of the facilities.

Continue to the Trashichhodzong, the beautiful medieval fortress and summer residence of Je Khenpo, the Chief Abbot. The king’s Throne Room and government offices are also located within.

Continue to the Buddha Dordenma Statue of Shakyamuni measuring 169 feet, made from bronze and gilded in gold. Located at the highest point, it offers great views of Thimphu.

Drive back to Paro where you will check-in to the Zhiwa Ling Heritage Hotel. Set around ten acres with views that defy description, this hotel combines the sensibilities of a fine Bhutanese Guest House with traditional architecture, exampled in elaborate hand carved wooden cornices and masterful stonework.

Here you will enjoy dinner and an overnight.

DAY 5 – Saturday, April 17,2027

Option 1

Soon after breakfast, take a pilgrimage hike up to the Tigers Nest Monastery, one of the most revered pilgrimage spots in the Buddhist world, perched precariously on a sheer rock face 3,000 feet above the valley floor. The initial ascent is along a mule track that passes through pine forests colorfully festooned with prayer flags. After visiting the monastery, you will enjoy a hearty lunch at a restaurant with views of the monastery across the ravine.

Note: As there are inclines and steps to reach Tiger’s Nest, this option is not recommended for guests with walking difficulties.

Return to Paro town where you can head back to your hotel or explore Paro with your guide.

OR

Option 2

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the hotel and then later in the morning, explore the highlights in and around Paro, beginning with a visit to Kyichu Lakhang, one of the oldest and most sacred shrines of the Kingdom dating back to the 7th century. The lhakhang complex is composed of two temples, the first temple built by Tibetan King, Songtsen Gampo in the 7th century. H.M. Ashi Kesang, the Queen Mother of Bhutan, built the second temple in same original pattern much later.

Onward, drive to Paro and walk down its main street. Take the opportunity to interact with local Bhutanese and visit their interesting small shops that provide basic necessities and then return to your hotel for lunch.

In the afternoon, take in some highlights beginning with a visit to a typical Bhutanese farmhouse, for an insight into their unique lifestyle and cultural practices, where little has changed over the years.

Later, you will gain a different glimpse into Bhutanese life at the Rinpung Dzong, “the Fortress of the Heap of Jewels”, a Buddhist monastery and fortress known for its stunning architecture. The central tower and galleries are amongst the most beautiful in Bhutan with its superb woodwork and classical paintings of Buddhist cosmology representing the universe as seen by two different philosophic streams. The bridge you cross on the way out was typically removed during war time to protect the fortress.

For all guests:

This evening, enjoy a cocktail lecture presented by Venerable Mynak R. Tulku Rinpoche, Reincarnate, of the Lama of Mynak Rikhud Monastery, the leading Sakya Monastery in Tibet.

A former Director of the National Library and Archives, Mynak has represented Bhutan at many conferences and seminars such as the Intl Council of Museums and the Intl Federation of Library Associations. Author of many books and publications, amongst them; The Sacred Dance Drama of Bhutan, published by Asia Society New York, Arts of Bhutan published by Fukuoka Asian Art Museum and Religion & Rituals published in Tokyo.

Dinner and an overnight in Paro follows.

DAY 6 – Sunday, April 18, 2027

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for a flight to Kathmandu. After completing the arrival formalities, exit from the terminal and meet with your local guide for a short drive to Dwarika’s to use the facilities and have a light breakfast.

Later, drive to Kathmandu’s Durbar Square in the heart of the city, also known as the Hanuman Dhoka Palace square, after the Hindu monkey god Hanuman, who acts as a protector via a huge stone impression next to the main entrance. Kathmandu valley has three Durbar Squares, all UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This ancient seat of Nepalese royalty displays spectacular architecture, reflecting the skill of the Newari artists over several centuries. There’s a great variety of temples dedicated to different Hindu gods and goddess, mainly constructed between the 15th and 18th century.

Return to the airport, complete transit formalities and board a flight to Mumbai where after going through Customs and Immigration, you will transfer to the port and re-board the ship.

Land Program Step by Step:

Please note: The order of sites visited may vary to avoid congestion. This program is subject to flight confirmations which are beyond our control. All program details including timings and any flights indicated below are approximate, given here for general reference purposes and subject to change. Direct flights are never guaranteed. Final itineraries with the most up to date details will be provided by the Destination Services Team once you board the ship. Please review your final itinerary carefully for any amendments.

DAY 1

11:00am Disembark and after clearing immigration and custom formalities, tender ashore and then drive to the airport for a flight to Delhi

12:30pm Arrive at the airport, meet your Tour Host, receive boarding passes and proceed through security

Lunch is arranged at Male airport

3:20pm Flight from Male to Delhi (flight details TBA and subject to change)

7:55pm Arrive Delhi and transfer to your nearby hotel

9:15pm Arrive, check-in and dinner

Overnight at the JW Marriott New Delhi Aerocity or similar hotel

DAY 2

4:30am Coffee, tea, continental breakfast served via room service

5:15am Transfer to the airport for a flight to Kathmandu

5:30am Arrive at the airport, receive boarding passes and proceed through security

7:30am Flight from Delhi to Kathmandu (flight details TBA and subject to change)

Breakfast served onboard

9:30am Arrive Kathmandu. Assistance with visa issuance, baggage handling and customs

10:15am Transfer to Dwarika’s hotel for breakfast and use the facilities

11:00am Depart to the outskirts of the city

11:45am Arrive and visit Bhaktapur

1:00pm Depart Bhaktapur

1:45pm Arrive at your hotel for a late lunch and check in

The rest of the afternoon at leisure

5:30pm Depart for Pashupatinath Temple for the evening Aarti

7:00pm Return to your hotel

From 7:30pm Enjoy a welcome dinner at Krishnarpan Restaurant

Overnight at Dwarika’s Hotel

DAY 3

6:30am After tea and coffee, transfer to the domestic air terminal for Mountain Flightseeing

6:45am Arrive at Kathmandu domestic terminal

7:15am Mountain flightseeing departs (weather dependent)

8:15am Flight returns to Kathmandu

8:30am Transfer back to your hotel for breakfast

10:00am Depart for Patan

10:30am Visit Patan

12:30pm Lunch is served at ‘The Lawn’

2:00pm Return to your hotel

4:00pm Depart for Boudhnath

4:30pm Arrive and visit

5:00pm Visit the Thangka painting school

5:30pm Enjoy coffee or cocktails at a café

6:30pm Return to the hotel

From 7:00pm Dinner at your hotel

Overnight at Dwarika’s hotel

DAY 4

5:30am Breakfast served in the Courtyard

6:45am Transfer to the airport for a flight to Paro

7:00am Arrive at the airport, receive boarding passes and proceed through security

9:00am Flight from Kathmandu to Paro (flight details TBA and subject to change)

10:20am Arrive in Paro, Visa issuance, immigration, and customs and then transfer to your hotel

11:00am Depart on an hour’s drive to Thimphu

12:00pm Stop by for a visit to Memorial Chorten

12:30 Walk down Thimphu’s `high street’

1:20pm Arrive at Pemako hotel for lunch

2:30pm Visit Trashichhodzong, Then to Buddha Dordenma Statue of Shakyamuni

4:30pm Drive back to Paro

5:30pm Arrive and check in at your hotel

From 7:00pm Dinner at the hotel

Overnight at Zhiwa Ling Heritage Hotel

DAY 5

From 7:00am Breakfast at your hotel

Option 1:

8:30am Drive to base Ramthanka

8:50am Trek to Café at midpoint

10:05am Rest stop with tea, coffee and facilities

10:25am Onward trek from Café to monastery and viewpoint

Note: The final walk up is via 750 easy steps

11:55am Visit Tiger’s Nest Monastery

12:30pm Walk back to Café

1:30pm Vegetarian buffet lunch at the café

2:30pm Walk down to the base

3:30pm Return to your hotel

Option 2:

10:00am Depart for Kyichu Lakhang

10:45am Drive to Paro’s main street and take a walk with the guide

12:15pm Return to your hotel for lunch

2:30pm Visit a Bhutanese Farmhouse and Rinpung Dzong

5:00pm Return to your hotel

For all guests:

6:30pm Meet with Venerable Mynak Tulku Rinpoche, Reincarnate over cocktails followed by dinner

Overnight at the Zhiwa Ling Heritage hotel.

DAY 6

4:00am A light breakfast is served in the dining room

5:00am Checkout and transfer to the Paro airport

5:30am Arrive at the airport, receive boarding passes and proceed through immigration and

Security

7:40am Flight from Paro to Kathmandu (flight details TBA and subject to change)

8:40am Arrive in Kathmandu and complete transit formalities

Transfer to Dwarika’s for breakfast and to use the facilities

9:45am Enjoy breakfast

10:30am Depart for Kathmandu Durbar Square

10:45am Arrive and visit the temples and palaces within

12:30pm Arrive at the airport, receive boarding passes and proceed through immigration and

security. Lunch is arranged at Kathmandu airport

3:05pm Flight from Kathmandu to Mumbai (flight details TBA and subject to change)

5:40pm Arrive in Mumbai and complete all arrival procedures prior to transferring to the pier

7:30pm Arrive at the pier and reboard the ship

Expected Weather:

Nepal:

April is the summer season with the temperatures ranging from 30°C (86°F) in the day and 12°C (54°C) at night.

Bhutan:

Summer weather commences in mid-April with the temperatures ranging from 59°F (15°C) to a low of 41°F (5°C).

What to Bring:

Nepal and Bhutan have a range of climates, so it is best to pack so that you are prepared for adventures in alpine climates but also sub-tropical humid regions.

It is best to layer your clothes, especially when you are walking or trekking. Mornings are cool but the sharp sun-shine will make you hot as you walk through the hills and mountains. Wearing layers and carrying a fleece, or a wind and rain proof jack¬et will ensure you are prepared for all kinds of weather.

Comfortable shoes are a must. You should bring sunglasses, sunblock, swimsuit, a hat, and insect repellent.All of these can be purchased in Kathmandu, in the Thamel area, if you forget anything, so don’t panic or over-pack!

Bhutan has a fairly formal dress code for both Bhutanese and visitors. A shirt with a collar, preferably long sleeves, and long trousers are required to enter a temple or monastery. For women, a skirt or trousers are fine. Remember to dress in layers as temperatures vary a lot during the day, especially in spring and autumn. Bring slip-on shoes, as you’ll need to take them off at every temple or monastery.

Local Currency:

Nepal: Nepalese Rupees (NPR)

Bhutan: Ngultrum (Nu)

Most places in Kathmandu and mainstream tourist desti¬nations will accept major credit cards but it is advisable to carry some Nepali currency with you at all times.

In Bhutan Credit cards (Amex and Visa cards) are accepted by limited establishments.

Electricity:

Nepal and Bhutan have a 230-volt, 50-hertz cycle power supply and 2-pin cylindrical sockets and plugs. The power supply is not continuous, and the power-cut schedule is published for each area. However, most hotels, guesthouses, and facili¬ties have power backup so their service is not interrupted. If you are brining electronic devices, we recommend bringing your own travel adaptors.

Luggage information

Guest are permitted to check-in one piece of luggage no more than 30kg (66 lbs) and can bring one small carry-on with a maximum of 7 kgs (15 lbs). Guests are responsible for any overweight or excess luggage fees which will be payable to the airlines directly.

Carriage of Portable Oxygen Concentrators (POC) or CPAP breathing machines on internal flights in India (as per Airline regulations):

1. Guests must obtain a Doctor’s Certificate mentioning their medical condition and the need to carry this equipment with them on their flights.

2. The certificate should have attached a picture of the equipment with its description/specifications especially with regards to the type of batteries used (lithium/dry or any other type)

3. These documents need to be sent to the Land Program Team via Reservations at RSSC at least 1 month prior to travel so that our local operator can begin the notification process with the airline(s).

4. Failure to comply with the above regulations will result in a denial of this equipment at the airport for which Regent Seven Seas Cruises nor our local ground operator be responsible for.

Scooters are not permitted on this program.

Documents and Visa Requirements:

This program takes place between the Maldives, India, Kathmandu and Bhutan.

A passport that is valid at least 6 months after travel is required

Please check with your local embassy for any visa requirements for your nationality for all countries listed

Indian Visa - It is essential to have a valid Indian Visa for this program obtained in advance of your voyage – a multiple entry visa is required for the cruise and that will be sufficient for this program.

The visas for Nepal and Bhutan are included in the cost of the program.

The Nepal visa will be issued on arrival into Nepal and all guests will be required to have one passport photo for this Visa although we recommend having a spare photo just in case. A blank page in your passport is required for this visa.

Bhutan visa – Required clear, scanned, colored passport copy in advance for visa approval, Based on this approval, the visa is stamped upon arrival into Paro. Please submit your passport page to RSSC no later than 90 days prior to your cruise start date otherwise the visa cannot be issued.

VERY IMPORTANT – The name on your cruise booking, passport and any visas if required, must all be exactly the same for flight ticket purchase for this program otherwise guests may be denied travel by flight. Please ensure that all documents are identical in spelling to the names provided for your cruise reservation including first, middle and last name. Manifests generated by the cruise line must match your travel documents.

Failure to have the required documents ahead of time will result in denial of travel and guests will have to pay for any expenses incurred in order to not proceed with the program.

The above information is subject to change and serves as a guide only. We would like to take this opportunity to remind all of our guests that it is the ultimate and sole responsibility of the guest to ensure they meet the entry requirements for each destination.

If traveling internationally, the countries you are flying to and/ or connecting through may have different document requirements and as such we encourage you to visit the government and airport websites of every country you will be traveling to throughout the journey to familiarize yourself with their requirements for your nationality.

Proposed Aircraft type (subject to change):

Vistara : Airbus 320 – Economy class seats

Druk Air – Airbus A319 – Economy class seats

Mountain Flightseeing – Buddha Air – Economy class seats

IndiGo Airlines – Airbus A 320 – Economy class seats .

Hotel addresses:

Delhi

JW Marriott Hotel New Delhi Aerocity

Asset Area 4 - Hospitality District, Delhi Aerocity, New Delhi, India, 110037

Phone: +91-11-45212121

Kathmandu

Dwarikas’ Hotel

Battisputali Kathmandu, Nepal, P.O. Box: 459

Phone: (+977-1) 4479488

Paro

Zhiwa Ling Heritage, Paro

Address: Satsam Chorten, Paro, Bhutan

Phone: +975 8 271277

Please Note:

•No power banks or electronic equipment are allowed in checked in baggage. To be carried in hand luggage.

•In hand luggage : No sharp items i.e. scissor, nail cutter/file, razor and liquids more than 100 ml.

•Satellite phones and E-cigarettes are banned in India and need to be left onboard the ship.

Program Includes:

•1 night at the JW Marriott New Delhi Aerocity or similar hotel in a Deluxe Room

•2 nights at the Dwarika’s, Kathmandu or similar hotel in a Heritage Deluxe Room

•2 nights at the Zhiwa Ling Heritage Hotel, Paro or similar hotel in a Junior Suite

•All meals indicated in the itinerary, lunch and dinner to include house wines, beer, bottled water and sodas

•Transfers, sightseeing and road journeys in Nepal and Bhutan- as indicated in the itinerary using a deluxe air-conditioned coach with accompanying guide

•In Mumbai, a deluxe air-conditioned coach with a guide for transfers

•Mineral water and sodas are provided in the vehicles throughout

•Meet and greet service at immigration with visa fees upon arrival into Kathmandu

•Mountain flightseeing (weather dependent)

•Nepal and Bhutan visa fees

•Meet and greet service at immigration upon arrival into Paro

•Porterage at airports/hotels and all entrance and camera fees at monuments

•International and domestic economy class flights per the itinerary, direct flights not guaranteed

•The services of a local Tour Manager to accompany the group throughout

Not Included:

•Any meals not listed above

•Hotel incidentals including room service (except on Day 2), laundry, mini bar

•Gratuities to drivers, guides and Tour Host

•Excess or overweight luggage fees for the flights

•Indian Visa – multiple entry

Please note: Land programs that encompass multiple days ashore customarily include extensive and prolonged activity, while those of shorter durations typically have more moderate activity levels. However, each program varies, and participants should be prepared to negotiate a mixture of surfaces which may include inclines, cobblestones, sand, and gravel or natural paths. There may also be a need to climb steps or stairs on occasion. Guests who utilize a wheelchair and those with mobility concerns are advised to check with the cruise line in advance to see if any portion of the tour program may not be considered suitable for their individual situation. Weather appropriate clothing; hats; sunglasses; and flat, comfortable walking shoes are generally recommended.

All land programs are capacity controlled and subject to availability. Programs falling under the minimum number of required participants are subject to cancellation. Pricing listed is also subject to change to meet unexpected cost increases for transportation, land arrangements or currency fluctuations.

Once purchased, pricing is guaranteed and not subject to change. Mid cruise overland programs must be purchased no later than 90 days prior to your sail date. Cancellations made within 90 days or less prior to the sail date are subject to 100% cancellation penalty.