Founder’s Tour – The Last High Kingdoms

This morning you will begin by exploring Bhaktapur, a city that feels almost suspended in time. Within its Durbar Square, intricately carved temples, royal courtyards, and traditional Newari architecture reveal a living heritage, where local artisans still shape pottery by hand in the surrounding squares. Here, enjoy a refined dining experience at Tusa, offering a contemporary interpretation of local flavours within a deeply historic setting.

Continue to Patan, where the valley’s craftsmanship reaches its most intricate expression. Wander through Patan Durbar Square, a collection of temples and palaces adorned with detailed wood carvings and stonework, before visiting the striking Krishna Mandir, a masterpiece of stone architecture.

Continuing on, venture to the sacred Boudhanath Stupa, one of the most revered Buddhist sites in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As prayer flags ripple overhead and pilgrims circle in meditative devotion, you will witness rituals that have remained unchanged for centuries. Explore surrounding monasteries with contextual guidance, gaining insight into the spiritual pace that define the Kathmandu Valley.

Enjoy dinner this evening at a discreet rooftop vantage point overlooking the stupa, where the vast white dome and watchful eyes of Buddha command the skyline – a powerful first immersion into Himalayan spirituality before returning to your hotel. (B,L,D)

Overnight Dwarika’s Heritage Hotel or similar

This morning, depart Kathmandu by private transfer for your onward flight to Pokhara, a brief yet spectacular 25-minute journey offering sweeping views across the Himalayan range, weather permitting.

Upon arrival, you will be transferred to Dorje’s Resort & Spa, a refined retreat positioned to take full advantage of Pokhara’s serene lakeside setting and uninterrupted mountain vistas.

The remainder of the day is intentionally unhurried.

Set beside the tranquil waters of Phewa Lake, Pokhara offers a softer introduction to the Himalaya. The Annapurna massif rises dramatically beyond the valley, its snow-capped peaks shifting in tone as light moves across them. You may choose to take a gentle lakeside stroll, enjoy a private boat ride across still waters (payble locally), or simply settle into the landscape from the comfort of your resort. (B)

Overnight Dorje’s Resort & Spa or similar

After breakfast, depart Pokhara by private 4WD for the overland ascent into Mustang, a dramatic 5-6 hour journey through the Kali Gandaki Valley, one of the deepest river gorges on earth.

The landscape transforms gradually yet unmistakably. Lush foothills give way to stark, wind-carved cliffs, ochre ridgelines, and vast Himalayan horizons. The Kali Gandaki River threads its way through the valley floor, flanked by ancient trade routes that once connected Tibet and the Indian plains. This is not merely a transfer; it is a passage into another world.

As altitude increases, the air sharpens and the terrain shifts into high-altitude desert – a prelude to the former forbidden Kingdom of Mustang, where Tibetan culture remains profoundly preserved.

Upon arrival in Jomsom, you will check into the extraordinary Shinta Mani Mustang, a design-led sanctuary set against raw Himalayan terrain. Seamlessly blending Tibetan architectural inspiration with contemporary luxury, the property offers a rare balance: elemental landscape outside, refined comfort within.

The remainder of the day is intentionally open.

Few places in Nepal allow such immediate proximity to the Himalaya’s giants. Snow-capped peaks rise dramatically from the high-altitude desert, while nearly 500 feet below, the Kali Gandaki River carves its way through the deepest gorge on earth, a landscape both immense and humbling.

After settling into your private suite, take time to exhale.

The altitude, the silence, the vastness, Mustang reveals itself slowly. You may choose to unwind with restorative spa therapies designed to support acclimatisation, or explore traditional Himalayan healing through private consultation with an Amchi practitioner, whose knowledge of Tibetan medicine has been passed down through generations.

The property itself invites quiet exploration. Wander its sculptural pathways, pause at contemplative vantage points, and absorb the rare stillness of this former forbidden kingdom.

Later in the afternoon, set out on a gentle hike to Thini Village, following lesser-known trails that wind through the arid terrain. Here, daily life continues much as it has for centuries, stone houses, prayer wheels, and expansive mountain backdrops creating a portrait of authenticity untouched by spectacle.

As dusk settles across the valley and the mountains shift to shades of rose and amber, return to the resort for an intimate dinner. Beneath the vast Himalayan sky, your first evening in Mustang unfolds with quiet grandeur. (B,D)

Overnight Shinta Mani Mustang

Today, venture deeper into the cultural heart of Mustang with an exploration of Marpha Village, a timeless settlement known for its whitewashed stone houses, flagstone alleyways, and orchards that flourish improbably in this high-altitude desert.

Your morning begins with a scenic hike or transfer via vehicle toward Dumba Lake and the revered Khutsab Terenga Monastery. The trail unfolds gently across the stark terrain, offering uninterrupted views across the Kali Gandaki Valley, the deepest gorge on earth, where wind, water and time have sculpted the landscape into something both raw and poetic.

From here, continue onward to Marpha, by private vehicle. Marpha itself feels preserved in another era. Narrow stone pathways weave between traditional homes stacked with firewood and prayer flags that ripple lightly in the mountain air. The village is deeply rooted in Thakali culture, historically traders along ancient trans-Himalayan routes, and its quiet dignity is immediately apparent.

For lunch, you will be welcomed into the home of Mrs Kamala, a respected Thakali chef and civic leader, for a private kitchen-table experience. Here, a traditional Thakali meal is prepared and served with warmth and generosity, not as performance, but as hospitality. This is a rare opportunity to engage directly with local culinary tradition in an intimate setting.

Following lunch, continue your exploration of the village at an unhurried pace. Visit its monasteries, wander past apple orchards that produce the region’s renowned cider and brandy, and absorb the understated pace of daily life. Return to Shinta Mani Mustang in the late afternoon. (B,L,D)

Overnight Shinta Mani Mustang

After breakfast, depart for a scenic drive across the high desert landscape toward Jharkot, a centuries-old Tibetan village crowned by its historic gompa. Perched above the valley, Jharkot feels suspended in time, whitewashed homes, prayer flags strung between rooftops, and Himalayan peaks standing watch in every direction.

From here, continue on foot or via vehicle  into the valley below, following quiet trails through ancient orchards and across suspension bridges that span glacial streams. The terrain is vast yet intimate, wind-swept cliffs rising above you as the Kali Gandaki River traces its ancient course below.

Ascending toward Jhong Village, one of Mustang’s oldest settlements, you will step inside a traditional home, gaining insight into daily life shaped by altitude, climate, and tradition. These encounters are uncontrived, a window into resilience and cultural continuity in one of Nepal’s most remote regions.

Lunch today is exceptional in both setting and simplicity. Prepared by the Shinta Mani culinary team and served at a monastery overlooking 360-degree mountain vistas, the meal is framed by silence, sky, and stone.

In the afternoon, descend toward Kagbeni by private vehicle. Kagbeni, the gateway to Upper Mustang, is a windswept medieval village where narrow alleyways, carved wooden doorways, and chortens reveal layers of history.

Visit the Kag Chode Thupten Samphel Ling Monastery, an important spiritual centre that continues to draw pilgrims and practitioners.

For those seeking a deeper spiritual encounter, an optional early departure allows for a visit to Muktinath, one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites in the Himalaya, revered by both Hindus and Buddhists. Set against stark mountain terrain, Muktinath is home to the 108 sacred water spouts known as the Mukti Dhara. Pilgrims believe bathing beneath these fountains offers purification and liberation.

Participation is entirely personal, yet profoundly symbolic, an immersion not just in glacial water, but in centuries of shared faith and devotion. (B,L,D)

Overnight Shinta Mani Mustang

Today you will journey into one of Mustang’s most spiritually significant yet little-visited villages, Lubra, an 800-year-old settlement and one of the last remaining bastions of the ancient Bon tradition.

Predating Tibetan Buddhism, Bon is a spiritual practice rooted in animism, ritual, and cosmology, a worldview that shaped Himalayan culture long before monasteries crowned mountain ridges.

Accessible via a scenic hike through the Panda Khola River gorge, the path into Lubra winds between eroded cliffs and stark desert terrain before revealing a village that feels suspended in another century. Lubra’s mud-brick homes, narrow pathways, and fluttering prayer flags speak not of preservation for tourism, but of lived continuity.

Visit the village gompa and its intriguing cave monastery, where murals, ritual objects, and oral history preserve layers of spiritual lineage rarely encountered elsewhere in Nepal. Engage quietly with local custodians of this tradition, gaining insight into belief systems that centre harmony between humans, nature, and unseen forces.

Lunch is served atop the rooftop of an ancient family home, where traditional Bon-influenced cuisine reflects both geography and faith. The simplicity of the setting, sky above, mountains beyond, village life unfolding below, is part of the privilege.

The remainder of the day unfolds at an unhurried pace. Explore on foot, observe daily rhythms, and absorb the deep stillness that defines this secluded enclave.

Lubra is not dramatic in scale, it is a place where 800 years of tradition remain woven into everyday life, resilient, unpolished, and remarkably intact.

Return to Shinta Mani Mustang as the afternoon light softens across the valley. (B,L,D)

Overnight Shinta Mani Mustang

After days immersed in Mustang’s stark landscapes, ancient villages, and spiritual encounters, today is devoted to integration. At 2,800 metres, beneath the commanding presence of the Nilgiri range, wellness here is not indulgence, it is recalibration.

As part of your time here at Shinta Mani Mustang, you will undertake a personalised spa and wellness programme designed to restore balance after high-altitude exploration. Your private treatment suite becomes a sanctuary, where steam and sauna rituals prepare the body for deeper therapeutic work.

Highly trained therapists deliver tailored massage therapies, muscle recovery treatments, and beauty rituals aligned to your physical needs after trekking and mountain travel.

Beyond contemporary spa practices, you will also meet with Amchi Tsewang Gyurme Gurung, the 11th recorded practitioner in his lineage of SoRig Tibetan medicine. This is not a token consultation – it is a rare opportunity to engage with a living tradition of Himalayan healing passed down through generations.

During your private consultation, the Amchi will assess your overall wellbeing and recommend specific treatments to support balance and vitality. Whether through a custom herbal steam infusion, medicinal poultices for fatigued muscles, or bespoke oils selected for your constitution, his ancestral knowledge is thoughtfully woven into your wellness experience.

The setting enhances the ritual, vast Himalayan skies, wind-swept desert silence, and snow peaks rising close enough to feel within reach. This is a day of stillness. Of restoration. Of allowing the body and spirit to settle into what has been witnessed and absorbed. (B,L,D)

Overnight Shinta Mani Mustang

This morning, depart the high desert of Mustang by scenic mountain flight from Jomsom to Pokhara, a brief yet extraordinary passage through some of the most dramatic terrain on earth.

Flying low between the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges, the aircraft traces the spine of the Himalaya, revealing glacial peaks, carved river valleys, and ridgelines that seem within arm’s reach. It is a final aerial perspective of the raw, wind-sculpted kingdom you have just traversed.

Upon landing in Pokhara, you will be privately transferred to Pokhara International Airport for your onward flight to Kathmandu. The second short sector offers one last sweep of Himalayan grandeur before descending into the energy of Nepal’s capital.

On arrival in Kathmandu, you will return to the refined calm of Dwarika’s Hotel, a welcome contrast after days immersed in remote terrain. Time is allowed to rest and recalibrate.

Later, meet your private guide for an exploration of Kathmandu Durbar Square, the historic heart of the old city. Here, intricately carved temples, royal courtyards and centuries-old shrines speak to Nepal’s regal and spiritual legacy. Highlights include Hanuman Dhoka Palace and the legendary Kasthamandap, where myth, monarchy and daily life continue to coexist. (B)

Overnight Dwarika’s Heritage Hotel

After breakfast, you will transfer privately to the airport for your onward flight into Tibet, a journey of approximately ninety minutes that carries you from the chaotic energy of Kathmandu onto the vast Tibetan plateau.

As the aircraft descends toward Lhasa Gonggar Airport, the landscape opens into immense horizons, high-altitude plains framed by distant snow peaks, a terrain both austere and magnificent.

Upon arrival, you will be warmly welcomed by your dedicated private Tibetan guide and driver, who will accompany you throughout your time in this deeply spiritual region.

The drive into Lhasa follows the sweeping course of the Yarlung Tsangpo River, Tibet’s lifeline, whose glacial waters carve through the plateau with quiet authority. Along the route, pass the ancient stone-carved Buddha etched into the cliff face, a silent guardian that has watched over this valley for centuries.

On arrival in the holy city of Lhasa, you will check into the refined Songtsam Series Hotel, a sanctuary that blends Tibetan aesthetics with understated contemporary luxury.

The afternoon is intentionally unstructured. At 3,650 metres, gentle acclimatisation is essential. Rest, hydrate, and allow your body to adjust to the altitude. Should conditions permit and you feel well, an exclusive private welcome dinner has been arranged this evening, an intimate introduction to Tibetan cuisine and hospitality, marking your formal arrival into one of the world’s most culturally significant landscapes. (B,D)

Distance: 55 km
Driving Time: Approximately 1.5 hours

Overnight Songtsam Linka Retreat (or similar)

After breakfast, begin your immersion into the spiritual and political heart of Tibet with a visit to the Potala Palace, an architectural icon and enduring symbol of Tibetan Buddhism.

Rising 13 storeys above Lhasa, the Potala is both fortress and monastery, palace and pilgrimage site. As you ascend its ancient stairways, your private guide will illuminate the layered history of this extraordinary structure, from its role as the winter residence of successive Dalai Lamas to its enduring significance in contemporary Tibetan identity.

Explore the White Palace, once the administrative and residential quarters, before entering the more intimate and reverent chambers of the Red Palace, devoted to spiritual study and devotion. Within, encounter Phakpa Lhakang, the sacred Arya Lokeshvara statue, and the gilded stupas housing the remains of past Dalai Lamas, spaces where incense lingers and centuries of prayer feel almost tangible.

Upon departure, complete a clockwise kora around the palace, joining pilgrims who continue this act of devotion daily. It is a quiet yet powerful moment of shared spiritual rhythm.

Pause afterwards at a local Tibetan teahouse to sip sweet tea and share simple noodles among residents, an unfiltered glimpse into everyday life beneath the palace’s shadow.

In the afternoon, continue to the revered Jokhang Temple, founded in the 7th century and considered the spiritual nucleus of Tibet. At its heart resides the 2,500-year-old statue of Jowo Shakyamuni, the most sacred image in Tibetan Buddhism.

Through special arrangements, you will be granted private access to the Jowo Shakyamuni Chapel, a rare and intimate experience allowing space for quiet reflection, prayer, and homage away from the public flow of pilgrims. Subject to local conditions, additional temple chambers may also be accessed privately.

Conclude the day walking the sacred Barkhor Circuit, where pilgrims prostrate in devotion and the scent of juniper smoke drifts through the air. This living pilgrimage route offers profound insight into faith expressed not ceremonially, but daily. Tonight, Lhasa will feel different to you. Less observed and more understood. (B)

Altitude: 3,650 metres

Overnight Songtsam Linka Retreat (or similar)

Rise early this morning for a visit to Drepung Monastery, once the largest monastery in the world and a former seat of spiritual scholarship in Tibet. Founded in the 15th century by Jamyang Choeje, a principal disciple of Tsongkhapa, Drepung was once home to thousands of monks and remains one of the great centres of Tibetan Buddhist learning. Set dramatically against a mountainside just beyond Lhasa, the monastery unfolds in tiers of whitewashed buildings beneath open sky.

If timing allows, you will quietly attend the monks’ morning chanting ceremony in the Coqen Hall, a deeply atmospheric experience where prayer reverberates through ancient timber columns and incense-laced air. It is not a performance, but a living ritual, and your presence is as respectful observers within a centuries-old rhythm of devotion.

Following a guided exploration of the monastery’s colleges and chapels, a venerable senior monk will offer a private blessing ceremony for your group. This is conducted with sincerity and spiritual intention, not spectacle. Guests may offer a simple gesture of respect, such as fruit or a modest goodwill contribution, though this is entirely personal and optional.

After lunch, continue to Dazi County for a rare cultural immersion at an exclusive Thangka gallery, away from commercial outlets. Here, a senior Thangka scholar will guide you privately through this sacred art form, decoding its spiritual symbolism, mineral pigments, iconographic precision, and philosophical depth.

This is not simply about painting technique, it is an exploration of cosmology expressed through art. Each line, colour, and proportion follows ancient spiritual mathematics, carrying layered meaning that reveals itself only through patient study.

Following these profound encounters, return to your hotel for rest and quiet reflection. (B)

Altitude: 3,650 metres
Distance: Approx. 15 km & 40 km

Overnight Songtsam Linka Retreat (or similar)

Before first light, depart Lhasa for the sacred waters of Yamdrok Lake, ascending quietly across the Tibetan plateau as the horizon begins to glow. Arriving before sunrise, a private lakeside setting awaits. Simple yet elegant tables are positioned to face the vast turquoise expanse, prayer flags lifting gently in the alpine air.

As the first golden light spills across the lake and illuminates the surrounding snow-capped peaks, you will partake in a traditional Tibetan tea ceremony accompanied by a carefully prepared sunrise breakfast. At over 4,100 metres, the air is thin, the silence profound. Yamdrok is considered one of Tibet’s most sacred lakes, believed to hold spiritual energy within its waters. To witness it at dawn, in privacy, is a rare privilege.

Following this ceremonial beginning, journey along the lake’s sweeping shoreline, pausing at elevated vantage points where the shifting light reveals the lake’s extraordinary spectrum of blues.

Continue onward to Tsetang, often regarded as the cradle of Tibetan civilisation, for lunch.

In the afternoon, visit the distinguished TsêTher Handicraft Cooperative, where master artisans preserve a 1,300-year-old weaving tradition using ancient wooden looms. Recognised as National Intangible Cultural Heritage, TsêTher textiles are created slowly and entirely by hand, embodying spiritual symbolism, ancestral knowledge and meticulous craftsmanship.

A private introduction to the artisans offers insight into the philosophy, mineral dyes, iconography and cultural continuity embedded within each piece, an intimate encounter with living heritage rather than commercial display.

As evening settles, enjoy time at leisure in Tsetang, where life unfolds gently against the backdrop of the plateau. (B,L)

Altitude: Approx. 4,100 metres
Distance: Approx. 110 km & 160 km
Driving Time: Approx. 5.5 hours

Overnight Hamton by Hilton Shannan (or similar)

This morning, journey to Samye Monastery, Tibet’s first Buddhist monastery and one of its most sacred spiritual sites.

Founded in the 8th century, Samye is renowned for its extraordinary mandala design, symbolically constructed as a three-dimensional representation of the Buddhist cosmos. Here, Tibetan, Indian and Chinese architectural influences converge, reflecting the cultural exchanges that shaped early Tibetan Buddhism.

Walking its courtyards with your private guide, you will gain insight into the monastery’s pivotal role in establishing Buddhism across the plateau, not simply as faith, but as philosophy, governance and identity.

Continue onward to the secluded Chimpu Hermitage, set high above the valley. Long associated with Guru Padmasambhava and generations of meditators, this mountain retreat offers sweeping views and a palpable sense of spiritual continuity. Caves carved into the rock face still serve as meditation sites, embodying the disciplined stillness that defines Tibetan contemplative practice.

In the afternoon, return for a more intimate cultural exchange through a private Tibetan cooking experience. Under guidance, learn to prepare traditional dishes such as momo, gaining appreciation for the flavours, techniques and communal rituals embedded in Tibetan cuisine.

As evening falls, gather for an elegant farewell dinner, a reflective closing to your time in Tibet. You will be joined by a distinguished professor from Tibet University, offering thoughtful insight into the region’s layered history, cultural evolution, and contemporary realities. This is not a lecture, but a dialogue, an opportunity to ask considered questions and deepen understanding beyond observation. (B,D)

Altitude: Approx. 3,600 metres
Distance: Approx. 60 km & 70 km
Driving Time: Approx. 3.5 hours

Overnight Songtsam Hotel (or similar)

Depart Lhasa this morning, travelling eastward along the high plateau as the landscape gradually transforms.

The road to Nyingchi traces the course of the Nyang River, whose crystalline turquoise waters wind through expansive valleys framed by distant snow-capped peaks. Pause at a discreet viewpoint to absorb the scale of the landscape, vast, luminous, and markedly softer than the austere plateau you leave behind.

Continuing toward Gongbo Gyamda County, the terrain becomes increasingly verdant, a rare and unexpected contrast within Tibet. Here, enjoy lunch featuring regional specialities such as stone-pot chicken and Tibetan pork, dishes shaped by both geography and tradition.

Afterward, make a considered detour to Basumtso Lake, one of eastern Tibet’s most sacred and visually arresting sites. Encircled by dense forests and snow-dusted summits, the lake’s emerald waters reflect a quieter, more intimate expression of the Himalaya.

A private exploration includes a visit to the ancient temple situated on the small island at its centre, a place of pilgrimage and contemplation. Time is allowed for a gentle lakeside walk, where prayer flags stir lightly in alpine air and the atmosphere feels markedly serene.

By late afternoon, arrive in Bayi (Nyingchi), often referred to as Tibet’s “Switzerland” for its unexpected lushness. The altitude here drops to approximately 2,980 metres, offering a welcome shift in climate and terrain.

This evening, stroll at leisure through the town as the day softens into dusk. (B)

Altitude: Approx. 2,980 metres
Distance: Approx. 395 km

Overnight Crowne Resort Nyingchi (or similar)

After breakfast, depart Bayi and ascend toward Sergyila Pass, where the horizon opens dramatically to reveal panoramic views of Mount Namcha Barwa, one of the most revered and elusive peaks in the eastern Himalaya. When conditions are clear, its snow-covered summit rises with striking authority above layered ridgelines.

Descending from the pass, enter the region known as Lulang Forest Sea, a landscape that feels almost improbable within Tibet. Vast alpine meadows unfold into dense forests, wooden farmhouses sit quietly against emerald hills, and prayer flags ripple in clean mountain air. Often described as Tibet’s “Little Switzerland,” Lulang reveals a gentler, pastoral side of the plateau.

After a leisurely lunch, return toward Bayi with a stop at the Giant Cypress Nature Reserve, home to ancient cypress trees believed to be over a thousand years old. These towering sentinels stand as living witnesses to centuries of spiritual and cultural continuity.

Later, visit Lama Ling Monastery (Buchu Sergyi Lhakang), the oldest Buddhist temple in the Kongpo region and one of the four border-taming temples established in the 7th century under King Songtsen Gampo. Quiet and deeply atmospheric, the monastery offers a more intimate encounter with Tibetan devotion, removed from the larger ceremonial centres of Lhasa. (B,L)

As the day draws to a close, return to Bayi.

Altitude: Approx. 2,980 metres
Distance: Approx. 460 km

Overnight Hilton Nyingchi Gongbo Resort (or similar)

This morning, transfer privately to Nyingchi Mainling Airport for your onward flight into mainland China, marking the formal conclusion of your Himalayan passage. As you depart the forested valleys of eastern Tibet, the journey shifts once more, from sacred plateau to vibrant lowland city.

Welcome to China! Upon arrival in Chengdu, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure to settle in or explore your surroundings. Known as the home of Sichuan cuisine and the giant panda, Chengdu is a blend of modern vibrancy with deep-rooted tradition. Wander through the Wide and Narrow Alleys, a maze of restored Qing Dynasty streets where traditional courtyard homes meet modern street food stalls, boutique teahouses, and folk performances. As dusk falls, climb into a tuk-tuk and head deep into Chengdu’s culinary underbelly. With a local guide, weave through alleyways and night markets, sampling fiery street snacks, craft noodles, and unexpected bites that define the bold, numbing flavours of Sichuan. (B,D)

Overnight The Temple House (or similar)

This morning is yours at leisure until it is time to transfer to the airport for your onward flights. (B)