A combo tour for those who want their travels with a bit more depth. Join us as we bring together two of the Himalayas' most fascinating nations, each shaped by isolation, faith, and a fierce sense of identity.
But one keeps its doors more tightly closed than the other!
Starting in the Indian city of Guwahati, first, we travel to the far east. We begin our adventure in Bhutan, the tiny Himalayan kingdom where Gross National Happiness matters more than GDP, and where entire valleys still live by centuries-old rhythms. This isn't the well-trodden Bhutan of Paro and Thimphu alone; we head into the wild east first, a region so remote that many of its villages have barely changed in generations.
Think dramatic drives over 3,500m passes, the mystical Brokpa village of Merak, ancient weaving traditions kept alive in Trashigang and Trashi Yangtse, and the nail-biting descent into Paro's cliff-ringed airport, one of the most thrilling landings on Earth. We'll wind our way west through the Bumthang valleys before finishing with Bhutan's iconic highlight, the cliffside monastery of Tiger's Nest.
Then, just as you've adjusted to Bhutan's crisp mountain air and unhurried pace, we drop down into Nepal, a country of dizzying elevation change, over 120 ethnic groups, and a history unbroken by colonisation. A former Hindu kingdom until 2008, Nepal is now the world's newest republic that removed its local royal system; although its temples, festivals, and living traditions carry on much as they always have.
Here, we skip the trekking trails everyone else takes and go straight for what most visitors miss: the living culture of the Kathmandu Valley. We'll wander the Newar villages of Bungmati, Khokana, and Panauti, where age-old crafts and festivals continue largely undisturbed by tourism. Expect a hands-on momo-making class, a visit to a family-run Mandala art school, a sound bath, an afternoon volunteering at a local school, and a night's stay at a Buddhist monastery, alongside the Kathmandu Valley's UNESCO World Heritage Sites and the National Museum for context on everything else you'll see.
This isn't just two countries. It's two ways of holding onto identity.
One kingdom guarding its traditions behind mountain passes and limited access, the other a young republic keeping its ancient culture alive in plain sight, one valley from the capital.
With Koryo Tours, we'll connect the dots between these two unique places. Travelling slowly, meeting local communities, and experiencing the real heart of each destination.
Expect high passes, hidden villages, hands-on encounters, and a lot of great stories to take home.
