Nepal or Bhutan for Honeymoon? How to plan your honeymoon in Nepal and Bhutan?

For many honeymooners, the lull of the tropical island paradise is impossible to resist. But for those discerning few that want a honeymoon with a difference, something unique and more memorable than laying on a beach all day, you could not do much better than two of the top Himalayan countries, Bhutan and Nepal.

How to Plan a Honeymoon Vacation in Nepal?

Planning a honeymoon in Nepal is actually much easier than for many of the more common honeymoon destinations around the globe, and unless you plan to organize every activity and the entire itinerary yourself, the best way to go is to use a tour operator that will follow your own unique requirements. Unlike most honeymoon tours, a honeymoon in Nepal can be tailored to your exact requirements without the huge additional fees that most travel agencies around the world charge for a beach vacation. You have the chance to discuss your needs with professional tour advisors with years of experience, who can find out exactly what you need and cater to your every whim.

The Must-sees in Nepal

Nepal is actually a much more romantic destination than most people give it credit for. Kathmandu is widely renowned as one of the most exotic cities in Asia, and for several good reasons. Aside from it being where many of the usual tourist haunts are located, the capital of Nepal is a melting pot of a myriad of customs and cultures, mashed together to make up the modern Nepali way of life. It is also home to several nightclubs and casinos, and has some excellent nightlife, catering to all tastes. You also have the benefit of some of the most spectacular Buddhist and Hindu temples and stupas in Nepal, including, Swayambhunath, Boudhanath, and Pashupatinath, to name a few.

The couple were enjoying the stunning views of Annapurna Mountain Range in Pokhara, Nepal.

Pokhara, to the east of Kathmandu, is one of the most popular regions in Nepal for trekking, lying in the shadow of the huge Annapurna Mountain range. However, for those on a honeymoon, the city has some awesome attractions for romantic honeymoon dates. Renowned for its stunning lakes, Lake Phewa, the city is a romantic’s paradise, lying under the watchful gaze of the Himalayas. With plenty of luxurious hotels to choose from, as well as a wealth of lakeside restaurants that make for stunning locations for that sundown romantic dinner, you also have the option of taking a romantic luxurious boat ride out on the beautiful lake.

Buddhist or not, Lumbini is one of the most spiritual places in the world, and is the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama, better known as Buddha, the founder of the Buddhist religion from the 6th century BC. The beautiful gardens of Lumbini and the stunning monasteries and monuments, some dating back more than 2,000 years, make for a very spiritual and romantic experience.

The Recommended Hotels for Nepal Honeymoon

Nepal has a huge number of hotels and resorts that are geared towards offering romantic accommodation for honeymooners, and which can offer you the best start to married life that you could wish for. Nestled in the shadow of the Himalayas, this stunning country has the best places to spend your honeymoon.

The Hotel Annapurna in Kathmandu is the popular honeymoon resort of choice for many newlyweds that come to Nepal, and has a bird’s-eye view of Mount Everest from all of their honeymoon suites. With a rich history of excellent service and facilities, the hotel is also ideally located for the famous Pashupatinath Temple, the Dakshin Kali Temple, and the Kopan and Shechen Monasteries.

Pokhara Fishtail Lodge is one of the best hotels for your honeymoon tour in Nepal

Named after the common name for Mount Machhapuchhre, the Fishtail Lodge in Pokhara has a prime location next to the Phewa Lake, and offers amazing views of the mountain it is named for. A stunning resort with modern amenities and a luxurious pool, set in the backdrop of the lush green forests around the lake, the resort offers organized romantic boat trips over the lake and is located close by the grand Bhimsen Temple.

If you are looking for somewhere more isolated, the Everest Panorama Resort at Daman is one of the most ideal places to stay. Located high in the mountains, this unique resort hotel offers an undisturbed stay without the bustle of tourists, and has excellent views of the mountains, stretching from Mount Everest in the northeast to Mount Dhaulagiri in the northwest.

Some Warm Suggestions for Your Honeymoon in Nepal

No matter what your reasons for coming to Nepal, few people can resist the pull of the world’s highest mountain, Mount Everest, calling to them across the miles from its place in the mighty Himalayas, to the northeast of Kathmandu. While you may not want to trek all the way to the Everest Base Camp, which takes around 12 days, you can take a two-day excursion to visit the Everest View Hotel, where you can get up in the morning and have a luxurious and romantic breakfast on your own balcony, with a stunning view of the mountain.

If you are both trekking lovers, then there are a myriad of small and short treks in Nepal that you can take to while away the hours and days in Nepal, where you can enjoy the stunning sights and landscapes of the Himalayas with the love of your life.

One of the most stunning places in Nepal is the Chitwan National Park, with its elephant safaris and the vast amount of wildlife. Take a day-long safari into the jungles of southern Nepal and discover the habitats of elephants, crocodiles, rhinos, leopards, and the famous Bengal Tigers. Or take a romantic walk through the woodlands of the region, and bask in the beauty of the thousands of varieties of plants and flowers that line the trails.

How to Plan a Honeymoon Vacation in Bhutan?

If planning a honeymoon in Nepal can be easy, then planning one honeymoon for Bhutan is as easy as it gets. With a requirement for all tourists to be on an organized tour of the country, all you really need to do is give all of your requirements to the tour operator, who will do everything else for you, including booking your flights to Paro from Kathmandu if you want.

The Must-sees in Bhutan

Thimphu is the capital of Bhutan, and one of the best places to visit for a honeymoon, as it is also the home of the Bhutanese Royal Family. One of the preferred honeymoon destinations in Bhutan, for both international tourists and local newlyweds, this colorful city, with stunning weekend markets and popular landmarks and museums, is the perfect place for an ideal and memorable honeymoon. And with a stunning range of attractions, including the Tashichho Dzong, Simtoka Dzong, Dechencholing Palace, Cheri Monastery, Buddha Dordenma Statue, Memorial Chorten, Tango Monastery, and Dechen Phodrang, you will find few placed better to spend your first days of marriage.

It’s time to explore the splendid Bhutanese woodwork art in Paro with your lover.

Located a short drive to the east of Thimphu, Paro is one of the most beautiful valleys in Bhutan, and a must-visit place for any honeymooners to the kingdom. One of the main centers of ancient trade in Bhutan, as well as the defending city for the failed invasions from Tibet, this unique a stunning valley is the closest in cultures to that of Tibet and has one of the longest histories. Filled with spectacular pine forests and rolling hills leading to the Himalayas to the north, the valley has a number of ancient attractions, including the Kyichu Lhakhang temple, the Drukgyel Dzong, and the ancient Rinpung Dzong fortress, as well as the ancient watchtower that now houses the National Museum.

The Recommended Hotels for Bhutan Honeymoon

The Taj Tashi Hotel in Thimphu is one of the few luxury hotels in this unprepossessing capital, and is ideal for a honeymoon stay in Bhutan’s highrise-free capital. One of the most respected hotels in Bhutan, this Indian-based hotel brand is one of the top-notch hotels for service and amenities. Aside from being excellently located in the center of the city, the hotel gives every guest a traditional Bhutanese Buddhist blessing, performed by a Buddhist monk, and offers free cultural performances nightly in the hotel ballroom.

Lying close to the start of the trail to the Paro Taktsang Monastery, the Zhiwa Ling hotel is designed to accommodate discerning guests in its traditional Bhutanese-styled building, with elaborate hand-carved wooden and stone features throughout the hotel. The second floor of the building is the location of the hotel’s own Buddhist shrine, where devout Buddhist guests can pray and make offerings without heading for one of the Dzongs that can be found in the city. The temple was built using timbers and architecture from a damaged local monastery that were rescued from being destroyed.

Spend the wonderful honeymoon night in Zhiwa Ling Hotel in Paro, Bhutan

Located in the stunning Gangtey Valley in Wangdue Phodrang Dzongkhag (District), the Gangtey Lodge is one of the most well-designed resorts in Bhutan, blending in with the local countryside and landscape seamlessly, without affecting the environment and ecosystem. Its sensitive ecological design belies the luxury of the interiors, with each spacious room featuring their own standalone bathtubs and stone fireplaces. The lodge also has one of the few Bhutanese hot stone bath experiences in a Bhutanese hotel, and every one of the 12 rooms has a stunning view of the famous Phobjika Valley.

Some Warm Suggestions for Your Honeymoon in Nepal

If you are feeling energetic, then a trek up the cliff to the Taktsang Monastery is one of the most fantastic experiences in Bhutan. The monastery, which lies halfway up a cliff overlooking the Paro Valley, is renowned as being the place where the Buddhist sage, Padmasambhava, landed after flying to Bhutan from Tibet on a tiger. The meditation caves where he stayed for over three years are still present, in the grounds of the monastery.

The Gangteng Monastery, located in the Gangteng or Phobjika Valley in Wangdue Phodrang, is one of the most unusual monasteries in the world. The valley is the winter feeding ground of the rare black-necked cranes, which fly south from northern Tibet to spend winter in warmer climes. Every winter, as the cranes arrive, the flocks of birds circle the monastery three times before coming in to land in the valley below. The same ritual happens in the spring, when the birds flock to fly north for the summer.

Conclusions

Both Nepal and Bhutan can offer some amazing experiences for honeymoon couples, and have a wealth of things to do and places to go. The experience of spending a honeymoon in an unusual location is fast becoming popular with newlyweds these days, and both locations have excellent facilities and activities for honeymooners. And if you cannot decide which one to choose, as both are amazing destinations for newlyweds to begin their married lives together, then visit both on one of our specialist combined tours of Nepal and Bhutan, Kingdoms of the Himalayas.