Compare Cape & Safari by Great Safaris vs Bhutan Tour with day hikes by Himalayan Glacier Adventure
Compare details and see what other travelers are saying.
| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 10 days | 6 days |
| Price From | $ 6,395 | $ 2,060 |
| Price Per Day | $ 640 | $ 343 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Group tour | Group tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Premium |
| Physical Level |
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| Travel Themes | N/A |
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| Countries Visited | N/A | |
| Cities and Attractions | N/A |
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| Flights & Transport | No | Ground transport included |
| Activities | N/A |
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| Meals Included | N/A |
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| Description | Our Cape & Safari itinerary then continues on to South Africa’s finest wildlife refuge, Kruger National Park. Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve is your safari paradise for 5 exciting days.Nothing compares to the thrill of seeing your first lion on the hunt. Be prepared for non-stop action as you search for the Big Five on morning and afternoon game drives. Open safari vehicles, expertly maneuvered by professional game rangers, allow for close-up encounters and superb photographic opportunities. During the quiet midday, a guided walking safari places you ‘nose to nose’ with the smaller denizens of the bush. Land from $5,195 per personDay 1 Depart USA. Relax on an overnight flight to South Africa.Day 2-4 Cape Town (3 nights). Two glorious days exploring the city and environs. Ride a cable car up to Table Mountain and tour the colorful Malay Quarter. Pose on the very edge of the continent on a Cape Point tour and meet penguins, seals and playful baboons.Day 5-8 Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve (4 nights). Wing to Kruger Park… wildlife heaven! Daily game drives allow for close-up encounters with elephant, lions, giraffe, buffalo, zebra, hippo, hyena… to name a few. Open safari vehicles plunge into the bush in pursuit of leopard on the hunt. Don’t miss the midday walking safari!.Chitwa Chitwa Game Lodge is an exquisite balance between unbridled luxury and environmental harmony. Each of the six individually decorated suites open onto its own private deck with private plunge pool, overlooking the nearby lake.Day 9 Depart Johannesburg. “Farewell” to Africa. Wing back to Johannesburg and depart.Day 10 Arrive USA. Welcome home with memories and photos to last a lifetime!Tempted to see a bit more? Think about adding Victoria Falls, Chobe Botswana or even an exciting extension to Kenya or Tanzania. |
Bhutan Tour with Day Hikes combines the cultural and natural grandeur of Bhutan in the shortest possible time. The tour begins in the scenic Paro Valley with a hike to the famous Tiger’s Nest (Taktsang) monastery. After visiting Thimphu, a unique capital city that has a blend of traditional and modern touch, we drive across the picturesque Dochu La Pass into the subtropical valleys of Punakha. Our Bhutan tour also includes three more hikes: to Wangditse Gompa, Lungchutse Monastery and to Khamsum Yulley Namgyel Chorten. During the day hikes, we get to experience breath-taking view of Mount Everest, Kanchenjunga and other famous Himalayan peaks including the sacred Jumolhari and Mount Jichu Drake in Bhutan. |
Day 1 : Depart USA
Relax on an overnight flight to South Africa.
Day 2 : Cape Town (3 nights)
Two glorious days exploring the city and environs. Ride a cable car up to Table Mountain and tour the colorful Malay Quarter. Pose on the very edge of the continent on a Cape Point tour and meet penguins, seals and playful baboons.
Day 3 : Cape Town (3 nights)
Two glorious days exploring the city and environs. Ride a cable car up to Table Mountain and tour the colorful Malay Quarter. Pose on the very edge of the continent on a Cape Point tour and meet penguins, seals and playful baboons.
Day 4 : Cape Town (3 nights)
Two glorious days exploring the city and environs. Ride a cable car up to Table Mountain and tour the colorful Malay Quarter. Pose on the very edge of the continent on a Cape Point tour and meet penguins, seals and playful baboons.
Day 5 : Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve (4 nights)
Wing to Kruger Park… wildlife heaven! Daily game drives allow for close-up encounters with elephant, lions, giraffe, buffalo, zebra, hippo, hyena… to name a few. Open safari vehicles plunge into the bush in pursuit of leopard on the hunt. Don’t miss the midday walking safari!.Chitwa Chitwa Game Lodge is an exquisite balance between unbridled luxury and environmental harmony. Each of the six individually decorated suites open onto its own private deck with private plunge pool, overlooking the nearby lake.
Day 6 : Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve (4 nights)
Wing to Kruger Park… wildlife heaven! Daily game drives allow for close-up encounters with elephant, lions, giraffe, buffalo, zebra, hippo, hyena… to name a few. Open safari vehicles plunge into the bush in pursuit of leopard on the hunt. Don’t miss the midday walking safari!.Chitwa Chitwa Game Lodge is an exquisite balance between unbridled luxury and environmental harmony. Each of the six individually decorated suites open onto its own private deck with private plunge pool, overlooking the nearby lake.
Day 7 : Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve (4 nights)
Wing to Kruger Park… wildlife heaven! Daily game drives allow for close-up encounters with elephant, lions, giraffe, buffalo, zebra, hippo, hyena… to name a few. Open safari vehicles plunge into the bush in pursuit of leopard on the hunt. Don’t miss the midday walking safari!.Chitwa Chitwa Game Lodge is an exquisite balance between unbridled luxury and environmental harmony. Each of the six individually decorated suites open onto its own private deck with private plunge pool, overlooking the nearby lake.
Day 8 : Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve (4 nights)
Wing to Kruger Park… wildlife heaven! Daily game drives allow for close-up encounters with elephant, lions, giraffe, buffalo, zebra, hippo, hyena… to name a few. Open safari vehicles plunge into the bush in pursuit of leopard on the hunt. Don’t miss the midday walking safari!.Chitwa Chitwa Game Lodge is an exquisite balance between unbridled luxury and environmental harmony. Each of the six individually decorated suites open onto its own private deck with private plunge pool, overlooking the nearby lake.
Day 9 : Depart Johannesburg
“Farewell” to Africa. Wing back to Johannesburg and depart.
Day 10 : Arrive USAVictoria FallsChobe BotswanaKenyaTanzania
Welcome home with memories and photos to last a lifetime!Tempted to see a bit more? Think about adding Victoria Falls, Chobe Botswana or even an exciting extension to Kenya or Tanzania.Cape Town must be one of the most beautiful cities in the world; no wonder, Sir Francis Drake, Captain and Explorer, described it as, “The Fairest Cape in all the World”. The safari experience was the best, can’t wait to return.
Day 1: Arrival and sightseeing in Paro
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel (Hotel Tashi Namgay Resort)
Maximum Altitude: 2,250m/7,382ft
As our flight nears Bhutan, we can enjoy amazing views of the Himalayas including the sacred Jumolhari and Jichu Drake peaks. At the airport, we will be greeted by a representative from Himalayan Glacier who will take us to our hotel. Today, we will visit Rinpung Dzong which was built in 1646 and now houses the district Monastic Body and government administrative offices of Paro Dzongkhag. We will also visit Kichu Lhakhang, the oldest temple in the country and Drugyal Dzong, built in 1646 to commemorate Bhutan’s victory over Tibetan invaders during the 1600s. Overnight in Paro.
Day 2: Paro to Thimphu, Hike to Taktsang Monastery
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel (Hotel Namgay Heritage)
Hiking: 4-5 hrs Travel Distance: 54 km Driving: 1 hour
Maximum Altitude: 3,180m/10,434ft
After breakfast, we hike for around 4 -5 hours to Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest) Monastery, which is Bhutan’s most famous monastery situated at 3,180 meters. Guru Rinpoche (spiritual master) is said to have flown on the back of a tigress to meditate in a cave where Taktsang Monastery now stands. Lunch will be served in the Cafeteria Restaurant, located about halfway up on the mountain. The monastery is perched on the edge of a steep cliff, about 900 meters above Paro Valley. After having explored the monastery, we hike down to the valley floor and leave for Thimphu. Overnight in Thimphu.
Day 3: Hike to Wangditse Gompa followed by sightseeing in Thimphu
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel (Hotel Namgay Heritage)
Maximum Altitude: 2,320m/7,612ft
In the morning, we drive to BBS Tower and then hike for 1 hour to Wangditse Gompa on leveled trail with great view of Tashichho Dzong. From here, we also get an amazing view of the Samtenling Palace, home to the fourth King and Dorje Drak meditation retreat on the hillside above. After touring the Gompa, we return to Thimphu. On the way, visit the mini Zoo to see the Takin, national animal of Bhutan. After lunch, we visit the King’s Memorial Chorten (built in memory of the third King of Bhutan who reigned from 1952-1972), the nunnery temple, the National Library (which houses ancient manuscripts) and the National Institute of Traditional Medicine. We may also visit the Textile Museum, the Handicraft Emporium, the traditional paper factory and the majestic Tashichho Dzong. In the evening, we enjoy strolling in the streets of Thimphu and observe the local lifestyle. Overnight in Thimphu.
Day 4: Thimphu to Punakha, Hike to Lungchutse Monastery
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel (Kichu Resort)
Hiking: 2 hrs Travel Distance: 76 km Driving: 2-3 hrs
Maximum Altitude: 3,100m/10,171ft
After breakfast, we drive to Dochula pass (3,100 meters), where on a clear day we can get spectacular views of the Himalayas. We will begin 2 hours hike to Lungchutse Monastery from 108 chortens. The trail passes through rhododendron forests. Walking along the high ridges dotted with colorful Buddhist prayer flags offers us stunning views of Himalayas, plus incredible vistas into the valleys below the pass. Hike back to Dochu La Pass. After lunch, drive downhill through the rhododendron, fir and hemlock forests. On the way, we stop at Metshina Village and take a 20-minute walk through the rice fields to Chimi Lhakhang, which is a fertility temple dedicated to the Divine Madman or Lama Drukpa Kuenley. Overnight in Punakha.
Day 5: Punakha to Paro, Hike to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel (Hotel Tashi Namgay Resort)
Hiking: 2 hrs Travel Distance: 130 km Driving: 4 hrs
Maximum Altitude: 2,250m/7,382ft
At dawn, we drive 12 km north of Punakha and begin our 2-hour hike to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten. It is located on a beautiful hillock called Ngezergang and contains elaborate paintings dedicated to the old sect of Buddhism. We hike further towards Punakha. On the way back, we visit the Punakha Dzong which was built in 1637. It is also the second oldest and the second largest Dzong in Bhutan. In the afternoon, we drive to Paro and spend the night there.
Day 6: Final Departure
Meals: Breakfast
Today we bid farewell to the tiny Himalayan Kingdom and her friendly people. Druk Air generally departs in the early morning to avoid adverse weather conditions. Therefore, after breakfast, we will be taken to the airport in the morning for final departure.
