Happy Valentine’s Day! We hope you get to enjoy some romantic time today with your partner or love interest, wherever you are in the world. While it’s too late to whisk your loved one off to the Himalaya for Valentine’s Day 2020, the romantic holiday comes around once a year! With a whole year to plan, you can create a perfect Valentine’s Day 2021 surprise. Or, consider a romantic trip to Nepal, Bhutan, Ladakh, or Tibet at any other time of year or to celebrate a special occasion.
While the Himalaya may not be the first place that comes to mind when thinking about romantic holidays or honeymoons (Paris and Venice perhaps take those top honours), there are so many sights, experiences, and activities that we know couples will enjoy. Whether you’re planning a proposal, taking a honeymoon trip, celebrating a milestone anniversary, or just want to spend quality time with your partner, here are some wonderfully romantic experiences you can enjoy across the Himalaya.
Stay at a top-end hotel
While Nepal in particular is known as a budget-friendly backpacker destination, there are actually many really good high-end luxury accommodation throughout Nepal, as well as in Bhutan, Ladakh and Tibet. Whether you’re on a honeymoon or just a romantic trip, if good accommodation is important to you, you won’t be short of choices in the region.
Here are some of our favourite romantic options, tried and tested by the Beyond The Clouds team:
Tiger Mountain Lodge, perched 1,000 feet above the lakeside town of Pokhara, has a spectacular Himalayan backdrop. This tranquil lodge offers a luxury escape from the crowds. Stay here as part of our Nepal Journey.
Paulines Rooms, Kathmandu, is a charming boutique hotel in a beautifully restored heritage palace with four-poster beds. Enjoy wandering around the boutique shops before a fabulous dinner at one of Kathmandu’s best restaurants in the courtyard below. Stay here at the beginning or end of any of our Nepal Treks or journeys.
Tiger Tops, a chilled-out safari lodge beside the Chitwan National Park is renowned for its pioneering environmentally responsible tourism. Enjoy glamping in the elephant tents or one of the comfortable traditional lodges. Stay here on a tailor-made Nepal Journey.
Naksel Boutique Hotel and Spa, Paro, nestled on the edge of the national forest and a quiet village, Naksel derives its name from the Dzongka translation of 'Forest,' which is only fitting for this luxury Himalayan sanctuary. Beyond The Clouds clients receive a free upgrade to this gorgeous hotel on any Bhutan Journey.
Soenam Zingkha Heritage Lodge, Haa may not be a luxury hotel but it oozes charm and authenticity. Enjoy a steaming traditional hot stone bath before a home cooked dinner in this immaculately restored traditional farmhouse in the picturesque Haa Valley.
Nimmu House, a beautifully restored noble house built for the cousin of the king of Ladakh, has been converted into a charming glamping retreat. Relax under apricot blossom in the spring or enjoy mountain views in autumn. Stay here as part of a Discover Ladakh tour.
Saboo Resort : Nestled in a traditional Ladakhi village, enjoy the luxury of 15 cozy cottages as you Discover Ladakh for yourself. Wander along gurgling streams and stroll up to the monastery, say ‘ Jullay’ to the locals in achingly beautiful scenery.
Songtsam Lodges : Not just one but a group of eight Tibet-owned, stunning and thoroughly romantic boutique hotels in Kham and Tibet Autonomous Region, Tibet. Discover Tibet in style on our Hidden Tibet and Tibet Pilgrimage journeys.
Norden Camp is a strikingly beautiful Tibetan run glamping resort in Amdo. A stay at Norden Camp is an extraordinary way to experience the magnificence of Tibetan culture and the astounding natural beauty of the Tibetan Plateau in style and comfort. Stay here as part of our Authentic Amdo tour.
Couples retreats
To spend more time with your partner while enjoying themed activities, why not book a couples retreat? These can be as simple as spending a morning or a day at a spa together (we especially love the Club Oasis Spa at the Hyatt Regency Kathmandu, which non-guests can also visit), having a massage at side-by-side tables. Or, you can join a longer yoga or meditation retreat. These are usually located in beautiful settings in the hills, with a peaceful ambiance and fantastic views.
Private guided tours in Bhutan
In Bhutan, it’s necessary for all travellers to join a tour and travel with a guide. But, this doesn’t mean you have to join a big group of strangers. It’s totally possible to hire a private guide, just for you and your party. Even staunchly independent travellers tend to enjoy the ease of travelling in Bhutan. Just think, you won’t have the pressure of choosing the best accommodation or the most fun activities for yourself and your partner, as all these arrangements will be taken care of. You can just relax and enjoy the ride. And while you might think that having a third wheel along on your holiday could cramp your romance, know that guides are perfectly willing to give you some private time when you want. You’re not obliged to spend every minute of the day in their company.
Epic mountain views
If you’re looking for an unforgettable place to propose, there’s hardly anywhere better than the roof of the world. Imagine trekking through the vast Himalaya for several days and reaching your end point, whether that’s Everest Base Camp, the Gokyo Lakes, or the Annapurna Sanctuary. Looking up at the snow-capped mountains all around, you’ll be in awe. What a magical time to propose.
If trekking’s not your thing, there are plenty of other spectacular settings. What about on a scenic Everest flight from Kathmandu? Certain packages include champagne to toast the event of seeing the tallest mountain in the world, and you can double up and toast to your future happiness, too. Or, just outside Kathmandu is the Chandragiri Hills Cable Car. Soar above the Kathmandu Valley, with mountain views on the horizon, and pop the question there.
Stunning photo backdrops
As well as the beautiful mountains, there are many places across the Himalaya that make a beautiful backdrop for some special photos. You can hire a local professional photographer for a couple of hours and take some amazing honeymoon, babymoon, or marriage vow renewal photos. Not sure what we mean? Beyond The Clouds’ Elen had a series of pregnancy photos taken around the Patan Durbar Square, with beautiful doorways, sculptures, and temples as the setting.
You can get as creative as you like here, perhaps bringing along a special outfit or having something tailored for you at the destination and posing for some beautiful photos. What better souvenir from your honeymoon could you ask for?
Off-beat local experiences
Travellers have different perspectives on love and romance, and you don’t necessarily have to follow Western norms to honour these while travelling in the Himalaya.
Have you heard about Bhutan’s Temple of Fertility in Punakha, Chimi Lhakhang? The temple is adorned with stylised paintings and carvings of phalli. It’s a fertility temple (unsurprisingly), and women in particular come here to pray and seek blessings if they’re wanting to get pregnant. Perhaps an ideal stop on a Honeymoon tour of Bhutan?
In Nepal, the festival of Teej is celebrated by Hindu women in late August or early September. Women fast for the health of their husbands, and gather at temples and public places to sing, dance, and let loose with their female friends while dressed in their bridal clothing. Younger, unmarried women also pray for a good husband in the future. If the idea of fasting for your husband doesn’t appeal (or you don’t have a husband!), women can still join in the revelry. Local women love to see foreign women getting involved at Teej. Put on some red, orange, or pink clothes and go and find a group of dancing women. You’ll be welcomed with open arms, and get a fantastic insight into Nepali culture and relationships.
