Day 1 : Arrive Paro – Thimphu

After arriving & visa formalities and collection of baggage, you will be welcomed by our tour representative who will be your tour guide during your entire trip in Bhutan.

Check into your hotel in Thimphu. Free until lunch time for some rest from early morning flight, refreshment and lunch.

Afternoon, you can choose to visit any or all of the following places:-

Tachogang Lhakhang

Tachogang Lhakhang is located in Paro district, on the way to Thimphu. It was founded by Thankthong Gyelpo after he experienced a vision of Guru Rimpochhe, Amitaba and Avalokiteshvara near site. The caretakers today are said to be descendants of Thangtong Gyelpo. Inside the temple one can see the masters relics, including his walking stick.

National Memorial Chorten

The National Memorial was built by Bhutan’s third king, H.M. Jigme Dorji Wangchuck who is also known as the “father of modern Bhutan.” He wanted to erect a monument carrying the message of world peace and prosperity. However, he was unable to give shape to his idea in his lifetime due to pressures of state and other regal responsibilities. After his untimely demise in 1972, the Royal Family and Cabinet resolved to fulfill his wishes and erect a memorial that would perpetuate his memory and also serve as a monument to eternal peace, harmony and tranquility.

Tashichho Dzong

The Tashichho Dzong is a Buddhist monastery cum fortress at the northern edge of Thimpu the capital city of Bhutan. The Dzong was built on the western bank of the river Wang Chu, and has historically served at the seat of the Druk Desi or the Dharma Raja of Bhutan’s government. After the kings assumed power in 1907 this post was combined with that of the king and Thimphu severed as the summer caital of the kingdom before becoming the full time capital of Bhutan.

Overnight in Thimphu

 Day 2 Thimphu Sightseeing

After breakfast you can proceed to Sightseeing

Kuensel Phodrang: The KuenselPhodrang or the Buddha point is the world’s largest sitting Buddha statue, the statue is 167 feet high. The statue is situated on top of a hill overlooking the city of Timphu, it can be accessed by road and is about 15 minutes away from the city’s center. The word Kuensel means everything is clear and from this place you will sure enjoy a great view of the Thimphu Valley on both sides. The statute will house a temple inside it, the statue and its adjoining car park and recreational center.

Motithang Takin Preserve

The Motithang Takin Preserve also known as the Thimphu Zoo by many is a small natural preserve for the Takin Bhutan’s national animal.

It was originally a mini zoo, but it was converted in a preserve later on as the Takin. The mini zoo contained a small number of Takin but the King of Bhutan later decreed that it was improper for a Buddhist nation to keep an animal in captivity. The animals were set free and the zoo was shut down, but for some reason the Takinrefused to leave the area for the forests nearby. Instead the animals were frequently found roaming around the streets of the capital city in search for food. As a result the government decided to demarcate an 8 acre fenced location as the Motithang Takin Preserve.

 Overnight in Thimphu

Day 3.Thimphu to Punakha.

 After having breakfast, check-out of the hotel and proceed to Punakha. On the way to Punakha you will go through the Dochula Pass.

 Stop at Dochula View Point which is the first stop after leaving Thimphu. About 45 minutes from Thimphu, it offers visitors their first glimpse of the Himalayan range. The road to Punakha branches left and curls its way down to the relatively low lands of the Punakha valley. On arrival, check-in at the hotel. Later, go for sightseeing.

Punakha Dzong: Majestically standing on an island between the confluence of the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers, the city’s dzong is one of the most photogenic of all Bhutan’s ancient fortresses, and you will see pictures of it hanging in hotels and restaurants throughout the country. The dzong is joined to the mainland by an arched wooden bridge and contains many precious relics from the days when successive kings reined the kingdom from this valley. In the evening, return to your hotel and enjoy a comfortable overnight stay.

Overnight Stay at Punakha

Day 4. Punakha to Bumthang

Drive from Punakha to Bumthang via Trongsa, the gateway to central Bhutan. You can stop to visit the impressive TrongsaDzong which commands the eye from miles away. Visit the new museum in the watchtower dedicated to the Royal Wangchuk dynasty, which tells the stories of the Dzong and features personal belongings of the Kings and Queens of Bhutan. Continue your journey through some of Bhutan’s most beautiful landscapes to Bumthang.

Overnight in Bumthang

Day 5. Bumthang sightseeing

A day of sightseeing in the Bumthang valleys. Your guide will take you on a fascinating tour of a variety of sacred sites including JambaLhakhang, KurjeyLhakhang and TamshingLhakhang. Visit JakarDzong (Bhutan’s largest) and you may be interested to see Bumthang’s famous swiss cheese factory.

 Overnight in Bumthang

Day 6. Excursion to Tang Valley

Today we take an excursion to the remote Tang valley. Stop to visit MembarTsho (the burning lake), which is one of Bhutan’s most important pilgrimage sites.  Then on to Drangchel, PemaLingpa’s birthplace. You will also see some picturesque villages and temples and which is now a museum and gives an interesting insight into life in an aristocratic family in the last century. Return to Bumthang for the night.

Overnight in Bumthang

Day 7. Bumthang to Phobjikha Start your journey back west to Gangtey in the remote Phobjikha valley. Visit GangteyGompa (one of Bhutan’s oldest monasteries and recently extensively renovated) and explore the valley where the villagers continue to live a traditional Bhutanese rural lifestyle. This is the site where black-necked cranes visit in their hundreds in November each year after spending the summer in Tibet. Later Drive to Punakha

Overnight in Punakha

Day 8. Punakha to Paro

 After breakfast this morning, check-out of the hotel and proceed to Paro. On the way visit Chimi Lhakhang (Fertility Temple): Situated on a hillock in the centre of the valley below Metshina is the yellow-roofed Chimi Lhakhang, built in 1499 by the cousin of Lama Drukpa Kunley in his honour after he subdued the demoness of the nearby Dochu La with his ‘magic thunderbolt of wisdom’. A wooden effigy of the lama’s thunderbolt is preserved in the lhakhang and childless women go to the temple to receive blessings from the saint. It’s a pleasant 20-minute walk across fields from the road at Sopsokha to the temple. You will cross an archery ground before making a short climb to the temple.

Upon arrival in Paro, check-in at the hotel.

In the evening free time to explore paro town.

Day 9 Paro Sightseeing

A full day of sightseeing in and around Paro including Paro Rinpung Dzong and the National Museum. After lunch visit Drukgyel Dzong (‘fortress of victory’), and the sacred Kyichu Lhakhang (temple).

Overnight in Paro

Day 10.Hike to Tiger’s Nest

After early morning breakfast, we will take you for a morning hike up to Taktsang Monastery, also known as ‘Tiger’s Nest’. Hanging precariously and magically from a rather steep cliff, the Taktshang monastery is a monument of genuine pride for the Bhutanese nation. It defies architectural principles to the core and amazes tourists from around the world. It is a sight to behold Taktshang or the Tigers lair as the monastery is called, it is widely regarded is one of the most important monuments of spiritual significance in Bhutan. Its history is deeply associated with the visit of Guru Padmasambhava, the revered Indian saint who came to Bhutan in the 8th century AD. The cave was named Taktshang after Guru Rinpoche flew into the cave from KurtoeSingye Dzong in eastern Bhutan while riding on a tigress. When he landed in the cave, he took the wrathful form of Guru DorjiDrolo who is regarded as one of the eight manifestations of Guru Rinpoche to decimate the demons.

Overnight in Paro

 Day 11. Departure

In the morning after early breakfast we will see you off at the Paro Airport for your onward destinations.  Good Luck