Day 01: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:-

TashichhoDzong

A Buddhist monastery cum fortress at the northern edge of Thimpu the capital city of Bhutan. The original Thimphu Dzong (the Dho-Ngyen Dzong) is said to have been constructed in 1216 by Lama GyalwaLhanangpa.

Kuensel Phodrang

The Kuensel Phodrang or the Buddha point is the world’s largest sitting Buddha statue, the statue is 167 feet high.

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.” The national Memorial Chorten is located in the center of the capital city, Thimphu and is designed like a Tibetan style Chorten.

Overnight in a hotel in Thimphu

Day 02: Thimphu

After early morning breakfast, a choice to visit:-

Folk Heritage Museum

The folk heritage museum was open to the general public in 2001 upon completion. It treasures troves of culture and rich Bhutanese heritage provide rich insights into the Bhutanese ethos.

 National Textile Museum

The second important Museum that also opened its doors in 2001 is the National Textile Museum of Bhutan. During a trip to this museum you will get an up close and personal experience of the living national art of weaving.

National Institute of ZorigChusum

The art and crafts currently taught in Bhutan, were introduced to the country in the 15th century by Trenton PemaLingpa.

Bhutan National Library

Bhutan’s National Library was established in the 1967. Its mission is to preserve the literary treasures of the nation which constitute a significant element of Bhutan’s rich and vibrant cultural heritage.

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.

Jungshi Handmade Paper Factory

The Jungshi Handmade Paper Factory is a small paper factory located in Thimphu that produces paper using traditional Bhutanese methods. The paper products produced at the factory are made from Daphne or Mulberry plant bark.

Overnight in a hotel in Thimphu

Day 03: Thimphu – Punakha

Post early breakfast, you will drive towards Punakha via Dochula Pass. We will stop over for tea at Dochula (3,100 m), where on a sunny day, you can get stunning views of the Himalayan ranges.

PunakhaDzong

The Punakha Dzong or the Pungtang Dechen Phortang Dzong is located at the confluence of the Mo Chhu and the Po Chhu River, combine to form the Puna Tsang Chu which in turn is a tributary of the mighty Brahmaputra River. The Dzong was constructed by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal Wangchuck in 1638.

Overnight in a hotel in Punakha

 Day 04: Punakha – Trongsa

After an early breakfast, we will be driving down to Trongsa. Admire the view en route the valley of Wangdiphodrang. We will drive to ChimmiLhakhangto start with. The monastery stands on a small hill close to the village of Lobesa and was constructed in 1499 by NgawangChoegyel, the 14thDrukpaheirarch.

ChendebjiChorten

Located 2 kilometers away from the village of Chendebji is the ChendebjiChorten, a large Buddhist Stupa. The ChendebjiChorten is a large white structure built in likeness to the famous BodhunathStupa located in Kathmandu in Nepal. The Chorten was constructed by Lama Shinda from Tibet in the 19th century AD.

TrongsaDzong

The TrongsaDzong or the CheokhorRabdentse is one of the largest and most impressive Dzong in Bhutan. The Dzong is located on a cliff overlooking theMangde Chu river gorge. The Dzong was built at the site of a temple that was constructed in 1543, by a Drukpa Lama.

Overnight in a hotel in Trongsa

Day 05: Trongsa – Bumthang

After morning breakfast, we will drive towards Bumthang and visit

JakarDzong.

The Jakar Dzong is situated above the Jakar village in the Chamkhar valley of Bumthang. The Dzhong was originally a site of a monastery that was being constructed at the time of Lama NgagiWanchuck’s visit to Bhutan. According to legend during the construction of the Dzong a white bird emerged from the structure and perched itself on the site. In Bhutanese culture a white bird is considered to be auspicious.

JambayLhakhang.

JambayLhakhang was built by King SrongsenGampo of Tibet in 659 AD. The temple was blessed by Guru Rimpoche during his visit to Bumthang.

KurjeyLhakhang

The KurjeyLhakhang is a monastery located in the Bumthang Valley of Bhutan. The KurjeyLakahng Temple Complex is a 30 minute hike from the JambayLhakhang temple. According to legend Sendhu Raja, the King of Bumthang was very ill and invited Guru Rinpoche the founder of Buddhism in Bhutan to give him a cure for his ailment.

Namkhenyingpogoemba:

NamkheNyingpoGoemba is located on a hill just east of the town of Jakar, the administrative center of the Bumthang district. The monastery was established in 1970 and is home to about 300 monks who are learing about the Nyingampa Buddhism.

Overnight in a hotel in Bumthang

Day 06:Bumthang

Excursion to Tang Valley

Early Morning after Breakfast, you will visit TANG VALLEY and Burning Lake. The Tang Valley is the most isolated and remote of the 4 valleys that make up the district of Bumthang. The valley is located about10 kilometers away from Jakar along the east-west road towards the town of Ura.

After travelling a few kilometers we will turn off on to a gravel road that continue a further 7 kilometers along to view the Kunzangdrak Goemba monastery, was established in 1488 by Trenton Pema Lingpa

Burning lake

The Burning Lake or the Membartsho is a deep water pool in a gorge of the Tangchu River. The Burning Lake is located about 15 minutes off the road that goes towards the Tang Valley of Bumthang. The place enjoys a very special spiritual significance for the people of Bhutan. One of the most striking feature of the location is the huge number of colorful prayer flags that hang everywhere along the river gorge. As you trek down to the pool be warned that it is considered sacrilegious to enter the water body due to its holiness.

ThangbiLakhang

Since there is no motor able road to this temple the only way to get there is by foot, the temple can be reached by completing a two hour walk up the picturesque Choker Valley of Bumthang. The temple was established in 1470 by Shamar Rinpoche (the red hat Karmapa).

The UgyenCholling

Palace is located east of the district headquarters Jakar in the remote Tang Valley. The palace can be reached after completing a 20 mile journey east of which 13 miles are along a unpaved gravel road up to the village of Kezum , from where the place is about an hour’s hike away. The UgyenCholling Palace was built in the 17th century AD by Deb TsokeyDorji, a noble man from the lineage of Buddhist saint DorjiLingpa.

In evening you will go and visit the National Handicrafts Emporium

The National Handcrafts Emporium is a state run Handicrafts showroom in 4 different cities of bhutan. The emporium is run by the National Woman’s Association of Bhutan as a Non-Government

 Overnight in a hotel in Bumthang

Day 07: Bumthang – Gangtey

After breakfast you will drive to Gangtey and visit Gangtey Goemba. The Gangtey Monastery or the GangteyGoempa is an important monastery / temple associate with the Nyingmapa school of Buddhism. The Monastery is Located in the WanduePhodrangDzongkhag in central Bhutan.

Overnight in a hotel in Gangtey

Day 08: Gangtay – Paro.

After early morning breakfast, you will drive to Paro and on the way, we will visit:-

SimtokhaDzong

The SimtokhaDzong is a small Dzong located approximately 5 kilometers south of Thimphu. The Dzong is officially called the SangakZabhonPhodrang which roughly translates to the Palace of the Profound Meaning of Secret Mantras. The SimthokaDzong is said to be the first fortress to have been built by the legendary ShabdrungNgawangNamgyal in Bhutan. The fortress was constructed in the year 1629.

Overnight in a hotel in Paro

Day 09: Paro

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.

KyichuLhakhang

The Jowo Temple of Kyichu is one of the oldest temples in Bhutan. The temple was built by the Tibetan King Songsten Gampo in the 7th Century AD.

Overnight at a hotel in Paro.

Day 10: Paro Departure

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