The Blissful Western & Eastern Bhutan

Day 01: Paro – Thimphu 

The flight to Bhutan takes you over the mighty Himalayas, some of the world’s tallest mountains. Our representative from Bhutan will receive you at the Paro Airport and drive you to the capital (Thimphu.). The journey of one and half hour from paro to Thimphu is a very scenic drive. Beautiful traditional farm houses, beautiful land scape dotted with colorful prayer flags, crystal clear sky blue rivers rushing down the valleys are some very common sights.   Check in the hotel.  Lunch at a local restaurant

After lunch, we will proceed towards the National Memorial Chorten (1974) built in honor of our late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk.

The Memorial Chorten, with its golden spires shining in the sun, its tinkling bells and an endless procession of elderly people circling around it. Erected by the royal grandmother Ashi Phutsho Choeden in memory of her son the third king Jigme Dorje, it contains a fine collection of Buddhist statues and is a center of tantric Buddhism in all its complexity Memorial stupa, a stupa built in memory of the third king of Bhutan by his mother. 

Onward, we will visit Kuensel Phodrang, where the Buddha Dordena resides, it is said to be one of the largest Buddha in the world, standing at 169 feet / 51.5 meters. You will see Thimphu city from a bird’s eye view. 

In the evening, drive towards the Tashichho-Dzong 

Also known as the ‘fortress of the glorious religion’, it was initially built in 1641 and later rebuilt in its present form by King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk in 1965. The Dzong houses the main secretariat building with the Throne Room of His Majesty the King of Bhutan. The National Assembly Hall is housed in a modern building on the other side of the river from the Dzong. During the warmer summer months, the monk body headed by His Holiness the Je Khenpo resides in the Dzong. Dinner & Overnight at the hotel, Thimphu. 

Day 02: Thimphu: Hike to Tango Monastery 

After an early breakfast, we drive towards Tango Monastery.  About an hour’s drive north of Thimphu lies Tango and Cheri Monasteries, two of the premier Buddhist academic institutions in Bhutan. The hike to the beautiful monastery begins from where the road ends. The trail to Tango monastery takes about 1½ hour uphill walk through the forest.

Tango Lhakhang, Lama Gyalwa Lhanampa founded this monastic school in the 12th century and the present building was built in the 15th century by the ‘divine madman’, Lama Drukpa Kuenley.  Tango is the residence of an important Trulku (reincarnate lama) who is recognized as the seventh reincarnation of the highly respected fourth Desi, Gyalse Tenzin Rabgye, whose previous incarnation passed away in 1830.

We will drive back to town for lunch. Or you can choose to have a picnic lunch after your hike, however you would be required to inform your guide that you would like to take packed lunch for the hike, one day earlier. Your guide will make the arrangements as required and you can enjoy your lunch in the open field among the wilderness. 

After lunch we will visit the Folk Heritage Museum, founded by Her Majesty the Queen Ashi Dorji Wangchuck. The museum is dedicated to connecting people to the Bhutanese rural past through an exhibition of items and artifacts used in rural households, demonstrating customs, traditions, habits and skills. The principal exhibit is the museum building itself which is a restored three-storey traditional rammed mud and timber house. It contains household objects, typical domestic tools and equipment used by a rural family.Dinner & Overnight at the hotel, Thimphu. 

Day 03: Thimphu – Punakha 

After an early breakfast, we will drive towards Punakha. Leaving Simthokha/ Thimphu, we continue into the countryside towards the Punakha valley, the winter capital of Bhutan. The drive ascends gradually to the Dochula pass over 10300 ft, with magnificent vistas of the Himalayan range. 

The Dochula Monastery also known as the Druk Wangyal Khangzang Chortens is a tribute to the service and leadership of His Majesty the king. The design inspired by the Queen is a unique cluster of 108 Chortens seen from all directions.  The descent to Punakha is vibrant and colorful, with the fluttering prayer flags adding to a rich topography dotted by terrace farming and rivers flowing through.  

Forests filled with rhododendrons and other wild flowers welcomes you to the royal botanical park . Visit the park information centre and learn about the flora and fauna of Bhutan.
Continue the drive towards Punakha.Lunch at a local restaurant.

After lunch, we will visit the historic Punakha Dzong sprawled at the confluence of the Phochu (male) and Mochu (female) rivers.  It  was  built  by  Shabdrung   Nawang  in  1637 and  serves  as  the  winter residence  of  the  head   abbot,  Je  Khenpo  and  headquarters  of  the  district  administration.   

After lunch hike for around 45 minutes through paddy field and typical clustered village of lobesa to a temple known as fertility temple. Built in the 15th century it still remains a very popular temple amongst the Bhutanese. Hike back to the car parking, the total time kept for this hike is around 90minutes. Dinner & Overnight at the hotel, Punakha. 

Day 04: Punakha – Gangtey 

Yet another beautiful and scenic drives that the guests would enjoy. Road isn’t in the very best shape because of road widening projects going on but with comfortable cars and professional drivers with you makes the journey not so bad. Gangtey is a glacial valley situated at a height of 3000m(10000 ft). The place popularly known for the Black necked cranes. These cranes arrive in the month of late November from Tibet and goes back to Tibet in the month of April. There are very beautiful and easy hikes to explore the very isolated valley. The hike that we recommended for you is called the nature trail of Gangtey.  It takes about 2hours to finish the hike. Also visit a farm house to discover and interact with some of the locals.

Gangtey Goempa:    Perched on a small hill that rises from the valley floor, the Gangtey Monastery is the only Nyingmapa monastery on the western side of the Black Mountain Gangtey valley, Bhutan and also the biggest Nyingmapa monastery in Bhutan. The Monastery is surrounded by a large village inhabited mainly by the families of the 140 Gomchens who take care of the Monastery. Gangtey was founded by Pema Trinley, the grand son of Pema Lingpa, the famous Nyingmapa saint of Bhutan. In 1613, Pema Trinley establishes the monastery and became the first Gangtey Tulku. The religious traditions of Pema Lingpa still taught there. The second Tulku, Tenzin Legpa Dondrup (1645 to 1726), enhanced the size of Gangtey while keeping up good relations with Drukpas, and rebuilt the monastery in the form of a Dzong.

GANGTEY NATURE TRAIL

This pleasurable walk will give you a nice feeling for Phojikha Valley. From the small hilltop overlooking Gangtey Goemba, you head downhill through flower meadows to Simchubara Village and from here through beautiful forest and into the open valley. After passing a Chorten and Khewa Lhakhang, the trail ends at the Tabiding football ground. 

Black Necked Crane Information Centre: Situated on the edge of the forest and wetland along the main road of Phobjikha valley, the black-necked crane information Centre has an observation room equipped with high power telescope and spotting scopes for catching the best view of the cranes. The centre also offers display information that outline the natural and cultural history of the area. There is a small gift shop, which sells handicrafts produced by the local people. Dinner and Overnight at the Hotel, Gangtey, Phobjikha Valley. 

Day 05: Gangtey – Bumthang 

After Breakfast, visit a community school and discover and experience the life of a student in the hidden Himalayas. Attend the school national anthem in the morning and visit a classroom to get close with the local students. Lunch at a local restaurant. 

Driving further, we have a long journey to Bumthang  via Trongsa, enroute  visit Trongsa  Dzong the master piece of Bhutanese architecture and see Ta Dzong, the watch tower, built to defend this Dzong and surrounding region. Further drive across Yutong- La Pass( 3,400m/11,155ft) through coniferous forest brings you into a wide, open cultivated valley known as the Chumey valley. Dinner & Overnight at the Hotel, Bumthang.

Day 06: Bumthang : Excursion to Ura valley –Sightseeing

After breakfast, we begin our journey to the Ura valley (48Km) that takes us across blue pine forests & wonderful views of the Choskar & Chhumey valleys. Visit Ura Lhakhang, which will give you an insight into the lifestyle of the people of central Bhutan. Visit some local houses in village and talk to the local people casually and understand their daily way of life. Ura is one of the most beautiful and interesting villages in Bumthang.

The landscape of the Ura valley is different to others, with round sweeping slopes, rich pasture and wide fields. At the bottom you will see the large and unusual village with its cluster of big houses united by paved alleys of stone, a rare sight in Bhutan. The big community monastery dominates the village. Which is dedicated to Guru Rinpoche (the great teacher) and they have Ura festival, which usually take place in the 2nd week of May or sometimes in June, dependent on Bhutanese lunar calendar. 

Options include farm house visits: 

Take a walk from the Jambay Lhakang continue to Kurjey Lhakang. After Kurjey, you will cross the suspension bridge over to Tamshing Lhakang. 

 Continue walking to the Swiss farm and then on to the main town area. The vehicle will meet you at this point and drive you to visit other sites in and around Jakar; the cheese factory, the castle of the ‘White Bird’, Jakar Dzong perhaps one or two local temples and a walk around to visit woodcraft workshop, and the five water wheels behind Wangdicholing Old Palace. 

Dinner and Overnight at the hotel, Bumthang.

Day 07: Bumthang – Punakha 

  Early morning we begin our journey back to the central region of the country. Early evening, we will check into the hotel and the evening is at leisure. Dinner & Overnight at the hotel, Punakha. 

Day 08: Punakha – Paro 

After an early breakfast we will drive towards Paro. Visit the National Museum, located in Paro Dzong’s 17th-century watchtower. The building itself boasts an unusual shape said to resemble a conch shell.                                             

 See a fine collection of old thangka paintings and textiles, ancient weapons, and Bhutanese artifacts. The museum, by the way, is considered a temple due to the religious objects it houses, and as such we are asked to remove our shoes and to move inside in a clockwise direction. 

Visit the Paro Dzong, also called Rinpung Dzong, the Fortress of a Heap of Jewels. Constructed in the early 15th century as a diminutive fort, it was presented to the religious and political authority of Shabdrung Ngarvang, who developed it into a much more commanding fortress in 1646. This is without doubt one of the kingdom’s finest examples of traditional Bhutanese architecture. Once, great catapults here flung stones at invading Tibetans. Today the dzong houses a monastic school. Two hundred resident monks take meals in a communal room. Several interesting paintings here include an unusual Bhutanese interpretation of a mandala, a diagram of the cosmos. 

Return to our transport crossing the traditional wooden covered bridge called NYAMAI-ZAM which spans the Paro River. Earlier, in times of war, the bridge was removed each time to protect the Dzong!
                                                                                                                                                                    The rest of the day is at leisure, you can take a walk down Paro’s main street, straight and windswept, its occasional idlers leaning against the store-fronts. It’s another opportunity to interact with the local people and visit the interesting small shops occupying the ground levels that provides the basic necessities. Lunch at a local farm house in a village with the family.

The rest of the day is at leisure, you can take a walk down Paro’s main street, straight and windswept, its occasional idlers leaning against the store-fronts. It’s another opportunity to interact with the local people and visit the interesting small shops occupying the ground levels that provides the basic necessities.   Dinner & Overnight at the hotel, Paro. 

Day 09:  Paro: Hike to Tiger’s Nest 

After breakfast, we drive around 25 minutes to Ramthanka base for a hike to view one of  Bhutan’s most revered pilgrimage sites of the Buddhist world, the Taktshang Lhakhang, popularly known as the “Tiger’s Nest” Monastery. The trek offers spectacular views of this sacred monastery perched precariously on a sheer rock face 3000 ft above the valley floor. Legend has it that Guru Rimpoche, father of Bhutan’s stream of Mahayana Buddhism arrived in the Paro valley more than a millennium ago on a back of a tigress. He meditated for 3 months in a cave which was converted into this monastery. The only sounds heard here are the murmurs of wind, water and the chanting of monks.

We begin our hike from the base to the cafeteria, which will take us at least an hour and a half. From here it’s about an hour’s trek through some stunning landscape to reach the monastery. 

On our return, we stop by once more at the Cafeteria for lunch. Later, we begin our descent to Ramthanka base. 

Enroute, we will drive to the ruins of Drukgyel Dzong:  This Dzong, with a delightful village nestling at its foot, was built in 1649 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal to commemorate his victory over the Tibetan and Mongolian invaders. Historically and strategically this Dzong withstood all its glory and was featured in 1914 vide National Geographic magazine. The glory of Drukgyel Dzong remained even when it was destroyed by fire in 1951. On a clear day, one can see the commanding view of Mount. Jhomolhari(7314m) from the the Dzong.

In the afternoon we will drive back to Paro. In the evening you will have the option to roam the streets of Paro town to shop for authentic Bhutanese arts and crafts. 

The rest of the evening is at leisure, relax at the hotel or visit the Paro town to look for some souvenirs. Dinner & Overnight at the hotel, Paro. 

Day 10: Departure 

After an early breakfast in the hotel we drive to the Paro International Airport for departure to your onward destination.

The rate given below is inclusive of sustainable development fund (SDF) of US $ 100 per person per night and Bhutan visa fee US $ 40 per person.

Entrance fees for monuments and festivals visits to be paid separately.

• Solo travel: US $ 3100 per person.
• 2 persons: US $ 2560 per person.
• 3 people or more: US $ 2380 per person.

Nature of trip: Private and guided Bhutan trip.

Tour cost Includes

1. A fifty percent discount shall be granted on the prevailing SDF of USD 200/ for US Dollar paying tourists visiting Bhutan, The above incentives will come into effect from 1 September 2023 and shall remain effective for four years till 31 August 2027. This sustainable development fee goes towards free education, free healthcare, poverty alleviation, along with the building of infrastructure.
2. 2% Government Tax per Person per Night.
3. All Meals.
4. Daily Mineral Water.
5. English Language Speaking Guide.
6. Comfortable and Luxurious Imported Cars for Internal Transportation with Skilled Driver.
7. The Government set package rates is valid for accommodation on twin sharing basis.
8. A minimum of 3 star accommodation (4 & 5 star may require an additional premium).

Tour cost Excludes

1. Airfare international & Domestic.
2. Travel Insurance.
3. Personal shopping.
4. Alcohol.
5. Laundry.
6. Tips for Guide & Driver.
7. Entrance fees for Museums, Monastery and Temple.