Bhutan is the last Mahayana Buddhist Kingdom, and the teachings of this school of Buddhism are a living faith among its people. Spirituality exists even in the urban centers where the spinning of prayer wheels, the murmur of mantras and the glow of butter lamps in the houses are still important features of their every day life. Bhutan's unique architecture is one of the most striking physical features; the colour of house and buildings is a distinct source of aesthetic pleasure. The Dzongs, which are 300 to 400 hundred years old, are built on a scale without the help of any drawings and hammering a single nail.
Bamboo,ornaments of gold and silver and highly developed weaving kills represent an advancedart form. Various cultural trips into Bhutan introduce visitors to the unique aspects of Bhutanese culture, including sacred masked dance festivals and pilgrimage sites.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Paro (by Druk Air) - Transfer to Thimphu. The flight into Paro on our national carrier, Druk Air, is a befitting introduction to the spectacular beauty of our country. In clear weather, magnificent
views of the world's highest peaks give way to the lush green Paro valley as you land. First gift from Bhutan will be the cool, clean fresh air as you step
out of the plane. After clearing customs and visa control you will be brief by our guide and transferred to Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan. The drive
will take around 1 hour. Thimphu has a population of about 100,000. The town is made up of just three lines of shops and is the only capital in the world
without traffic lights. In the evening, we will visit the Handicrafts Emporium, where all types of Bhutanese handicrafts are made and sold, overnight at Hotel.
Day 2: Thimphu sightseeing - Punakha. In the morning visit t he National Memorial Chorten, built in honor of our late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk; visit the Folk Heritage Museum, which is dedicated to connecting people to the Bhutanese rural past through exhibition of items and artifacts used in rural households, Textile Museum, where the art of traditional weaving is still kept alive and preserved through exhibition and has a good collection of old textiles which are rich in its color and design. Lunch served at a restaurant in Thimphu. After lunch depart to Punakha, an ancient capital of Bhutan. Leaving Thimphu the road climbs steeply through a forest of pine and cedar, festooned with hanging lichen high up near Dochula pass (3,050 m). This pass often offers panoramic views of the Himalayan mountain ranges. After stopping for tea and the view, we descend along a series of hairpin bends to the fertile valley of Punakha and drive to your hotel and check in. Visit Punakha Dzong winter seat of the Je Khenpo (chief abbot of Bhutan) and the Monk Body, remarkably located between the rivers of the Mo (Female) Chu and Pho (Male) Chu. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 3: Punakha - Trongsa - Bumthang.. Today we start early for the fabulous drive to the central valleys of Bhutan. The drive to Bumthang via Trongsa is approximately 7 hours crossing over Pele La pass (3,300 m) and Yotongla pass (3,400 m). "The Central Road", across the Black Mountains, was completed 30 years ago, and it brought about great changes to the people in central Bhutan. We pass Wangdue, one of the major towns and district headquarters of Western Bhutan where we make a short stop to view the Wangdue Phodrang Dzong dramatically located on the spur of a hill at the confluence of the Tsang Chu and Dang Chu rivers. We then climb steadily passing through semi-tropical vegetation and then to Pelela Pass (3,300 m) with an alpine environment of rhododendrons and dwarf bamboo. This pass is traditionally considered the boundary between West and East Bhutan. If the weather is clear the Himalayan ranges can be seen, particularly the peak of Jhomulhari (7,314 m) to the west. En route we cross Chendebji Chorten built many centuries ago to suppress a demon. In Trongsa we visit the impressive Trongsa Dzong, ancestral home of the ruling dynasty. In olden days the Dzong commanded the passage between East and West Bhutan. We then drive to Bumthang valley (described as "one of the most beautiful spot in the Himalayas" across the Yotongla pass (3,400 m). Dinner and overnight at hotel.
Day 4: Bumthang sightseeing. This is one of the most spectacular valleys in Bhutan and also the heartland of Buddhism. The Guru and his lineage of Tertons (treasure finders), have led to the sprouting of many temples in the valley. In the morning we visit Jambay Lhakhang (one of the oldest temples in Bhutan built in 7 th century) and visit Kurjey Lhakhang (where the Guru Rinpoche subdued a local demon and left his body imprint on a rock). ).hike to visit the Tamshing Monastery (one of the oldest monastic schools built by Terton Pema Lingpa) After lunch hike to Thangbi valley across the suspension bridge and visit the Thangbi Lhakhang built in the 14th century, on the way back visit Jakar Dzong, (seat of the district administration ). Evening stroll in Chamkhar Town. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
Day 5: Bumthang - Gangtey - Wangdue. Today after breakfast we drive back to Wangdue via Gangtey and over the Pelela pass (3,300m). The drive is approximately six and a half hours, climbing steadily through semi-tropical vegetation with an alpine environment of rhododendrons and dwarf bamboo. Gangtey lies towards the east of Punakha and Wangdue on the flanks of the Black Mountains. There is an old monastery of Gangtey Gompa dating back to the 17th century. A few kilometres past the Gompa on the valley floor is the fascinating valley of Phobjikha. The gently sloping hill sides of Phobjikha is described as "the most beautiful valley in the Himalayas". This is the winter home of black-necked cranes that migrate from the arid plains in the north to pass winter in milder and lower climates. After the visit to Gangtey Monastery continue your drive to Wangdue. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
Day 6: Wangdue - Thimphu - Paro. After breakfast drive over the Dochola pass (3050m) to Paro with a lunch stop and some shopping at Thimphu. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
Day 7: Paro sightseeing - hike to Taktshang. After breakfast drive the winding road to Drukgyal Dzong, the ruined fortress, which was once defended this valley from Tibetan invasions. We then drive to Ramthangkha, the terminating point of the motorable road and then hike up to the Taktsang monastery (Tiger's nest). The hike up to the cafeteria will take around two hours of average walking speed and is located above 2,950 meters (9,678 feet) above sea level. At the view point enjoy the stunning view of the monastery, where Guru Padmasambhava landed on the back of a tigeress in the 8 th century. If you desire then you can hike up to the monastery and visit the monastery which contains thirteen holy places. Taktsang is one of the most venerated pilgrim sites of the Himalayan World. The monastic complex clings to the rock towering 900 meters above the valley (over 2,600 feet). After the visit to the temples walk back to the cafeteria for your lunch. After lunch we then walk back to the road point and then visit Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest temples in Bhutan. In the afternoon visit National Museum, Ta dzong, an ancient watchtower which now houses the National Museum and visit Paro Rinpung Dzong, built in 17th century to defend the valley against Tibetan invaders. The Dzong is now used as an administration centre and school for monks. Evening stroll through main town of Paro. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
Day8: Depart from Paro (by Druk Air). In the morning our representatives from Country Travels will escort you to Paro International Airport and bid Good-bye and pleasant flight back home.
Note: This itinerary is a sample itinerary intended to give you a general idea of the likely trip schedule. We have designed this itinerary including the best cultural and natural aspects of this country. We can further customize the itinerary to suit your specific interest and needs to our valued customers.
