Explore Bhutan

Today, you will arrive at the International Airport at Paro flying aboard the National Carrier, Druk Air or Bhutan Airlines over some of the most scintillating views of the Himalayan Region to a warm welcome by the tour staff. You will then be taken for lunch in the town center of Paro. Then we begin with your sightseeing by driving to Thimphu

• On the drive to Thimphu, we stop at Tachogang Lhakhang Bridge for a photo session
• Visit the Buddha Dordenma in the afternoon, which is a gigantic statue of Shakyamuni Buddha overlooking the Thimphu Valley.
• Then, it is the Heritage Museum, which is housed in a large house built 300 years ago.
• The day finally ends with a visit to Tashichho Dzong, which is a Buddhist Monastery cum fortress built-in 1216 by Lama Gyalwa Lhanapa.

Completing breakfast, we go to the Memorial Chorten, a Chorten built-in memory of the late Druk Gyalpo, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck in 1974. Then we head to the Takin Zoo, to see the strange-looking Takin that is the national animal of Bhutan. Once this is completed, we drive to Punakha:

• The drive takes us over the Dochula Pass at 3,100 meters. Where we stop to get a panoramic view of the high snow-capped mountain peaks.
• Punakha dzong – In the afternoon, we pay a visit to the Punakha Dzong, a fortress constructed in 1637 by the first Rinpoche Ngawang Namgyal, which is the second oldest and largest in Bhutan
• Cantilever Bridge – We cross the cantilever bridge to the other side of Po Chhu River to the other side. This wood covered bridge gives us a lovely view of the immediate surroundings.
• Chimi Lhakhang – Is a temple five kilometers to the east of Punakha Dzong, which we pay a visit to. It is a temple dedicated to Drukpa Kunley, affectionately called the divine madma

Today, after an early breakfast we take a seven-hour drive to Bumthang via Trongsa. In Trongsa, we stop off at the large Trongsa Dzongs which was built in 1513. Then we continue onto Bumthang. When we reach there, we check into a hotel for the night.

We spend the whole day sightseeing in Bumthang today. We start by visit:

• Member Tsho where scriptures are said to be hidden by Padmasambhava
• Kurjey Lhakang, where the remains of the first three kings of Bhutan are
• The Jakar Dzongs in the next town
• Jambay Lhakhang one of the most ancient temples in Bhutan
• Amazing Monastery, the most important Nyingma institution in the countr

Today we take a visit to the Tang Valley. It is an eleven Km drive and arrives at the Pema Tekchok Choeling Shedra, a large nunnery where stop for the view and then carry onto Ta Rimochen Lhakhang and pay a visit to the temple. Then we come down to the village of Ogyen and see how the people live there, from where we return back to Bumthang.

Today, we take a drive to the village of Ura in Bhutan which is in close proximity to Bumthang. Its main attraction is the Ura Dzongs and the medieval atmosphere that prevails in the villages there. Women especially still wear sheep’s clothing. After confronting the sights and sounds of Ura, we drive back to Bumthang.

Today from Bumthang we drive to Gangtey drive onto Gantey over the Tashi-la Pass. In Gangtey, we pay a visit to the Gangtey Gompa on the hilltop. We stay the night at the hotel.

From Gangtey, we drive onto Thimphu through the rural but burlesque countryside stop at monastery and shrines at some village along the way.

Today, after completing breakfast, we take a two-hour drive to Haa Valley, which is a pass to the remotes parts of Bhutan in the North West. Take a short walk will take you across the most scenic views of the valley and the alpine Kalli Pass. After enjoying our excursion in Haa Valley, we return to Paro.

Today, we drive to the base of Taktsang Monastery and take a two and a half hike up to the Taktsang Monastery, through some groves of pine and rhododendron trees with views of the surrounding land changing increase in elevation. The Taktsang Monastery which seems perched against the cliff is nearly 3000 meters above sea level. It is believed the Guru Rinpoche came flying here on the back of a tigress to meditate for three months. Later we return to Paro and can spend the remaining time around the streets of Paro.

Now, since your tour is complete, we shall take you to the International Airport and bid you farewell for your flight to your next destination.

Note: This itinerary is a sample itinerary intended to give you a general idea of a trip to Bhutan. We can tailor an itinerary to suit your requirements and interests. Please contact us to customized the exact itinerary you desire.