This tour is a road trip around the best of Bhutan, it takes in a circuit beginning and ending in the c city of Paro. One of the major highlights of this tour is a visit to the stunning Taktsang Monastery, better known as the tiger’s nest. This tour takes in all the best sights and culture of Bhutan, it visits some stunning valleys and small villages allowing you to get up close and personal with the friendly and welcoming Bhutanese people and the stunning natural beauty of this country. Along the way, you visit glaciers and get awesome views of the eastern Himalayan range. It’s a breathtaking discovery tour of this rich and vibrant land.
Outline Itinerary:
Day 01: Arrival Paro (2250m) – Thimphu (2350m)
Day 02: Thimphu – Punakha (2320m)
Day 03: Punakha – Trongsa – Bumthang
Day 04: In Bumthang- Sightseeing
Day 05: Bumthang – Puankha (2320m)
Day 06: Punakha – Paro (2250m)
Day 07: Paro – Hike to Taktsang Monastery ‘Tiger’s Nest’ (3120m)
Day 08: Paro depart
Cost Includes
- Private transportation.
- All necessary travel permits.
- English speaking local guide.
- Accommodation on a twin room basis.
- Sightseeing and monastery entrance fees as per the itinerary.
- Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
- Bhutan Visa fee.
- Government royalty and all the taxes.
- Bottled drinking water.
Cost Excludes
- Flight fare.
- Travel / Medical Insurance.
- Additional cost due to natural calamity and unforeseen circumstance.
- Personal expenses such as drink, guide tips & etc.
- Luxury hotels/resorts available on supplement cost.
Detailed Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival at Paro and Drive to Thimphu – Sightseeing in Thimphu
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.
Day 2: Thimphu – Drive to Punakha for Sightseeing.
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 madman. This temple is visited by infertile couples.
Day 3: Drive from Punakha to Bumthang via Trongsa
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.
Day 4: In Bumthang- Sightseeing
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 country.
• The Padtshaling Gompa, the monastery was established in the 1760s
Day 5: Drive from Bumthang to Punakha
Today, we return to Punakha retracing our drive back which should take us eight hours through the rural but beautiful countryside in Bhutan. When we reach Punakha, we check into our hotel for rest.
Day 6: Drive from Punakha to Paro
Today, we return to Paro, crossing the Dochula Pass once more to the sights of the Himalayas. Where we do some sightseeing around:
• Rinpung Dzong – We first pay a visit to the Rinpung Dzong which was built in the 15th century by Lama Drungal. It is now a monastery cum administrative block of Paro and Punakha.
• Airport View Point – Here which is an elevated point where we are able to see the look of the Paro valley and the dramatic landings and take-off of planes
• Drukgyel Dzong – Next, we head for Drukgyel Dzong, built by Tenzin Drukdra in 1649, as a commemoration over the Tibetan Invasion Victory.
• The National Museum – Which houses relics of Bhutanese art and artifacts
• Druk Choeding Temple – Is a shrine dedicated that has the war artifacts and the relics of the future Buddha.
• Finally, we end the day with a visit to some farm houses at the edge of Paro.
Day 7: Paro – Visit to Taktsang Monastery
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.
Day 8: Depart Bhutan
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.
