Truly Bhutan

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13 Days

Bhutanese Village Tour

Overview of the 13-Day Bhutan Exploration Program

Embark on a captivating 13-day journey across Bhutan’s mystical landscapes, where you’ll delve deep into the heart of its rich culture and stunning natural beauty. This meticulously crafted adventure takes you through ancient dzongs and monasteries, serene valleys, and rugged mountain paths, offering a unique blend of historical enlightenment, spiritual discovery, and exhilarating physical activity.

Experience the essence of Bhutan in its rural countryside, which truly embodies the spirit of the nation. With Bhutan’s introduction to planned modern development in the 1960s, much of the country remains deeply rooted in its agrarian traditions. Over 60% of Bhutanese people are engaged in agriculture and livestock rearing, offering an authentic glimpse into their everyday lives.

As you traverse through these remote, untouched areas of Bhutan, immerse yourself in local culture. Sample traditional Bhutanese cuisine, visit farmers, and engage with families, children, monks, and nuns to gain a deeper understanding of their way of life. Revitalize yourself with traditional stone baths and explore key cultural landmarks including dzongs, temples, and monasteries, each with its own story and significance. This journey is not just a trip but an intimate expedition into the heart and soul of Bhutan.

Highlights of the Program

  • Day 1: Arrival in Paro & Transfer to Thimphu: Begin your adventure with an acclimatization day in Thimphu. Visit the Changangkha temple, observe the Takin reserve, and hike to the scenic Wangditse temple. Conclude the day with a visit to the impressive Thimphu Dzong.
  • Day 2: Tango Monastery Hike & Cultural Visits: Experience a short hike to the Tango Monastery, followed by a riverside picnic. The afternoon includes visits to the Folk Heritage Museum and the Zorig Chusum Institute, ending with a stroll around the Memorial Chorten.
  • Day 3: Dochula Rhododendron Hike & Punakha: Journey through rhododendron forests to Punakha, stopping at Dochula pass. Explore Punakha Dzong and learn about its history.
  • Day 4: Khamsum Yule Hike & Punakha Vicinity Visits: Embark on two short hikes, including a visit to Khamsum Yule Namgyal Stupa and Chimi Lhakhang temple, with an optional river rafting experience.
  • Day 5: Transfer to Gangtey & Phobjikha Valley Hike: Traverse to the Phobjikha Valley, enjoying a scenic hike through its picturesque landscapes.
  • Day 6: Phobjikha to Bumthang: Visit the Gangtey Monastery and drive to Trongsa, exploring the historical dzong and Chumey Village.
  • Day 7: Tharpaling Monastery Hike: A full-day hike to the Tharpaling Monastery offers breathtaking mountain views and a serene trek through forests.
  • Day 8: Bumthang Vicinity Visits: Discover the cultural gems of Bumthang, including the Jakar Dzong and Kurje Lhakhang, with a village farmhouse lunch.
  • Day 9: Excursions to Tang Valley: Explore Ugyen Choling Palace Museum and Nangkhar Lhakhang, with a hike through charming villages.
  • Day 10: Bumthang to Wangdi/Punakha: Journey back, visiting weavers in Zungney village and the Trongsa Museum.
  • Day 11: Transfer to Paro Valley: Return to Paro to visit Rinpung Dzong and other cultural landmarks, with an overnight stay in a traditional farmhouse.
  • Day 12: Tiger’s Nest Hike: A highlight of the trip, hike or horse ride to the iconic Taktsang Temple (Tiger’s Nest), with an afternoon visit to Drukgyel Dzong and Kyichu Lhakhang.
  • Day 13: Departure: Depart from Paro with cherished memories of a unique Bhutanese adventure.

Throughout the journey, travelers will stay in a mix of comfortable hotels and traditional farmhouses, offering a genuine Bhutanese experience. Each day is carefully crafted to ensure a balance of adventure, relaxation, and cultural immersion, making this program ideal for those seeking an in-depth exploration of Bhutan’s wonders.

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Detailed Program

Acclimatization day in Thimphu (2,400m). After lunch visits the Changangkha temple, where locals bring their children to receive a blessing, and babies are given their names by the lama. Then drive to the takin reserve to see the national animal of Bhutan.

From here drive to the viewpoint and take a short hike to Wangditse temple. The route passes a mass of prayer flags and a small farm before descending along a small forest path to reach Wangditse temple (under renovation so not accessible). From here the level path takes you full circle and affords good views of Thimphu dzong. Descend by car to visit the impressive Dzong.

overnight hotel in Thimphu.

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Start early for a short hike to the Tango monastery. Drive along country lanes on the way to the trail and then hike uphill for just under one hour before reaching Tango Monastery, one of the most important institutes of Buddhist studies for the monks of Bhutan. A picnic lunch will be served near the riverside before returning to Thimphu.

In the afternoon, visit the Folk Heritage Museum and the Institute for the 13 Traditional Arts (Zorig Chusum). In the early evening visit Buddha point and take a stroll around the Memorial Chorten, where you will meet people from all walks of life. You will also have some free time for visiting the town center. You may wish to visit the Post office where you can see the stamp collections and even have your photo taken and your stamp made.

overnight hotel in Thimphu.

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Start early and drive towards Punakha. On the way stop at Dochula pass (3,000m) to take in the views of the Himalayan peaks and circumambulate the chorten.

A 40-minute downhill hike through rhododendron forests will give you a breath of fresh air before you start on a beautiful two-hour walk through villages and farmland. In the spring you will walk through small villages, skirt green rice terraces and see various exotic trees, plants, and birds. In the fall the farmers will be harvesting their rice terraces. You may even see eagles swooping below you deep into the forested valleys.

Enjoy a picnic lunch in the fields, near a temple, and continue for another 2-hour walk through villages until you reach the road where your vehicle will meet you. Proceed towards Punakha (1,200m). Punakha Dzong was the old capital of Bhutan and has an imposing temple full of colorful carvings, paintings, and enormous statues. Cross the recently restored cantilever bridge to enter the dzong. After visiting the dzong visit the exhibition, which details the bridge restoration process.

& overnight Farm House in Punakha.

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Today you will do two short hikes. Start early in the morning for a short hike to Khamsum Yule Namgyal stupa for views over the Punatsangchhu River. Then drive to visit the Chimi Lhakhang temple, the seat of the so-called “Divine Madman. “After lunch, set out on a drive towards Talo monastery. The interior of the monastery is not open to tourists but you can visit the courtyard and enjoy the view over the valley.

A series of short hikes will take you below the monastery crisscrossing the main road at various intervals and ending with a two-hour downhill hike past a village, a school, and through some forested areas, that will lead you back to Punakha dzong. Alternative option: half day of river rafting in the Punatsangchhu river (book with us in advance).

& overnight Farm House in Punakha

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Drive along winding Himalayan mountain roads from Punakha via Wangdi to the high glacial valley of Phobjikha (3½ hrs, which is at an altitude of 2,800metres. Here you are likely to see grazing yaks. This valley has some idyllic-looking rural scenery and consists of a central marshland, winter home of the rare black-necked cranes, and farms where potatoes and other high-altitude crops are grown. 

Take an afternoon hike of 3 hours through the valley, alongside the pristine river, and through forests and villages. Alternative option: cycle tour in the valley & overnight Farm House in Phobjikha.

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Visit Gangtey Monastery and the RSPN information center, to learn more about the black-necked crane and drive to the viewpoint before reaching Trongsa and taking the old path that used to be the main access to Trongsa dzong. Descend sharply to a wooden cantilever bridge and then climb back up towards the Dzong’s main entrance.

This 1½hour hike will make you realize quite how the dzong dominated the route between the east and west of Bhutan. Visit Trongsa Dzong. Drive to Chumey Village (1½hrs). Be sure to wander around a little to see daily life in a very typical rural village in the Chumey valley & overnight at FarmHouse in Chumey.

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Today pack your bags in the vehicle and set off with a picnic on a full-day hike to Tharpaling Monastery. Drive up a rough road that leads to Tharpaling monastery, which is perched on the mountain at 3,500m. Visit the monastery at Tharpaling, which has its resident monks and a very old temple. From the monastery hike directly uphill to the stupa of Ngulshey Khen Rimpoche, a teacher of the Dalai Lama.

From here it’s a 1-hour hike to the ridge, from where you will get good views of the mountain ranges in the distance. From here the trek is downhill all the way, through rhododendron, dwarf bamboo, and mixed conifer forests. Your vehicle will meet you at Lamai Goempa and drive to your hotel in Jakar. (For a tougher hike, this itinerary can be done in the opposite direction but must be planned since you would stay overnight in Jakar).

& overnight Farm House in Bumthang.

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Sightseeing in Bumthang. Visit Jakar dzong, Jambay Lhakhang and Kurje Lhakhang and have lunch in a village farmhouse before setting out on a short village hike to Tamshing monastery. 

Return towards town, stopping off at Karchu Dratshang where you may get a chance to see the monks debating in the Tibetan style & overnight Farm House in Bumthang.

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Visit Ugyenchholing Palace Museum, an enormous and ancient building that used to be the home of a local lord and houses a good range of the original accouterments of daily life. From here take a short hike through the villages of Ugyen Choling, Gamling, and Kharab before reaching Namkhar Lhakhang where you will meet the vehicle. Return towards Jakar, stopping at Lake Mebartsho, where the revered treasure revealer, Pema Lingpa retrieved a burning butter lamp from the deep waters & overnight Farm House in Bumthang.

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Drive from Wangdi to Paro (3⅓hrs). En route to Paro, you can see perched on the hill, Simtokha Dzong, the first dzong built in Bhutan by the Shabdrung. After lunch in Paro town, cross the traditional bridge and visit the impressive Rinpung Dzong, which is featured in Bertolucci’s film “Little Buddha.”

Descend into Paro town for some free time & overnight Farm House in Paro.

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Morning hike or horse ride to Taktsang temple, also known as the Tiger’s Nest, which is built into the sheer rock face at an altitude of 3,000 meters. This is a highlight of the tour and involves a 2-hour uphill hike. The visit to the temple and the return downhill to the base make this a 4-hour round trip. This hike requires a certain level of fitness but is not excessively difficult.

In the afternoon drive towards the ruined fortress Drugyel Dzong from where you can get a view of the distant Jomolhari Mountain and enjoy the rural scenery of the valley with its small villages and farms scattered here and there.  On the return to town, visit Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest temples in Bhutan. You may wish to book a massage or a hot-stone bath at one of several hotel spas to relax after your busy day.

& overnight Farm House in Paro.

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Flight departure from Paro. Tashi Delek!

  • Inclusion
  • Exclusion
  • Insurance
  • Airport pick-up and drop-off by private vehicle.
  • 3-star accommodation (4 & 5 stars may require an additional premium update).
  • Bhutan visa fee – including all necessary processing
  • Route Permit
  • Three meals per day during your stay in Bhutan
  • A licensed Bhutanese tour guide
  • All land transportation by private vehicle
  • Camping equipment and haulage for trekking tours
  • Sightseeing as per itinerary
  • Monuments entrance fees where applicable
  • Drinking water
  • All internal taxes and charges
  • A sustainable development fee of $200. (This sustainable development fee goes towards free education, free healthcare, and poverty alleviation, along with the building of infrastructure.)
  • Airfare & Travel Insurance
  • Expenses of personal nature, Tips to guides and drivers
  • Expenses occurred due to unavoidable events i.e. road wrecks, flight delays etc.

Package does not include insurance of any kinds, and that you are required to obtain separate coverage from your home country before your trip begins.

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