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.
Places and attractions:
- Tashichho Dzong
- Semthoka Dzong
- Dochu La Pass
- Memorial Chorten
- Changangkha Lhakhang
- Zangdopelri
- The Tallest Buddha Image
- Tango And Cheri Monasteries
- The Handicrafts Emporium
- Traditional Medicine
- Zorig Chusum Institute
- National Library
- Weekend Market
- Botanical Garden
- Thadrak Goemba
- Tashigang Goemba
- Chizhing Samtencholing Lhakhang
Accommodation options:
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.
Places and attractions:
- Tashichho Dzong
- Semthoka Dzong
- Dochu La Pass
- Memorial Chorten
- Changangkha Lhakhang
- Zangdopelri
- The Tallest Buddha Image
- Tango And Cheri Monasteries
- The Handicrafts Emporium
- Traditional Medicine
- Zorig Chusum Institute
- National Library
- Weekend Market
- Botanical Garden
- Thadrak Goemba
- Tashigang Goemba
- Chizhing Samtencholing Lhakhang
Accommodation options:
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.
Places and attractions:
- Punakha Dzong
- Khamsum Yulley
- Talo Goenpa
- Nalanda Buddhist College
- Chorten Nyingpo Lhakhang
- Sangchen Dorji Lhuendrup
- Limukha Village
- Ritsha Village
Accommodation options:
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
Places and attractions:
- Punakha Dzong
- Khamsum Yulley
- Talo Goenpa
- Nalanda Buddhist College
- Chorten Nyingpo Lhakhang
- Sangchen Dorji Lhuendrup
- Limukha Village
- Ritsha Village
Accommodation options:
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.
Places and attractions:
- Dargay Goemba
- Gangtey Gompa
- Temple Of Sha Radap
- Gaselo & Nahee Village
- Adha And Rukha Village
- Shaa Region Of Wangdiphodrang
- Bhey Langdrag Nye
Accommodation options:
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.
Places and attractions:
Accommodation options:
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.
Places and attractions:
Accommodation options:
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.
Places and attractions:
Accommodation options:
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.
Places and attractions:
Accommodation options:
En route, visit weavers at Zungney village and stop to visit the dzong (if not already visited), and climb the steps to the Trongsa Museum, housed in the beautifully restored watchtower & overnight Farm House in Punakha/Wangdi.
Places and attractions:
- Dargay Goemba
- Gangtey Gompa
- Temple Of Sha Radap
- Gaselo & Nahee Village
- Adha And Rukha Village
- Shaa Region Of Wangdiphodrang
- Bhey Langdrag Nye
Accommodation options:
- Amankora Gangtey
- Dekiling Hotel
- Dewachen Gangtey
- Dragon’s Nest Hotel
- Gakiling Guest House
- Gangtey Guest House
- Gangtey Lodge
- Punatsangchhu Cottages
- Sigyal Dorji Farm House
- The Valley Camp – Phobjikha
- Wangchuk Lodge Phobjikha
Places and attractions:
- Punakha Dzong
- Khamsum Yulley
- Talo Goenpa
- Nalanda Buddhist College
- Chorten Nyingpo Lhakhang
- Sangchen Dorji Lhuendrup
- Limukha Village
- Ritsha Village
Accommodation options:
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.
Places and attractions:
- Rinpung Dzong
- Drukgyel Dzong
- Taktshang
- Kyichu Lhakhang
- Kila Gompa
- Dungtse Lhakhang
- Tachog Lhakhang
- Dzongdrakha
Accommodation options:
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.
Places and attractions:
- Rinpung Dzong
- Drukgyel Dzong
- Taktshang
- Kyichu Lhakhang
- Kila Gompa
- Dungtse Lhakhang
- Tachog Lhakhang
- Dzongdrakha
Accommodation options:
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.
