- Duration: 5 nights / 6 days
- Accommodation: Hotels, Resorts and Guest Houses.
- Distance & Driving time:
- Paro to Thimphu – 54 Km – 2 Hrs
- Thimphu to Punakha – 76 Km – 3 Hrs
- Punakha to Wangdue – 17 Km – 40 Mins
- Highest altitude: Dochula Pass (3150m)
- Visit to the largest Statue of Buddha in Bhutan
- Memorial Chorten
- Punakha Dzong (built in 1637)
- A Panoramic view of the Himalayas from the Dochula Pass (3140m)
- Chimi Lhakhang – “The Temple of Fertility”
- A farm house visit
- Excursion to famous Taktsang – “The Tiger’s Nest”
- Visit to Drugyal Dzong – “The Fortress of victory” (built in1644)
Day 01. Arrive at Paro (2280 meters)
You will be received by a representative from Druk & Drukpa Travels at the airport and drive to Thimphu. After lunch, visit Memorial Choeten, a monument dedicated to the late third King of Bhutan, His Majesty King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. The inside paintings and statues provide rare insights into the Buddhist Philosophy. Visit Changangkha Monastery, Takin Preserve, Sangaygang (from here you can see the picturesque view of the Thimphu valley), the largest and tallest statue of Buddha, and Tashichho Dzong.
Overnight in Hotel.
Day 02. Thimphu – Punakha (1310 meters, 72 Km, 3 hours drive)
After breakfast, drive to Punakha via Dochula Pass. If the weather is clear, we stop for a while to get a glimpse of the towering Himalayas.
In Punakha, visit the Punakha Dzong built in 1637 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel. It is situated at the confluence of Pho Chu (Male River) and Mo Chu (Female River). The place was once the capital of Bhutan.
The construction of the Dzong is believed to have been foretold by Guru Rinpoche. The small dzong called Dzongchung that exists even today housed a statue of Buddha. It is said that Zhabdrung ordered the architect, Zowe Palep, to sleep in front of the statue. While Palep was sleeping, the Zhabdrung took him in his dreams to Zangtopelri (Paradise) and showed him the palace of Guru Rimpoche. From his vision, the architect conceived the design for the new Dzong. The design was never put on paper. The Dzong was named Druk Pungthang Dechen Phodrang (Palace of Great Happiness). The war materials captured during the battle with Tibetans are preserved here. Punakha is still the winter residence of Je Khenpo.
The third king, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, convened the first National Assembly in Punakha in 1952.
After Lunch, excursion to Khamsung Yulley Namgyal Choling Monastery. Dinner and overnight in Hotel.
Day 03. Punakha – Wangdiphodrang – Thimphu (Altitude 1310 m, 90 km)
After breakfast, drive to Wangduephodrang. En route stop a while to view Chimi Lhakhang also called the “Temple of Fertility” built by Lama Drukpa Kuenley in 15th century, who is popularly known as “The Devine Mad Man”. And sightseeing in the valley of Wangduephodrang include: visit to Wangduephodrang Dzong (built in 1638). Legend has it that as the people were searching for the site of the Dzong, four ravens were seen flying away in four directions. This was considered auspicious sign representing the spread of the religion in the four points of the compass. The Dzong is situated at the confluence of Mo Chu (Male River) and Dang Chu river. Over night in Hotel.
After lunch, drive to Thimphu. Stroll in town/shopping. Overnight in Hotel.
Day 04. Thimphu – Paro (Altitude 2320 m, Distance 58 km, Drive Time 1 hour)
After breakfast, visit the National Library. It has a vast collection of Buddhist scriptures and literature on diverse subjects. Then, visit the National Institute of Zorig Chusum where Bhutan’s traditional arts and crafts are taught to the students. Your visit to the Folk Heritage Museum will give the images of ancient Bhutan.
After lunch, visit the Handicrafts Emporium. It has on display exquisite artistry of traditional crafts and textiles. In the evening, drive to Paro. Dinner and overnight in Hotel.
Day 05. Paro sightseeing: (Altitude 2280 m)
It is one of the most momentous days of your trip to Bhutan. Excursion to an extraordinary temple hemmed in by hair-rising cliff all sides.
After breakfast, a short drive takes us to Satsam Choeten, from there a 2- hour walk till the viewpoint of the monastery. The trail climbs through beautiful pine forest, many of the trees festooned with Spanish moss and an occasional grove of fluttering prayer flags.
We stop to rest and for light refreshments at the Taktsang Jakhang (cafeteria) and then walk a short distance until we see the clear view of Taktsang monastery. The main Lhakhang at the monastery was built around Guru Rimpoche’s meditation cave in 1684 by Gyaltse Tenzin Rabgye.
This incredible monastery clings to the edge of a sheer rock cliff that plunges 900 meters into the valley below. Legend has it that Guru Padmasambhava, the tantric mystic who brought Buddhism to Bhutan, flew here on the back of a flying tigress said to be his favorite consort.
After lunch, visit Ta Dzong (built in1656 and renovated in 1968), an ancient watchtower, which now houses the National Museum. Below the museum is the Paro Rimpung Dzong (literally, meaning “Heap of Jewels,”) built in 1646 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel.
In the evening, visit the ruins of Drukgyal Dzong. It is 16 km northward from Paro proper. The dzong was built in 1647 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, the father and unifier of medieval Bhutan. The dzong was destroyed by fire and left in ruins. It was built to commemorate victories over Tibetan invasions.
On a clear day, you can see magnificent Mt. Jhomolhari (7,314m). On the way back, visit Kichu Lhakhang, built in 659 A.D by the Tibetan King Songtsen Gempo. The monastery is one of the most sacred and oldest in the country. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Paro.
Day 06. Departure (Altitude 2280 m):
Early in the morning, drive to the airport and farewell.
- Hike to Khamsung Yulley Namgyal Choling temple.
- Visit a Bhutanese farm house.
- Mountain biking in Thimphu.
- Rafting in Punakha.
- Hike to Gogona valley in Gangtey.
- Excursion to Shingkhar village / Ura valley.
- Hike to Tangbi Lhakhang and Thangbi village.
- Hike to Tharpaling Monastery.
- Excursion to Dzongdrakha Lhakhang
- Excursion to Chelila pass.
- All Meals [Breakfast /Lunch/Dinner]
- Accommodation [Twin Sharing] Single Room Supplement Extra US $: 40 per room per night.
- All transportation within the country including airport transfers.
- Royalty & Govt. Taxes
- Entrance fees for Museums and Monuments only
- Visa Fee.
- Airport tax
- Tourism Development fund
- Sightseeing
- Druk Air fare.
- Insurance Premiums,
- Payments for service provided on a personal basis
- Cost for any services not mentioned in the “Cost Include head”.
