Bhutan Tours and Travel

Day 1 – Paro visit

• Meet and greet at the Airport.
• After lunch, in Paro, visit to Ta Dzong. Built in 1649, it is an ancient watch tower which now houses the National Museum of Bhutan. This unusual building is in a conch shape with 2.5m thick wall.
• Visit of Rinpung Dzong, built in 1646 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. Rinpung literally means “The Heap of Jewels”. The Dzong presently functions as the Administrative centre of Paro district.
• In the evening, drive to Thimphu. A short stop on the way to view Tamchog Monastery built by Thang Tong Gyalpo, popularly known as “The Iron Bridge Builder”. He built 108 bridges across Tibet and Bhutan, out of which 8 were built in Bhutan.
• Dinner and overnight in Hotel Seven Suites.

Day 2 – Thimphu visit

• In the morning, visit of the National memorial chorten built in honor of the Third King of
  Bhutan, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. The Paintings and statues give a rare insight into
  Bhutanese culture.
• Visit of the tallest Statue of sitting Buddha in the world (51.5m) at Kuensel Phodrang.
• Visit of Changangkha Lhakhang, the oldest temple in Thimphu built in the 12th century by
  Phajo Drugom Shigpo.
• Takin Preserve center (A queer looking animal believed to be a mix of goat and a cow and has baffled the zoologists).
• Stop at the Sangaygang view point.
• Visit of Dupthob Lhakhang, one of the few surviving nunneries in Bhutan.
• After lunch, visit to the Simply Bhutan museum for wine tasting, cultural show and visit Folk museum.
• Tashichho Dzong, seat of the national government and the Central Monastic Body including the summer residence of the Je Khenpo (The Chief Abbot of Bhutan).
• In the evening, free time to stroll in the town for shopping and photography.
• Dinner and overnight in Hotel Seven Suites.

Day 3 – Punakha visit

• In the morning, 2-hour drive to Punakha.
• On the way, short stop on the way to explore the beautiful Dochu La Pass (Altitude 3140m) with its 108 stupas. Enjoy the panoramic view of the Himalayan mountain ranges.
• After lunch, visit the magnificent Punakha dzong. It was built in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. Punakha is the winter residence of Je Khenpo (The chief abbot of Bhutan). Punakha is also an ancient capital of Bhutan until the rule of the second King of Bhutan. The first national assembly of Bhutan was convened here in 1957. The war materials captured during the battle with Tibetan forces are preserved here.
• Then hike to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Choling monastery. This monastery was built in 2004 by Her Majesty the Queen Tshering Yangdon Wangchuck and it overlooks Punakha valley. Perched high on a hill on the bank of the river, the chorten houses paintings belonging to Nyingmapa traditions. This monastery was built for the world peace and long life of His Majesty the King, Jigme Singye Wangchuck.
• In the evening, walk the longest suspension bridge in Bhutan (160m). This bridge is considered the longest of its kind in Bhutan and connects the two sides of the Pho chu river. You will get a great view of the river, valley, temple, and a good boost of adrenaline as well. In the early years, the bridge was made for the lamas of Punakha dzong who crossed the river very often to visit nearby villages.
• In the evening, walk the longest suspension bridge in Bhutan (160m). This bridge is considered the longest of its kind in Bhutan and connects the two sides of the Pho chu river. You will get a great view of the river, valley, temple, and a good boost of adrenaline as well. In the early years, the bridge was made for the lamas of Punakha dzong who crossed the river very often to visit nearby villages.
• Dinner and overnight in Hotel Sonamgang.

Day 4 – Wangdue Phodrang – Gangtey

• In the morning, 2-hour drive to Gangtey / Phobjikha via Wangdue Phodrang.
• Short stop on the way to view the Wangdue Phodrang Dzong. This Dzong was built in 1638 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. It was razed by fire in 2012 and is under repair now.
• Short stop on the way to view the Wangdue Phodrang Dzong. This Dzong was built in 1638 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. It was razed by fire in 2012 and is under repair now.
• Enjoy the views of the beautiful Phobjikha valley.
• Visit the Crane Information center.
• Visit of This monastery was built in 1613 by Gyaltse Pema Thinley, the grandson and mind reincarnation of Pema Lingpa. The present Abbot, Kunzang Pema Namgyal is the ninth re-carnation.
• In the evening, explore Phobjikha valley (Altitude 3000m). The most beautiful glacial valley in the Himalayas and the roosting ground of the rare Black-necked Cranes in winter.
• Dinner and overnight in Hotel Phobjikha.

Day 5 – Thimphu

• In the morning, drive to Thimphu via Dochu la Pass (3140m). We occasionally stop on the
  way to take pictures.
• After lunch, visit to the National postal museum where you can also print your photos/pictures on the official Bhutanese stamps.
• Visit of the National textile museum.
• Then witness Archery match at Changlimithang stadium.
• In the evening, free time to stroll in the town for shopping and photography.
• Dinner and overnight in Hotel Seven suites.

Day 6 – Tiger’s Nest Monastery

• In the morning, hike to the Tiger’s Nest. Drive to Satsam chorten and 2/3 hours walk till the
  Tiger’s nest monastery.
• 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 Padma Sambhava, the tantric mystic who brought Buddhism to Bhutan, flew here on the back of a flying tiger.
• After lunch, visit of Drugyel dzong built in 1647 by the great Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. It served as the defense post against the Tibetan invasion in ancient days. This dzong was destroyed by an accidental fire and is under repair.
• Visit of Kichu lhakhang built in 659 A.D by the Tibetan king Srongtsen Gampo. He built 108 temples in a single day to pin the Ogress to the earth forever and at the same time, convert the Tibetan people to Buddhism. Six of these temples lie in Bhutan; most prominent of them are Jambay lhakhang in Bumthang and Kichu lhakhang in Paro.
• In the evening, free time to stroll in the town for shopping and photography.
• Dinner and overnight in Shomo Chuki resort.

Day 7 – End of tour

• After breakfast, drive to the airport and farewell.