DAY 1
Arrival, Paro-Thimphu.
Our guide will welcome you at the airport, once you have settled in your first foray into the Kingdom begins with sightseeing on the way to Thimphu. After lunch, the sightseeing begins with a tour including some of the following (exact itineraries dependent on opening times and interests): National Memorial Chorten and Trashi Chhoe Dzong.
Dinner and Overnight in the hotel.
DAY 2
Thimphu sightseen:
Today after your breakfast, you will be taken to a remote place where you can see dense forest which is our national park in the name of our fourth king. The drive will take almost an hour to reach there. Then you will start a hike which might take you around an hour to reach to the monastery called Cheri monastery. This monastery was founded is important in Bhutanese history since it was the first monastic school founded by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. It is located on top of the hill overlooking Thimphu river. Later in the evening, you can visit the Buddha point where you can see the largest Buddha statue on top of the hill. It is per haves going to become the 8th wonders of the world. It was constructed by one of the great Rinpoche by spending $30 million. It is made of Bronze. Later you can also visit a paper factory near the town.
Dinner and Overnight in the hotel.
DAY 3
Thimphu to Punakha Valley via Dochu La
This drive is truly awe-inspiring as it zigzags up to the 3,140m-high mountain pass of Dochu La with its forests of fluttering prayer flags, maze of memorial Chortens and, on a clear day, before you reach to Punakha valley across rice paddies takes us to Chimmi Lhakhang, a fertility temple dedicated to Drukpa Kuenley, a Tibetan Buddhist saint known popularly as the Divine Madman. The temple sits atop a picturesque hill surrounded by rice fields. Drukpa Kuenley built a Chorten on the site in the 14th century and it has long been a pilgrimage site for couples hoping to start a family. Sweeping views of this temple, Upriver, deep in the verdant terraced hills past Punakha valley including Punakha Dzong.
Dinner and Overnight in the hotel.
DAY 4
Khamsum Yuley Namgay Chorten Walk, We have a full day for further exploration of the scenic Punakha Valley, which is low enough (1,200m) to allow bananas and oranges to grow. The destination for this morning’s walk (2 hrs) up through whitewashed homesteads and farmland is Khamsum Yuley Namgay Chorten, a shrine recently built by the royal family. It is a startlingly ornate and elaborate structure with a rainbow of Guru Rinpoche images and superb views.
Dinner and Overnight in the hotel.
DAY 5
Punakha Valley to Paro, Chuzom, Tamchog Lhakhang to Paro. We have time to retrace our steps back over the Dochu La for a second chance of that wonderful view of the Himalayan range. Returning to the Chuzum or confluence we catch a glimpse of the three shrines in Nepali, Tibetan and Bhutanese style which were built to ward off evil spirits near the checkpoint. On the final leg, the road snakes alongside the Pa Chhu river, through apple orchards and rice paddies, past quaint homesteads to our home in the mountains. Once you have reached to Paro, You have time to visit, Kyichu Lhakhang which is just a drive a few kilometers north of Paro, and we pay our respects at Kyichu Lhakhang; this is one of the oldest temples in Bhutan with its magic orange tree that bears fruit all year round. After the visit to Kichu monastery you will be driven back to visit Dumgtshe Lhakhan, The monastery was built in 1421 (other sources say 1433) by an eminent Tibetan lama named Thangtong Gyalpo (1385–1464), also known as Chagzampa, who is remembered for his building of some eight iron bridges in Bhutan. His reason for building a temple in Chorten form is because it is said to immobilize demons and proclaim the victory of Buddhism.
Dinner and over Night in the Hotel
DAY 6
Day excursion to Cheela Pass:
Today after your late breakfast you will be driven to Cheela Pass which is between Paro and Haa valley. It is one of the second highest motorable passes in Bhutan. The road ascends from 2250 m after taking so many zigzag ways to reach to the pass which is 3898 m above sea level. If the day remains clear, you will also see the second highest mountain peak of Bhutan called Jumolhari (7314 m). It is a white snowcapped mountain which looks like ice cream. This area is best for Bird watching as well as cycling. Our beloved fourth king often takes this route for cycling since it looks beautiful with natural dense forest and beautiful flowers. Don’t forget to take your warm jackets since it is very cold on the pass.
Dinner overnight in the Hotel
DAY 7
Taktsang Hike. One of the most amazing and important pieces of architecture in Bhutan, Taktsang Goemba defies logic, gravity, and reason. Legend has it that this Cliffside was where Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) landed on the back of a flying tigress, bringing Buddhism to Bhutan from Tibet. To avoid the hot sun an early start is advisable for the two-hour climb to the Tiger’s Nest viewpoint. Descend steeply, and then climb up to the monastery, passing a waterfall and entering through the main gates which are filled with murals. Retrace our steps or alternatively. In the evening, we invite you to spend the rest of the day relaxing along with scrolling around the town.
Dinner and Overnight in the hotel.
DAY 8
Depart Bhutan. A Druk Air or Bhutan airline normally departs in the morning, so after breakfast, your transfer to Paro International Airport will be arranged depending on the flight schedule.
