Day 01: Weaving through the valley, landing at the Paro Airport is like no other landings anywhere in the world. On arrival in Paro one of our professional guides will receive you and check you into your hotel. In the afternoon we will see the rich History of Bhutan exhibited in the 17th century National Museum. A tour of the beautiful Paro Dzong, a massive fortress built in the 17th century will introduce us to the unique aspects of the Bhutanese Buddhism. A short down hill walk from the Dzong over an old cantilever bridge wraps up an eventful first day in this magical Kingdom.
Overnight in Paro / Altitude: 2200m
Day 02: Hike up to Taktsang or the Tiger’s Nest as it is popularly known. This magical temple clings to a vertical granite cliff 800m above the valley. It is believed that in the 8th century, Guru Rimpochee, a tantric master flew here on the back of a tigress from eastern Bhutan and meditated in a cave around which the temple is built. A hike to this temple will occupy most of our morning. In the afternoon we will host a special prayer ceremony at the beautiful 1200 year old Kichu Lhakhang Temple, to bring us good luck for the rest of our journey.
Overnight in Paro
Day 03: Paro to Thimphu (Capital). 1 hour drive. We will check you into your hotel. After lunch we will visit the National Memorial Chorten, Textile Museum, Traditional Painting School, the Takin Zoo, National Library, Thimphu Dzong, Folk Heritage Museum and the weekend market etc.
Overnight in Thimphu/Altitude:2400m
Day 04: Thimphu to Punakha. 3 hours drive to Punakha over the Dochula pass at 3000m. If we are lucky we may catch glimpses of the Himalayas. Punakha is the ancient capital of Bhutan. Today, the Central Monk body moves to Punakha in the winter when it gets cold in Thimphu. With the climate almost tropical in the summer, the valley is blessed with abundance of fruits and rice. After lunch we will visit the magnificent Punakha Dzong which showcases the perfect example of Bhutanese arts and crafts. After touring the Dzong we will take a short drive in the lush upper Punakha valley and hike for 45 minutes to the Beautiful Khamsum Yuley temple on a hill.
Overnight in Punakha / Altitude: 1250m
Day 05: Punakha to Jakar, Bumthang. Today we will start an early journey to central Bhutan. It should take us around 9 hours to get to Jakar, Bumthang. Though a long journey it will be worth it. The Bumthang valley lies at an altitude of 2600 metres. This valley is the religious heartland of Bhutan and home to some of the oldest Buddhist temples. Tales of Guru Padmasambhava and his reincarnates known as Lingpas, still linger around Bumthang. Legend has it that when the Lamas assembled to decide on a site for Jakar Dzong, a big white bird rose suddenly in the air and settled on a spur of the hill and it was here that ‘Castle of the white bird’ was built. The building itself is surrounded with an impressive wall approximately one mile in circumference, in its centre a tower soars nearly 150 feet into the air.
Overnight in Jakar, Bumthang / Altitude: 2600m
Day 06: Today we will explore Jakar, Bumthang. Jambey Lhakhang : This monastery was built in the 7th century by the Tibetan king, Songtsen Gampo. It is one of 108 monasteries which he built to subdue evil spirits in the Himalayan region. Its present architectural appearance dates from the early 20th century. Kurje Lhakhang : Located further along the valley, Kurje Lhakhang comprises three temples. The one on the right was built in 1652 against the rock face where Guru Padmasambhava meditated in the 8th century. The middle temple is built on the site of a cave containing a rock with the imprint of the Guru’s body, and is therefore considered to be the most holy. The temple on the left was built in the 1990s by H.M. Ashi Kesang, the Queen Mother. These three temples are surrounded by 108 chorten walls. Tamshing Lhakhang : Located across the river from Kurje Lhakhang, this temple was founded in 1501 by Terton Pema Lingpa, a re-incarnation of Guru Padmasambhava. There are very old religious paintings around the inner walls of the temple, which was restored at the end of the 19th century. Jakar Dzong : Constructed in 1549 by the great grandfather of the first Shabdrung, the dzong was initially built as a monastery. It was upgraded in 1646, after the Shabdrung had firmly established his power. Jakar Dzong is now used as the administrative center for Bumthang valley, and also houses the regional monk body.
Overnight in Jakar, Bumthang
Day 07: Today we drive back to Wangdu. On the way we will stop in Trongsa and visit the beautiful Trongsa Dzong. After touring the Dzong we will continue our journey.
Overnight in Chuzomsa / 1300m
Day 08: After break fast we will visit the Wangdu Dzong(fortress). After the tour we will continue our journey to Thimphu.
Overnight in Thimphu
Day 9: Early morning drive to Paro. We will see you off from Paro Airport.
Overview
Bhutan In Depth: 9 Days / 8 Nights
Day 01: Weaving through the valley, landing at the Paro Airport is like no other landings anywhere in the world. On arrival in Paro one of our professional guides will receive you and check you into your hotel. In the afternoon we will see the rich History of Bhutan exhibited in the 17th century National Museum. A tour of the beautiful Paro Dzong, a massive fortress built in the 17th century will introduce us to the unique aspects of the Bhutanese Buddhism. A short down hill walk from the Dzong over an old cantilever bridge wraps up an eventful first day in this magical Kingdom.
Overnight in Paro / Altitude: 2200m
Day 02: Hike up to Taktsang or the Tiger’s Nest as it is popularly known. This magical temple clings to a vertical granite cliff 800m above the valley. It is believed that in the 8th century, Guru Rimpochee, a tantric master flew here on the back of a tigress from eastern Bhutan and meditated in a cave around which the temple is built. A hike to this temple will occupy most of our morning. In the afternoon we will host a special prayer ceremony at the beautiful 1200 year old Kichu Lhakhang Temple, to bring us good luck for the rest of our journey.
Overnight in Paro
Day 03: Paro to Thimphu (Capital). 1 hour drive. We will check you into your hotel. After lunch we will visit the National Memorial Chorten, Textile Museum, Traditional Painting School, the Takin Zoo, National Library, Thimphu Dzong, Folk Heritage Museum and the weekend market etc.
Overnight in Thimphu/Altitude:2400m
Day 04: Thimphu to Punakha. 3 hours drive to Punakha over the Dochula pass at 3000m. If we are lucky we may catch glimpses of the Himalayas. Punakha is the ancient capital of Bhutan. Today, the Central Monk body moves to Punakha in the winter when it gets cold in Thimphu. With the climate almost tropical in the summer, the valley is blessed with abundance of fruits and rice. After lunch we will visit the magnificent Punakha Dzong which showcases the perfect example of Bhutanese arts and crafts. After touring the Dzong we will take a short drive in the lush upper Punakha valley and hike for 45 minutes to the Beautiful Khamsum Yuley temple on a hill.
Overnight in Punakha / Altitude: 1250m
Day 05: Punakha to Jakar, Bumthang. Today we will start an early journey to central Bhutan. It should take us around 9 hours to get to Jakar, Bumthang. Though a long journey it will be worth it. The Bumthang valley lies at an altitude of 2600 metres. This valley is the religious heartland of Bhutan and home to some of the oldest Buddhist temples. Tales of Guru Padmasambhava and his reincarnates known as Lingpas, still linger around Bumthang. Legend has it that when the Lamas assembled to decide on a site for Jakar Dzong, a big white bird rose suddenly in the air and settled on a spur of the hill and it was here that ‘Castle of the white bird’ was built. The building itself is surrounded with an impressive wall approximately one mile in circumference, in its centre a tower soars nearly 150 feet into the air.
Overnight in Jakar, Bumthang / Altitude: 2600m
Day 06: Today we will explore Jakar, Bumthang. Jambey Lhakhang : This monastery was built in the 7th century by the Tibetan king, Songtsen Gampo. It is one of 108 monasteries which he built to subdue evil spirits in the Himalayan region. Its present architectural appearance dates from the early 20th century.
Kurje Lhakhang : Located further along the valley, Kurje Lhakhang comprises three temples. The one on the right was built in 1652 against the rock face where Guru Padmasambhava meditated in the 8th century. The middle temple is built on the site of a cave containing a rock with the imprint of the Guru’s body, and is therefore considered to be the most holy. The temple on the left was built in the 1990s by H.M. Ashi Kesang, the Queen Mother. These three temples are surrounded by 108 chorten walls.
Tamshing Lhakhang : Located across the river from Kurje Lhakhang, this temple was founded in 1501 by Terton Pema Lingpa, a re-incarnation of Guru Padmasambhava. There are very old religious paintings around the inner walls of the temple, which was restored at the end of the 19th century.
Jakar Dzong : Constructed in 1549 by the great grandfather of the first Shabdrung, the dzong was initially built as a monastery. It was upgraded in 1646, after the Shabdrung had firmly established his power. Jakar Dzong is now used as the administrative center for Bumthang valley, and also houses the regional monk body.
Overnight in Jakar, Bumthang
Day 07: Today we drive back to Wangdu. On the way we will stop in Trongsa and visit the beautiful Trongsa Dzong. After touring the Dzong we will continue our journey.
Overnight in Chuzomsa / 1300m
Day 08: After break fast we will visit the Wangdu Dzong(fortress). After the tour we will continue our journey to Thimphu.
Overnight in Thimphu
Day 9: Early morning drive to Paro. We will see you off from Paro Airport.