15 - Day Cultural Tour
Day 1 Paro-Thimphu
Day 2 Thimphu
Day 3 Thimphu-Punakha
Day 4 Punakha-Trongsa
Day 5 Trongsa-Bumthang
Day 6 Bumthang
Day 7 Bumthang-Mongar
Day 8 Mongar-Trashigang
Day 9 Trashigang
Day 10 Trashigang-Mongar
Day 11 Mongar-Bumthang
Day 12 Bumthang-Phobjikha
Day 13 Phobjikha-Paro
Day 14 Paro
Day 15 Flight Home
Day 1: Paro (2280m) - Thimphu (2320m)
Overnight in Thimphu.
Our guide will welcome you at the Paro International Airport and thereafter, take you on a 90-minute scenic ride to Thimphu. En route, you will visit Tamchhog Lhakhang, where you will see the traditional iron bridge.
Lunch will be in Thimphu. For the rest of the day, your tour may include: Buddha Point (where you will have a panoramic view of Thimphu Valley below you), and National Memorial Chorten. If you arrive on a weekend, either Saturday or Sunday, you will have the chance to visit The Centenary Farmers Market and the Weekend Market with the locals selling their produce and handicrafts on both sides of the Wang Chhu.
Day 2: Thimphu (2320m)
Overnight in Thimphu.
After breakfast, you will get to find out more about Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan. Visits will include Folk Heritage Musem, The School of 13 Arts & Crafts, Traditional Textile Factory, Traditional Paper Making Factory, and the Thimphu Dzong. The dzong is perhaps the most visibly striking architectural aspect of the kingdom. It was constructed originally as a fortress. But today, the dzong is the administrative and religious centre of the dzongkhag (or district) in Bhutan. You will also get to see the national animal of Bhutan, the takin, at the Takin Zoo. If you are curious enough, you may also stroll through the streets and roads of Thimphu, the only city in the world without traffic lights, in the evening and do some shopping.
Day 3: Thimphu (2320m) – Dochu La (3140m) – Punakha (1250m)
Overnight in Punakha.
Today, we leave Thimphu and drive uphill to Dochu La, a pass marked by a large array of colourful fluttering prayer flags and the 108 chortens. While you enjoy your cup of tea and snacks, you may also get a panoramic view of the Bhutan Himalaya. Then the drive will continue to Chimi Lhakang, where you will have your lunch. After lunch, you may take a short hike to the temple on a hillock. This is the Temple of the Divine Mad Monk, where childless Bhutanese pray for fertility. For the rest of the afternoon, you will visit Punakha Dzong, arguably the most beautiful dzong in Bhutan. Nearby the dzong is one of the longest suspension bridges in the country. You may also visit Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Lhakhang Nunnery that perched on a ridge amid pine trees overlooking the valleys of Punakha and Wangduephodrang.
Day 4: Punakha (1250m) – Trongsa (2180m)
Overnight in Trongsa.
We leave Punakha early in the morning heading east towards Central Bhutan for Trongsa. Trongsa town is situated on a steep ridge and offers spectacular views of the deep valleys surrounding it. We will visit the imposing Trongsa Dzong and Ta Dzong, which was once a watchtower, but today houses the most fascinating museum of Bhutan.
Day 5: Trongsa (2180m) – Bumthang (2600m)
Overnight in Bumthang.
In the morning, it will be a drive winding through forested mountains to Bumthang. The drive shows the mountainous side of Bhutan adorned with rhododendrons during Spring and snow-capped peaks of the Himalaya range in the winter months.
Bumthang is a dzongkhag, which is an administrative and judicial district in Bhutan. There are 20 dzongkhags in Bhutan and Bumthang is one of them. This region is the religious heartland of the country and home to some of its oldest Buddhist temples and monasteries. The dzongkhag comprises four valleys: Ura, Chumey, Tang and Choekhor. Our destination in Bumthang is Chamkhar town with its bustling restaurants and handicraft stores.
Day 6: Bumthang (2600m)
Overnight in Bumthang.
You will spend the entire day visiting the many interesting sites in Bumthang, and en route immerse in the scenic beauty of this valley: Tamshing Goemba (Temple of the Good Message) – You may try hoisting the cloak of chainmail, which is about 25kg and made by Pema Lingpa (who established this temple), on to your shoulders and carry it while circumambulating the kora three times. To the Bhutanese, this is considered an auspicious act; Membartsho (Burning Lake) – This is a lovely spot where nature, religion and mythology blur into one; Jampey Lhakhang – a fabulous temple believed to be built in the year 659.
Day 7: Bumthang (2600m) - Mongar (1600m)
Overnight in Mongar.
Today the drive takes you through Thrumshingla,the highest road pass in the country at 3900m making this the most spectacular drive in the country, descending 3200m just in a distance of 84 km. En route pass by Ura village, made of clusters of large stone houses.
Day 8: Mongar (1600m) - Trashigang (1070m)
Overnight in Trashigang.
This morning you visit the Mongar Dzong, which was built in the 19th century. After being gutted by fires, it was restored in 1953, and again in 1990. The administrative seat and the monk body reside in the Dzong. After Lunch, we will drive to Trashigang. The Mongar to Trashigang stretch of road is easier and shorter than the journey from Jakar to Mongar, but it still requires 3½ hours to cover the 92 km between the two towns. The road crosses one low pass, then follows a river valley before making a final climb to Trashigang.
Day 9: Trashigang (1070m)
Overnight in Trashigang.
You will embark on a day trip to Trashi Yangtse. The drive from Trashigang to Trashi Yangste is 53 km and takes about 1hr 45 minutes. The road winds its way through sparse clump of chir pines above the west bank of Drame Chhu to Gom Kora. Gom Kora is a small temple to the east of the road north of Chazam. The proper name is Gomphu Kora. Gomphu is a sacred meditation site of Guru Rimpoche and kora means circumambulation. The Guru meditated here and left a body impression on a rock, similar to that of Kurje Lhakhang in Bumthang. The road turns northwest and follows the Kulong Chhu valley towards Trashi Yangtse. The Trashi Yangtse Dzong was built around 1656 AD in commemoration of a Drukpa victory and renovated in 1976. This valley was of great strategic importance in the old days because all travel to western and central Bhutan had to pass through here. In Trashi Yangtse, you can visit the popular Chorten Kora, one of few stupas constructed in Nepali (Sherpa) style. According to local tradition, the architectural model of the stupa was brought from Nepal, carved on a raddish. You will also visit the traditional woodcraft workshop where typical Bhutanese bowls and other wooden items are made. (These products are very popular in Bhutan).
Day 10: Trashigang (1070m) - Mongar (1600m)
Overnight in Mongar.
After breakfast, we will head back to Mongar.
Day 11: Mongar (1600m) - Bumthang (2600m)
Overnight in Bumthang.
Our return journey continues after breakfast, this time heading for Bumthang.
Day 12: Bumthang (2600m) – Phobjikha Valley (2900m)
Overnight in Phobjikha Valley.
Today we head for Phobjikha Valley, a scenic destination that is also one of the most important wildlife preserves in the country. Migratory black-necked cranes stop here for their onward journey from Tibet during the winter months of January and February. You will also partake a short (about 2 hours) hike through the beautiful valley amidst junipers and bamboos.
Day 13: Phobjikha Valley (2900m) – Paro (2280)
Overnight in Paro.
After breakfast, you will be driven back to Paro, probably arriving in the evening. You will then spend the rest of the evening relaxing in the hotel.
Day 14: Paro (2280m)
Overnight in Paro.
This morning, you test your stamina and determination to hike up to the Taktsang Lhakang (3120m). Translated, it means ‘Tiger’s Nest’ and the temple, the holiest in Bhutan, clings to a sheer cliff face 900m above the Paro Valley. It is also the most important icon of Bhutan.
Day 15: Paro (2280m)
You will have to wake early for breakfast before being driven to the Paro International Airport for your early return flight home.