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8 days/7 nights

Day 1- morning Arrival & Transfer to Thimphu (1 hr.30 mins.)O/n Thimphu

Day 2-morning Visit the interesting places of Thimphu. O/n Thimphu

Day 3-morning Transfer to Phobjikha. (3 hrs). O/n Phobjikha

Day 4-morning Visit Gangtey Monestray/See the Black Necked Cranes O/n Phobjikha.

Day 5-morning Return to Punkaha & Explore Punakha Valley/Wangdue. O/n Punakah.

Day 6-morning Return to Paro (4 ½ hrs).

Afternoon- at your leisure O/n Paro

Day 7-morning Explore Paro Valley. O/n Paro.

Day 8-morning Departure

Day 1 - Paro - Thimphu

Druk-Air, your flight to Paro flies over eight of the ten tallest peaks of the world,the Everest, Kanchenjunga and many more.As you descend you will see lush green mountains dotted with sparse farm houses and nice terraces impossibly perched in high, remote valleys. You realize immediately you are coming to a special place. Then you land at the only International Airport in Bhutan. The first thing you will experience is the clean fresh air of Bhutan.

Drive to Thimphu takes about (1 ½ hrs).

Afternoon is at your leisure. Walking along the street you will see many interesting places.

Day 2 - Thimphu

Thimphu is the capital of Bhutan. It has many modern and traditional buildings.

Tashichhoedzong (The Fortress of the glorious religion) This Dzong was built in 1641 by the Shabdrung. In 1965 Tashichhodzong was rebuilt into its present grandiosity by the late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck to serve as the administrative headquarters for the government and the religious order. Today it houses the seat of Bhutan’s government and houses the office of the King and the chief Abbot that is as par in ranking with the King. It’s courtyard is open to the visitors during the Thimphu Tshechu (festival).

Memorial Chorten This Stupa was built built in 1974 in memory of the Third King, His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuk.

The Institute for Zorig Chusum (13 traditional arts & crafts):

National Library It has Bhutan’s history in the form of religious and historical literature.

The Folk Heritage Museum Founded by Her Majesty the Queen Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck. This museum gives you a sense of what a traditional Bhutanese home looked like in the medieval days. Many houses in the villages more or less still look like this one.

The Institute of Traditional Medicine: Here one can receive indigenous treatment. It produces it own herbal medicine.

Weekend Market:This is one interesting place for a tourist to visit. Here villagers come to sell their agriculture products from all over the village.

 

Day 3 - Phobjikha

In the morning transfer to Phobjikha. Stop over for Lunch at Dragon’s Nest at Wangdue

To go to Phobjikha you will have to pass by Punakha & Wangdue.

The drive from Thimphu to Punakha & Wangdue is the most enjoyable one. First you come across the Dochula pass from where a beautiful panoramic view of the Himalayan mountain range can be seen, specially on a clear winter days. The beauty of this place is further enhanced by the Druk Wangyal Chortens – a 108 stupas built by the eldest Queen. Then we descend to a warm climate. All through your journey you will come across many farm houses and farming taking place.

You will stop at Wangdue for lunch and after lunch push off to Phobjikha which is about 3 hrs. journey. Overnight at Phobjikha.

Day 4 - Phobjikha/Gangtey Goenpa

Gangtey Goenpa/Phobjikha Gangtey Goemba is an old 16th Century private monastery that belongs to areincarnate (Gangtey Trulku). This imposing building of ancient Tantric Buddhist history (although now being renovated) dominates and overlooks the Phobjikha valley. Inside the monastry are ancient artifacts of Tantric Buddhism (like the mummified body – not wrapped like the Egyptians- 7th Century by the Indian saint Guru Padma Sambhava (known famously as Guru Rimpoche).

The Phobjikha valley is the roosting grounds of the black-necked cranes (grus nigricollis). They are known as Thrung Thrung Karm by the Bhutanese. They arrive like clockwork with the onset of winter and leave just as systematically with spring. There are myths, legends and songs about them; a clear indication of longlasting familiarity with and affection for the cranes. Their arrival and departure in flocks flying with necks and legs outstretched and heavy flapping of their broad wings punctuated with glides is a sight one never tires of.

Day 5- Punakha

Punakha is about 3 hours journey. On reaching Wangdue, have lunch at Dragon’s Nest. After lunch visit Punakha Dzong. The interior of the Dzong is very beautiful and it is well maintained. Therefore, it is worth visiting it. It was built a year before the Wangdi Dzong in 1637. Punakha is much lower in altitude and has an almost sub-tropical climate. It used to be the capital of Bhutan at one point but now serves as the winter capital for the monk body that moves their headquarters from Thimphu. Overnight at Punakha.

Day 6 - Paro

Return to Paro which is about 4 ½ hrs. Afternoon at your leisure.

Day 7 - Paro

Paro is one of the most beautiful valleys in Bhutan. You can also visit many sacred places here.

Day 8 Thimphu - Paro

In the Morning return to Paro. After lunch visit the following places.

Ta Dzong- (The National Museum) This circular shaped building that is now a museum served as a watchtower for Paro Rinpung Dzong.

Then visit Paro Rinpung Dzong- Rinpung means a heap of jewels. This Dzong is the one you see first when you disembark from the Druk Air and enter Bhutan. It was built in 1646 by Shabdrung Nawang Namgyel, unifier of the country under the Drugpa Kagyu sect of Buddhism. The Rinpung Dzong is host to the famous Paro Tsechu festival that is a big tourist attraction.

If you are not tired then visit Kyichu Monastery - This is one of the most sacred and oldest temples in Bhutan. It was built in 7th Century by the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo, to subdue the demons that was terrorizing the Himalayan countries.

Day 9 - Departure