Memorable Kingdom Tour- 8 Days

Duration: 8 Days, 7 Nights.
Locations: Paro, Thimphu, Wangdue, Punakha and Phobjikha valley

Highlight: Visit to the Tashichho Dzong,Memorial stupa,Ta Dzong (National Museum), Punakha Dzong, Worlds tallest bronze Buddha statue, Tigers nest hike, 7th Century Jampa Lhakhang, Dochula mountain pass, Fertility temple, Souvenir shopping at Paro and Thimphu town etc.

ITINERARY OVERVIEW

• DAY 01 : PARO-THIMPHU (Drive to Thimphu )
• DAY 02 : THIMPHU ( Sightseeing in capital )
• DAY 03 : THIMPHU – PUNAKHA ( Driver to Punakha via Dochula )
• DAY 04 : PUNAKHA – PHOBJIKHA (Drive to glacier valley )
• DAY 05 : PUNAKHA -PHOBJIKHA ( Relaxing drive and sightseeing)
• DAY 06 : PHOBJIKHA – PARO
• DAY 07 : PARO TIGERS NEST HIKE
• DAY 08 : DEPARTURE FROM BHUTAN

DETAILED TOUR PROGRAM

Day 01 : Arrive Paro

• Altitude: 293 meters

First gift from Bhutan will be the cool, clean fresh air as you step out of the plane. After clearing customs and visa control you will meet our guide,

Afternoon in Paro visit Ta Dzong, once a watchtower, built to defend RinpungDzong during inter-valley wars of the 17th century, Ta Dzong was inaugurated as Bhutan’s National Museum in 1968.

Afterwards, walk down a hillside trail to visit RinpungDzong. Built in 1646 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the first spiritual and temporal ruler of Bhutan, the Dzong houses the monastic body of Paro, the office of the Dzongda (district administrative head) and Thrimpon (judge) of Paro district.

Later Drive to Thimphu.

• Distance: 54 km
• Estimated driving time: 1 Hour

In the evening we will visit TashichhoDzong the main administrative building of the capital and walk through the town.

Overnight in hotel at Thimphu

Day 02 : Thimphu Sightseeing

• Altitude: 2,320 meters

After breakfast travel to Thimphu and check into your hotel. The full day Thimphu tour includes visit to the following:

• The national memorial stupa built in memory of the late 3 rd king of Bhutan.
• Visit Buddha Point and offer your prayers to the largest Buddha statue in the country and walk around to enjoy the great view of Thimphu valley below.

• Takin Preserve which houses the national animal- takin which is found only in Bhutan. Takin is an extremely rare member of goat family.
• Changangkha Lhakhang is the main temple of the Thimphu. This popular fortress-like temple perched on a ridge above central Thimphu regularly full with pilgrim activity. It was established in the 12th century
• The Institute for Zorig Chusum (commonly known as the Painting School) where students undergo a 6- year training course in Bhutan’s 13 traditional arts and crafts.
• Optional : The National Library, housing an extensive collection of priceless Buddhist manuscripts.
• Centenary Farmers’ Market (open from Thursday to Sunday) where farmers sell their farm produces (vegetables, fruits, cereals, spices, wild vegetable collections, livestock products etc.

Overnight at a hotel/resort in Thimphu.

Day 03 : Thimphu -Punakha -Wangduephodrang

• Altitude: 1,300 meters
• Distance: 71 km
• Estimated driving time: 2 1/2 hrs

After breakfast, travel to Punakha through Dochula Pass (3,088m/10,130ft).

If you have a clear sky, the view of the Himalayan Mountain ranges is spectacular and you can even see the Gasa Dzong as a white dot in the horizon. Visit the beautiful 108 chortens built on the hill by Her Majesty Ashi Dorji Wangmo for the security and wellbeing of His Majesty the King of Bhutan.

Travel onto Punakha, the old capital of Bhutan and presently the winter residence of the central monk body. Visit the Punakha Dzong, located on the island of the Pho – Chu (male) river and the Mochu (female) river.

Evening, walk through the Metshina Village and take a 20-minute walk through the rice fields to the Devine Madman’s Monastery-Chhimi Lhakhang, famously known for its fertility shrine, where one can receive a special fertility blessing .

Overnight in hotel at Punakha

Day 04 : Wangduephodrang – Phobjikha Valley

• Altitude: 3,000 meters
• Distance: 198 km
• Estimated driving time: 2 hrs 30 Minutes

After breakfast, we will go to Phobjikha valley on the way we will stop at Wangdue town and visit the on going Wangdue dzong construction, drive to Phobjikha after lunch. Phobjikha- is a bowl-shape valley on the western slopes of Black Mountain.

Optional: After lunch or in the next Morning visit Gantey Goenpa – This monastery is a major attraction with an old monastery date back to the 16 century.

Later hike around the valley, natural trail 1.5 hours, which is also the winter home to the rare black-necked cranes, which migrate, from remote parts of Tibet, China and Siberia during winter to this valley.

Overnight in hotel at Phobjikha

Day 05 : Phobjikha Valley Sightseeing and Hike

Gangtey or Phobjikha at an average altitude of 3,000m is a wide and beautiful valley, designated as conservation zone within the Jigme Singye Wangchuk National Park (formerly known as Black Mountains National Park)

Gangtey also known as Phobjikha valley is a natural habitat for wildlife, including nesting grounds for endangered black-necked cranes that migrate from Central Asia in the winter (late October and stay till March).

The lodges here provide hot water in the bucket and rooms are heated with wood stoves. Gangtey is the name for hilltop village and its monastery. The valley is known as Phobjikha and falls under Wangdue Dzongkhag.

There are many hiking trails in Phobjikha valley you can decide with the guide about the programs and also. Visit any farm house and take a relaxing stone bath. (Medicinal stone bath is around US$ 20/25 per persons and it is said to heal muscle aches, cramps, skin diseases and relax the ailing body.)

Overnight in hotel at Phobjikha

Day 06 : Phobjikha-Paro

• Altitude: 2,280 meters
• Distance: 190 km
• Estimated driving time: 5 hrs, 30 min

Today after well rest we will drive to Paro. We will do some sightseeing on way and also stop at Thimphu for while if there are any last minute shopping.

Visit the Tachog Temple. This 600 year old bridge crosses the Paro Chhu (Paro River) and was traditionally restored in 2005 after being washed away during a 1969 flood. The bridge was originally built by the legendary Tibetan architect, physician, blacksmith and civil engineer Thangtong Gyalpo who is an important figure in Bhutanese and Tibetan history.

Overnight in hotel at Paro

Day 07 : A Day Hike to Paro Taktsang Monastery

After breakfast, drive up to the base camp of Taktsang and then hike up to the most famous Monastery in the entire kingdom of Bhutan perched on the edge of a steep cliff, about 900 meters above Paro Valley.

The hike to the viewpoint will take about an hour and it will take 2 hours to the monastery. Lunch at the viewpoint or at Paro town. Later we will visit the Kichu Lhakhang. Its is one of the oldest and sacred temples in the Kingdom built 1300 years ago by the Tibetan king Songtshen Gyalpo to subdue the Ogress.

Later dinner can be organized in a 300 years old farm house .

Overnight at a hotel/resort in Paro.

Day 08 : Departure from Paro

In the morning, your tour guide from Yelha Bhutan Tours & Travels (local Bhutan travel agent) will escort you to Paro International Airport for your departure.

End of Tour