BHUTAN CHARTER TOUR

Durations: 5 Days and 4 Nights Tour

Locatons: Paro, Punakha and Thimphu

Highlights: Bhutan is the last Mahayana Buddhist Kingdom, and the teachings of this school of Buddhism are a living faith among its people. Spirituality exists even in the urban centers where the spinning of prayer wheels, the murmur of mantras and the glow of butter lamps in the houses are still important features of their everyday life.

ITINEARY OVERVIEW

• DAY 01 : ARRIVA BHUTAN – THIMPHU
• DAY 02 : THIMPHU – PUNAKHA
• DAY 03 : PUNAKHA – PARO
• DAY 04 : A DAY HIKE TO TIGER’S NEST MONASTERY
• DAY 05 : DEAPRTURE FROM BHUTAN

DETAILED TOUR PROGRAM

Day 01 : Arrival Bhutan – Thimphu

• Altitude: 2,320 meters

Fly into Paro by Druk Air, Bhutan’s National Airline. The great snow-capped peaks of the inner Himalayas rise up to the heavens can be seen during clear weather. As the plane approaches Bhutan, if you look down farmhouses as dots on the hillsides can be seen.

As the aircraft enters the Paro valley, you will see Paro Dzong on the hillside overlooking the Paro Chu (river), with Ta Dzong, formerly a watchtower and now the National Museum, above it.

You will be received by the representative of Yelha Bhutan Tours and Travels (Bhutan tour operator) who will be your Bhutan travel guide throughout your tour. Now you will drive to Thimphu and check into your hotel. After refreshments, visit the following:

• National Memorial Chorten: Chorten literally means ‘ seat of faith’ and Buddhists often called such monuments the ‘Mind of Buddha’. Meet the elderly generation in circumambulation at the National Memorial Chorten.
• Drive to Kuensel Phodrang and take a short leisure hike to the Kuensel Phodrang Nature Park and enjoy the full view of Thimphu Valley below.
• 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. In the evening stroll through Thimphu town and leisure time. Overnight at a hotel in Thimphu.

• Takin preserve: which houses the national animal- takin which is found only in Bhutan. Takin is an extremely rare member of goat family.
• Tashi Chhodzong, Tashichhodzong, “the fortress of the glorious religion”. This is the center of government and religion, site of the monarch’s throne room and seat of the Je Khenpo or Chief Abbot. Built in 1641 by the political and religious unifier of Bhutan, Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, it was reconstructed in the 1960s in traditional Bhutanese manner, without architectural plan .

Overnight in hotel/resort at Thimphu

Day 03 : Thimphu – Punakha

• 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 20minute 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 at a hotel in Wangdue/Punakha

Day 04 : Punakha – Paro

• Distance: 110 km
• Estimated driving time: 3:30 Min.

After breakfast, drive to Paro via Dochula Passand visit Paro Rinpung dzong, built in 1645 to defend the valley against Tibetan invaders. The Dzong is now being used as an administration center and school for monks.

Visit Taa dzong which was built in the 17th century as a watchtower for the Paro Dzong. This dzong was converted into the National museum in 1967 and is filled with antique thankha paintings, textiles, weapons and armor.

Overnight in hotel/resort at Paro

Day 04 : A Day Hike to Tiger’s Nest 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 sightseeing in town and Kichu Lhakhang. The 1300 years old Jo Jampa Temple.

Overnight at a hotel in Paro.

Day 05 : Departure from Bhutan

Today, we will drive to Airport early in the morning.

Then have free time at Paro town and after the lunch, the guide and driver will escort you to Paro International Airport for the departure.

End of Tour