Wonders Of Bhutan
- Duration:
- 7 Days
- Route:
- Paro - Thimphu - Punakha - Gangtey - Paro
- Season:
-
- Spring
- Summer
- Autumn
- Winter
- Tour Type:
- Private Tour
Overview
This is an exciting journey that will take you to explore the mysterious country of Bhutan, enjoy the breathtaking mountain scenery, beautiful farmland, virgin forests, rivers and lakes, visit historic temples and majestic ancient sites, and gain insight into Bhutan's fascinating history and culture. The itinerary includes Paro, Thimphu and Punakha, as well as other popular and important attractions. The first stop is beautiful Paro, where you will visit Rinpung Dzong, an ancient majestic fort, and the National Museum where ancient scriptures are displayed. Next, you will visit the capital city, Thimphu, to see the Memorial Chhorten, Buddha Point - one of the largest Buddha statues in the world, Takin Zoo, and the majestic Trashi Chhoe Dzong. Then, you’ll travel to Punakha via Dochu La pass (3,100m) and visit the Chimi Lhakhang on the way. Before heading to Paro, you will visit Punakha Dzong and explore the beautiful Gangtey village, enjoy its rural lifestyle, and view the beautiful Phobjikha Valley. Finally, you will hike through lush green Paro Valley, enjoy views of lofty mountain peaks, and trek to the famous Tiger's Nest Monastery as the perfect end of your journey.
| Day | Route | Attractions & Activities |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fly to Paro (2200m) and transfer to Thimphu(2648m) | Pick up from the airport |
| 2 | Sightseeing in Thimphu | National Memorial Chorten, Trashi Chhoe Dzong, Postal Office, Buddha Point, Takin Zoo |
| 3 | Thimphu - Punakha | Dochu La Pass, Chimi Lhakhang, Punakha Dzong |
| 4 | Punakha - Gangtey, 78km, Approx. 3hrs | Gangtey Goempo, Gangtey Nature Trail |
| 5 | Gangtey - Paro, 166km, Approx. 4hrs | Simtokha Dzong, Rinpung Dzong, National Museum |
| 6 | Paro Sightseeing | Tiger's Nest, Kyichu Lhakhang, local market in Paro |
| 7 | Departure from Paro | Send off to the airport |
Daily Itinerary
CollapseJenpalegso La (Welcome to Bhutan). On arrival, meet your private guide and driver who will stay with you for the rest of your trip. You will start in Thimphu. The drive is a 1-hour-drive by road. Thimphu is a charming city, probably the smallest capital in the world, resting in the heart of the Himalayas. The rest of the day is for you to stroll around the city or take a rest in the hotel.
Stay overnight in Thimphu- Meals:
- Dinner
In the morning, you will go to visit Thimphu Valley. There's National Memorial Chorten built to commemorate the King of Bhutan III and a holy place for the people of Bhutan to pray for peace. Afterward, go to the Postal Office of Bhutan and the National Bank of Bhutan. The guide will also take you to visit Bhutan's National Academy of Painting and Folklore Museum, where you can have an intuitive experience of Bhutan's culture and art.
Then, proceed to Trashi Chhoe Dzong, a majestic and grand castle on the west bank of the Wangchu River. This is the office of the current king and the seat of the internal affairs and finance departments. Next, you will pay a visit to Buddha Point, one of the iconic landscapes of Thimphu Valley. Tourists can enjoy the panoramic view of Thimphu Valley here. An ancient prophecy says that once a statue is built in this valley, it will spread peace throughout the world. After that, go north to Takin Zoo, where is exclusively built for Bhutan's national animal - takin. Takin is a kind of animal with a sheep head and cow body. You can only see it in Bhutan.
Stay overnight in Thimphu
- Meals:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
In the morning you will be driven from Thimphu to Punakha, crossing the Dochu La Pass at 3,100 meters, where you are able to see the 108 beautiful Chortens, also known as Druk Wangyal Chortens. It's to commemorate those who lost their lives in the suppression of the Assamese rebels in southern Bhutan and to pray for world peace.
Then you'll visit the Chimi Lhakhang Temple, which is named the fertility temple and is associated with its mythical power to help couples with pregnancy problems. In Punakha, you will visit the most beautiful Dzong in Bhutan - Punakha Dzong, which was built in 1,637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal.
Stay Overnight in Punakha
- Meals:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
A 2-3 hour drive through stunning valley scenery, flowing streams and steep inclines, culminates at the Gangtey Valley (some call it the Phobjikha Valley - famous for the endangered black-necked cranes.) Here you will explore one of the oldest monasteries in Bhutan - Gangtey Goempo, one of the important monasteries of the Nyingma sect, one of the Buddhist sects, and the main seat of the Pema Lingpa lineage. Afterward, hike a short distance (1.5 hours) along the Gangtey Nature Trail to Khewa Lhakhang. En route visit the Semchubara Village and a square chorten.
Stay Overnight in Gangtey
- Meals:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Morning drive to Paro en route visit Simtokha Dzong, (the oldest fort in the kingdom, built in 1627) on the way. In Paro, you can see Rinpung Dzong(also called Paro Dzong). It's the most famous temple in Bhutan and perhaps the best representative of Bhutanese architecture you will see. And then you will visit Ta Dzong, the watchtower of Paro Dzong, now the National Museum. The circular appearance of the museum is said to be the shape of a conch shell, a Buddhist auspicious instrument.
Stay Overnight in Paro
- Meals:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
In the morning you will trek from the bottom of Paro Valley to the Taktsang Monastery, perched on the side of the mountain. Taktsang (commonly known as Tiger's Nest) is the most sacred site in Bhutan and one of the top ten super temples in the world to go. Located at an elevation of 3120 meters, Taktsang is the birthplace of Bhutanese Buddhism. Guru Rinpoche flew here from Tibet on the back of a tigress, which was the manifestation of his divine consort Yeshe Tsogyal.
You can ride a horse or walk to Tiger’s Nest. It is a challenging trek so you will gain merit with every step. The view from the Paro Valley to the monastery is worth your climb. The hike starts from a gentle forest with some prayer flags. After passing a creek and some water-powered prayer wheels, the trail starts getting steeper.
On halfway up the monastery, there is a nice teahouse with great views of Taktsang Monastery that makes a welcome stopping point. You can get some tea and take a break here. You can continue climbing to the viewpoint, which is the best place to take photos of Taktsang. From here, you will walk down a series of steep stairs to a waterfall to achieve your final ascent to the entrance. Here you will be required to leave your backpacks, cameras, and phones.
In the afternoon, you will visit Kyichu Lhakhang, the oldest temple in Bhutan. After visiting today’s attractions, your tour guide can also take you to visit the ordinary market in Paro, where you can buy some handicrafts with Bhutanese characteristics.
Stay overnight in Paro
- Meals:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Your guide will pick you up from your hotel, take you to the airport, and help you check in for your flight from Bhutan.
- Meals:
- Breakfast
As I return home from my Bhutan, Nepal and Tibet adventures, I owe you a very BIG “ THANK YOU “, for making it one if not the best trip ever! Your thorough planning, flawless execution and above all your willingness to respond to ALL of my questions is most appreciated. I must give a big compl ....
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