Bhutan complete tour package

Arrive Paro by the Bhutanese National Carrier flying over the world’s highest mountains and finally landing at the lush green Paro valley. A cool and clean fresh air greets the visitor as stepping down from the plane, the first gift of Bhutan. After clearing customs and visa formalities, meet the representatives and the Bhutanese guide, and a short tour brief by the guide then transfer to Paro town for lunch. Then drive towards Thimphu (the capital of Bhutan) for about 1 & half hours drive. En-route Thimphu, one can do a short hike to Tamchog Monastery, a private temple owned by the descendents of famous Tibetan bridge – builder Thangthong Gaylpo. Later on continue the drive to Thimphu.

In Thimphu, visit Buddha point for a stunning view of Thimphu city and Takin Compound- on the way to the viewpoint over Thimphu is the home of Bhutan’s national animal, the Takin. Then continue to Tashi Choe Dzong- the fortress of the glorious religion was initially constructed in 1641 and rebuilt by King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk in the 1960s, Folk Heritage Museum – a 300 year old traditional house converted into a museum, Centenary Farmers Market, the new authentic craft bazaar. Overnight at Hotel in Thimphu.

After breakfasts depart to Punakha via Dochula pass (3050 m). Leaving Thimphu the road climbs steeply through a forest of pine and cedar, festooned with hanging lichen high up near Dochula pass (3,050 m). This pass often offers panoramic views of the Himalayan mountain ranges. After stopping for tea and the view, we descend along a series of hairpin bends to the fertile valley of Punakha. Lunch will be served at Lobeysa. After lunch hike another 20 minutes to Chime Lhakhang, the temple of the “Divine Madman” built in 1499 and today it is mostly visited by the women who couldn’t bear Children. Also it is known as the temple of fertility. After visit walk back to the road point and drive to visit Punakha Dzong, the old capital of Bhutan and the winter seat of the Je Khenpo and the Monk Body, remarkably located between the rivers of the Mo (Female) Chu and Pho (Male) Chu. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

Drive towards the Gangtey enjoying a winding mountain road through oak and rhododendron forest, and over a high pass down into the Phobjikha valley, surely one of the loveliest high altitude valleys in Bhutan. Phobjikha is one of Bhutan’s few glacial valleys, and chosen winter home of black-necked cranes, migrating from the Tibetan plateau. Enjoy 1½ hours Gangtey nature trail from the monastery through the jungle before emerging to the valley floor. Overnight at Hotel in Gangtey.

Today, we drive 5 hours to Bumthang valley. The road climbs rapidly through a series of hairpins out of Trongsa and there are great views back to the Dzong and out across the valley. After passing through cultivated fields for a while, the trail re-enters the forest and reach the Yotong La (3400m). Descending to a low point of 2650m at a village called Chumey; the scenery is once again totally different as the route enters the wide-open Bumthang valleys. It takes about an hour to get to the roadside at Chumey, the first of the four valleys in Bumthang. Overnight at Hotel Bumthang.

In the morning visit Kurje Lhakhang, one of the most sacred places in the kingdom as Bhutan’s “patron saint”, Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) meditated here. From Kurje monastery, a tarmac road heads south along the right bank of the river to Jambey Lhakhang. This temple, erected by the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo in the 7th century, is one of the two oldest in Bhutan (the other being Kyichu Lhakhang in Paro). After lunch, hike to Tamshing Lhakhang, founded in 1501 by Pema Lingpa. It contains interesting and ancient Buddhist wall paintings. Later, visit Jakar Dzong, “the castle of the white bird”, and then take a stroll through Bumthang’s market area before returning to the hotel. Overnight at Hotel in Bumthang.

Continue on to the remote east of Bhutan, a unique experience that most westerners do not experience. Eastern Bhutan is where the majority of the beautiful Bhutanese textiles and kiras are woven on handlooms in farmer’s homes. Travel via a series of switchbacks through the Thrimshingla pass (3,659 m). Thrimshingla was a protected national park for west Bengal tigers and botanical garden for Rhododendrons), taking about 7 hours to reach Mongar with a short stop at Ura, Mongar was built high on a ridge overlooking the narrow valley below. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

After breakfast drive to Trashigang and this journey covers 96 kms. And takes 4 hours until Korila pass (2,450 m; 8000 feet’s) which is marked by a pretty Chorten and stone wall and the journey is through a leafy forest filled with ferns. Your drive will cross over the old Chazam (Iron Bridge); Trashigang dzong comes into view at the top of a spur overlooking the river. After Thimphu, Trashigang is the biggest urban centre in mountainous Bhutan with its population of 1,90,000 inhabitants and the altitude is 1,150 m (3,775 feet’s). Visit the Trashigang Dzong overhanging the Gamri River. Unlike most other Dzong it has only one courtyard and serves as the administrative seat for the district and also Drukpa monastic community occupies part of the Dzong. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

This morning with picnic lunch drive into the valley of Trashi Yangtse. After the confluence of Bamri Chu and Gamri Chu, you turn left and drive for 13kms and you reach Gom Kora passing through a luxuriant waterfall. Visit the Gom Kora Monastery founded in the 8th century by Guru Rimpoche. After the visit to the monastery continue your drive till you reach Chorten Kora which is probably the largest Chorten (stupa) in the country and was constructed in the 1700’s by lama Ngawang Loday. Further drive from here will take you into the valley of Trashi Yangtse where the wooden work is very famous and popular. Later in the afternoon retrace your drive back to Mongar. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

After an early breakfast drive over the Thrimshungla pass (3750m) to Bumthang via Ura valley. The drive from Mongar to Bumthang takes around 7 hours and covers 198 kms. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

After breakfast continue your drive to Gangtey via Trongsa and over the Pelela pass (3300m). This pass is traditionally considered the boundary between West and East Bhutan. If the weather is clear the Himalayan ranges can be seen, particularly the peak of Jhomolhari (7,314 m) to the west and further continues your drive to Gangtey. Gangtey lies to the east of Punakha and Wangdue on the flanks of the Black Mountains. In Gangtey visit an old monastery, Gangtey Gompa (circ 17th century), renovated and consecrated in 2008. The monastery holds the most scared relics of all the monasteries throughout Bhutan and their architectural designs is amazing. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

After breakfast served at your hotel and then drive to Thimphu over the Dochula (3050 m) pass. Lunch served at a local restaurant in Thimphu and after lunch do some shopping’s at Thimphu shops for souvenirs for friends and family back at home. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

After breakfast drive over the Chelela pass (3899 m) from Thimphu. From the pass one can get a good view of the Himalayan Ranges and the valley beyond. After having a good view continue your drive to Haa. Haa is made up of five counties and is closed to outside world until 2002. There is a military camp by the Indian Army. In Haa valley visit Wangchucklo Dzong which dates back to 1915 and visit Lhakhang Nakpo (Black temple) is said to have been built by pigeon emanation of King Songtsen Gampo in the 7th century and Lhakhang Karpo (white temple). After the visit drive to Paro. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

In the morning we drive to the base camp of Taktsang to start the hike up to the Taktsang monastery (Tiger’s nest). The hike up to the cafeteria will take around 2 hrs. At the view point, you will enjoy the stunning view of the monastery, where Guru Padmasambhava landed on the back of a tigress in the 8th century. We then walk back to the road point and drive to the winding road to the Drukgyal Dzong, the ruined fort, which was once defended this valley from Tibetan invasions, and also visit a Bhutanese farm house of a local family at Drukgyal for a close up view of everyday Bhutanese life. Later drive to visit Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest temples in Bhutan. In the evening take a walk around the main street of Paro’s main shopping district. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

After breakfast your representative will help you with the exit formalities and bid you farewell and wish you happy journey back home.