Cultural Sightseeing of Bhutan

Arrival by plane to Paro airport and drive to Thimphu or in case of arrival by land, crossing border from India in Phuntsholing/Jaigon and full day drive to Thimphu. Stop at Tachog lhakhang to see traditional bridge made using ancient iron chains. Depending on arrival time visit of Tashicho dzong, the castle, which serves as seat of the king and government. If time permits, visit of the other sights.

Dinner

Early morning drive to Buddha Dordenma, the gigantic statue of Buddha overlooking the valley and walk to striking city viewpoint. See Memorial Chorten, always busy with devotees. Walk in Norzin lam street and see the traffic police signalling in junctions. Thimphu is only capital in the world without the traffic lights. Finish walk in main postal office with shop where beautiful and valuable Bhutanese stamps can be bought. Visit school of traditional arts, where the young men and women learns the arts and craft of their forefathers. Excursion to Takin enclosure, where the national animal, the mysterious takin, is kept. After that Changankha lhakhang, the oldest place of worship in the valley. Later transfer to Wangdue Phrodrang over Dochu-la pass (3010 m)

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Short morning hike to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten with wonderful view of the valley and it‘s terraced paddy fields. See the longest suspension bridge in Bhutan stretching the length of 350m over Pho Chhu river. Visit of Punakha dzong, which counts as the most intricately decorated castle in the kingdom. Short walk to Chhimmy lhakhang temple, devoted to 15th century saint Drukpa Kunley, know as “Divine madman”, who did taught Buddhism by singing, drinking and rampant sexual behavior. If time permits, also visit Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Lhakhang nunnery with Bhutanese and Nepali style stupa, overlooking the valley from the high hill. Drive to Gangtey and pristine Phobjika valley. Optionally you can attend lesson on Buddhism led by accomplished master with translation to English in Gangtey monastery shedra (buddhist college). You might also like to spend overnight in local farmhouse as a host of welcoming family or even try the hot stone bath, traditional Bhutanese treat.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Visit of historical Gangtey gompa. 2½ hour walking tour through the valley is one of the most beautiful and easy hikes in Bhutan. You will go through the buckwheat and potato fields to the mixed forest with trees decorated with old men’s beard lichen and finally you will get a view of marshland. Here, in late autumn and winter, rare black neck crane can be seen. Finish hike with the lunch in local farmouse to taste local kitchen and other delicacies like the salty suja tea and ara spirit. Drive to Trongsa over Pele-la pass (3500 m) with stop at Chendebji chorten which was built to resemble Boudhanath stupa of Kathmandu.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Visit the great Trongsa dzong, the castle from which the royal dynasty of Bhutan has risen. Intricate museum in watchtower Ta Dzong hosts number of interesting artifacts related to royal dynasty, history of Bhutan and many religious statues and temples. Drive to Jakar over Yotong-la pass (3550 m). Visit of Red Panda brewery or other sight, if time permits.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Visit of sleepy castle Jakar dzong and old Jambay lhakhang temple, which pins down the leg of giant demoness. Walk to Kurjey lhakhang temple complex. After exploring the place, enjoy the picnic lunch on beautiful riverside. Finally continue walk to Tamshing Gompa, the temple where you can wipe your sins by carrying the chain-bar smithed by 15th century blackmisth-saint Pema Lingpa. Explore the town with it’s interesting curio shops and welcoming local restaurants.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Drive to Tang valley and hike to Ugyen choling palace which hosts wonderful private museum with carefully selected artifacts used in medieval Bhutan for various activities. If you feel strong, you can climb to Kundzongdrak gomba overlooking valley from sheer cliff. Otherwise you can visit nunnery, hosting the Buddhist nuns of all ages. You should not miss so called “Burning lake” Membartso where the treasure of scriptures hidden here by magician-saint Guru Rimpoche were discovered by saint Pema Lingpa.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Taking domestic flight to Paro is extraordinary experience. You will see many of the seven and six thousand meters high mountains on the border with Tibet, including Gangkhar Punesum which counts as the highest mountain never summited by men. After landing in Paro, visit National museum and Paro dzong, castle where Bernardo Bertolucci’s Little Buddha film was shot. Explore the lively small town.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Drive to castle-ruins of Drukyel dzong, from where you can see the top of holy Jomolhari mountain. Explore the calm Kyichu lhakhang which also pins down giant demoness body. Climb to Taktsang gomba (Tiger’s Nest), is the highlight of the tour. While the hike seems to be hard, it’s very rewarding. If you don’t feel so strong, you can climb just halfway to cafeteria with nice view of the place. You can consider to climb in the morning or early afternoon depending on weather, your fitness and preferences.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

If time permits, you can make visit to Dzongdrakha gompa, the temple built below the rocky cliff which beauty is only rivalled by Tiger’s Nest. Perfect place to give Bhutan good bye! After that you depart from Paro by flight or take 6 hours drive to land border in Phuntsholing.

Tour variants, extensions and combinations:

Haa valley homestay (+2 nights): At the end of the tour, you can drive over the Chele-la pass (nearly four thousands meter high) to rarely visited Haa valley. On the way you can do hike to Kila gompa, oldest nunnery in Bhutan from 14th century and also experience high altitude on the ridge of the pass from where Mt. Jomolhari and Kanchenjunga can be seen in clear weather. In Haa you’ll stay in three hundred years old farmhouse as a guest of local family. Haa is less visited valley due to the fact, it’s home to Indian military base. Anyway the nature is very pristine and so are the villages. You can visit few local temples and also make nice village hike around.

Tshechu festival (+1 night): With proper planning, we can arrange that you will experience annual tsechu festival in some of the castles or monasteries. There are many festivals in Bhutan, so we can definitely fix your travel dates to match. We just need to start planning well ahead (optimally more then 6 months before) in order to secure flight tickets and hotel reservations.

Gasa Hot springs (+2 days): Gasa is highland region north of Punakha, just recently connected by road. Apart from beautiful dzong and vistas of nearby high peaks, you can enjoy the natural hot springs, so called “tsachu”. There is number of pools with different temperatures. Water is sulphurous and at’s believed it’s beneficial for number of skin ailments. It’s great relax in luxorious pools anyway. Sleeping in Gasa is arranged in local farmhouse to try authentic Bhutanese hospitality.

Omit Tang valley (-1 day): If you need to save time, omit the excursion to Tang on day 7.

Breakfast