Bhutan Highlights

On our first day, we will meet at the Tribhuvan Airport and fly to Paro from Kathmandu. Our guide and team will be waiting you at the airport of Paro and then you will be welcomed and taken to the capital city of Bhutan, Thimpu which is an hour and a half drive via vehicle. Then you can spend the day visiting and exploring the grand Tashico Dzong, which iso one of the major attraction point of tourists to the city. This fortress-like compound is a Buddhist monastery and the seat of the Bhutanese government. Then stop by the magnificent Memorial Chorten, a religious monument built to honor a former king. And finally, we will make our way to the giant golden Great Buddha Dordenma statue, where you’ll watch the sunset over the valley below.

Today you’ll get an opportunity to explore deeper into the Bhutanese culture in Thimpu. You can also go on a half-day tour around the city, stopping at arts workshops and museums, an indigenous medicine hospital, convents and monasteries, the weekend market, and a takin sanctuary. The takin is the national animal of Bhutan and is a large goat-like animal. After lunch, we will drive to Punakha which is a three hours’ drive from Thimpu. You’ll drive through thick forest as the road climbs gently up to the Dochu La Pass at an elevation of 10,000 feet (3,050m). Take in the spectacular mountain views to the north before continuing down to the sub-tropical Punakha Valley. Here you’ll visit the impressive Punakha Dzong, an architectural masterpiece located at the intersection of two rivers. Then later in the afternoon visit the market in town and attend an evening prayer ceremony at the nunnery.

On our day 3 we will do a short and easy hike Yo Chimi Lhakhang temple also known as the fertility temple and is dedicated to Drukpa Kunley, a Buddhist leader. This temple is filled with phallic imagery said to ward off evil spirits. From there, we will drive back through the Dochu La Pass for more panoramic views of Himalayan peaks along the Tibetan border. For trekking about 2 more hours, you will reach Lungchutse Lhakhang, a hilltop about 1640 feet from where you can get even better views. Trek for two hours through a rich growth of moss, birch, hemlock, and rhododendron trees to get to the Lungchutse temple. Enjoy a picnic lunch in fresh mountain air before walking downhill to the meditation center at Trashigang Goemba. From here, you’ll be picked up and driven back to Paro for the night.

Today’s day will be quite tiring as we will hike towards the Tiger’s Nest, Taktsang Monastery. We have to climb up to a steep path for one to three hours to reach this nest. If you’re not too tired, continue further uphill to visit a few more monasteries off the beaten track. Enjoy in the amazing views of the Paro Valley, and then stop at Bhutan’s oldest temple, Khyichu Lhakhang, on the way back down. In the evening, sit down to a lovely farewell dinner with your guide.

Today is the last day of our trip and you can spend your last morning at Bhutan by exploring the streets and ancient markets of Paro. You can do the sightseeing of the National Museum inside the Ta Dzong, roam around the Rinpung Dzong, or visit the unusual Dumtse Lhakhang temple, which is home to some of Bhutan’s finest murals. And then we will say a warm good bye to Bhutan and fly back to Kathmandu which will be the ending point of our marvelous journey.