Day 02: Paro hike to Taktsang Monaster
Day 03: Paro to Thimphu
Day 04: Sightseeing Thimphu
Day 05: Thimphu to Punakha
Day 06: Punakha to Bumthang.
Day 07: Bumthang Sightseeing
Day 08: Bumthang Mongar
Day 09:Excursion Khoma valley.
Day 10: Mongar via Tashi Yangtse Trashigang
Day 12: Trashigang to Monager
Day 13: Mongar to Bumthang
Day 14: Bumthang to Wangdue Phodrang
Day 15: wangdue to Paro
Day: 16 Depart from Paro (by Druk Air)
The flight into Paro (2280m/7524ft) on Druk Air is spectacular. In the clear weather, magnificent views of the worlds highest peaks give way to the verdant greens of Paro valley. The first gift from Bhutan is the cool, clean fresh air as we step out of the plane. After clearing customs and visa control you are receive by Norden Adventure representative and transfer to the hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure with a walk through the main streets of Paro. Dinner and overnight: Hotel in Paro.
Day 02: Paro hike to Taktsang Monaster
Early in morning drive to Ramthangkat to hike till the Taktsang monastery (Tigers nest). The hike to the cafeteria will take around one and half hour. At the view point enjoy the stunning view of monastery, believes where Guru Padmasambhava landed on the back of a tigeress in the 8th century. After lunch at the caf walk back to the road point. On the way back to the hotel we visit Drukgyal Dzong, the ruined fort, which was once defended this valley from Tibetan invasions. Mount Chomolhari, can be seen on clear day from Drukgyal village. You can visit a typical Bhutanese Farm House of a local family for a close up view of everyday Bhutanese life and visit Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest temple in Bhutan built in 7th century. Dinner and overnight: Hotel in Paro.
Day 03: Paro to Thimphu
After breakfast visit Ta Dzong, built in the 17th century as a watch tower for the Paro Dzong. This Dzong, was converted into the National Museum in 1968. The museum boasts antique Thangka, textiles, weapons and armour, household objects and rich assortment of natural and historic artifacts. Below the museum is the Rimpung Dzong, built in 17th century to defend the valley against Tibetan invaders. The Dzong, is now used as an administration center and school for monks. A short walk below the Dzong, takes you across a traditional cantilever bridge and drive to Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan. The drive will take around one hour. Thimphu has a population of about 100,000.The town is made up of just three lines of shops and is the only capital in the world without traffic lights. In afternoon visit Folk Heritage Museum founded in 2003 by Queen mother. It displays the utensil and real life of Bhutanese ancient lifes. Visit handmade paper factory and Evening walk around Thimphu town. Dinner and overnight: Hotel in Thimphu.
Day 04: Sightseeing Thimphu
After breakfast drive to Buddha statue built on hill overlooking the Thimphu valley. The statue is one of biggest in the country built with budget of 15 million dollar. Visit Memorial stupa built in 1974 for the late king Jigme Dorji Wangcuk and to bring peace and prosperity in the world and Visit Texile Museum, where the art of tradition weaving is still kept alive and preserved though exhibition and has a good collection of old textiles which are rich in its colors and design. After lunch visit painting school where Bhutan student are learning 13 different arts and preserve their culture and visit the Motithang Mini Zoo where you can see national animal Takin research centre where these odd animals graze peacefully in a small protected park. Hike to Wangduetse monastery takes 30 minutes walk through pine forest and after office hour visit Tashichhoe Dzong, the main secretariat building. This massive structure houses part of the government Ministries, the office of the King and the Throne Room. It also houses the Central Monastic Body and the living quarters of the Chief Abbot and the senior monks. Dinner and overnight: Hotel in Thimphu.
Day 05: Thimphu to Punakha
Morning depart for Punakha. Leaving Thimphu the road climbs steeply through the 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 and the place is marked with 108 stupas. After stopping for tea and the view, we descend along a series of hairpin bends to the fertile valley of Punakha. On the way visit Chimi Lhakhang the temple of fertility. The hike takes only 15 walk from road. Your guide will tell you humorist history about the divine mad man and significant of temple for Bhutanese society. After lunch visit Punakha Dzong, 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: Hotel in Punakha.
Day 06: Punakha to Bumthang.
Today we drive for a fabulous drive to the central valleys of Bhutan. The drive to Trongsa is approximately 7 hours crossing Pelela Pass (3,300 m) and Yotongla Pass (3,400 m). The Central Road, across the Black Mountains, was completed thirty years ago, and it brought about great changes to the people in central Bhutan. We then climb steadily passing through semi-tropical vegetation and then to Pelela Pass (3,300m) with an alpine environment of rhododendrons and dwarf bamboo. 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 Jhomulhari (7,314m) to the west. En route we cross Chendebji Chorten built many centuries ago to suppress a demon. In late afternoon visit Trongsa dzong the ancestral home of the ruling dynasty. In olden days the Dzong commanded the passage between east and West Bhutan and drive to Bumthang over Yutong La Pass (3,400m). Further 13 kms ahead; the road enters into a wide, open, cultivated valley known as Chumey valleyand drive over the kiki la pass through pine forest. Dinner and overnight: Hotel in Bumthang.
Day 07: Bumthang Sightseeing
This is one of the most spectacular valleys in Bhutan and also the heartland of Buddhism. The Guru and his lineage of Tertons (treasure finders), have led to the sprouting of many temples in the valley. In the morning we visit Jambay Lhakhang (one of the oldest temple in Bhutan built in 7th century) and visit Kurjey Lhakhang (where the Guru Rinpoche subdued a local demon and left his body imprint on a rock). Hike to visit the Tamshing Monastery (one of the oldest monastic schools built by Terton Pema Lingpa), on the way back visit Jakar Dzong, (seat of the district administration). In evening visit Karchu Monastery to see monks debates and stroll in Chamkhar Town . Dinner and overnight: Hotel in Punakha.
Day 08: Bumthang Mongar
After breakfast, drive to Ura village and visit Ura Lhakhang and then continue drive to Monger through Thrumshingla Pass (3,750m highest pass on this pass east-west highway). The drive is through the dense forest of rhododendrons and mixed forests. Picnic will be served En-route. You will begin your journey to eastern Bhutan, which is different from western and central Bhutan in term of development and lifestyle. The steepness of the region lends itself to some spectacular views, with rushing waterfalls and sheer drops. The drive on this is an exhilarating eight hours from Thrumshing La once again you will see the spectacular views of the Himalayan range on the clear day. The drive continues to Mongar and you can wander around Mongar town. Dinner and overnight: Hotel in Mongar.
Day 09:Excursion Khoma valley.
Today we drive toward Lhuntse , another isolated district in Bhutan. It takes two and half hours drive from Mongar to Sumpa Zam (suspension bridge). An hours brisk walk from the bridge will bring us onto the main road of Lhuentse and further to the Khoma village, the best known weaving village in the country. The region is famed for its weavers and special textiles with intricate designs in the country and basket made from the bamboos. After spending an hour or two visiting the home of the weavers as there are no factories for weaving but only at the homes of the villagers, we drive back to Mongar. Dinner and overnight: Hotel in Mongar.
Day 10: Mongar via Tashi Yangtse Trashigang
This journey takes 150kms and takes five hours overpassing Korila pass (2,450 m; 8,000 feet) which is marked by a pretty Chorten and stone wall and the journey is through a leafy forest filled with ferns.When you reach old Chazam (iron bridge), drive along the Gamri chu to Tashi Yangtse, 52kms and 2 hours drive. The people are known for making wooden bowls and containers, which are said to be best in Bhutan. Once you reach to Tashi yangtes visit Chorten kora one of the most attraction in Eastern Bhutan. It is a great Chorten built in 1740 and modeled on the style of the Boudhnath Stupa in Nepal. Its annual Tsechu (religious festival) attracts enormous crowds. On way back to Tashi Gang stop at Gom Kora temple, behind which is a large black rock. It is said that Guru Rimpoche meditated in the cave in the rock and that you can see the impression of his thumb, his hat, and his body on the rock and drive back to Trashigang. Dinner and overnight: Hotel in Tashi Gang.
Day 12: Trashigang to Monager
After breakfast visit Tashi Gang Dzong which was overlooking the Gamri Chu. The dzong was built in 17 century. Now it serves offices for Tashi gang district administration and resident for distict monastic body and drive Rangjung. Visit Rangjung Monastry founded by Garap Rimpoche family that situated hillock of rangjug valley and visit Radi valley to feel the differences between the west, central and eastern Bhutan. After lunch drive back to Monger. Dinner and overnight: Hotel in Monagr.
Day 13: Mongar to Bumthang
In morning visit Monagr dzong and drive back to Bumthang through the dense forest of rhododendrons and mixed forest with spectacular views of mountain, with rushing waterfalls and sheer drops passing over the Thrumshing la pass (3,750m). If time permit, visit burning lake the one of famou pilgrimage site the country. Dinner and overnight: Hotel in Bumthang.
Day 14: Bumthang to Wangdue Phodrang
After breakfast drive back to Wangdue Phodrand passing Yutongla and Pelela pass. On the way visit Trongsa Ta dzong built in 17 century by the first governor of Trongsa to defend the Trongsa dzong from their rivals. After lunch drive to Phojikha valley and visit Gangtey Monastry affiliated with Nyingma monastery in the country and drive back to Wangdue. Dinner and overnight: Hotel in Wangdue.
Day 15: wangdue to Paro
After breakfast drive back to Paro via Thimphu passing over the Dochula pass and start Longchutse hike that takes 2 hours walk through fir, maple, daphne and Rhododendron forest with panoramic view of Himalayan mountains. Your lunch will be at Dochula cafeteria and proceed to Paro. Dinner and overnight: Hotel in Paro.
Day: 16 Depart from Paro (by Druk Air)
After breakfast our representative will help you with the exit formalities and bid you farewell.
Note: This itinerary is a sample itinerary intended to give you idea for your schedule. if you want to customize the itinerary. Feel free to ask, we design itinerary that suit your interest and needs to our valued customers.
From our guests
Annie Harriz
It was very satisfying trip to Bhutan. We were welcomed by the guide Gasay Lhendup in the airport and provided a royal service throughout the trip. Both the driver and the guide were very helpful, efficient, attentive, expert, courteous ++++ Both of them were with a big smile throughout the trip. The food is different and spicy. May be we were too french.Guibert Nicolle Dominique Henriette
It was perfect: Sangay is a careful driver, always in a good mood. Gasay gave us all the explanation we needed and made sure everything is ok for us.