Day 01: Paro to Thimphu
During the flight on a clear day, you will get to enjoy breathtaking views of Mount Everest,
Kanchenjungha, and other famous Himalayan peaks including sacred Mount Jumolhari and
Jichu Drake Peaks in Bhutan. Upon arrival at Paro Airport, you will be greeted by our
representative and transferred to your hotel.
The drive to Thimphu is about 1.5 hours. On route, enjoy the view of the valley of Thimphu
and river through a rather arid and rocky landscape. After lunch we will take you to visit
The King’s Memorial Chorten (built-in memory of The Third King of Bhutan who reigned
from 1952-1972), the radio tower (for a great view of Thimphu Valley and The Thimphu
Dzong). We will also visit the Takin Preserve to see Bhutan’s national animal and other
wildlife to end the day. Overnight hotel in Thimphu.
Day 02: Thimphu Sightseeing
After breakfast, we will hike to Chairi Monastery, it takes about 45 mins to reach the
monastery. Chairi was built high on the slope in 1619 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal
as his first monastery in Bhutan. It takes you through the temperate forest of oak,
rhododendrons and other species of hard wood trees.
The view from the monastery below is spectacular. Descend down to the valley and drive
back to Thimphu. After lunch you will visit The School of Traditional Arts and drive to
Buddha point to enjoy the view of Thimphu valley and see the largest sitting Buddha in the
world! Evening will be at leisure and you can go for a stroll in town, visit local handicraft
shops, do shopping as you like. Overnight hotel in Thimphu.
Day 03: Thimphu to Punakha
After breakfast you will visit Simtokha Dzong, the oldest Dzong in the country that was
built in the year 1629, thereafter the road climbs for about an hour till you reach Dochula
Pass at an altitude of 3150m dotted with colorful prayer flags and 108 Stupa. If the
weather permits, this pass offers the most spectacular view of the high peaks of the
Eastern Himalayas.
You may enjoy a hot cup of tea/coffee (at your own expense) at the Dochula tourist’s cafe.
Continue to descend en route to Punakha through the temperate forest of rhododendron &
magnolia bloom in spring, then a semi-tropical zone where orange trees, banana trees and
cactuses are found in abundance.
Have lunch on the way. After lunch, you will take a walk to the temple standing on a
round hill rock through a paddy field to Chimi Lhakhang or the temple of fertility. It is about
a 20 minutes’ walk through rice terraces and the village of Yoakha. The temple is situated
on the spur above the village. It is believed that a barren couple will have children if they
get blessing for this temple. Overnight stay at a hotel in Punakha.
Day 04: Punakha to Paro
After breakfast, this morning the drive takes around 3.5 hours to Paro, crossing over
Dochula pass once again. After lunch in Thimphu and continue your drive to Paro.
In Paro, you will visit the Rimpong Dzong (fortress of the heap of jewels); the
administrative & religious centre of Paro District. This Dzong was built in 1646 by order of
Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, who unified Bhutan in the 17th century . Overnight stay at
a hotel in Paro.
Day 05: Paro Hike to Taktsang Monastery
After breakfast, you will take a “pilgrimage” hike up to the most famous Taktsang
Monastery, also known as Tigers Nests. All Bhutanese Buddhists desire to make this their
pilgrimage at least once in their lives and each step they take along the trail counts as
merit points towards their future. The trail is through the meadow of pines, rhododendrons
and oaks.
Visitors choose between 2 hours round trip hike to the cafe for a good view of Monastery
or a longer 5 hours more strenuous hike to the Monastery itself. It is believed that Guru
Rinpoche flew here on the back of a tigress and meditated here for 3 months and subdued
the local deities and converted them to Buddhism protectors. Later in the 17th century, the
4th Desi deities or temporal ruler of Bhutan, Tenzin Rabgye built a temple in 1692 in its
present form, thus fulfilling the wishes of Zhardrung Rinpoche who died before he built
this temple. After lunch, on the way back to the town you will visit the oldest temple
called Kichu Lhakhang, one of Bhutan’s oldest and most revered temples, which was built
by a Tibetan king in the 7th century to subdue the demoness. Overnight stay at a hotel in
Paro.
Day 06: Departure Today you will bid fond farewell to this beautiful Himalayan country
and catch a flight to your next destination. We hope by now you would have made some
friends and also kept many photos and beautiful memories of Bhutan! And we look
forward to seeing you again in this beautiful land of Thunder Dragon!