Day 1 - Arrival Paro

Druk Airways flight to Bhutan is one of the most spectacular in entire Himalayas. Whether flying along the Himayalan range from Kathmandu or over the foothills from Kolkotta, each flight is a mesmerizing aeronautical feat and offers an exciting descent into the Kingdom.

On arrival at Paro airport, after the immigration and custom formalities, you will be received by our Bhutan representative and transferred to the hotel.

Drive to see the Rinpung dzong, built in 1645 to defend the valley against Tibetan invaders. The Dzong is now used as an administration center and school for monks.
Walk to visit the Ugyen Pelri Palace in a secluded wooden compound south of the river, which was built by the Paro Penlop, Tshering Penjor, in the early 1900s. It is designed after the Second Buddha’s celestial paradise, Zangdhopelri and one of the finest examples of Bhutanese architecture.

See the Chorten temple, which is in the town square where you can visit the upstairs chapel.

Visit the Ta Dzong rated as one of the finest natural Museum in South Asia, and is filled with antique thanka paintings, textiles, weapons and Armour.

Day 2 - Paro Sightseeing

DAY 2 Climb uphill for 1 hr 30 min to see the Takstang monastery upclose from the café. Taktsang Monastery (Tiger's Nest) clings precariously to a cliff 800 m / 2,600 ft above the Paro valley. In the second half of the 8th century, Guru Rimpoche, alighted here upon the back of a tigress, and upon meditating for three months in a cave, assumed the form of Dorje Droloe, the Terrifying Thunderbolt. He subjugated the Eight Evil Spirits who hindered the propogation of Buddhism, then proselytized Paro valley before spreading Buddhism to the rest of Bhutan. Taktsang is one of the holiest sites in the country and one of the most venerated Buddhist monuments in the Himalayas.

Visit the Drukgyel village, which is a farming village of Drukgyel. The Drukgyel Dzong stands in ruins today. This dzong was built in 1649 by Shabdrung in a location chosen for its control of the route to Tibet. The dzong was called Druk (Bhutan) gyel (victory) to commemorate the victory of Bhutan over Tibetan invaders in 1644.

Overnight at Paro.

Day 3 - Paro - Thimphu

Drive onto Chhuzom – confluence of the Paro River and Wang River. This confluence is considered a union between mother and father. The Paro River represents the father and the Wang River the mother. Bhutanese regard the joining of rivers as inauspicious; there are three chortens to ward away the evil spells of the area.

Stop at Namseling and photograph the rice paddies and apple orchards.

The Thimphu valley is at an elevation of 2,350 m / 7700 ft. Urbanization began here when Thimphu was proclaimed as a national capital in 1952 and the Dechenchoeling Palace was built at this time. Even today the city retains its ethnic architectural style and is the only capital in the world with no traffic lights. Yet unlike other capital cities in the world, Thimphu remains essentially pastoral in character and changes its demeanor with the seasons.
Check in to the hotel.

Visit the National folk Heritage Museum to get an insight into the typical Bhutanese way of life.   
The Traditional Painting School of Arts & Crafts is where children are taught century’s old craft. It is an extremely interesting visit not only to see how skilful the children are, but also to observe the traditional methods of teaching, which are very different from the west.
The Traditional Medicine Center where local medicines made from the Himalayan herbs are made and dispensed to the people.
 
Drive to see the Takin Zoo, which houses the national animal the Takin that is only found in Bhutan. Drive to BBS tower to get a view of the Thimphu valley by sunset/evening.
Overnight Thimphu.

Day 4 - Thimphu - Punakha

Drive toward Punakha valley via the Dochula pass (3140 m), which is an hour’s drive from Thimphu. Himalayan blue magpies glide from magnolia trees to rhododendrons extending their long tails and showing off their brilliant plumage. On a clear day Dochu La offers a stunning view of the snow capped Himalayan ranges.

Visit the impressive Punakha Dzong, the winter residence of the monastic order’s leader and his entourage of monks, can also be seen "palace of great happiness" was built in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal after Simtokha Dzong and is located strategically between the confluence of Pho Chu and Mo Chu Rivers. The Dzong, which was damaged by four catastrophic fires and an earthquake, has been fully restored by the present King. and walk around the main street of Punakha.

Overnight Punakha.

Day 5 - Phunakha - Trongsa

Today drive to Trongsa via Pele la pass at an altitude of 3,150 metres, a wonderful opportunity for photographs. Commanding the Mangde Chu at an altitude of 2,200 metres Trongsa Dzong is the most impressive dzong in Bhutan.  Built in 1644 by the Shabdrung, the dzong is an architectural masterpiece. Visit the Trongsa Dzong.

Check into Hotel. Free time to relax. Overnight at Trongsa.

Day 6 - Trongsa - Bumthang

Drive onto Bumthang the religious heartland of Bhutan where saints and Gurus left in their wake many sacred grounds.

This is a good opportunity for photographs. Upon entering the Bumthang valley you will drive through blue pine trees, beautiful clean stream along the roadside.

Visit Jampa Lhakhang is believed to be built in 659 by the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo. The central figure in the temple is Jampa, the Buddha of the Future. Inside the primary chapel are three stone steps representing ages. The first signifies the past, the age of the Historical Buddha Sakyamuni. This step has descended into the ground and is covered with a wooden plank. The next age is the present and its step is level with the floor. The top step represents a new age and when its sinks to the ground level, the gods will become like humans and the world as it is now will end. Each October one of the most spectacular festivals in Bhutan, the Jampa Lhakhang Drup is staged here. On one evening, after the Lama dances, the monastery is lit by a fire dance to bless infertile women.

Drive up the valley to Kurjey Lhakhang. Kurjey means, “Body imprint”. The temple to the right is the oldest and was built by Minjur Tempa in 1652. It was built around the cave in which Guru Rimpoche meditated and left his body imprint.  A few minutes walk from Kurjey cross over to the other side of the river over a small suspension bridge.

Visit Tamshing Lhakhang. This temple is also known as Tamshing Lhendrup Chholing (Temple of the Good Message). Visit to Jakar Dzong, “ castle of the white bird”. According to legend, when the lamas assembled in about 1549 to select a site for a monastery, a big white bird rose suddenly in the air and settled on a spur of a hill. This was interpreted as an important omen, and the hill was chosen as the site for a monastery and for Jakar Dzong. The fortress is now used as an administrative center of the valley and summer residence of Trongsa monks.

Visit to Jakar Dzong, "castle of the white bird". According to legend, when the lamas assembled in about 1549 to select a site for a monastery, a big white bird rose suddenly in the air and settled on a spur of a hill. This was interpreted as an important omen, and the hill was chosen as the site for a monastery and for Jakar Dzong. The fortress is now used as an administrative center of the valley and summer residence of Trongsa.
Visit the local handicraft  weaving centre and Honey & Cheese Farm. Overnight at Bumthang.

Day 7 - Ura Day Excursion

En route visit Member tso lake, where Terton Pemalingpa, the reincarnation of Guru Padmasambava, is supposed to have discovered religious treasures in the 12th century. Full day excursion to Ura Village. Ura valley is one and a half hour drive from Bumthang. One drives through forests and large sheep pastures for about 20 km.  En-route cross Ura La (3600 m pass) with a magnificent view of Mount Gangkar Puensum. Closely cluttered houses are the characteristics of the villages in Ura, which is a unique feature in Bhutan.  Above Ura village a new Temple dedicated to Guru Rimpoche - founder of Buddhism in Bhutan can be visited which contains the paintings of the cycle of his teachings.  Explore the village and stroll around.

Drive back to Bumthang. Overnight at Bumthang.

Day 8 - Bumthang - Gangtay

Drive to Gangtay one of the most beautiful open valleys and home to the endangered black-necked cranes (Grus nigricollis), which migrate from the Tibetan plateau to avoiding the extremely cold winters from end of October to the end of March. The Black Necked Cranes, Grus nigricollis, is the least known of the 15 species of cranes in the world. It was first discovered in 1876 by a Russian naturalist, Prjezhwalsky in Lake Koko-nor in the northeast corner of the Tibetan Plateau. Endemic to the Himalayan region, it has been listed in the Red Data Boo of the International Union for Conservation of Nature as globally threatened with a total count of 5000-6000 individuals worldwide.

There are also muntjak (barking deer), wild boar, sambar, Himalayan black bear, leopard and red fox. The valley is a designated conservation area and borders Black Mountain National Park. Visit Gangtay Gompa, Gangtay Goenpa, the largest Nyingma monastery in Bhutan. Gyalse Pema Thinlay built a small temple in 1613, which was later built into larger Goenpa by the 2nd reincarnation Tenzin Legpai Dhendup. Overnight at Gangtay.

Day 9 - Gangtay - Thimphu

After breakfast visit to the Crane Observation and Education Centre, activities within the Centre are early morning crane observation and counting/ crane study using nature trails. The Royal Society established the centre for Protection of Nature (RSPN), the only NGO in the country.

Proceed to Thimphu after breakfast. Lunch at the hotel and at leisure. Overnight Thimphu.

Day 10 - Thimphu Sightseeing - Paro

Visit to see the Memorial Chorten built in 1974 in memory of the Third King His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuk who died in 1972. The memorial chorten is one of the most visible religious structures in Thimphu, and for many people it is the focus of their daily worship. Throughout the day people circumambulate the chorten and pray at a small shrine inside the gate.

Visit Changangkha temple, which is the temple of Chenrizig or Compassionate Buddha.
Visit the Bhutan Post where an extensive collection of exotic stamps made from metal and silk to three dimensional images and even stamps with mini-phonograph records are produced. Every major event of the world is recorded and made into a stamp in Bhutan.
Transfer to Paro, driving through the idyllic countryside, dotted with villages and paddy fields,
crossing rivers and natural forests to Paro.

Check into Hotel. Overnight at Paro.

Day 11 - Paro - Departure

Morning your guide will escort you to the airport for your flight onwards.