Paro to Thimphu

The flight to Paro crosses the Himalayan Mountains, affording spectacular views of the awesome peaks, including the sacred Jumolhari and Jichu Drakey peaks in Bhutan. On arrival you will be greeted by the guide and transfer to the capital city of Bhutan. Overnight hotel in Thimphu.

Thimphu

After breakfast, you will visit Memorial Chorten (built in the memory of the third King of Bhutan who reigned from 1952 to 1972), and the giant Buddha statue on the hill overlooking Thimphu which is reputed to be the Largest Bronze Buddha shakyamuni in the world; Changangkha Monastery, the zoo, which contains the national animal of Bhutan: the Takin. After lunch, you will visit the nunnery temple, National institute of traditional medicine and Folk heritage museum. In the evening, you can stroll through Thimphu town and absorb the lifestyle of the people. Overnight hotel in Thimphu.

Thimphu to Punakha

After breakfast this morning, enjoy the scenic drive to Punakha with a stop for tea at Dochu La ( 3100 meters), where on clear days you can get spectacular views of the Himalayas. From the pass, drive down hills through the forest of rhododendron, fir and hemlock. You will arrive at Punakha after traversing through rice fields and along the bank of the Punakha River. On the way you will stop at Metsina village and take a 20 minute walk through the rice fields to the Chimi Lakhang, which is a fertility temple dedicated to the Devine Madman or Drukpa Kuenley. If you wish, receive blessing from the Lama’s wooden Phillips! After lunch, visit the Punalha Dzong, which is stunningly situated in between the male and female rivers like an anchored ship. Overnight hotel in Punakha

Punakha to Trongsa

After breakfast this morning, enjoy the scenic drive to Trongsa. On the way you will be visiting Phobjekha valley which is a famous for winter roosting place for Black necked crane. Continue your journey along spectacular winding road, crossing 3,300-meter high pele la pass. You will stop in chendabjee for Lunch. After your lunch you will continue your drive to Trongsa. Overnight hotel in Trongsa

Trongsa to Bumthang

After Breakfast this morning you will drive to Kuenga RabtenIt its about 23 kilometers, one hour pleasant drive from Trongsa. Kinga Rabten was the winter palace of the second King and it offers a good insight into the early days of the Bhutan’s monarchy. The first floor of the palace was used to store a food, the second was the residence of the riyal attendants and the army, and the third housed the royal quarters and the king’s private chapel. After that you will visit Trongsa Dzong, the masterpiece of Bhutanese architecture. After Dzong then you will visit Ta Dzong, this watchtower, which once guarded Trongsa Dzong from internal rebellion, stands impressively and provides visitors an insight into historical significance of Trongsa in Bhutan’s history. Your lunch will served at Ta Dzong Cafeteria. After your lunch you will continue your drive to Bumthang and on the way you stop a Yathra (textile weaving) factory, where the Yathra are designed with patterns unique to Bumthang, and you can even watch some of the weavers at their looms. Check in to hotel on arrival. Overnight at hotel in Bumthang.

Bumthang

Today whole day you will doing sightseeing within Bumthang only. Your sightseeing includes:
Jambay Lhakhang, Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo miraculously built 108 temples in 7th century in order to consecrate the Himalayan region. Jambay Lhakhang is one of those temples. This is the venue for Jambay Lhakhang Festival during October or November.

Kurjey Lhakhang, it takes about 30 minutes of hike north to reach Kurjey Lhakhang. It was during 8th century a king from Bumthang, known as Sendhu Raja had invited Guru Rimpoche (Precious Master), who brought Buddhism into Bhutan, to cure him from a dreadful disease. Guru meditated at Kurjey for three months, left his body print on the rock and subdued the local deities including powerful Shelging Karpo, who had stolen the king’s life force and was the cause of King’s disease. Kurjey is complex of three temples, on the right beneath a giant cypress tree, the main temple built in 1652 by Minjur Tempa, Trongsa Penlop. This temple houses the cave where Guru Rimpoche had meditated and left his body imprint. The middle temple was built by the First King of Bhutan during his tenure as Trongsa Penlop in 1900. The third temple is recently constructed under patronage of Her Majesty queen mother Ashi Kesang Wangmo Wangchuk.

Tamshing Monastery, located opposite Kurjey Lhakhang was founded by Bhutan’s religious treasure discoverer, Terton Pema Lingpa in 1501. Believed to be the reincarnation of Guru Rimpoche, he discovered many religious treasures around the country. The mural paintings inside the temple are known to be unrecorded ancient painting. The best way to enjoy the serene and the beauty of valley is to hike for about one hour from Kurjey over Chamkhar River to arrive at Tamshing.

Konchogsum Temple, ten minute walk south will bring you to Konchogsum temple. The temple was restored in 1995 and looks new, but it actually dates back to 2nd century.

Mebartsho (Burning Lake), it is about 20 minute drive from the hotel where you stay and then about 10 minutes of walk. Pema Lingpa in the early 16th century discovered many religious items from a pond here.
Evening you can stroll freely in the town. Overnight in the same hotel.

Bumthang to Mongar

You will begin your journey to Eastern Bhutan, which is different from western and Central Bhutan in terms of development and lifestyle. The steepness of the region leads itself to some spectacular views, with rushing waterfalls and sheer drops. The drive on this day is an exhilarating 7 hours, particularly the Thrumshing La (pass), which peaks at 3, 750 meters. Stop for a picnic lunch at the Sengor village. You can walk on the certain stretches of the road to relax your muscles while your will be following behind you. Check in to the hotel on arrival at Mongar. You can wander around mongar town in the evening and sit down to relaxing dinner. Overnight at hotel in Mongar.

Excursion to Lhuentse

After breakfast, you will drive to Lhuentse. It is among the few remote district of Bhutan and is famed for its intricate and colourful weaving a. Formerly known as Kurtoe, the region is ancestral home of the Bhutan’s royal family. Explore Khoma Village to see the variety of textiles that are woven here. You can see women weaving textiles with their nimble hands. Any of the houses will be happy to have you walked into their houses for a cup of locally made wine,”ara”. In the evening, you will drive back to Mongar. Overnight at hotel in Mongar.

Mongar to Trashigang

Trashigang is the eastern-most point on the highway. Trashigang Dzong sits on a jagged piece of land jutting out from the town and is the first landmark that can be seen from the road winding up to Trashigang. The Dzong was built in 1659 and commands a spectacular view over the valley for which it is the administrative center. The Dzong is significant for the fact that it only has one courtyard.
A short distance is Radhi considered one of Bhutan’s most renowned weaver villages. Trashigang is also a melting pot of hill tribe people who come to the town to trade. The villagers of the remote Merak and Sakteng areas come to Trashigang to trade yak’s butter for the provisions that they need in the mountains. Merak and Sakteng are located about 50 miles east of Trashigang close to the border with India’s Arunachal Pradesh. Evening you can stroll around small Trashigang town. Overnight hotel in Trashigang.

Excursion -Trashiyangtse

After breakfast you will drive to Trashiyangtse. On the way you will visit Gom Kora temple, behind which is a large black rock. It is said that Guru Rimpoche meditated in a cave in the rock and that you can see the impression of his thumb, his hat, and his body on the rock. Continue your drive to Trashiyangtse and visit Chorten kora.
Trashi Yangtse borders the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. The old trade route from east and west Bhutan used to travel through Trashiyangtse. In the evening, you will drive back to Trashigang. Overnight hotel in Trashigang.

Trashigang to Mongar

After breakfast you will start your drive to Rangjung Woesel Choeling Monastery. Monastery was founded by Dungse Garab Dorje Rinpoche in the year 1989. The main objective of establishing the monastery is to provide a conducive haven for the study of Buddha dharma as expounded in the Dudjom New Treasure Lineage and carry out dharma activities for the benefit of the Buddhist community living in and around the monastery. It is a thriving community with four Retreat Centers and more than three hundred resident monks and nuns including tulkus, khenpos and a large number of old folks. After visiting monastery you will start driving back to Mongar.
Overnight hotel in Mongar.

Mongar to Bumthang

Drive the spectacular 7 hours route back to Bumthang, with stop for lunch and tea in nearby villages. Overnight in Bumthang.

Bumthang to Nagsephel (nomadic festival)

After breakfast you will drive to Nagsephel, Bumthang where nomads festival is held annually. It is about 1 hour drive from chamkhar town. Nomads in Bhutan live in some of the harshest wilderness and close to the snowcapped mountains. Nomads of eastern Bhutan are known as the Brokpas, while those in western Bhutan are known as the Layaps and the Lunanaps. All of them depend on the Yaks for their livelihood. The festival gives them an opportunity not only to showcase their livelihood but earn some additional income.
While attending the festival, it would not only enable you discover the diversity of the richness that Bhutan has to offer in terms of culture but you may also take home some fond memories.
You can witness the nomads in all their uniqueness. One distinguishing feature is their dress. The Brokpas as the nomads of Merak and Sakteng, eastern Bhutan is known have a dress that is all made of Yak hair.
They also wear a black hat. The nomads of Laya and Lunana can be distinguished from the rest by the conical bamboo hat they put on their heads. Evening drive back to Bumthang. Overnight hotel in Bumthang.

Bumthang to Phobjikha

After early breakfast you will drive to the Phobjikha valley. Valley is one of the most beautiful glacial valley in the Bhutan. It is a winter roosting place for the black-necked cranes. These rare birds migrate from the high plains of the Tibetan plateau in winter to the milder climate of Phobjika valley. Spotting black-necked cranes in the meadows of the valley floor is an ornithologist’s dream come true. Here also is Gangtey Gompa, a monastery dating back to the 17th century. Overnight hotel in Phobjikha

Phobjikha to Dochula

After breakfast you will start you drive to Dochula and more over you will be driving back the same way and you can just enjoy scenic drive. Overnight hotel in Dochula

Dochula to Paro

After you breakfast you will start your drive to Paro. In Paro you will visit the Rinpung Dzong meaning “fortresses of the heap of jewels”. Then you will visit Kichu lakhang, the oldest temples in the country. After that you will be taken to the Drukgyel Dzong (Bhutan Victory Fort), which was built in 1646 to commemorate Bhutan’s victory over Tibetan invaders during the 1600s. On a clear days you can see mount Jumolhari, Bhutan’s second highest mountains at 7314meters. After that you can stroll freely in the town. Overnight hotel in Paro

Paro

This morning you will hike to Taktsang (Tigers Nest) monastery, which is bhutan’s most famous monastery. It is absolutely break taking, situated at 10,400 feet and preached on the edge of a steep cliff about 3000 feet above Paro valley. Guru Rinpochee (great spritual master) is said to have flown on the bak of the. Tigress to meditate in the cave where Taktsang Monastery now stands. Lunch will be served in the cafeteria Resturant, which is located about half way to the mountains. Explore the monastery, and you can sit for a short meditation before you hike down to the valley floor. Overnight in the same hotel

Departure

After early breakfast you will drive to Airport for the departure and our representative will bid you farewell.