Bhutan Trekking Tour

Duration: 10 Nights & 11 Days
Places to see: Paro – Thimphu – Trongsa – Bumthang – Ngang Lhakhang – Ugyenchholing – Bumthang – Punakha

Day 1 : Arrival Paro

On arrival at Paro airport, you will be met by our representative and transferred to the hotel on completion of arrival formalities. Your flight to Paro will be either from Calcutta / Bangkok / Kathmandu / Dhaka / Delhi or depending on one’s international flight connection via Road from Phuentsholing southern part of Bhutan. Druk Air flies from these destinations. When you are about to land Paro you will see the spectacular beauty of our country. In clear weather, views of the world’s highest peaks, including Chhomolhari (mountain Goddess) and other magnificent Himalayan snow peaks to the beautiful Paro valley as you land. The representative from our travel agent will escort you to the hotel. After lunch we will visit National Museum (watch Tower) this museum has the very interesting assortment costumes and different treasures and world-renowned stamps, it will bring the history of Bhutan from the 6th century onwards. Visit Paro Dzong (Fort), Headquarter of Paro District and walk down to the cantilever bridge over the Pa-chu River. Paro altitude: 2250 meters Overnight at the hotel in Paro. Overnight at the hotel in Paro.

Day 2: Full day of sightseeing in Paro.

Based on the mirror- like cliff at a height of 900 meters above the lush valley of Paro is one of the most sacred places in Bhutan. Guru Rinpoche, the second Buddha, flew here on a flying Tigress and meditated here for three months in the 8th century. Here he propagated Vajrayana- Mahayana Buddhism (Larger Wheel) that was prophesied by the Buddha at the time of attaining Nirvana. In April 1998, a fire destroyed the main structure of the buildings and its religious contents. A complete restoration was done and resulted in a carbon copy of the original. This place beholds the history of The Hidden Land. The return walking time is approximately five hours. Then we proceed further to visit the ruins of Drukgyel Dzong. Which it was by built Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1649. It was caught fire in 1951. On the way back you will have the pleasure to visit one of the oldest monasteries we have in Bhutan, The first King of Tibet Songtsen Gampo built Kyichu Lhakhang in 7th century to introduce Buddhism into our country, while our country was still influenced by the Bon beliefs. Overnight at the hotel in Paro.

Day 3 : Paro – Thimphu

After breakfast drive to Thimphu is 2 hours through winding roads following the Pa-Chu (Paro River) down stream to its confluence with the Wang-Chu (Thimphu River) and with good views of the forests, Rocky Mountains & scattered villages. As we enter the Thimphu valley we will pass through Semtokha Dzong built in 1629 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel (The man who unified Bhutan) Semtokha now houses a language and cultural schools where scholars of all the ages study Dzongkha (National Language). Afternoon visit Changangkha monastery (Temple), which was built in 12th century, visit the viewpoint where we can get a birds eye view of the capital Thimphu, visit Takin our National animal, visit Nunnery, which is NGO in the Kingdom. Afternoon some of the highlight visits will be, Textile Museum, Folk heritage museum and Bhutanese traditional handmade paper factory. Visit Dechen Phodrang monastic School; visit General Post Office, where you will see the finest stamps of Bhutan and capital building of Bhutan (Tashi Chhodzong) except after 5 p.m. & holidays. Overnight at the hotel in Thimphu.

Day 4 : Thimphu – Tongsa

Morning drive to tongsa the approach to the town involves a trip around Trongsa valley. A vantage point from the opposite side of the valley, still 14 kms from Trongsa, provides an exciting view of the Dzong and the town. The secular and religious centre, the Dzong, dominates the horizon, dwarfing the surrounding buildings. The royal family’s ancestral home is Trongsa. Both his majesty king Ugyen Wangchuk, the Penlop of Trongsa, who was elected the country’s first hereditary monarch, and his successor king Jigme Wangchuk, ruled the country from Trongsa’s ancient Dzong. The crown prince of Bhutan normally holds the position of the Trongsa Penlop prior to the ascending to the throne – the present king continued this tradition as he appointed Trongsa Penlop in 1972 shortly before he ascended the Throne of Bhutan. Trongsa Dzong is an impregnable fortress. The Dzong itself is a labyrinth of temples, corridors and offices holding court over the local community. It is built on many levels into the side of the hill and can be seen from every approach to Trongsa, heralding its strength as a defensive stronghold. Trongsa can also be a good shopping stop. The local population weaves its own textiles from hand – dyed wool and the Tibetan-origin Bhutanese shopkeepers sell them at more competitive prices than those found in Thimpu. They also sell machine woven carpets in the traditional style. These are also sold at more reasonable prices than those found in Thimpu. Enroute visit Dochu-la pass (3,088m). Dochula Pass is located an hour from Thimphu at an altitude of 10,000 feet. It can be visited on the way to Punakha. There are 108 Buddhist stupas overlooking the Himalayas. These stupas were built in 2004, in memory of the war between the Assamese (of India) and Bhutanese militants Overninght at Hotel

Day 5 : Tongsa – Bumthang

Morning breakfast drive to Bumthang valley lies at an altitude of 2600 metres. This valley is the religious heartland of Bhutan and home to some of the oldest Buddhist temples. Tales of Guru Padmasambhava and his reincarnates Known as Lingpas, still linger around Bumthang. Legend has it that when the Lamas assembled to decide on a site for Jakar Dzong, a big white bird rose suddenly in the air and settled on a spur of the hill and it was here that Castle of the white bird` was built. The building itself is surrounded with an impressive wall approximately one mile in circumference, in its centre a tower soars nearly 150 feet into the air. Check in at Hotel later visit the town Jambey Lhakhang : This monastery was built in the 7th century by the Tibetan king, Songtsen Gampo. It is one of 108 monasteries which he built to subdue evil spirits in the Himalayan region. Its present architectural appearance dates from the early 20th century. Kurje Lhakhang : Located further along the valley, Kurje Lhakhang comprises three temples. The one on the right was built in 1652 against the rock face where Guru Padmasambhava meditated in the 8th century. The middle temple is built on the site of a cave containing a rock with the imprint of the Guru’s body, and is therefore considered to be the most holy. The temple on the left was built in the 1990s by H.M. Ashi Kesang, the Queen Mother. These three temples are surrounded by 108 chorten walls. Tamshing Lhakhang : Located across the river from Kurje Lhakhang, this temple was founded in 1501 by Terton Pema Lingpa, a re-incarnation of Guru Padmasambhava. There are very old religious paintings around the inner walls of the temple, which was restored at the end of the 19th century. Jakar Dzong : Constructed in 1549 by the great grandfather of the first Shabdrung, the dzong was initially built as a monastery. It was upgraded in 1646, after the Shabdrung had firmly established his power. Jakar Dzong is now used as the administrative center for Bumthang valley, and also houses the regional monk body. Overnight at Hotel

Day 6 : Bumthang – Ngang Lhakhang 14km, 6 hours

Morning breakfast drive to Ngang Lhakhang, This temple is a few hours walk from Thangbi Goemba in the small region of Ngang Yul. Guru Rimpoche visited the site and temple itself dates back to the 15th century. A Lama Namkha Samdrup, a contemporary of Pema Lingpa, built the temple. A three days festival is held here each winter with masked dances in honor of the founder. Overnight at Guest House

Day 7 : Ngang Lhakhang – Ugyenchholing 19km, 7-8 hours

Morning breakfast at Guest House drive to Ugyenchholing, The 16th century Tang Ugyen Chholing Palace stands ceremoniously on the commanding spur of the remote Tang Valley. It was built by the Trongsa Penlop Tshokey Dorji, a descendant of Dorji Lingpa. The palace was once destroyed by an earthquake in 1987, and the present structure constitutes a smudge of more recent features of the reconstruction. The palace is now turned into a museum with an entry fee of Nu. 100, which goes to the Ugyen Chholing Trust that supports the complex Overnight at Guest House

Day 8 : Ugyenchholing – Bumthang 11km, 4 hours

Morning after breakfast drive to Bumthang, Check in to hotel Free for the day at leisure Overnight at Hotel

Day 9 : Bumthang – Punakha

Drive to Punakha with lunch en route. The Punakha Dzong was known in ancient times as the Druk Pungthang Dechhen Phrodang or “the palace of great happiness”. It is the second dzong to be built in Bhutan and was the seat of government when Punakha was the capital of Bhutan. Today, the dzong is the winter home for the clergy. The dzong’s central tower, the utse, is six storeys high. The history of Punakha Dzong is characterised by damage from numerous fires, floods and earthquakes. Major renovations took place after the glacial floods of 1994 which damaged parts of the exterior of the dzong. An impressive prayer hall has also been built after the latest fires in 1986. Overnight at the hotel in Punakha.

Day 10 : Punakha – Paro

Morning breakfast at Hotel drive to Paro Arrival at Paro Checkin at Hotel Evening free for the day at Leisure Overnight at the hotel in Paro.

Day 11 : Depart Paro

Early breakfast in the hotel and drive to the airport for flight to onward destination.