Highlight of this tour is the festival in Punakha that commemorates the great victory over Tibetan invading troops and meeting with the black-necked crane that migrates the valley of Phobjikha during winter. With backgrounds of snowcapped high mountains and lush green scenic valleys of Bhutan, this package offers sightseeing in the valleys of Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, Wangdue and Phobjikha.
Your Itinerary
Day 1:
Day 01 Arrive Paro. The flight into Paro on the national carrier, Druk Air, is a befitting introduction to the spectacular beauty of the country. In clear weather, magnificent views of the world's highest peaks, give way to the lush green Paro valley (2,400 mtrs) as you land. Your first experience of the Dragon Kingdom in the Paro airport would be a great presence of spiritual atmosphere. The transparent purity of the air, absence of noise, smell of pine and burning of juniper plants alongwith happy rustic faces with monasteries, stupas and prayer flags dotting the valley will definitely be an experience of being in a different planet. Your Bhutanese escort will greet you on arrival, and then drive to your hotel.
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Day 2:
Day 02 Paro sightseeing. After late breakfast we will visit the National Museum (Ta Dzong). This museum is considered to be a temple by the natives because of the number of ancient religious objects it contains. The museum not only contains works of art but also handcrafted objects of daily life stuffed animals, costumes, armor and even stamps. You can thus get an idea of the cultural and ecological richness of Bhutan in a very short time. We then after lunch drive to the ruins of the Drukgyal Dzong 16 Kms. up the valley. Built in 1647 by the great Shubdrung Nawang Namgyal, father and unifier of medieval Bhutan, the Dzong was destroyed by accidental fire and left in ruins as an evocative reminder of the great victories it was built to commemorate. Explore the ramparts, village and on a clear day experience an unforgettable view of Mt. Jumolhari (7,314 meters). Drive back south and visit Kyichu Temple which according to Bhutanese tradition, the first temple was built by the Buddhist Tibetan King Songtsen Gonpo, in the seventh century. We will stroll in the Paro town and then drive to the capital city, Thimphu (54 Kms/34miles) at 2,500 mtrs. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
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Day 3:
Day 03 Thimphu - Punakha. Leaving Thimphu the road climbs steeply through a 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. After stopping for tea and the view, we descend along a series of hairpin bends to the fertile valley of Punakha (1,350 meters/ 4,430 feet). Before proceeding further to Punakha town we will hike upto the Chimi Lhakhang temple on a small hilltop. This temple is dedicated to the great Yogi in 14th century known as Drukpa Kuenley or popularly known as "Divine madman" to the westerners. The natives believe that from this temple one can be blessed of children to infertile woman. After hiking back to the roadside we will continue our journey to the hotel for lunch and to check in. After good couple hours lunch break we will continue to proceed towards the Punakha town view the majestic Dzong ( fortress), remarkably located between the two rivers known as Pho Chu and Mochu ( male and female river). This fortress is now used as the winter seat of the Je Khenpo ( the Spiritual head of Bhutan). In the past this Dzong was the capital seat of the Kingdom. After stroll through the town of Punakha we will retire back to hotel.
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Day 4:
Day 04 Attend the Punakha Festival. Punakha at 1350m / 4495ft, was nothing more than a dzong as recently as 25 years ago. Then a central school was constructed and the village expanded in the mid-1980s. The small size of the place is suprising, considering the primordial role that Punakha has played in the history of Bhutan and the fact that it was the country's winter capital for 300 years.
Shubdrung Nawang Namgyal built Punakha dzong, or Punthang Dechen Phodrang, in 1637. However the site had already been occupied as far back as 1328 by a saint, Ngagi Rinchen, who built a temple there which can still be seen today opposite the great dzong and which is called Dzongchung, meaning, 'the little dzong'. In addition, Guru Rinpochey blessed the site in the eighth century and issued a prophecy which said that 'on the front edge of the hill that looks like an elephant's trunk, a man named Namgyel will come and build a fortress'. When Shubdrung arrived at the confluence of the Pho and Mo (pho - male and Mo - female) rivers, he set up a camp there and the very night had a dream in which he heard the prophecy of Guru Rinpochey. He decided then and there to build a dzong on that spot and place there the Rangjung Karsapani, the exceedingly sacred relic that he had brought with him from his monastery at Ralung in Tibet. This was a statue of Avalokiteshvara which had appeared miraculously from a vertebra of Tsangpa Gyare, the founder of Drukpa school in Tibet, at the time of his cremation. This relic was so sacred that the Tibetans attacked Punakha dzong in order to take it back but were repulsed by the Bhutanese. This episode gave rise to the festival of Punakha, the Punakha Serda, which you will be witnessing today. Overnight at hotel.
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Day 5:
Day 05 Punakha - Phobjikha - Thimphu. After breakfast a short drive takes us to Wangdue at an elevation of 1,350 meters (4,430 feet), one of the major towns and district headquarters of western Bhutan. We make a short visit of the Wangdue Phodrang Dzong dramatically located on the spur of a hill at the confluence of the Tsang Chu and Dang Chu rivers. We will continue our journey for another two hours and enter into the broad Phobjikha valley ( 3,000 meters/ 9,840 feet). The drive will be through a forest of Oak and rhododendron and often encountering the gigantic Yak. Phobjikha is also the chosen home of the rare black-necked crane which migrates from the central Asiatic Plateau to escape its harsh winters. The other side of the pass that overlooks the valley is a realm of high altitude dwarf bamboo, the favorite food of Yaks. We will visit the Gangtey Monastery, perched atop a small hill that rises from the valley floor. The monastery is surrounded by a large village inhabited mainly by the families of the 140 gomchens who take care of the monastery. The only Nyingmapa monastery in western side of Bhutan and the largest in Bhutan is headed by its spiritual master known as ninth Gangtey Tulku. The road continues for a few more kilometers beyond the monastery to the village of Phobjikha. The valley of Phobjikha is one of the most beautiful spots in Bhutan. We return to Thimphu which will be four hours drive.
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Day 6:
Day 06 Thimphu sightseeing. The sightseeing in the capital city includes a visit to the Memorial Chorten built in honor of our late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, Dupthop Lhakhang ( Monastery for the nuns), National Library, stocked with ancient Buddhist manuscripts, and the painting school where traditional art is still kept alive through instructions in the art of painting Thangkhas ( sacred Buddhist religious scrolls). Visit the traditional Medicine institute where medicines are prepared according to ancient practices and return to the town for your lunch break. After lunch you will visit Lungtenzampa to observe the Royal traditional silver smiths and Bhutanese traditional paper factory at work. Continue your drive south of Thimphu and visit the oldest Dzong known as Simtokha which is 20 minutes drive from the capital town. This Dzong, whose complete name is San Ngag Sabdon Phodrang, ' the palace of profound Tantric teachings', was the first Dzong to be built by Shabdrung Nawang Namgyal. Today the Dzong houses as the traditional studies for lay students. Continue your drive to Paro. Overnight at hotel
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Day 7:
Day 07 Depart Paro Bhutan.
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Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
NOTES: Tour cost for single USD 1290 per person. For two people USD 1230 per person. For three people and above is USD 1050 per person.
COST INCLUDES: Accommodation with full board, sightseeing, English speaking guide, all transfers as per the itinerary, entrance fees and all govt. taxes.
COST DOES NOT INCLUDE: Visa fee of USD 20 payable upon arrival at the airport, excess baggage, laundry, airfares, medical, insurance and any other subjects that are not specified above.
Also see tour packages in:
Asia
Bhutan
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Festival Tours
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