Day 1 : Arrive Paro International Airport by Drukair or Bhutan Airlines
Welcome to Bhutan “the Land of the Thunder Dragon.” As you touch down, you will be received with “tashi khada” by your guide and driver at the airport and driven to the town for welcome tea and refreshment.
(Please note; your itinerary shall be flexible and you can skip few sightseeing if you wish to rest more. Your guide will give you options based on your interest)
Paro Sightseeing & Acclimatisation Day!
• Welcome blessing, at Kichu lhakhang, one of the oldest temple of the nation built in 629 AD by a Tibetan king.
• Visit the ancient watch tower Ta Dzong, which is turned into one of the best museums of Asia.
• Rinpung Dzong “fortress of the heap of jewels.” Walk down from the fortress to the riverside where you will be picked up by your transport.
• In evening, time at your leisure.
• Walk around Paro’s peaceful town.
Overnight Paro (Alt; 2280m)

Day 2 : Thimphu Lifestyle & City Tour (60km/ 1.5hr)
• After breakfast, drive to Thimphu via river Pachu & Wangchu, Thimphu is a charming capital city nestled in the heart of the Himalayas.
• En route walk on the ancient suspension bridge below Tamchog lhakhang.
• Stop at confluence of river “Chuzomsa” to see the 3 different kinds of Himalayan stupas; Tibetan, Bhutanese and Nepalese style.
• After check in your hotel and some rest; drive to Buddha Gang, which offers a spectacular view of Thimphu city. This giant Buddha-statue overlooking Thimphu is one of the biggest in the world.
• On the way down, circumambulate around Memorial chorten (huge stupa). This is the favourite spot for the locals of all age to chant mantras, prostrate, pray and practice their devotion.
• Visit Farmer’s Weekend Market and try some organic fruits & nuts.
• Explore the bustling city on foot; Hongkong market, Norzin lam, Main traffic area, Wogzin lam, Clock tower etc.
Overnight Thimphu (Alt; 2320m)

Day 3 : Thimphu Cultural Sightseeing
• Drive to Sangay-gang where the national animal of Bhutan, the Takin, is found in captivity. This hill is also called the “romantic point” as lovers often come here to enjoy the panoramic view of the Thimphu valley.
• Pray with the nuns at Zilukha Nunnery.
• General Post Office. You can create personalised postage stamps with your own photo for souvenir or sent home on postcard
• National Library where ancient manuscripts are preserved. They also have on display the largest Picture Book on Bhutan in the world.
• Zorig Chusum “School for Thirteen Traditional Arts and Crafts” followed by a visit to Textile Museum or Craft Bazaar for authentic local handicraft and souvenir.
• Changangkha, the oldest temple in Thimphu built by a great sage Phajo in 12th century. This site also acts like a birth registration temple of the valley.
• The Tashichhoe Dzong, the main secretariat building, the office of the King and Throne room and also the house of the State Monastic Body.
• Dinner in gho & kira (national dress) if interested alongside Bonfire and Cultural Show.
Overnight Thimphu

Day 4 : Discovering Punakha & Wangdue (78km/ 3hr)
• En route stop by Dochula pass (3150m) for a hot cup of coffee and to enjoy spectacular views of the eastern Himalayan mountain range.
• Stroll around 108 stupas and enter Drukwangyel (Royal temple).
• After lunch, visit Punakha Dzong, “Palace of the Great Happiness”. This beautiful fortress lies between two rivers, the Pochu and Mochu, male and female river.
• Walk on the 200m suspension bridge over Pochu river to Gidagom village.
• Hike along the Metshina village to Chimi lhakhang, a solitary “fertility temple” where a childless couple who comes to pray is usually blessed with a child.
• In evening, time at your leisure. Free to roam around Punakha’s town.
Overnight Punakha & Wangdue (Alt; 1240m)

Day 5 : Nomadic-Tour to Damji, Gasa Village & Tsachu (147km/ 4-5hr)
• Drive pass via Pele La pass (3,300m) to the northern countryside & wild orchid forest to Gasa. This beautiful region is inhabited by the Layaps, nomadic herders with a unique culture. Their main sources revenue come from trading products made from their yaks, such as yak hair textiles, cheese, butter and yak meat . Gasa is also one of the least visited places in the country except by the trekkers.
• Walk around Damji village/ This village is popular for bird watching
• En route soak yourself in Gasa hot-spring the most popular hot-springs in the kingdom.
• On arrival visit Gasa Dzong (ancient fortress) and have lunch in the village at a farmer’s house. Gasa village is also known for their friendly nature & hospitality.
• Walking tour around Gasa village, talk to villagers, farmers and school children and visit their farm fields.
• In evening, time at your leisure, free to explore more or hike along nearby trails.
Overnign Punakha & Wangdue

Day 6 : Trongsa Landscape Tour (129km/ 5hr)
• Drive to Trongsa, stopping for mountain-view at Pele La pass (3,300m). It’s common to spot yaks along this pass.
• As you reach Rukubji valley, the houses are clustered amid extensive fields of mustard, potatoes, barley, and wheat.
• En route circumambulate Chendebji Chorten, a large white stupa beside a stream.
• Enjoy full view of TrongsaDzong from Tangsibji.
• Visit Trongsa Dzong; a white fortress that appears to grow directly up from the narrow green ridge.
• The ancient Watch Tower which is now turned into a historical museum.
• Walk around the sloppy town of Trongsa.
Overnight Trongsa Alt; 2180)
Day 7 : Bumthang Cultural Tour
• Drive over one of the most scenically beautiful routes via the Yotong La pass (3425m) to Bumthang, the spiritual heartland of Bhutan. It is also called the little Switzerland of Asian by travllers.
• As you enter Chumey valley, visit Yathra weaving centre. The hand-woven woollen cloth produced locally.
• Wangdichholing Palace; the first palace of the present Wangchuk dynasty and also the first palace that was not designed as a fortress.
• Kharchu Draktsang (monastery); the biggest Buddhist colleges of the kingdom.
• After enjoying the sunset, stroll down from the monastery to the river bank and walk around Bumthang’s local
• In evening, free to relax or spend time in Bumthangs local town interacting with the locals.
Overnight Bumthang (Alt; 2600m)

Day 8 : Bumthang Spiritual Sightseeing
• Jakar Dzong (fortress of the White-bird). It is probably one of the biggest Dzongs in Bhutan with the surrounding walls about 1 km in circumference.
• Hike along a series of ancient and important sites such as, Jambay lhakhang, Kurjey lhakhang, &Tamshinglhakhang. (These temples have many mythical stories linked to its origin and dates back as early as 7th century. Your guide will unfold its mystery as you visit these sites). Try meditation at the inner shrine room of Tamshing lhakhang, it has a profound energy field.
• Visit the Red Panda local beer factory. The manager will show you how beer is brewed followed by a visit to Swiss & local cheese factory in Chumey valley.
• In evening, stroll around the quite local town of Bumthang and shop for souvenir.
Overnight Bumthang

Day 9 : Tang Valley Excursion & Ura’s Nomadic Tour (146km/ 5hr)
• Drive to Menbar Tsho (the burning lake). This lake is the holiest lake in the country and is believed to be a wish fulfilling lake.
• Drive up the hill to Tang valley and visit the mystical Ugyen Choling Palace. Ugyen Choling is a national treasure. Its remote location makes it the less frequently visited historical sites in Bhutan.
• After lunch at Ugyen Choling Palace, drive down to visit Tang Rimpoche’s temple and Nunnery.
• As you arrive Ura Valley; hop into few humble villager’s home for tea and chit-chat. Ura is one of the oldest villages of the kingdom. The people here still live a semi-nomadic lifestyle by herding yaks and sheep.
• In evening, drive back to Bumthang and time at your leisure.
Overnight Bumthang
Day 10 : Phobjikha Landscape & Rural Tour (188km/ 5-6hr)
• Drive on different vegetation of alpine, subtropical and glacial. Phobjikha is a glacial valley on the north western tip of the Black Mountain. It’s also one of the roosting grounds of the Black-necked cranes.
• On arrival, visit Gangtey gomba; the largest Nyingma Monastery of the kingdom. Interact with the monks and sit silently in the prayer room. Visit the Crane Info Centre.
• In evening, free to roam around this beautiful village/ rest at your hotel or in nature.
Overnight Phobjikha (2900m)

Day 11 : Gangtey & Thimphu Sojourn (142km/ 5hr)
• At dawn, walk out into the green valley to enjoy the sunrise.
• After breakfast, Em bark on the Nature trail hike across the refreshing Blue-pine forest to Kewa village (1.5hr hike). Try homemade tea & snacks at village home.
• Freshen up at the Royal Botanical Garden at Lamperi. Optional, situated at an altitude range of 2100m to 3800m.
• Stop at Drukwangyel Cafe for lunch amidst snowcapped mountains. and head to Thimphu.
• Visit the Simtokha Dzong en route. The oldest fortress in Bhutan now turned into a cultural and national language Bhutanese college.
• If interested, spend some time with the fortune tellers at Pangri Zampa, the best astrological monastery in the country.
• In evening, time at your leisure.
Overnight Thimphu Alt; 2320m)

Day 12 : Getaway to Haa Valley (115km/ 3.5hr)
• On rise drive on a scenic countryside to the pristine Haa Valley, ancestral home of Bhutan’s Queen Mother was closed to outsiders till 2001.
• It is surrounded by forested hillsides full of ancient shrines, while the narrow valley floor is dotted with fields of millet, barley, and potatoes. Its farmhouses are adorned with intricately painted wooden cornices and ornately carved window frames.
• Good for Photography, Flora, Fauna and Painting.
• Walk through serene hamlets and remote monasteries below mountain peaks like the temple of Black Dove & White Dove.
• In evening, walk in the local town and talk to villagers.
Overnight Haa (Alt; 2670m)
Day 13 : Escape to Kila Gomba & Paro Valley (115km/ 3hr)
• Drive to Chelela pass (3,810m) & enjoy the bird’s eye view of the Mt. Chomolhari (7134m).
• Easy walk on the ancient trail amidst tall Alpine trees to the solitary Kila Gomba. Kila is the oldest nunnery of the kingdom and there are nuns who have spend their entire lives seeking spiritual liberation at this monastery. The hike to this oldest nunnery takes about 1.5hrs return/ Drive up to monastery, optional
• En route Dzongdakha Monastery, optional. This ancient monastery is also a pilgrim spot for the locals.
• Witness an archery match played by locals with lots of hue and cry!
• In evening, time at your leisure. Free to shop for souvenir in Paro’s local town.
Overnight Paro (Alt; 2280m)

Day 14 : Excursion to Mystical Taktsang
• After a wholesome breakfast, spend you day hiking up the forested and rocky path to Taktsang Monastery, also known as Tiger’s Nest, Bhutan’s most famous and scenic icon. Tiger’s Nest clings to sheer cliffs of 900m above Paro valley. The climb is steep and takes about 4-5hrs return. (Ponies & horses optional)
• Lunch at the hillside cafe with close Tiger’s Nest view.
• In evening, learn the art of cooking some famous Bhutanese delicacies like Ema Datsi, Kewa Datsi and Bjasha Maru at the farmer’s house.
• Authentic Bhutanese farewell dinner at a typical village home with local liquor called “Ara.”
• Hot stone bath, optional. River rocks are heated and dunked into a large wooden tub with herbs. This type of bath is considered to have medicinal properties of healing.
Overnight Paro

Day 15 : Depart from Paro International Airport by Drukair or Bhutan Airlines
Our representative will bid you farewell at the Airport. Tashi Delek!