Explore Bhutan

Duration: 12 Night/13 Days

Price: USD 3040

Day 1

  1. Enter Bhutan amidst its breathtaking landscape from Kathmandu, Kolkata or Bagdro – and take in sights of some of the world’s tallest peaks, Everest, Kanchen Junga, Lhotshe and Jomalhari. You will be warmly received by our friendly, traditionally dressed representative with the offering of a white welcome scarf.
  2.  Transfer to hotel in Paro (about 25-minute drive from airport).
  3.  Arrival at hotel and relax with welcome tea followed by check-in at hotel.
  4.  Stroll around Paro town, which was developed after the airport was built in 1983.
  5.  Visit Ta Dzong (watch tower) which was built in 1649 by Paro Governor Tenzin Drugda to protect the fortress below. The Ta Dzong was almost destroyed in 1965 but was restored by the third king Jigme Dorji Wangchuk into the National Museum of Bhutan in 1968.
  6. Visit Paro Dzong (built in 1646 by Zhabdrung Rimpoche) to protect Paro Valley from frequent Tibetan invasions. Today this Dzong serves as the administrative office of Paro district and houses 110 monks.
  7.  Visit Kichu Lhakhang, which was founded by Tibetan King Songtshen Gyambo in 659 AD. It was built to subjugate a demon that occupied the lands all over the Himalayas and prevented the spread of Buddhism. The king built 108 temples in a day to overcome the demon.
  8.  Overnight stay at a hotel in Paro

Day 2
A refreshing hike to the Tiger Nest, the holiest monastery in the Buddhist World.

Day 3

  1.  Drive to Thimphu
  2. Rest till lunch in hotel/nearby restaurant.
  3. After lunch, take a 10-min drive to Changangkha Temple (built in the 15th century by famous Lama Nima). Inside the temple is “God of Compassion” made out of platinum. You may witness blessing of a newborn baby in this temple.
  4. Drive to Mini Zoo, Bhutan’s only zoo to see the national animal – Takin.
  5. Drive to Sangay Gang and get a beautiful bird-eye view of the Thimphu city.
  6. Visit a Buddhist nunnery.
  7. Visit Zorigchusum Institute, which is popularly known as the painting school. Students in this school learn traditional arts and crafts like painting, sculpture, wood carving, weaving and embroidery.
  8. Visit the National Library and Archives of Bhutan.
  9. Drive to Tashicho Dzong, a fortress built in 1772 by the temporal ruler Zhidar and Younten Thaye the Chief Abbot.

Day 4

  1.  After breakfast, drive along the Thimphu River for 25km to the Tango monastery. Be prepared for a steep climb from the open car park and 20-minute hike through the blue pine and oak forest to reach the monastery. The Tango Monastery was founded in the 12th century by Lama Gyalwa Lhananpa. Phajo Drukgom Shipo also meditated and saw the vision of God Tandin (God with a Horse Head), hence the name “Tango” which means horse head.

Day 5

  1. Breakfast at hotel and drive to Punakha, old capital of Bhutan (about 3-hour drive from Thimphu).
  2. Stopover on the way at enchanting Docula pass (3040m above sea level). On a clear day one can see panoramic view of the Eastern Himalayas Mountains ranges.
  3.  Arrive at Punakha Valley (1300m above sea level), a fertile valley were farmers grow two crops in a year.
  4.  Visit Punakha Dzong, which played an important role in the olden days. It was Bhutan’s second monastery school after the Cheri Monastery. The first king was crowned inside this Dzong in 1907. It serves as the winter residence for the Centre Monk Body and the Chief Abbot.
  5. Hike to Chimi Lhakhang through a nice walk along the rice field and through farm houses. The temple was built by Lama Nawang Chogyel in 1499 and is today a popular temple where barren women come to pray for a child. The temple is popularly known as the Fertility Temple.

Day 6

  1. Drive to Trongsa- about 6 to 7 hours.
  2. Stop at the Chendi Chorten, and walk around the giant Stupa, which was built by uncle of the first king over 200 years ago
  3. In the afternoon, if the time permits visit Trongsa National Museum. The museum is located inside the old Watch Tower converted into museum in 2008.
  4. Spend the night over at a hotel in Trongsa.

Day 7

  1. After breakfast, visit the Trongsa Dzong, Bhutan’s largest Dzong. The site was founded in the 16th Century by Lama Nagi Wangchuk but was enlarged in 1652 by the first Governor of Trongsa, Chogay Minjur Tempa.
    Spend the night at a hotel in Bumthang.

Day 8

  1. Start the day visiting the Jampa Lhakhang, one of the oldest temples in Bhutan founded by the 7th king of Tibet, Songtshen Gyampo in 659 AD. This temple was one of the 108 temples built by him throughout Tibet and Himalayas to overcome a giant demon. While Kichu Lhakhang in Paro was built on the left foot, Jampa Lhakhang was built on the left knee of demon to subjugate the frontiers.
  2. Twenty-minutes’ walk to Kurji Lhakhang, the place where Guru Rimpoche meditated for 3 months to subdue the local deity, who has taken the life force of the King Sindu Raja. You can see the body imprint of Guru Rimpoche in this temple.
  3. Walk half an hour to the 3rd temple Tamshing Lhakhang ‘temple of good message’. This temple was founded by Terton Pema Lingpa in 1501. The temple contains original wall painting from 1501 which it was never repainted.
  4. Visit Wangdicholing Dzong built by Trongsa Penlop Jigme Namgyal in 1851. It is considered a masterpiece of architecture in the country.
  5. Visit Jakar Dzong, founded in 1649 by great grandfather of Zhabdrung Nawang Nangyal. Spend the night in Bumthang.

Day 9

  1. Drive to Mongar
  2. From Mongar to Trashigang it is 192 km, will take 4 hours. Road from Monger start climbing toward Korila pass (2400m), road drop down to Yadi small village. Road drop down to Dramgmi Chu River. It is pleasant drive through the river valley with pleasant smell from lemon grass.
  3. Spend the night at a hotel in Trashigang.

Day 10

Drive to Gomkora – 22 km away from Trashigang town. It is one of the most famous places where Guru Rimpoche meditated in order to subdue a demon that dwelt in the big rock. The small temple was built in the 17th century under the orders from Trongsa Penlop Minjur Tempa, and it contains the statues of Guru Rimpoche, and Chenerize.

Chortenkora: It is Nepalese style Chorten, the model was brought from Boudhnath Stupa in Nepal. The chorten is believed to have been founded by the 13th Je Khenpo, Younten Thai, in 1782 and was restored at the time of Second King, Jigme Wangchuck.

National Institute for Zori Chusum (Painting School), founded in 1997, to preserve, Arts and Crafts. Currently, six forms of arts are taught in the school: Thangka painting, Wood carving, wood-turning, lacquere-work, embroidery and pottery.
Drive to Trashigang and spend a night at a hotel in Trashigang.

Day 11
Visit Trashigang Dzong. Trashigang means, ‘the fortress of the auspicious mountain’. The Dzong was built by Pekar Choepel in 1659, on the order from Trongsa Penlop.The site of the Dzong was occupied in 12th century by one of the king in the eastern Bhutan, settled there and built a fort which he named Bengkhar.
Drive toward Rangjung, 19 km away from Trashigang town. Visit Rangjung Monastery founded in 1990’s by Garab Rimpoche. This is unique architecture in Bhutan. There are 200 monks in the monastery; it is one of largest private monasteries in the eastern Bhutan. Drive farther North West to Radhi village, to see women weaver in the open air, in the rice field weaving raw silk cloths.

Day 12

Drive from Trashigang to Samdrup Jongkhar – it is 180 km and takes 6 to 7 hours. The high way was constructed in 1960s, opening eastern Bhutan to the outside world, and providing market access with neighbored Assam state. On the way, visit Khaling School for visually Impaired and Khaling Weaving Center. Samdrup Jongkhar is an entry and exit point from the nearest airport from Guwahati (India) capital of Assam

Day 13
Guwahati is 101 km from Samdrup Jongkhar and takes three hours to reach. Metho Tours representative will do all the exit and entry formalities in India and book the Indian travel agent’s car and see you off.

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