Explore Western Bhutan

Duration: 5Days/4Nights

Price: USD 1250

Day 1

1. Arrive at the Paro International Airport. Here you will be warmly received by our friendly, traditionally dressed representative with the offering of a white welcome scarf.
2. Drive to capital city Thimphu along the Paro and Thimphu rivers (about an hour drive from the airport).
3. Visit the Memorial Chorten of Third king Jigme Dorji Wangchuk. The Chorten was built in 1974 by the late Royal Grand Mother Ashi Phuntsho Choden. Today it is popular worship place in Thimphu city.
4. Drive to Mini Zoo located in North West of Thimphu city, Bhutan’s only zoo, to see the national animal – takin.
5. 5-minute drive from the zoo to the Bhutan Broadcasting Service Tower (BBS) at Sangay Gang Hill to get a panoramic view of the Thimphu city.
6. Visit a nunnery founded by 16^th Drubthob Tshangthong Gyalpo in 1976. More than 40 nuns study Buddhism in this nunnery.
7. Drive to Thimphu Dzong, a fortress built in 1772 by the temporal ruler Zhidar and Younten Thaye the Chief Abbot. It is open to visitors only after office hours. The king’s office is in the Dzong, and it serves as a residence to the Centre Monk Body and the Chief Abbot in summer.

Day 2

1. Breakfast at the hotel.
2. Drive to Punakha, the old capital of Bhutan (about 3-hour drive from Thimphu).
3. Stop over on the way at enchanting Dochula pass (3040m above sea level). On a clear day you can see a panoramic view of the Eastern Himalayas Mountains ranges.
4. Arrive at Punakha Valley (1300m above sea level).
5. 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 is residence to the Centre Monk Body and Chief Abbot in winter.
6. Hike to Chimi Lhakhang, popularly known as the Fertility Temple, 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.

Day 3

1. After breakfast in the hotel, drive back to Paro.
2. Visit Ta Dzong (watch tower) which was built in 1649 by Paro Governor Tenzin Drugda to protect the fortress below it. The Ta Dzong was almost destroyed in 1965, but was restored by the Third King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck into the National Museum of Bhutan in 1968.
3. Visit Paro Dzong, which was built in 1646 by Zhabdrung Rimpoche to protect Paro Valley from frequent Tibetan invasions. Today the Dzong serves as the administrative office of Paro district and houses 110 monks.

Day 4

1. Breakfast in the hotel.
2. Hike to the Tiger Nest Monastery, which is believed to be the holiest monastery in the Buddhist World.
3. Visit the Drukgyel Dzong, 7km north of Tiger Nest Monastery. The Dzong, whose name means “fortress of Victory Drukpas”, was built in the 17^th century to celebrate Bhutan’s victory over Tibetan invaders. It was severely damaged in a fire in 1951 and had been left in ruins since then.
4. Visit a farm house for local hospitality and experience local butter tea and ara (local alcohol).
5. We provide complimentary hot stone bath in the farm house for interested guests.

Day 5

1. Breakfast in the hotel.
2. Drive to the airport for departure.