Hiking Tours

Duration: 8 Days

Price: USD 2040

This hiking tour program gives you great opportunity to visit beautiful Bhutanese valleys. The hike to Phobjikha is about 3½-hour ‘less travelled’ old trade route relatively unknown to the outsiders. You will get to hike through different layers of vegetation, catch a good view of the whole Phobjikha valley from the pass, and take in wonderful sights of spring when the Rhododendron flowers are in full bloom.

Day 1

Be totally enchanted by the breathtaking landscape and pristine environment of the Paro valley upon arrival at our international airport. You will be warmly received by our friendly, representative dressed in traditional attires and offer you a white welcome scarf.

1. Transfer to a hotel in Thimphu (about 1.5-hour drive from airport).
2. Arrival at hotel in Thimphu, relax with welcome tea followed by check-in at the hotel.
3. Rest till lunch in the hotel or a nearby restaurant.
4. After lunch, take a 10-minute drive to Changangkha Temple. Inside the temple is “God of Compassion” made out of platinum. You may witness a process of a newborn being blessed in this temple.
5. Drive to Mini Zoo, Bhutan’s only zoo to see the national animal – takin.
6. Drive to Sangay Gang and get a beautiful view of the Thimphu city.
7. Visit a nunnery where more than 40 nuns study.
8. Visit Zorichusum 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.
9. Visit the National Library, which consists of 2 buildings. On the ground floor of the old building is the largest book in the world and religious books on the upper floor. English books are kept on the ground floor in the new building.
10. Drive to Thimphu Dzong, a fortress built in 1772 by the temporal ruler Zhidar and Younten Thaye the Chief Abbot.

Day 2

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 12^th century by Lama Gyalwa Lhananpa. Phajo Drukgom Zhipo also meditated and saw the vision of God Tandin (God with Horse Head), hence the name “Tango” which means horse head.

Day 3

1. Have breakfast at the hotel and drive to Punakha, the old capital of Bhutan (about 3-hour drive from Thimphu).
2. Stopovers on the way at enchanting Docula pass (3,040m above sea level). On a clear day you can see panoramic view of the Eastern Himalayas Mountains ranges.
3. From Dochula Pass, start hike to Lungchu Tshekha Lhakhang. The walk takes two and half hours. The temple was built by Lama Terton Drugdra Lingpa in the 14^th On the way back, take a different trail to Dochula cafeteria for lunch.
4. Drive to Punakha valley.

Day 4

1. Leave the hotel for Phobjikha valley through Wangdi
2. Drive to Phobjikha valley andenjoy scenes of different vegetation zones. It is possible to spot Gray Langurs, Mucked Monkey and other animals along the way.
3. Visit Gangtay Gonpa, the only Ningma Monastery School in western Bhutan. The temple is 457 years old and was founded by the first reincarnation of Terton Pemalingpa. It was rebuilt by his successive reincarnation in 1613.
4. Visit the Cranes Information Center and enjoy a good view of the whole black-necked crane habitat.

Day 5

1. Drive to Rukubkji, a small village on the other side of Pele la. Hike back to Phobjikha through bamboo and different vegetation zones. It is possible to catch a good view of the Phobjikha valley.
2. In the afternoon, walk around the cranes feeding area and see cranes in very close range.

Day 6

1. Drive back to Paro crossing 2 passes: Lawala and Dochula, your second chance for a good view of the high mountains. From Lawala, you can see faraway mountains – in the north east direction the Rinchenzoe La (5600m) and Mt. Jomolhari (7314m); and in the North West direction the Jichudraki (6980m) and Drakigang (6040m). From Dochula you can see almost the whole Eastern Himalayas Mountains Ranges including Bhutan’s highest mountain the Gangkar Puensum (7550m).

Day 7

1. Hike to the Tiger Nest Monastery, the holiest monastery in the Buddhist World.

Day 8

1. Depart from Paro Airport.