Picturesque Bhutan

(Distance: 65 km. / Driving Time: 2 hrs. / Altitude of Thimphu: 2,350 mt.)
After completion of immigration formalities at the Paro Airport exit door, you will be met by your Bhutanese Guide and get transferred to Capital City of Bhutan, Thimphu. Enroute stop at Chuzom, a confluence of Thimphu (Wang Chhu) and Paro (Pa Chhu) rivers. Here you will see three Stupas, built in Bhutanese, Tibetan and Nepalese style. On arrival in Thimphu, check in at the hotel. Evening free for leisure. Overnight at the hotel in Thimphu.

After breakfast, you would be taken for a tour of Thimphu City. You would be visiting Kuensel Phodrang, the gigantic Buddha Dordenma Statue located atop a hill offering magnificent view of Thimphu Town; National Memorial Chorten, a Stupa built in 1974 to honour the third King, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck circumambulated by people offering prayers; Folk Heritage Museum, traditional house giving an insight to the Bhutanese lifestyle and artefacts from the rural households; Changangkha Lhakhang, one of the oldest temple in Thimphu and Motithang Takin Reserve, a wildlife reserve center for Takin, the national animal of Bhutan. In the evening visit Tashichho Dzong, Fortress of the Glorious Religion. This impressive fortress houses some ministries, His Majesty’s secretariat, and the central monk body. Overnight at the hotel in Thimphu.

(Distance: 77 km. / Driving Time: 2 hrs. / Altitude of Punakha: 1,310 mt.)
After breakfast, you will be driven to Punakha, the former capital of Bhutan. On the way, stop at Immigration Check Point in Hongtsho Village to get the permit stamped which is to be returned in your return journey. Later halt at Dochula Pass, situated at an altitude of 3,100 mt. From here on a clear sunny day, you get a magnificent view of the Himalayas. The landmarks around the pass include 108 Druk Wangyal Stupas built under the patronage of Queen Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuk. Continue your drive to Punakha / Wangdue. On arrival in Punakha visit Punakha Dzong, one of the most beautiful dzongs of Bhutan located at the confluence of Mo Chhu and Po Chhu Rivers built in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal and Chimi Lhakhang also Known as “The Temple of Fertility” built by Lama Drukpa Kuenley, “Devine Mad Man”.
It is a short hike of around 30 – 45 minutes. Later check in at the hotel. The evening is free for leisure. Overnight at the hotel in Punakha / Wangdue.

(Excursion to Gangtey – Distance: 78 km. One way / Driving Time: 3 hrs.)
After breakfast, you would be taken for a full day excursion trip to Gangtey (9,840 ft.). Gangtey is the home of Black Necked Crane which migrates from the arid plains of Tibet in the north in winters. It is a beautiful glacial valley of Bhutan. Here you can also visit Gangtey Goemba, an important and one of the largest monastery of Nyingmapa school of Buddhism, the main seat of the Pema Lingpa tradition and Black Necked Crane Information Centre, a place for recreation with crane watching equipment (binoculars, spotting scopes) and reference books. In the evening return back to Punakha/Wangdue.
Alternatively, you can also spend the day in Punakha Valley itself. After breakfast visit Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten, a monastery standing on a ridge in Punakha Valley offering a magnificent view of the valley. It takes an hour’s hike to reach the top of the hill. It was built by Queen Mother and dedicated to the King and for the wellbeing of Bhutanese; Punakha Suspension Bridge, one of the longest suspension bridge in Bhutan built above the Po Chhu River and Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Nunnery, a temple plus nunnery perched on a ridge overlooking Toebesa, Punakha and Wangduephodrang valleys. Punakha is also one of the few places in Bhutan which offers white rafting facility, which can be done on a direct payment basis. (Please let the guide know a day in advance in case you want to go rafting the next day). The evening is free for leisure. Overnight at the hotel in Punakha / Wangdue.
* As the road condition beyond Punakha is not good due to a widening of the road, it is recommended that the guests chose to spend the day in Punakha itself.

(Distance: 140 km. / Driving Time: 4 hrs. / Altitude of Paro: 2,280 mt.)
After breakfast, you would be driven to Paro. On the way, stop at Immigration Check Point in Hongtsho Village to return the permit which was stamped earlier. Enroute stop at Tamchog Lhakhang, situated between Thimphu and Paro built in the 13th century by Thangthong Gyalpo also Known as the Iron bridge builder. Continue your drive to Paro. On arrival at Paro visit Ta Dzong, an ancient watchtower overlooking Rimpung Dzong built in 1951 now converted into a national museum; Nemi Zam Bridge, also Known as Nya Mey Zam Bridge is a traditional covered cantilever bridge connecting the
Paro town to the Dzong and Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest and most sacred temples of Bhutan. Later check in at the hotel. Evening free for leisure. Overnight at the hotel in Paro.

After breakfast visit Taktsang Monastery (Tiger’s Nest), home of gods and monks located at an altitude of 3100m in the Upper Paro Valley, Bhutan. As per legend, Guru Rinpoche arrived here on the back of a tigress and meditated at this monastery. The hike to the Monastery takes about 5 – 6 hours to complete. As the hike to Taktsang Monastery is steeply coupled with stiff stairs, it is not recommended to take the hike with small children and elderly people. On the way drive past Drukgel Dzong, a Buddhist monastery built by Tenzin Drukdra in the 17th century to commemorate the victory of the Bhutanese over the invaders from Tibet it is now in ruins. At present renovation of the Dzong is under progress. The evening is free for leisure. Overnight at the hotel in Paro.

After breakfast, you would be dropped at the Paro Airport for your return journey. Tashi Delek!