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8-Days Classic Bhutan Tour
Paro ~ Thimphu ~ Punakha ~ Trongsa - Bumthang ~ Punakha ~ Paro
帕羅 ~ 廷布 (不丹首都) ~ 普那卡 ~ 通薩 ~ 布姆唐 ~ 普那卡 ~ 帕羅

Day 01	Arrival at Paro 帕羅

Start your journey with a breathtaking flight over the great peaks of the high Himalayas right into the Dragon Kingdom's airport among the clouds at Paro (2,134m). On arrival, you will be met and transferred through the picturesque Paro valley with its quaint clusters of hamlets amid terraced paddy fields, to check in at your hotel in Paro.
Hotel stay in Paro.
Meal : Lunch and dinner (Breakfast not included)

Day 02	Paro – Thimphu (approx 55kms, 1hr. 30minutes drive) 帕羅 ~ 廷布 (不丹首都)

Day hike to Taktsang Monastery’s viewpoint. Taktsang meaning "Tiger's Nest” 虎穴寺 , is built around a cave in which Guru Rimpoche (also known as Guru Padmasambhava) meditated. The monastery clings seemingly impossible to a cliff of rock at 914m above the valley floor.

For the local people it is a place of pilgrimage, but for a tourist, a hike up to the viewpoint opposite the monastery is exhausting, thrilling and mystical. The legend has it that Guru Rimpoche is said to have flown to the site of the monastery on the back of a tigress from Tibet and meditated in the cave there for three months. Although the main building of the temple was destroyed by fire on April 1998, the hike up to the viewpoint is worthwhile and fulfilling. It was reconstructed in the year 2000 and consecrated in March 25, 2005.
Drive to the end of the valley to look at the old ruined fortress of Drukgyel Dzong or the Fort of Drukpa Victory (14km from Paro), the historical site from the ramparts of which the Bhutanese repelled Tibetan invaders, time and time again. On a clear day, you will be overawed by the sight of the 7,315m white-domed peak of the sacred Mount Jhomolhari (Mountain of the Goddess JHOMO) that looms overhead.

Enroute visit Kyichu Lhakhang 祈楚寺(from outside) and Satsam Chorten: Kyichu Lhakhang is said to have been built by King Songtsen Gampo of Tibet in 659.It's believed that it holds down the left foot of an ogress, so large that it covers Bhutan and most of eastern Tibet.

Drive through spectacular mountain views and peaceful countryside to Thimphu (2,286m), Bhutan’s capital (two-hour drive from Paro). Thimphu is a small, charming capital city sandwiched in the heart of the Himalayas. It is nothing like what a capital city is imagined to be. All houses and buildings are painted and constructed in traditional Bhutanese style. 

Drive up to the viewpoint- BBS Tower in Sangaygang and take a hike beyond to enjoy a stunning view of the valley. Visit Mini Zoo where you can see Takin, the National animal of Bhutan. the National Library, which holds a vast collection of ancient Buddhist manuscripts; the School of Thangkha paintings (The Arts and Crafts School) where you can see young children learning and practicing ancient craft of paintings.

Visit General Post Office 郵政局; the Handicraft Emporium and the Memorial Chorten, built in 1974 in the loving memory of Late His Majesty, King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, exhibits a multi-storied stupa and numerous paintings providing a rare insight into Buddhist philosophy.
Hotel stay in Thimphu.
Meal: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

 

 

 

Day 03	Thimphu - Punakha (Aprox 70kms kms, 3 hrs drive approx) 廷布(不丹首都) ~ 普那卡

The first stop after leaving Thimphu is Dochula Pass 都楚拉隘口at 10,500 ft. (23km from Thimphu-45minutes drive), site of one of Bhutan's most enchanting views. If weather permits, from this pass, the breathtaking peaks of Bhutan's Northern border can be viewed during season, within the site of the alpine snow is a magnificent canvas of color- a profusion red, pink, white, yellow and purple rhododendron blossoms splashed among the soft green of wild herbs and forest trees.

Visit the newly built “Druk Wangyal Khangzang Chortens”, a unique cluster of 108 Namgyel Khangzang Chortens that spiral up to a main monument Chorten. This is a tribute and monument to the selfless service and visionary leadership of His Majesty the King. The Chortens are also a celebration of the stability and progress that His Majesty the King brought to the nation. These chortens are a new landmark for travelers as they cross Dochula, the first mountain pass into the interior of the country.

Blessed with a temperate climate and drained by the Phochu and Mochu rivers, is the fertile valley of Punakha. Before Thimphu was made the capital of Bhutan, Punakha held the title as the winter capital because of its more temperate climate. Today it is the winter seat of Je- Khenpo (the Chief Abbot) and the Central Monk Body. Punakha Dzong (1250m), built at the junction of the Phochu and Mochu Rivers in 1637 by the first Zhabdrung of Bhutan, Ngawang Namgyel, served as both the religious and the administrative center of Bhutan.

Visit Punakha Dzong 普卡拉宗 till courtyard & CHIMI LHAKHANG: This monastery situated on a hillock with center of valley below Metshina, was built by Lama Drukpa Kuenley (also known as the Divine Madman). It’s about 20minutes walk across from the road at Sopsokha to the temple. It is believed that childless women who visit the temple will conceive after receiving "wang"(blessing).
Hotel stay in Punakha.
Meal: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Proceed towards Wangdue & to Continue to Trongsa (2,200m), the ancestral home of the Royal Family of Bhutan. Drive across the Pelela Pass (3,400m) and through the Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park, which divide western and central Bhutan. Cross the Nikka Chu Bridge to enter the heavily cultivated Trongsa regions in central Bhutan. Beside the stream, is the great white stupa, the Chendebji Chorten built in the 19th century in Nepalese design, stands below the road as testimony to the subjugation of a demon by the Lam Shida.

Visit Trongsa Dzong (till courtyard), the most impressive Dzong in Bhutan. Built in 1647 by Shabdrung, this Dzong itself is a labyrinth of temples, corridors and offices holding court over the local community. An architectural masterpiece, it is built on many levels into the sides of the hill, and can be seen from every approach to Trongsa, declaring its strength and majesty. You will also visit the ancient watchtower situated above the town.

From Trongsa, you will drive on to Jakar, in the Bumthang valley across the Yotong Laa Pass (3,425m). Enroute stop at Zungney (2,750m) to see the traditional weavings of Yathra, the woolen fabric in numerous colors and patterns.

Continue overland to Bumthang 布姆唐 (2,800m). This is one of the most spectacular valleys in Bhutan and also the heartland of Buddhism. Here the great teachers meditated and left in there wake many sacred grounds. The Guru and his lineage of Tertons, the treasure finders, have laid to the sprouting of many temples in the valley.
Hotel stay in Bumthang.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner

 

Day 05	Bumthang 布姆唐

Start your tour of the city with a walk up to Tamshing Monastery, founded by Terton Pema Lingpa, where about 200 monks reside. Visit Wangdichholing Palace, Jambay and Kurjey Lhakhangs, the oldest monasteries in the kingdom. All the Kings of Bhutan are cremated at Kurjey Lhakhang. Visit some of the numerous temples in the city. Drive to the Meebartsho (Burning Lake), where Terton Pema Lingpa was led by mystic forces to discover spiritual treasures at the bottom of the lake. This is one of the many sacred Buddhist pilgrimage sites. Visit a Swiss farm and taste sweet cheese, apple brandy and locally brewed wine and beer.
Hotel stay in Bumthang
Meal: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

 

 

Day 06	Bumthang - Punakha 布姆唐 ~ 普那卡

Enroute visit the Crane Information Center, the carpet factory and the sacred Gangtey Monastery, the only Nyingmapa Temple in the country.
Hotel stay in Paro.
Meal: Breakfsat, lunch and dinner

Day 07	Punakha - Paro 普那卡 ~ 帕羅

Visit Wangdue valley, the gateway to Central and Eastern Bhutan. Wangdue is a small town located on a ridge that plunges into the Puna Tsang River flowing below. Sitting atop the ridge with a commanding view of the valleys below is the Wangdue Phodrang Dzong.

Continue drive to Paro, enroute you will pass by Semtokha Dzong built in 1629 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. Once the oldest fortress of its kind that guarded the Thimphu valley, Semtokha Dzong is today a theological university.

Visit Ta Dzong, the National Museum housed in an ancient watchtower, which has a fine collection of ancient Thangkha paintings, textiles, weapons and other artifacts; visit one of the most celebrated Dzongs in Bhutan, the Rinpung Dzong, or the Fortress of the Heap of Jewels. 

Meal: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

 

Day 08	Paro departure 離開帕羅

After breakfast at the hotel, free time at leisure till transfer to Paro airprot for departure.

Meal: Breakfast only

 

Have a nice holidays!

Remarks :
Every effort will be made to adhere to the planned itinerary.  However, due to weather conditions and reasons beyond our control, changes to the itinerary might occur, for which the company accepts no responsibility.

8 Days Standard Tour price (2020-2021)

Low Season: January, February, June, July, August and December

High Season: March, April, May, September, October and November