6 days tour

Day 1: Arrive in Paro, Bhutan.

Flights to Bhutan are an amazing experience, particularly if you are flying into the Himalayan kingdom for the first time. As the flights approach Bhutan, you will see the Himalayan foothills including Mt. Everest. Once you enter Bhutan, the flights snakes around the mountains to land at the Paro International Airport in western Bhutan.

Welcome to Bhutan.

You would then get through the immigration counter where you can produce the paper visa we have emailed you based on which you would be stamped your visa on your passport. At the arrival terminal, our guide would be waiting to welcome you. You would then drive for an hour to capital Thimphu. In the evening, you can walk about Thimphu city.

Overnight at a hotel in Thimphu.

Day 2: Thimphu Sightseeing.

In the morning you will take a short drive towards the northern end of Thimphu valley for a nature walk to the Tango Monastery. The monastery was founded by a Buddhist lama, Phajo Drugom Zhigpo, in the 13th century and the present day structure was built by the Gyalsey Tenzin Rabgay in the 17th century. The monastery houses a Buddhist school. We will then head back to Thimphu.

We will visit the tallest statue of Lord Buddha in the world, which is located over a hilltop overlooking the entire Thimphu valley. You can then visit the Memorial Chorten, a temple shrine built in the memory of the 3rd King, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. Many Thimphu residents consider this to be the heart and soul of Thimphu and gather here every day to pray and walk clockwise around the chorten. We will take a short drive up the hill to Thimphu’s Mini Zoo whose sole residents consist of a small herd of Takin—the highly unusual (and extremely rare) national animal of Bhutan.

Other attractions include the interesting Folk Heritage Museum, the school of arts and crafts and the crafts bazaar.

Overnight at hotel in Thimphu.

DAY 3: THIMPHU TO PUNAKHA.

In the morning we’ll drive to Punakha, the ancient winter capital of Bhutan. En-route stop at Dochu-La pass (10,000ft/3,048m) for a breathtaking view the eastern Himalayas, including Bhutan’s highest mountain, the majestic Gangkar Punsum (24,770ft/7,550m.) On the other side of the pass, the road descends through varied and ever-changing forest, emerging into the highly cultivated Punakha valley.

En-route, we will visit the Chimi Lhakhang, a fertility temple built in 1499 by lama Drukpa Kunley (charmingly known as “The Divine Madman.”) On this site, The Divine Madman subdued the Demoness of the Dochu-La using his “magic thunderbolt of wisdom,” (also known as “his phallus.”) A wooden effigy of the Lama’s “thunderbolt” is preserved in the Lhakhang. Traditionally, childless women have visited this temple to receive a wang (blessing) from the saint. Our trail leads across rice fields to the tiny settlement of Pana. There are few young monks at the temple, which is surrounded by a row of prayer wheels and some very beautiful slate carvings.

In Punakha, we’ll visit the impressive Punakha Dzong. With its three towers, and wonderful location at the confluence of two rivers, it is considered by many to be the most beautiful of Bhutan’s 21 Dzongs.

Overnight at the hotel in Punakha.

DAY 4: PUNAKHA TO PARO.

We will start after breakfast from Punakha. You can choose to have your lunch either in Thimphu or in Paro after checking in your hotel.

We will visit Bhutan’s National Museum, home to a fascinating collection of items representing the many facets of Bhutan’s rich heritage. The museum is located in the old watchtower high above the magnificent Paro Rinchen pung Dzong. The dzong houses the administrative seat of the local government and is the residence of the regional monk body. We’ll also visit the historically important Paro Kichu Monastery (the oldest temple in Bhutan!). If time permits, you may explore the shopping possibilities in colorful “downtown” Paro.

Overnight at a hotel in Paro.

DAY 5: HIKE TO TAKTSHANG MONASTERY (TIGER’S NEST)

Taktsang Monastery is one of the most picturesque, and certainly most widely-recognized sights in all of Bhutan. It is said that Guru Padmasambhava flew on the back of a tigeress from Tibet to a cave in the side of a cliff at Taktsang (meaning tiger’s nest.) A monastery, mind-bogglingly perched 2,000ft/600m on the sheer cliff face, was built on this site to commemorate his fantastic flight. We’ll begin the day with a short drive to the trailhead. We’ll then hike for an hour as we climb the hillside trail to a teahouse with a wonderful view of the monastery on one side, and the wide Paro valley on the other side. From there, it’s only another half hour or so to the monastery itself. A visit to Taktsang monastery provides a truly memorable, once-in-a-lifetime experience. We will be served lunch at the teahouse. Since the return route is all downhill, it will take roughly half the time as our ascent.

In the evening, you can take a hot stone bath in a local farmhouse and also enjoy your dinner at the farmhouse in a traditional Bhutanese tradition.

Overnight at a hotel in Paro.

DAY 6: DEPART PARO.

After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll drive to the nearby Paro airport and onboard to your onward destination.