BHUTAN TOUR PACKAGE:6 DAYS BEST OF BHUTAN TOUR
DAY O1:ARRIVE PARO
Arrival at Paro and you will be received by the representative of Bhutan All Seasons Tours-your local Bhutan travel agency who will be your tour guide throughout your entire travel in Bhutan.
Check into your hotel at Paro. After a refreshment, visit the National Museum, housed in the Ta Dzong (watchtower). Here an intriguing collection of artifacts provide a wonderful introduction to the rich culture and heritage of the Kingdom.
Walk down to Paro Dzong, a fine example of Bhutanese historic architecture. From the Dzong, walk further down to Nyamai Zampa, a traditional cantilever bridge. Overnight at hotel in Paro.DAY 02:PARO-THIMPHU & THIMPHU TOUR
Distance:55 km
Estimated travel time: 1 hour
After breakfast, travel to Thimphu and check into your hotel at Thimphu.
After a refreshment, sightseeing tour at Thimphu which includes visit to:
• National Textile Museum which is a good place to see the art of traditional weaving being kept alive and preserved through exhibition and has a good collection of old textiles which are rich in colors and designs.You will also see people weaving with intricate designs.
• The folk heritage museum, an outdoor museum that gives an insight into rural life.
• The School of Traditional Painting of Arts and Crafts where students undertake a six-year course on the 13 traditional arts and crafts of Bhutan.• Pivate weaving centre at Changzamtok where you will find women weaving beautiful and colorful silk and cotton textiles to be mostly worn by women- mostly as dresses or shawls or scarves or a Bhutanese traditional women’s dress.
• The Takin Preserve, which houses the national animal the Takin that is only found in Bhutan. This is an extremely rare member of the goat family. Found in herds in the very high altitudes (13,125ft and over). They live on a diet of grass and bamboo. It can weigh as much as 550 pounds.
• Then drive further up to Sangaygang to enjoy the bird’s eye view of Thimphu valley.• The Memorial Chorten which was constructed in 1974 as a memorial for the third King of the country, King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, who is widely regarded as the father of modern Bhutan.
• Tashichhoe Dzong, a fortress of the glorious religion. It was built in 1641 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel and was reconstructed into present structure by the late King, His majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck in the year 1962-1969. It houses the secretariat building, the throne room and the office of the king, and the central monk body.
• Government-run Handicrafts Emporium and local Bhutanese crafts shops, to browse through examples of Bhutan’s fine traditional arts. Here you can buy hand-woven Bhutanese textiles, thangkha paintings, masks, ceramics, slate and wood carvings, jewelry, and other interesting items made from local materials.
Overnight at hotel in Thimphu.DAY 03:THIMPHU-PUNAKHA/WANGDUE
Distance: 77km
Estimated travel time: 2½ hrs
After early breakfast, travel to Punakha through Dochula Pass (3,088m/10,130ft). If you have a clear sky, the view of the Himalayan Himalayan ranges is spectacular.Visit the beautiful 108 chortens built on the hill by Her Majesty Ashi Dorji Wangmo (Queen of Bhutan) for the security and well being of His Majesty, the King of Bhutan. Then have refreshment at Dochula pass resort.
After lunch visit the Punakha Dzong, located on the island of the Pho - Chu (male river) )and the Mochu (female river) and also visit the Dho Jha Gha Lam Temple.Then travel to Wangdue, visit Wangdue Dzong, situated on a ridge overlooking a river junction. In the 17th century, Wangdue played a critical role in unifying the western, central and southern regions of the country. Also visit the local market.
Overnight at Wangdue/Punakha
DAY 04: WANGDUE-PARO
Distance: 132 km
Estimated travel time: 3 hrs 30 minutes
After breakfast, walk to Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten (50 Mins) temple built by the Queen Of Bhutan for peace and stability in this ever-changing world.
Visit Wangdue Dzong and drive back to Paro driving through the idyllic countryside, dotted with villages and paddy fields, crossing rivers and natural forests to Paro.
Evening, free for strolling around Paro Town, shopping, etc. Overnight at Paro.
DAY 05:PARO HIKE TO TAKTSANG GOEMPA (TIGER'S NEST MONASTERY)After breakfast, travel to the base camp and then hike up to the Taktsang Monastery (Tiger's nest). The climb up to the viewpoint will take approx. 3hours. Enjoy the stunning view of the monastery, where Guru Padmasambhava flew on the back of a tiger and landed there in the 8th century, and meditated for three months. The monastery was later built in this holy place in 1684. After tea in the cafe', walk back to the road point and drive to hotel for lunch. Drive to Drukgyal Dzong (fortress) now in ruins, which were built in 1646by Shabdrung to commemorate his victory over the Tibetan invaders, led by Mongolian Warlord, Gushri Khan. Historically and strategically this dzong withstood all its glory and had captured western eyes in 1914 in National Geographic magazine.
In the afternoon, visit Kichu temple one of the 108 temples built in the 7th century by the Tibetan King Songsten Gampo. The story goes that a giant demon lay across the whole area of Tibet and the Himalayas and was preventing the spread of Buddhism. To overcome her, King Songtsen Gampo decided to build 108 temples, which would be placed on all the points of her body. Of these 108 temples, 12 were built in accordance with precise plans. Thus, it happened that in about the year AD 638 the temple of Jokhang in Lhasa was built over the very heart of the demon. Visit the Dungte Lhakhang.Overnight at Paro
DAY 06:PARO DEPARTURE
After breakfast, your Bhutan tour guide will escort you to the Paro International airport for Drukair flight to your onward destinations.
