Welcome to Bhutan! Upon arrival in Paro, clear customs and immigration. Keep your copy of the visa clearance letter handy. Passport size pictures are no longer required and your visa has been paid. Our guide and driver will be outside the terminal building who will drive us to Thimphu for lunch.

We have an hour’s drive to Thimphu, stopping at the Zilukha Nunnery and Kyichu Lakang en route. The Kyichu Lakhang was one of a series of temples built by the 7th century Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo. After being lost for a few centuries the temple was rediscovered in the 17th century and additions followed in the late 19th century and in the 1960s, following the same style as the original temple. The Paro Valley is considered to be one of the most beautiful valleys in Bhutan, with blue pine-covered hills and attractive solidly built houses among the paddy fields. Thimphu is the capital of Bhutan and there are many things to see including the memorial chorten, Buddha Point, Tashichho Dzong, plus the market is interesting to explore. If we do not see everything today we have more time in Thimphu on our return.

Accommodation: Hotel Riverview
Meals: Lunch, Dinner

We leave Thimphu in the morning and drive east to Punakha. The route climbs its way steadily on a good road to the Dochula Pass. At 3,050 m the views over the eastern Himalaya are magnificent although this is most definitely weather dependent! We then descend to the valley floor and continue to sub-tropical Punakha. At an altitude of 1,350 m the difference in temperature and flora is apparent. Punakha is the winter capital of Bhutan and the dzong was the second one in the country to be built. This remarkable fortress is situated between two rivers and it has survived many fires, an earthquake and a glacial flood. Over the years it has been repaired and added to and has several interesting features to protect it against invasion. Overnight in Punakha or Wangdi Phodrang.

Accommodation: Meri Puensum Resort
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning we take a gentle hike (approx. 1.5 km/120 m ascent, less than an hour each way) up to the Chime Lakhang (monastery), a 15th-century monastery built to honor one of the more folkloric saints of Bhutanese tradition, Lama Drukpa Kuenley. The lama was known for his foul-mouth, alcohol-smelling breath and insatiable lust towards women, yet he is revered as a great saint by most Bhutanese. Women who cannot conceive believe that if they get blessed by the wooden phallus they will get pregnant.

From here we continue across the Lawala Pass towards the Gangtey Valley, visiting the ruins of Wangdue Dzong, en route. Arriving at the Gangtey Valley, we will visit Gangtey monastery, the largest private monastery in Bhutan. Today’s drive is approximately 84 km and will take 2.5 to 3 hours, although variable road conditions may mean we spend longer on the road.

Accommodation: Dewachen Hotel & Spa
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We Spend our whole day exploring the valley. This morning we will go on a hike through the Gangtey Valley. This glacial valley is made up of farmlands, pastures and blue-pine forests. We will encounter herders caring for their herds, which graze on the dwarf bamboo of the area. Gangtey is famous for sightings of the rare Black-neckedcranes, which fly from Tibet in late October and spend the winter here before returning to Tibet in spring.

Gangtey Gompa

Gantey Gompa monastery sits atop a hillock that overlooks the Phobjikha valley. It is headed by the ninth Gangtey Trulku and is the largest Nyingma monastery in western Bhutan. It was founded in 1613 by Gyalse Pema Thinlay, a grandson and reincarnation of influential treasure finder Pema Lingpa. Incarnate line of Pema Thinlay, representing the body aspects of Pema Lingpa, contrasted with mind and speech emanations. The monastery has been recently built and surrounding the monastery are village homes and hermitages.

Black-Necked Crane Information Centre

The centre displays about the cranes and the valley environment. You can use the centre’s powerful spotting scopes and check what you see against its pamphlet ‘Field Guide to Crane Behaviour’. If the weather’s iffy you can browse the library and handicraft shop, and watch videos at 10am and 3 pm. This is also the centre of the valley’s fledgling ecotourism.

Accommodation: Dewachen Hotel & Spa
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Early in the morning we drive for about four hours back to Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan, where we will have a chance to visit the Tashichho Dzong, one of Bhutan’s most stately and impressive buildings. It has been the seat of the government of Bhutan since 1952 and houses the throne room and offices of the king.

We will also visit the impressive golden-spired Memorial Chorten, built in 1974 by the Royal Grandmother in memory of the Third King, H M Jigme Dorji Wangchuk. In the evening there will be time to explore the market followed with Mask Dance performances and dinner.

Accommodation: Hotel Riverview
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning we drive back to Paro (approx. 1 hours’ drive) and further up the valley to the car park below Taktsang. We then hike (approx. 9 km) to the monastery, also known as ‘Tiger’s Nest’ Monastery. This spectacular building is perched on the ledge of a cliff high above the Paro Valley. Partly destroyed by fire in 1998, it has now been completely restored to its former magnificence. From the car park to the viewpoint is about 2 hours uphill walk through the forest. From here we have incredible views of the monastic buildings which cling impossibly to the cliff wall. For the energetic there is the chance to walk even higher to the actual monastery. This will take another 2 hours. There are horses available for those who do not want to do the hike but please note that this is an unregulated activity and helmets are not available.

Accommodation: Tashi Namgay Resort
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After our leisurely breakfast, we drive for the archery session which is organized for us. Lunch at the local restaurant. After lunch we visit Bhutanese traditional farm house, Drukgyel Dzong and he National Museum.

Archery

Archery is played during religious and secular public holidays in Bhutan, local festivals (tsechu), between public ministries and departments, and between the dzonkhag and the regional teams. Archery tournaments and performances have also become a significant point of interest for tourism in Bhutan. Archery in Bhutan is the national sport of the Kingdom. Archery was declared the national sport in 1971, when Bhutan became a member of the United Nations.Since then, the popularity of Bhutanese archery has increased both inside and outside Bhutan,with a measure of government promotion. Bhutan also maintains an Olympic archery team.

Farm House or Village Home

Bhutanese farmhouses are colorful, decorative and traditionally built without any nails. Majority of the houses are with three story, first floor is utilized for sheltering cattle, second floor for the family to live in and the top for storing and drying of foods and fodder for animal. Almost all the farmhouses follow the same architectural pattern. A visit to farmhouse is interesting and provides you with an experience to the daily life of average Bhutanese.

Ruins of Drukgyel Dzong

Ruins of Drukgyel dzong stands 14 km north of Paro town at the end of the road. It was built in 1644 to commemorate the victory f Bhutan over Tibet. It served as the administrative and religious center for Paro until 1951 when fire broke out and damaged this huge structure. Now it stands in complete ruin.

National Museum

Established in 1967, the museum is housed inside a circular Ta Dzong, an ancient Watch Tower. It holds fascinating collection of arts, relics, religious thangkha paintings, households stuffs, arms, handicrafts, stuffed animals and Bhutan’s famous Stamps among others. (open 10-4pm).

Accommodation: Tashi Namgay Resort
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Transfer to the airport for your homeward-bound flight.

Meals:Breakfast