Magical Bhutan Tour - 12 Days

After the first meal, you will hike to Taktsang (Tiger's Nest) Monastery, the most popular monastery elevating at 3180 meters from the sea level. It is believed that once Guru Rinpoche (spiritual master) flew on the back of a tigress to meditate in a cave where Taktsang Monastery now positions. 

On the halfway there, your lunch will be served in the Cafeteria Restaurant. This monastery hovering on the edge of a cliff, about 900 meters above Paro Valley. Exploring it, we hike down to the valley floor. In the evening, you will head towards Thimphu via driving.

Overnight hotel in Thimphu.

After your breakfast, you will visit Memorial Chorten, a Chorten built in the remembrance of the then King who ruled between 1952 and 1972. You will further visit Nunnery temple, National Institute of Traditional Medicine, Folk Heritage Museum and the School of Arts and Crafts (also known as the painting school).

Inhaling the relaxing lunch, you will visit Kuenselphodrang and Paper factory viewing Thimphu valley. You can sightsee a giant Buddha statue which is 169 feet tall and is one of the largest statues of Buddha worldwide. 

Then you will sightsee royal Tashichhodzong, the seat of the national government. In the evening, you can have a gentle walk around Thimphu City exploring the way of living of the people therearound. 

Overnight hotel in Thimphu.

After having the first meal of the day, you will head towards Punakha enjoying the scenic drive. You will take a short break at Dochu La Pass (3,100 meters). This place offers spectacular views of the Himalayas if the weather is favorable. 

You will also visit the new Druk Wangyal Monastery, only of its kind in the country with elaborate paintings portraying the ancestry of the current monarchy and their quixotic works. Passing downhill via fir, rhododendron and hemlock woodlands, we reach Lamperi, where you can visit the Royal Botanical Park to see different species of plants. 

Driving further via rice paddies and bank of Punakha River, you arrive at Punakha. After a relaxing lunch, you will visit Punakha Dzong, which is strikingly positioned in the conflux of the male and female rivers as an attached ship. Overnight hotel in Punakha. 

After breakfast, you will drive towards Gangety passing via dense bushes of oaks and rhododendrons. You will reach Pele La, the cross over point into central Bhutan driving only 3 kilometers. Leaving the highway, and crossing a small pass blanketed with dwarf bamboos and arrive at Gangtey village. This place offers magnificent views of the Black Mountain range as well as Phobjikha Valley, the winter habitat of the black-necked cranes.

Having a relaxing lunch, you will hike via Phobjikha valley to explore the settlements nearby. This valley has a plethora of high-altitude dwarf bamboo, pine trees, hiking trails, and farmhouse with impressive art and wood carving. Overnight hotel in Gangtey. 

Your 6th day starts driving towards Bumthang- the cultural heartland of the country. The way there is spectacular and winding that crosses 3,300-meter-high Pele La pass. It is possible to see the yaks on the way. Stopping at Tronsga, you will have your lunch. After lunch, you can sightsee Trongsa Dzong, the masterpiece of Bhutanese architecture.

You will then transverse to Bumthang passing hilly forests and lustrous vales. On the way, you will take a short break at Yathra (textile weaving factory), where you can watch some of the weavers at their looms there. Continuing the journey, you will arrive at Bumthang. Overnight hotel in Bumthang. 

After the first meal of the day, you will start your sightseeing in Bumthang. The shrines include Jakar Dzong, the administrative center of the valley; Jambey Lhakhang, one of the most antique monasteries in Bhutan, dating from the introduction of Buddhism in Bhutan; and Kurje Lhakhang, one of the most sacred places where Guru Rinpoche left his body imprint on the cave when he was meditating. You can even meditate for a few hours here. 

Having the relaxing lunch, you will tour Tamshing Lhakhang, a treasure house of thought-provoking religious Buddhist paintings.

Overnight hotel in Bumthang.

You will begin the journey of Eastern Bhutan, which is quite different than that of western and central Bhutan in terms of lifestyle and development. En route, you will make a short stop at Ura village. Here you can explore the particular settlements. This village has a medieval look to it because of the cobblestone streets, and the typical clothing of the women includes a sheepskin shawl. Continuing the journey, we reach Mongar. On the way, you can have some spectacular views, with rushing waterfalls and sheer drops. The journey passes via Thrumshing La (pass), which peaks at 3,750 meters above the sea level. You can stop at the pass for your picnic lunch enjoying the great sceneries surrounding. Upon arrival at Mongar, check into the hotel. Strolling around Mongar, you can have a relaxing dinner in the evening. 

Overnight hotel in Mongar.

After the first meal of the day, we drive to Lhuentse, one of the remote districts of Bhutan. This is popular for its intricate and colorful weavings. This region is known as Kurtoe, the ancestral home of Bhutan's royal family. 

You will have spectacular views of stark cliffs, gorges and dense coniferous forests. You can explore Khoma Village seeing the variety of textiles that are woven here. You can see women interlacing drapery of textiles with their agile hands. Any of the houses will be happy to have you walked into their houses to interact with them. In the evening, you will head back to Mongar. 

Overnight hotel in Mongar.

After breakfast, you will visit Mongar Dzong, the most modern dzongs in Bhutan. It was built with the request of the third king in 1953. Then, you will drive to Trashigang, passing several villages. In the afternoon, you can visit Trashigang Dzong and amble along with the town, fascinating the culture of eastern Bhutan. 

Overnight in Trashigang.

After breakfast, you will travel to Samdrup Jongkhar. After driving some hours, you will arrive at Rongthung village. You can visit a community school and the only premier college in the country there. The inspiring clock tower and green adjacent give this college the feel of a Himalayan hill station. Traveling further, you will make a short break at Khaling a place of National Institute for the Disabled (School for the blind). You will reach Samdrup Jongkhar passing diverse villages, forests, landscapes, and hills.  

Overnight hotel in Samdrup Jongkhar.

After the first meal of the day, you head towards Guwahati, the capital city of Assam. On the way, you will pass transparent rivers interspersed with quiet villages, tea gardens, and small townships of vibrant culture. From Guwahati, you will fly to Delhi or other cities.

One of our representatives will bid you farewell.