This journey offers an immersive spiritual and cultural experience of Bhutan, starting in Paro with visits to ancient Dzongs, art museums and the country’s oldest temples. You’ll follow the trail to Taktsang Monastery or Tiger’s Nest, a spiritual icon that stands majestically on a steep cliff. From Paro, the journey continues to the capital city of Thimphu with its diverse cultural sites such as the King’s Memorial Chorten, Dzong, art school, ancient library, and institute of traditional medicine. You will also enjoy the unique atmosphere of a city without traffic lights, where culture and modernity blend harmoniously.
From Thimphu, the journey takes you over the Dochu La Pass to Punakha and Wangdue Phodrang, passing beautiful dzongs, fertility temples and traditional villages. The highlight is a visit to Phobjikha Valley and Gangtey Gompa, the winter home of the rare black-necked plover. You’ll also visit the hilltop Khamsum Yulley Chorten with stunning panoramic views of rice fields and rivers. The tour concludes with an authentic Bhutanese experience in Paro, including a traditional dinner and hot stone bath. An unforgettable journey that combines the spiritual peace and rich culture of Bhutan.
Upon arrival in Paro, you will be greeted by our representative and transferred to your hotel. In the afternoon, you can visit the Paro Dzong. It was built in 1646 and now houses government offices and religious institutions, as do all the Dzongs (forts) currently. You’ll cross a traditional wooden bridge on the way to the Dzong.
You can then tour the National Museum, formerly the watchtower for the Dzong. It now houses a collection of fine arts, paintings, thangkas, statues, and antiques. Afterward, you will visit Kichu Lhakhang, the oldest temple in the country. In the evening, you can stroll through the Paro market and town. Overnight in Paro.
After breakfast, an excursion to Taktsang or the “tiger’s nest” perched precariously on the cliff 900m above the floor of the Paro Valley. It is the most famous monastery in Bhutan. It is said that Guru Rimpoche flew to the site of the monastery on the back of a tigress and meditated there for three months. Lunch would be served in the Cafeteria. Return to Paro and after tea drive to Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan.
The road leads through the Paro Valley to the confluence of the Paro and Thimphu rivers at Chuzomsa. Three different styles of chortens adorn the confluence. A short way beyond, on the left, is the Tachogang Lhakhang built in the 15th century by Thangthong Gyelpo, a trader who first introduced Iron Bridges in Bhutan. On the way, visit Simtokha Dzong; the oldest Dzong in Bhutan built by Shabdrung in the 17th century. On arrival in Thimphu check into the hotel. In the evening, you can explore Thimphu freely and visit some interesting handicraft shops. Overnight in Thimphu
After breakfast, you will visit the King’s Memorial Chorten (built-in memory of the third King of Bhutan who reigned from 1952-1972), Changgangkha Monastery, the radio tower (for a great view of Thimphu Valley, and the Thimphu Dzong), and the zoo, which contains the national animal of Bhutan: the takin.
From there you will visit the nunnery temple, the National Library (which houses ancient manuscripts), and the School of Arts and Crafts (also known as the painting school). After a relaxing lunch, you will visit the National Institute of Traditional Medicine, a traditional paper factory, and the majestic Tashichodzong. Overnight in Thimphu.
After breakfast, you will drive to Wangdiphodrang, with a stop en route for tea at Dochu La (3,100 meters), where on a clear day you can get spectacular views of the Himalayas. After lunch, you will drive
to Punakha, the former capital of Bhutan, and visit Punakha Dzong, which is noteworthy both for being one of the most beautiful Dzongs in Bhutan and also for having been built by the first Shabdrung in 1637.
On the way back from Punakha, you will stop at Metshina Village and take a 20-minute walk through the rice fields to Chime Lhakhang, which is a fertility temple, where you may receive a special fertility blessing if you wish. Overnight in Wangdiphodrang.
You will begin the day by driving to Gangtey. You’ll pass through dense forests of oak trees and rhododendrons and arrive at Gangtey village, where you’ll visit Gangtey Gompa, the only Nyingmapa monastery in western Bhutan. From Gangtey, you can see the picturesque Black Mountain range as well as Phobjikha Valley, the winter habitat of the black-necked cranes. Overnight Guesthouse at Gangtey.
Explore the Phobjikha (Bhutan’s most beautiful valley) and also visit the Education Center, which is being looked after by the Royal Society of Protection of Nature (RSPN). Then start driving to Punakha, and visit Wangdue Town, and the nearby villages are famous for stone and slate carvings. A few kilometers from the town you can also view Bhutan’s most unique village, Rinchengang.
On arrival in Punakha check into the hotel. After lunch drive for about 12 km and from the road point take a walk across the rice fields and a river to reach the Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten, which is located on a beautiful hillock called Ngezergang. It houses the paintings and statues belonging to the Nyingmapa tradition. Drive back to Punakha and overnight in Punakha.
Set out for Paro with a stop in Thimphu for lunch and a visit to the Folk Heritage Museum. In the afternoon, you will continue the drive to Paro. In the evening, you can visit a traditional farmhouse and, if you wish, enjoy a hot stone bath and a typical Bhutanese dinner. Overnight in Paro.
Breakfast in the hotel, and then drive to the airport for the flight to your onward destination.
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