Arrive at Paro International Airport / Transfer to Thimphu (2334m)

National Museum of Bhutan འབྲུག་གི་འགྲེམས་སྟོན་ཁང་། - Upon arrival at Paro International Airport, our guide and driver will greet you and take you to visit the National Museum of Bhutan. Afterward, you’ll be transferred to Thimphu, the capital city.

The National Museum of Bhutan, situated in Paro above the Rinpung Dzong (the administrative headquarters of the Paro district), was established in 1968. It is housed in an ancient watchtower called Paro Ta Dzong (Ta Dzong means “watchtower fortress”) built in 1649. The museum showcases hundreds of ancient Bhutanese artifacts and artworks, including traditional costumes, armor, weaponry, and handcrafted daily life implements. The collection at the National Museum offers a glimpse into the rich cultural traditions of the country.

Buddha Dordenma - Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan, is 55km from Paro town. The drive takes about 2 hours, including stopovers. Thimphu is home to around 115,000 residents and is the main center of commerce, religion, and government in Bhutan. Upon arrival in Thimphu, you’ll visit the largest sitting Buddha Statue.

The impressive 169-foot-tall bronze statue of Lord Buddha is located on a hilltop overlooking the Thimphu valley, offering a beautiful view of the city. It was built to commemorate the 60th birth anniversary of the Fourth King, His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck, and to promote world peace. The giant Buddha statue houses over 100,000 8-inch-tall Buddha statues of the same type. Construction began in 2006 and was completed in 2015, taking nearly 10 years.

Hike to Tango Monastery & Sightseeing in Thimphu

Tango Buddhist Institute - Hike to Tango Monastery: Tango is located on the mountainside north of Thimphu. Nearby is another monastery called Cheri. Hiking to Tango is relatively easy as most of the footpath is paved and the uphill ascent is not very steep. It is about 14km from Thimphu town. The uphill walk through the forest takes about 1.5 hours at a leisurely pace. Tango Monastery was founded in 1222 by the Tibetan saint Phajo Drugom Zhigpo, who established the Drukpa Kagyu School of Buddhism in Bhutan, which later became the state religion. The current form of the monastery was built in 1689 by Tenzin Rabgye, the 4th Temporal ruler of Bhutan. After visiting the monastery and offering prayers, we will return to the base and drive back to Thimphu town.

A traditional lunch will be served at the Folk Heritage Museum Restaurant or a similar establishment.

National Institute for Zorig Chusum - The National Institute of Zorig Chusum (Zorig Chusum means 13 Traditional Arts & Crafts) is located near the Folk Heritage Museum. The institute was established to promote and preserve Bhutan’s thirteen traditional arts and crafts and to provide Bhutanese youth with the opportunity to learn these skills. Many of these traditional arts and crafts are declining due to modern technologies, so the government is making significant efforts to train young people to keep these traditions alive. The thirteen arts and crafts include Shing Zo (woodwork), Dho Zo (stonework), Par Zo (carving), Lha Zo (painting), Jim Zo (sculpting), Lug Zo (casting), Shag Zo (wood turning), Gar Zo (blacksmithing), Troe Zo (ornament making), Tsa Zo (bamboo work), De Zo (paper making), Tsem Zo (tailoring, embroidery, and applique), and Thag Zo (weaving).

Changlimithang Stadium & Archery Ground - Pass by the Changlimithang Archery Range and watch a game of archery if a match is in progress. You will see archers dancing and singing each time they hit the target from a distance of 145m. Archery is Bhutan’s national sport.

Leisure time around Thimphu town.

Thimphu / Transfer to Punakha valley (1200m)

Dochula Pass - After an early breakfast, drive to Punakha valley via Dochula, a sacred mountain pass. On the way to Punakha, visit Chimi Lhakhang, also known as the ‘Temple of Fertility,’ and then visit the architectural masterpiece, Punakha Dzong.

Dochu La Pass – 3,150m/10,335ft above sea level: About a 45-minute drive from Thimphu towards Punakha is a mountain pass at an altitude of 3,150 meters above sea level. On a clear day, you can see some of Bhutan’s highest peaks from here. Before the construction of the 108 beautiful Druk Wangyal Choetens (stupas) in 2004, this mountain pass was a sacred place blessed by the famous Tibetan Buddhist saint, Lam Drukpa Kunley, in the late 15th century.

From Dochu La Pass, we will continue driving towards Punakha, passing through some villages. The elevation gradually drops, and the road winds through pine trees. You will notice a significant change in altitude from 3,150m to a warmer subtropical valley at 1,200m.

Chimi Lhakhang Temple - Chimi Lhakhang is located on a gentle hilltop near the village of Sopsokha, about a 20-30 minute walk through beautiful terraced rice fields and traditional farmhouses. The history of Chimi Lhakhang is associated with the 15th-century Tibetan Lama Drukpa Kunley, known as the “Divine Madman” for his unconventional behavior and methods of cleansing people from religious dogmatism and egoistic self-possession. One of the relics of Chimi Lhakhang is a phallus, which is considered sacred, especially for couples who are unable to have children, as it is believed to bring fertility. Because of this belief, Chimi Lhakhang is often called the “Temple of Fertility.”

Punakha Dzong - After lunch, we will visit the historic Punakha Dzong, originally known as Pungthang Dewa Chenpoi Phodrang, meaning the “Palace of Great Bliss.” It was built in 1637 AD by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel (a Tibetan Buddhist master who came to Bhutan in 1616 and founded the nation-state of Bhutan) on a small stretch of land where the Phochu and Mochu rivers converge. Punakha Dzong is the second oldest and second-largest Dzong in Bhutan. The sacred wall paintings, main artifacts inside the dzong, intricate woodwork, and architectural structure of the dzong are fine examples of Bhutanese arts and craftsmanship, which continue to influence Bhutanese architecture today.

Punakha Suspension Bridge - From Punakha Dzong, walk to the longest suspension bridge in Bhutan, which spans the Phochu river. Punakha Dzong is flanked by two glacial-fed rivers, Phochu (male) and Mochu (female).

We will then drive to Namgay Zam Homestay in the village of Yusakha for the night. Staying at a village homestay is a perfect way to experience the life of an ordinary Bhutanese family. You can participate in preparing your dinner and learn how to cook some popular Bhutanese dishes. If interested, you can also soak in a traditional hot stone bath, believed to have therapeutic and revitalizing effects. If this homestay is not available, you’ll stay at Meri Puensum Resort.

Sightseeing in Punakha / Transfer to Phobjikha Valley (3000m)

Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten - After breakfast, drive to the nearest road head and then hike to the picturesque Khamsum Yuelley Namgyel Chorten. After lunch, transfer to Phobjikha valley in Gangtey.

Hike to Khamsum Yulley Namgyel Chorten: Located on a ridge overlooking the picturesque Punakha valley, this beautiful Buddhist structure is a fine example of Bhutanese architecture used in building temples, monasteries, and Zangdogpelri (copper-colored mountains).

From the nearest road head, you walk across a suspension bridge over the Punakha Mochu River (female river), and the trail takes you through paddy fields and a short climb before reaching the peaceful chorten. It usually takes just under an hour to reach the serene site of the marvelous chorten. The view below is stunning, with the glacial-fed Mochu river winding through the fertile Punakha valley.

After lunch, you will be transferred to Phobjikha valley.

Phobjikha Valley / Transfer back to Paro (2200m)

Gangtey Monastery - After breakfast, you will visit one of the largest monasteries in Bhutan, Gangtey Monastery, and then drive back to Paro valley.

Gangtey Monastery or Gangtey Goempa: The famous landmark in this valley is one of the biggest monasteries in Bhutan, Gangtey Monastery, popularly known as Gangtey Goenpa (gonpa literally means “high remote place” and is usually a place of religious significance) founded in 1613. The name Gangtey is derived from the fact that the Goenpa is built on a peak (Tey) of a hillock (Gang).

Lunch will be served on the way. If we start the journey early, lunch will be arranged at Dochula Cafeteria with a beautiful view of some of the highest mountains in Bhutan.

Kyichu Lhakhang སྐྱིད་ཆུ་ལྷ་ཁང་། - Upon reaching Paro, visit Paro Kyichu Lhakhang. Located just a few minutes drive from the main town of Paro, Kyichu Lhakhang is one of the oldest monasteries in Bhutan. It is believed to have been built in 659 A.D. by King Songtsen Gampo of Tibet in his effort to build 108 such temples across the Himalayan region to subdue the spirit of a demoness that was obstructing the spread of Buddhism. It is believed to have been built in a single night.

Hike to the famed Paro Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest)

Paro Taktsang - Today after an early breakfast, you will hike to the famous 17th-century Taktsang Monastery, popularly known as the “Tiger’s Nest,” and later in the evening visit a beautiful farmhouse for home-cooked local cuisine.

Originally built in 1692, the iconic sacred site Taktsang is perched on an 800-meter rock cliff above the valley floor. The round trip hike takes about 4-5 hours for most visitors. We recommend starting early before the sun gets stronger. One-way horse riding is available for about USD20 up to the midpoint (Taktsang Cafeteria). Horse riding on the way down is not recommended.

The history of Taktsang is associated with the visit of Guru Padmasambhava (known as Guru Rinpoche), the Indian saint who came to Bhutan and introduced Tantric Buddhism in the 8th century AD. It is believed that Guru Padmasambhava flew into the cave from Kurtoe Khenpajong in eastern Bhutan, riding on a tigress. After lunch at the Taktsang Cafeteria, we will descend back to the base and drive to Paro town.

Transfer to Paro International Airport for departure

Paro International Airport - After breakfast, depending on your flight time, you will be transferred to Paro International Airport for your onward journey. Your guide will assist you in completing all exit formalities before you check-in.

• Twin-sharing accommodations at 3-star hotels certified by Tourism Council of Bhutan.
• All meals (breakfast, lunch & dinner) and light snacks.
• Experienced English-speaking licensed tour guide.
• Entry fees to National Museum.
• All ground transportation including round trip airport transfers.
• Medical treatment at a hospital in Bhutan for injuries sustained while in Bhutan.
• Visa Fee & Processing with e-Visa delivery in 4-5 business days.
• All internal taxes for the included services.

• Travel insurance is highly recommended.
• International flights. Let us know if you need help with arranging flights to and from Bhutan.
• Gratuity to guide and driver
• Alcoholic beverages, laundry services, telephone call charges
• Any other expenses of personal nature
• Guide speaking other major languages can be arranged for an additional fee
• Emergency evacuation
• All Entry fees except for National Museum