Arrive Paro International Airport & Sightseeing in Paro (2200m)

National Museum of Bhutan འབྲུག་གི་འགྲེམས་སྟོན་ཁང་། - Our guide and driver will receive you on your arrival at Paro International Airport and transfer to the hotel. If you arrive before the hotel check-in time, you’ll be escorted to visit some of the important landmarks in Paro right away from the airport.

You’ll visit the National Museum housed in a 17th-century watchtower called Ta Dzong. The museum displays hundreds of ancient Bhutanese artifacts and artworks including traditional costumes, armour, weaponry and handcrafted implements for daily life. On the way back to town, visit Dungtse Lhakhang (Lhakhang means ‘temple’) built in the 15th century by the Tibetan Buddhist Scholar, Dupthop Thangtong Gyalpo popularly known as Chagzampa which means ‘Iron Bridge Builder’. If time permits, visit one of the oldest monasteries in Bhutan, Kyichu Lhakhang built in 659 A.D. by the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo.

Paro Altitude 2,200m/7,220ft

Paro / Transfer to the capital city Thimphu (2334m)

Thimphu - After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Thimphu, the only capital city in the world without traffic lights. This little bustling city is home to approximately 115,000 residents and the main center of commerce, religion and government in the country.

En route, you may want to visit Tamchog Lhakhang dedicated to the 15th-century Tibetan Scholar Thangtong Gyalpo. It is located on the other side of the Pachhu River accessible after crossing an old iron bridge, one of the very few remaining of the many built by Thangtong Gyalpo.

Distance 55 km | Time 1.5 hours | Thimphu Altitude 2,334m/7,655ft

Bhutan Postal Museum - On arrival in Thimphu, visit Bhutan Postal Museum which is located in the heart of the city in the same building as Bhutan National Bank so you can also exchange your money into local currency if you wish. The Postal Service in Bhutan was first launched in 1962 with the opening of a post office in Phuentsholing, a town in the south bordering with India. The Postal Museum was opened in 2015 to exhibit the story of Bhutan’s progress and development of communications and postal system in the country. If you are interested in philatelic products and stamp collection, they have a good collection of stamps, First Day Covers and stamp albums. The museum remains closed on Sundays.

National Institute for Zorig Chusum - After lunch visit the National Institute of Zorig Chusum where 13 traditional arts and crafts of Bhutan are taught. The institute was established to promote and preserve the thirteen traditional arts and crafts of Bhutan and to facilitate increased access in learning the art skills to the youths. The thirteen arts and crafts are categorized as 1) Shing Zo (woodwork), 2) Dho Zo (stonework), 3) Par Zo (carving), 4) Lha Zo (painting), 5) Jim Zo (sculpting), 6) Lug Zo (casting), 7) Shag Zo (wood turning), 8) Gar Zo (blacksmith), 9) Troe Zo (ornament making), 10) Tsa Zo (bamboo work), 11) De Zo (paper making), 12) Tsem Zo (tailoring, embroidery and applique) and Thag Zo (weaving).

Changlimithang Stadium & Archery Ground - We then pass by Changlimithang Archery Range to witness the game of archery if the match is in progress. You’ll see archers dancing and singing each time they hit the target from a whopping distance of 145m. Archery is the national sport of Bhutan.

Leisure time to explore Thimphu town.

Short hike with overlooking view of Thimphu valley & local sightseeing in Thimphu

Buddha Dordenma - After breakfast, we visit the largest sitting Buddha Statue located at Kuensel Phodrang overlooking Thimphu valley. It was built in 2015 to mark the 60th birth anniversary of the Fourth King His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck.

We then embark on a 2-hour leisure hiking in the outskirts of the capital city from Kuensel Phodrang to the 13th-century Changangkha Lhakang. The hike gives a grand overlooking view of Thimphu valley and the trail is relatively short through sparsely populated pine trees offering a perfect opportunity for families and nature lovers to spend their leisure time.

Changangkha Lhakhang - At the end of the hike visit one of the national treasures, the 13th-century Changangkha Lhakhang established in the 12th century by Tibetan Buddhist scholar Lama Phajo Drugom Shigpo who is known for spreading Drukpa Kagyu School of Buddhism in Bhutan which subsequently become the state religion. One of the many invaluable treasures at the temple is the original copy of 16 volumes of Astasahasrika Prajnaparamita (Bum Gye Dring Due Sum) handwritten by Nyima, the son of Phajo Drugom Shigpo.

Centenary Farmers Market - After a traditional lunch at Little Bhutan Restaurant, we drive to visit the Centenary Famers’ Weekend Market to get insights into the food culture and preferences of Bhutanese society. Farmers from all over the country bring their farm produce to sell during the weekend. Opens from Friday to Sunday.

Changlimithang Stadium & Archery Ground - We pass by Changlimithang Archery Range to witness the game of archer if the match is in progress. You’ll see archers singing and dancing each time the target is hit from a whopping distance of 145m. Archery is the national sport of Bhutan.

Thimphu / Transfer to Phobjikha valley in Gangtey (3000m)

Dochula Pass - Today after breakfast at the hotel, we drive to Phobjikha valley via Dochula, a sacred mountain pass at 3150m above sea level. You can see a panoramic view of some of the highest peaks of Bhutan (weather permitting).

From Dochu La Pass, we continue driving towards Punakha passing through some villages, the elevation drops gradually and the road winds through pine trees. As you reach the lower valley, you will feel the drastic change in altitude from 3,150m just an hour and a half ago to a warmer subtropical region at 1,200m.

Chimi Lhakhang Temple - En route, we stop at the village of Sosokha and visit the famous Chimi Lhakhang popularly known as “Temple of Fertility” located about a 30-minute walk from the nearest road through beautiful terraced rice fields and farmhouses. Chimi Lhakhang was built in 1499 by Lama Ngawang Chogyal on a site blessed by his older brother, Lama Drukpa Kuenley who was known as ‘Divine Madman’ for his obscene character and unorthodox ways of propagating Buddhism. He would often express his desire for sex and use phallus as a medium to subdue malevolent spirits. Today, one of the relics of Chimi Lhakhang is a phallus.

Phobjikha Valley - Phobjikha is a vast U-shaped glacial valley at an elevation of about 3,000 meters (9,840 ft) and it is a winter home for endangered Black Necked Crane from November to March and migrates back to Tibet by the beginning of spring season. Every year on the 11th of November, Black Necked Crane Festival is held to celebrate the arrival of this endangered and majestic bird which becomes an inseparable part in the lives of the local people during the winter months.

Phobjikha valley / Transfer to Bumthang via Trongsa (2600m)

Gangtey Monastery - After breakfast at the hotel, visit the famous landmark and one of the biggest monasteries in Bhutan, Gangtey Monastery popularly known as Gangtey Goenpa founded in 1613 (gonpa literally means “high remote place” and is usually a place of religious significance). The name Gangtey is derived from the fact that the Goenpa is built on a peak (Tey) of a hillock (Gang). The present abbot of this monastery is the ninth Gangtey Trulku His Holiness Kunzang Rigzin Pema Namgyal.

Full day exploring Bumthang valley also known as Jakar

Bumthang /Ngang Lhakhang (2600m)

Ngang Lhakhang / Camp at Tahung (2720m)

Tahung / Tang Valley (2750m)

Tang Valley / Transfer to Trongsa (2200m)

Trongsa / Transfer to Punakha Valley (1200m)

Punakha Dzong - After lunch we continue driving to Punakha and visit the masterpiece of Bhutanese architecture, the historic Punakha Dzong – The Fortress of Great Bliss. Originally known as Pungthang Dewa Chenpoi Phodrang Dzong which means ‘Fortress of Great Bliss’, was built in 1637 AD by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel to guard the region against Tibetan forces. It is the second oldest, second largest and certainly the most beautiful dzong in Bhutan. The sacred wall paintings and main artifacts inside the dzong, the intricate woodworks and the architectural structure of the dzong display a fine example of Bhutanese arts and craftsmanship which continues to influence Bhutanese architecture even today.

Punakha Suspension Bridge - After visiting the Dzong, walk to Bhutan’s longest suspension bridge that runs across the Phochu (male) river. Punakha Dzong is flanked by two glacial-fed rivers - Phochu (male) and Mochu (female) rivers.

Punakha / Transfer to Paro Valley (2200m)

Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten - Today after breakfast, we hike to the picturesque Khamsum Yuellay Namgyel Chorten and then transfer to Paro for overnight via Dochula Pass.

Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten is located at about 20 minutes from the main town of Punakha to the road head from where you cross a suspension bridge over Mochu (female) river. The round-trip hike takes about 2.5-3 hours through terraced rice fields and a short climb before reaching the peaceful sacred site. After the hike, we drive back to Punakha town for lunch.

Paro - After lunch, we drive to Paro valley via Dochula Pass. From Dochula Pass, we descend down all the way to Simtokha Dzong built in 1631 by Zhangdrung Ngawang Namgyel who united Bhutan as one nation-state. If you are interested, we can stop by and visit the Simtokha Dzong. Built strategically on a ridge overlooking the Thimphu valley, Simtokha Dzong is significant not only because it was the first Dzong built by Zhangdrung Ngawang Namgyel but also stands on the borders of three major regions: Thimphu, Paro and Wangdue Phodrang. One of the main statues inside the Simtokha Dzong is the statue of Buddha of Compassion. Legend has it that fortunate visitors are able to see a light shining forth from the chest of the Buddha. The Dzong has more than three hundred slate carvings from the 17th century. Recently, His Majesty the 5th King donated statue of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel which wasn’t there initially.

Distance 115 km | Time 4.5 hours | Paro Altitude 2,200m

Hike to the famous Taktsang Monastery (Tiger’s Nest)

Paro Taktsang - After breakfast, we hike to the iconic Taktsang Monastery also known as Tiger’s Nest. The round-trip hike takes about 4-5 hours for most visitors but you can hike at your own pace. We recommend starting early. Oneway horse riding is available on your way up to the mid-point (Taktsang View Point Cafeteria) for about USD20.

Built on the face an 800-meter rock cliff, Taktsang literally translates to ‘Tiger’s Nest’ and is regarded as one of the most important monasteries in Bhutan. It was originally built in 1692 on the sacred cave where Guru Padmasambhava meditated in the mid-eighth century A.D.

Transfer to Paro International Airport for Departure

Paro International Airport - After breakfast, you will be transferred to the Paro International Airport for your onward journey. Our guide will assist you to complete all exit formalities before you check-in.

• Experienced English-speaking licensed tour guide
• Porters & Ponies for convenience
• All meals covered (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and light snacks
• Visa Fee & Processing with easy e-Visa delivery
• Comprehensive ground transportation, including airport transfers
• Medical coverage at local hospitals for injuries during the tour within Bhutan
• One night in homestay with a local family (optional)
• Cozy sleep with a provided sleeping bag liner
• 11 nights in comfortable twin-sharing accommodations at certified 3-star hotels
• Unique outdoor camping experience for one night
• Entrance to National Museum and trekking permits included
• All internal taxes covered for listed services

• Travel insurance is mandatory for trekking adventures.
• International flights. Let us know if you need help with arranging flights to and from Bhutan.
• Alcoholic beverages, laundry services, telephone call charges
• Emergency Evacuation
• Sleeping bag & travel pillow (you need for camping during trekking)
• Guide speaking other major languages can be arranged for an additional fee.
• Tips to guide and driver
• Any other expenses of personal nature
• All entry fees except for National Museum