Day By Day Itinerary
Day 01: Arrive Delhi IGI Airport. On arrival, met by representative and transferred to hotel. Overnight hotel at Delhi.
Day 02: Delhi Sightseeing-Delhi-Paro: Full day sightseeing of New and old Delhi historical monuments also including the parliament house, India Gate and the National Museum. Evening transfer to International airport. Fly Delhi Paro. Arrive at Paro Airport, met by our Bhutan representative and transfer to hotel. Dinner and overnight hotel at Paro.
Day 03: Paro: Morning visit Drugyel Dzong, 18 kilometers away from Paro town. On a clear day one can get a glimpse of the sacred Mount Chhomolhari, Mountain of Goddess, (24,000 ft). Visit a typical Bhutanese farm house and sightseeing trip to the Paro Bazaar Visit also Ta Dzong which houses the National Museum followed by a short walk to Paro Rimpung Dzong.
Day 04: Excursion to the Tiger Nest: Morning after breakfast at the hotel, drive up to Ramthangkha (10 km from Paro Town) and walk to the Monastery (800 m). The Monastery is perched on a rocky ledge with a sheer drop of nearly 4000ft overlooking the Paro valley.
Taktsang (Tak=Rock Tsang=Nest) is one of the most venerated pilgrimage sites in the Himalayas. However, most people can only visit the main site called Taktsang Pel-phu. According to legend Padmasambhava founded Taktsang Monastery in the eighth century. It is believed that the Guru came to this place on the back of a tigress from Khengpajong in the Kurtoe region and meditated here for three months in a cave before converting the Paro valley to Buddhism. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 05: Paro-Thimpu (65 km / 02 Hrs): Morning after breakfast at the hotel visit Drugyel Dzong which is a short drive of 18 kilometers from Paro. You can have a magnificent view Mount Chhomolhari (24,000 ft). Later on visit the Ta Dzong, which houses the National Museum and see also a typical Bhutanese wooden bridge. Post lunch drive to Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan. Dinner and overnight hotel at Thimphu.
Day 06: Thimphu : Morning after breakfast visit to the National Library, Zelukha Nunnery, Painting School, Tashichho Dzong (Fortress of the Glorious Religion) and Memorial Chorten. Afternoon, stroll through Thimphu town. Dinner and overnight hotel in Thimphu.
Day 07: Thimphu-Punakha Wangdue. (77 km./ 03 Hrs/ 1350 m): The drive begins with the ascent to the Dochula pass at an altitude of 3150 meters. On a clear day, you can see the whole range of the Bhutanese Himalayas from here. The pass has 108 Druk Wangyel Chortens. Then descend to Punakha. Punakha was the winter capital for over 300 years until the time of the second King. Punakha Dzong that dominates the whole area was built in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, and established the central monastic body with 600 monks. Today, Punakha is still the home for Je Khenpo (chief Abbot) and the central monastic body. It was built at the confluence of two rivers called the PO-CHU and MO- CHU. Which means, Male & Female. After lunch continue driving to the town of Wangdue. Another Dzong built 1 year after that of Punakha Dzong. Which it is the District Head Quarters of Wangdue. Night Wangdue.
Day 08: Wangdue Trongsa. (128 km./ 05Hr/ 2200 m): We will drive to Trongsa. It is 128 kilometers and 5 hours drive from Wangdue. The road will climb all the way to the Pele-la pass. It is at 3300m. It is a landmark between east & west, and from here we will drive on to Trongsa. On the way we will come across Yak herders camps and encounter Yaks especially during winter. We will see high Himalayan villages like Rukubji and Chendebji. All the houses cluster at one place and fields at another.
The road then descends through Rukubji village further down to Chendebji village. Here you will see the 18th century Nepalese style Stupa built by saint Shida. The drive to Trongsa from here is about an hour and half with great views of the historical Dzong and valley. Night Trongsa.
Day 09: Trongsa Bumthang: (68 km./ 03 Hrs./ 2600 m): In the morning after breakfast we will take an excursion drive to Kuenga Rabten. It was the winter Palace for our beloved 2nd King Jigme Wangchuk. It is 23 kilometers from Trongsa and it takes about 2 hours by car. Although, it is mostly empty with only one room occupied for the library. This palace is under Special Commission of cultural Affairs and we do not require any permit to visit the interior.
The trip from Trongsa to Kuenga Rabten will give you an intimate insight into the early days of Bhutan Monarchy. Beside you will see the beautiful large expanse of rice terraces in the lower Mangdu-Chu valley and as well the big waterfall before the drive back to Trongsa for lunch.
Visit Trongsa Dzong. It was built at different periods on a spur over looking the Mangdu-Chu River and it is one of the longest & most impressive Dzongs in Bhutan along with Trashi Chhodzong in Thimphu. How did Trongsa get its name? Well many centuries ago the horse of Palden Lhamo (Bhutan guardian deity) appeared before Lam Naggi Wangchuk who has settled in this village of yueli, a few kilometers above today fortress of Trongsa. For Naggi Wangchuk, the presence of Lhamo-Pal den horse was an auspicious event. In order to immortalize the miraculous event, he built a small meditation hut- Tshamkhang and started to meditation there, gradually more and more meditating huts arose near by & the place looked more like a village. People of yueli called it Dzongsar (New Village) and because they pronounced it as Trong Sar the name stuck.
The evening drive to Bumthang will climb all the way to the Yotong la pass 3400m.It will be the highest pass on your trip to Bhutan. After the pass we will go down through the Chhumey valley before we reach Jakar. This valley is famous for yathra weaving in central Bhutan. Night Bumthang.
Day 10: Bumthang: After breakfast make a hike to Thangbi Mani countryside. It is a very easy trail and we will come across a few villages. Here they have a very old monastery with Gomchens & the local community school. We will return for lunch in Jakar. After lunch we visit Jambay Lhakhang, Kurjey Lhakhang, Tamshing Lhakhang, Guru Lhakhang, and the Swiss Cheese Processing Unit. Here they produce cheese, apple juice and herbal brandies etc. Visit Jakar Dzong and more if time permits. Night Bumthang.
Day 11: Excursion to Ura Valley: Excursion to the Ura valley is (48Km) that takes us across blue pine forests & wonderful views of the Choskar & Chhumey valleys. Visit Ura Lhakhang, which will give you an insight into the lifestyle of the people of central Bhutan. Visit some local houses in village and talk to the local people casually and understand their daily way of life. Ura is one of the most beautiful and interesting villages in Bumthang.
The landscape of the Ura valley is different to others, with round sweeping slopes, rich pasture and wide fields. At the bottom you will see the large and unusual village with its cluster of big houses united by paved alleys of stone, a rare sight in Bhutan. The big community monastery dominates the village. Which is dedicated to Guru Rinpoche (the great teacher) and they have Ura festival, which usually take place in the 2nd week of May or sometimes in June, dependent on Bhutanese lunar calendar. Thimshingla National park starts here and if one wishes to see it they have a field office at Ura. It is open Monday to Friday except on holidays. Night Bumthang.
Day 12: Bumthang - Gangtey Wangdue: Gangtey Goemba was built on a small hillock surrounded by blue pine trees. The descendant of Pema Lingpa founded it. The great Bhutanese saint from Bumthang, in the 16th century. At the end of 17th century it was enlarged once and at present it is headed by the 9th reincarnation called Gangtey Trulku. At present it is under renovation and it is ringed with the family houses of Gomchens (Lay man) who work and worship at the monastery.
Further down you will reach the Phobjikha valley. This place is reserved for the migration of the black Neck Crane. The people out here have become friendly with the endangered species and every consecutive year starting from 2nd week of November to 1st week of April. The fields and marshes of this undisturbed valley are alive with the sight of these rare cranes. After having a picnic lunch here and drive to wangdue. Night Wangdue.
Day 13: Wangdue Thimphu - Paro. (142 km/ 05 Hrs) : An early breakfast then drive to Thimphu for our lunch, as well as shopping for souvenirs and then an evening drive to Paro. Night Paro.
Day 14: Paro-Delhi-Home: Early morning drive to Paro Airport, Fly Paro-Delhi. Evening transfer to International airport fly Delhi-Home.
|
