


Duration
8 days
Max Group Size
100
Departure Type
Request
Guiding Method
Fully guided
Physical level
easy
Operated In
Tour Overview
BHUTAN A WEEK VISIT.
Day 01
Arrive Paro-Thimphu
welcome to
Bhutan. Our local
representative will greet you at the only international airport in Bhutan that
is located in Paro (2262m), Western Bhutan. Later we will head to Thimphu (50km,
about 1.5h) via the sightseeing to Tamchog Lhakhang Iron Bridge, Buddha
Dordenma Statue if time permit. Then check in at your hotel in the capital city for a good rest
while getting used to the time difference.
Tamchog Lhakhang (Tachog Lhakhang, Tamchog Lhakhang Iron Bridge) is located by the Paro river on the way to Thimphu from Paro. To get to the temple we must walk across a unique iron chain bridge with colorful fluttering prayer flags. Both the Lhakhang and the iron bridge are built by the saint Thangthong Gyalpo (1385-1464, Tibetan polymath). As the "King of the Empty Plain", Thangthong Gyalpo is now commonly known as the "Iron Bridge Maker". Enjoy his pioneering old-aged buildings left till today.
Buddha Dordenma Statue (Kuenselphodrang, Buddha Point) is a landmark of Thimphu city and you can have a great view of the Thimphu Valley there. With 51.5m in height, built of bronze and gilded in gold, the statue is famed as the largest sitting Shakyamuni statue in the world and there are 125,000 smaller Buddha statues placed within it. The statue was finished in 2015(built for 9years) to fulfill an ancient prophecy to emanate an aura of happiness and peace all over the world.
Later in the
evening we can explore the capital city of Bhutan.
Halt at Hotel
In Thimphu.
Day 02
Thimphu Local Sightseeing.
Today, we
will explore Bhutan’s capital city Thimphu through Takin Sanctuary, Folk
Heritage Museum, School of Arts and Crafts, Trashichho Dzong, Zilukha Nunnery,
and Jungshi Handmade Paper Factory. Then have a good rest in your hotel.
Motithang
Takin Preserve (Takin
Sanctuary, Takin Zoo) is a wildlife reserve area for Takin (Budorcas
taxicolor), the national animal of Bhutan. Drukpa Kunley (Divine Madman), the
famous Tibetan saint, is said to be responsible for the creation of this unique
creature called Takin which has the head of a goat and the body of a cow.
Zilukha
Nunnery (Drubthob
Goemba Monastery) lies on the slopes of Thimphu and is above the Golf Course.
Founded in 1976 by Rikel Jadren, an emanation of Thangthong Gyalpo from Tibet,
it was designed in traditional Bhutanese fashion. Houses with around to 70
nuns, it is the biggest nunnery in Bhutan. A visit to the site can give you
good chance to know about their lifestyle and get a nice view of the Tashichho
Dzong.
School of
Arts and Crafts (Thimphu
National Institute for Zorig Chusum), established by the Government of Bhutan
in 1971, is an institute that nurtures exemplary craftsmanship in Zorig Chusum
(13 Arts and Crafts). In the Institute, thirteen skills are taught to students.
These thirteen art forms are Traditional Painting (Lhazo), Sculpturing (Jinzo),
Wood Carving (Shagzo), Calligraphy (Yigzo), Papermaking (Dezo), Bronze Casting
(Lugzo), Embroidery (Tshemazo), Weaving (Thagzo), Carpentry (Parzo), Masonry
(Dozo), Bamboo and cane weaving (Tshazo), Gold/Silver Smithy (Trozo), Black
smithy (Garzo).
Folk
Heritage Museum (Phelchey
Toenkhyim) was established on July 28th, 2001 with the initiative of Her
Majesty Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck (the Queen Mother of Bhutan). It is set
inside a three-storied, 19th-century traditional house and provides visitors
with a glimpse of the traditional Bhutanese lifestyle, artifacts from rural
households, collection of typical household objects, tools, and equipment. The
museum also organizes regular demonstrations of rural traditions, skills,
habits, and customs as well as hosts educational programs for children.
Tashichho
Dzong (Thimphu
Dzong) is located on the right side of the Wangchu River in the northern part
of Thimphu city. As the "Fortress of the glorious religion", it
houses the throne room of His Majesty the King, government offices, and the
central monk body. Thimphu Dzong was initially erected in 1641 and rebuilt by
King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck in the 1960s. There are two main entrances in the
Tashichho Dzong. One leads to the administrative section to the south and the
other one (at the north) leads to the monastic quarter where festivals and
dances are performed.
Later evening
check in to your hotel and post your dinner at hotel.
Halt at Thimphu.
Day 03 Thimphu-Punakha
In the morning, we will drive to Punakha (74km, about 2.5h) via a visit to Dochula Pass After check-in at the hotel in Punakha you can have a rest.
Dochula
Pass (108
memorial chortens) is a place in honor of 108 Bhutanese Soldiers, there are 108
stupas called the "Druk Wangyal Chortens" representing each soldier's
life that was lost in the war of December 2003. The pass is decorated with
colorful prayer flags which are symbols of veneration and the best wishes for
peace and prosperity for Bhutan. If the weather is good, the Dochula Pass will
become the best platform to get breathtaking views of the snow-covered
Himalayas.
Punakha
Dzong stands at
the junction of two great rivers called the Pho Chu river (father river) and Mo
Chu river (mother river). As the palace of great happiness or bliss, it is also
known as the most beautiful Dzong in Bhutan. It was first built in 1637 by the
founder of Bhutan, Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, and was played as the
administrative center and the seat of the Bhutanese official till the capital
city was moved from Punakha to Thimphu in 1955. Now, this Dzong is served as
the winter residence for Je Khenpo, Chief Abbot of the Central Monastic Body.
In 2011, the Dzong witnessed the royal wedding ceremony of the 5th Bhutan's
King, His Majesty Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck to Queen Jetsun Pema. If you visit
Bhutan in May, you will be amazed by the breathtaking purple-blue jacaranda
blooms outside the fortress.
Chimi
Lhakhang (Fertility
Temple, Chime Lhakhang) is located on a hillock among the rice field and is a
pilgrimage for a childless couple to seek blessings. The monk there blesses the
couple with a wooden phallus that is believed to have the power to help the childless
couple conceive a child. This temple is associated with the famous Drukpa
Kunley (1455-1529, Divine Madman, Tibetan saint), who is famed for using his
phallus to guide people to enlightenment and subdue demons. That is why you can
see the symbol of phalluses scattered everywhere. You can buy handicraft
souvenirs here with the phallic symbol in various colors, shapes, and sizes.
Day 04. Punakha Local Sightseeing
Tomorrow
morning, we’ll embark on an exciting journey to the majestic nunnery atop
Walakha Hill. We’ll join the nuns for their morning prayer before continuing
our journey north to the stunning Khamsum Yuelley Namgyel Chorten. Built-in the
1990s in honor of the Crown Prince Jigme Kheser Namgyel Wangchuk, the Chorten
sits atop a ridge near the Punakha River and requires a 30-minute drive from
town, followed by a 45-minute uphill hike, crossing a picturesque suspension
bridge and rice fields. On the way back, you’ll enjoy a 30-minute
Finally,
we’ll drive to Wangdiphodrang, where we’ll visit the Dzong and local market.
The district is also renowned for its bamboo products, slate and stone
carvings.
After a
memorable day, we’ll spend the night at a hotel in Punakha.
Day 05 Phobjikha/Gangtey
Valley Stay at Home stay.
Start your
day with a thrilling transfer to Phobjikha, located at an altitude of 3,000m!
Here, you will have the chance to visit the majestic Gangtey Gonpa, a temple
that is the seat of Ngyingmapa Buddhism, one of the religious sects in Bhutan.
This incredible temple was constructed in 1613 by Pema Thinley, the first
Gangtey Trulku and grandson of Pema Lingpa. After exploring this spiritual
site, take a stroll around the beautiful valley of Phobjikha. This stunning
place serves as the winter habitat for endangered black-necked cranes, which
migrate from Tibet between November and February to escape the harsh winter. As
you travel to Gangtey, you will be enchanted by the dense forests of oak and
rhododendron trees, and the picturesque scenery.
Spend the
night in Phobjikha/Gangtey and prepare for more exciting adventures!
Day 06. Phobjikha to Paro.
This morning,
we will have a light hike on Gangtey Nature Trail (4km,
1.5-2hours) that start from Gangtey Monastery(3030m) and ends in Khewang
Lhakhang(2850m). It is the most beautiful and shortest of the existing nature
trails in Bhutan. You can immerse yourselves in the beauty of the Phobjikha
Valley(2840m) with farmhouses, dense pine forests, rhododendron forests, and
bamboo plants on foot.
After the hiking, we will drive back to Paro from Gangtey (170km, about 4.5h).
Day 07.
Paro Tiger Nest Hike and local sightseeing.
Today we will
drive from Paro city to the start point of the hiking route of the Tiger's Nest
Monastery. It takes about 2.5 hours to reach Tiger's Nest by foot (5 hours for
a round trip), and you can have a rest at the view terrace which is located at
the halfway point of the hiking road. Also, you can choose to ride a
horse(self-paying) from the camp base to the Taktsang Cafeteria (lunch spot).
Then visit Ta Dzong after trekking. Farewell dinner with Bhutan Culture Dance
Show in Paro.
Tiger's
Nest Monastery (Taktsang
Goemba, Takhtsang Lakhang, Paro Taktshang), first built in 1692, is the iconic
landmark of Bhutan. As a world cultural heritage, it is sited on the side of a
cliff at a height of 900m above the Paro valley. It is said that Guru Rinpoche
(a Buddhist saint) rode a tigress to the current site of the monastery and
meditated in a cave for 3 years 3 months and 3 days. Now it is one of the most
visited tourist attractions in Bhutan and a sacred religious site for Bhutanese
to pilgrimage at least once in a lifetime.
National
Museum of Bhutan (Ta
Dzong) is famed as Bhutan's tallest building (a cylindrical structure), which
is 22 meters (72 feet) high and has 6 floors. It was completed in 1649 as a
watchtower on the hill above the Rinpung Dzong (Paro Dzong). It was converted
into the National Museum of Bhutan in 1968 with a rich collection of ancient
artifacts like pottery, armor, thangkas, masks, stamps, photos, statues,
costumes, relics, stone axes, and religious paintings...
Day
08.Depart Paro
After
Breakfast drives back to Paro International Airport. Our team will help you
with exit formalities and then bid you farewell.
Highlights
Trip includes
Availability
Loading. Please wait.
Book the tour by paying only 25% upfront, and settle the remaining amount 30 days before the tour departure.
Request a Private, Customizable Departure
By design, this is a group tour. You can however request a private, customized version of this tour for yourself or your private group of people. Private departures are usually more expensive, but come with these benefits:
Personal
Itinerary can be tweaked and customized.
Protected
Travel withing your own bubble.
Professional
Access our Travel Specialists insider knowledge.
Privacy
Enjoy a tour focused solely on you or your travel group.
Why book with Travelshopbooking
Best price quaranteed.
100% financial protection.
Earn $20+ in travel credits.
Cancellation Policy
On our global marketplace TravelShop Booking Supplier is recognized globally as an online tourism marketplace connecting travelers, suppliers, and tour operators worldwide. All users acknowledge that TravelShop Booking is a platform not liable for canceled tours, poor services, or unforeseen circumstances occurring before, during, or after the tour.
Need help or have a question about this tour?
if you have any question about this tour or need help with planning a trip, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.
We're ready to help.