The Ultimate Bhutan Experience

After Breakfast from hotel we will explore some of the places in Thimphu:

General Post Office: For stamps, Bhutan is famous for producing unique and innovative stamps. After selling peculiar “CD-Stamps” Bhutan’s Post Office now offers personalized stamp; we invite you to surprise your family and friends with your custom-made stamp made with one of your favorite holiday’s photographs!

National Institute for Zorig Chusum: This institute commonly known as ‘the painting school’ operates four-Six years course that provide instruction in Bhutan’s 13 traditional arts. Students specialize in painting, woodcarving, embroidery or Statue making.

The Folk Heritage Museum: The museum is a restored three story traditional rammed mud and timber house inaugurated as a museum by Her Majesty the Queen Ashi Dorji Wangmo in 2001. It Showcase the traditional artifacts used now and, in the past, which helps connect people to the Bhutanese rural life.

Bhutanese Paper Factory: The art of handmade paper in Bhutan dates back to the 8th century, although usage was limited mainly to religious purposes. Today it is considered an important element in the preservation of Bhutan’s cultural heritage. The factory allows guests to view the paper making process and purchase gifts from their show room. Evening Leisure time at Hotel.

Overnight at Hotel/Resorts in Thimphu.

After Breakfast we will drive toward Punakha.

Dochula Pass - On the way we can see magnificent architecture of Druk wangyel Chorten – a 108 stupas built by the eldest Queen, Her Majesty Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck. During a clear day you will get a chance to see Himalayan mountain ranges of Bhutan. Enjoy a spectacular view highest mountain of Bhutan at a site that stretches almost 180 degrees.

Chimi Lakhang - Temple also known as the Temple of Fertility, 30mins. Walk from the road to the Lhakhang is through open farmland and rice paddies. It is believed that a demon who had been terrorizing the valley transformed herself into a black dog to escape the wrath of Drukpa Kuenlay, the Divine Madman.

Punakha Dzong -  The Dzong is considered one of the most important and also one of the most beautiful Dzong in the Kingdom. It was built by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel in 1637 and was the seat of the government every winter until Thimphu was established as the permanent capital in 1955. It is still the residence of the Dratshang (Central Monastic Body). Take a time to admire the impressive, colorful and detailed artistry of the surroundings, including huge statues of Buddha, Guru Rinpoche and Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, as well as paintings of one thousand Buddhas.

Suspension Bridge – One of the longest suspension bridge in Bhutan, Spanning 350M and perched high above the very swift river of Pho Chhu. Draped with prayer flags, the bridge connects the town of Punakha and the Punakha Dzong, it is mainly used by locals from the other side of the town as a shortcut to Punakha Dzong.

Overnight in Hotel/Resorts at Punakha

After reaching Trongsa we visit :

Trongsa Dzong - The most spectacularly sited dzong in Bhutan, high above the roaring Mangde Chhu with a sheer drop to the south that often just disappears into cloud and mist.

Ta Dzong - which was once a watchtower which guarded the Trongsa Dzong from internal rebellion. This magnificent watch tower sits on the spur overlooking the Trongsa Dzong and has now been converted into a state-of-the art Museum (National Museum)

Overnight in Hotel/Resorts at Tongsa 

After Reaching Bumthang Visit

Jakar Dzong -  "castle of the white bird". According to legend, when the lamas assembled in about 1549 to select a site for a monastery, a big white bird rose suddenly in the air and settled on a spur of a hill. This was interpreted as an important omen, and the hill was chosen as the site for a monastery and for Jakar Dzong. The fortress is now used as an administrative center of the valley and summer residence of Trongsa monks.

Jampa/Jampey Lhakhang - Jampa lhakhang is a walled one-storey low complex built on a plateau above the river Chamkhar. It is one km south of Kuje monastic complex and four kilometers north of the district headquarter. Like any ancient temple in the Tibetan cultural area, the main sanctuary consisted of a small central shrine with a circumambulation path.  It was enclosed and surrounded by other temples which were built at the turn of the 20th century forming an inner courtyard. Four chortens (stupa), each of a different color are built at the corners of the enclosure.

Overnight in Hotel/Resorts at Bumthang

Tamshing Lhakhang - This temple is also known as TamshingLhendrupChholing (Temple of the Good Message). In the evening stroll around the beautiful landscape of the BumthangJakar valley.                        

Bumthang Cheese Factory - The production of two kinds of European style cheese, Emmenthal and Gouda, was started in Bumthang in the 1970s by Fritz Maurer, a Swiss man who had settled in Bumthang. They become known as “Bumthang Cheese”.

Bumthang Brewery -  Bhutan best beer RED PANDA is brewed in a state-of-the-art microbrewery, it is possible to tour the Bumthang Brewery, where you will learn about the making of Red Panda from the brewer Tshering, before sampling the end product- a hot-mash, top fermented natural ale. 

Overnight in Hotel/Resorts at Bumthang

After reaching Trongsa we visit

Black Neck Crane Centre - Time spent in the Centre’s nearby hide is a must to view the breeding cranes but the breeding depends on the season. Various walks or a mountain bike ride thru this magnificent valley can be arranged. Soaking up the beauty of the valley from the Lodge or returning to the revered Gangtey Goemba for an audience with the Tulkul;

Gangtey Goemba -  Visit the stiking Gangtey Goemba, Sitting at the head of the vallley. The 15th century treasure –finder Pema Lingpa prophesied that a goemba named gang-teng (hill top) would be built on this site and that his teachings would spread reincarnation of Pema Lingpa, built a Nyingma temple here in 1613, and the larger goemba was built by the second reincarnation, Tenzing Legpey Dhendup. The current Pema Namgyel is the ninth reincarnation of the body of Pema Lingpa.

Overnight in Hotel/Resorts at Gangtey

After breakfast, the Journey west takes us back to Paro valley following thru Wang Chhu and Pa Chhu rivers.

Tachog Lhakhang -  Tachog or Tachogang Lhakhang is located along Paro- Thimphu highway, just after Isuna village and before chhuzom, on the base of a mountain across the Pa Chu river. It was built in the early 15th century by the great master architect  and yogi Thangtong Gyalpo(1385-1464), who also built Dungtse Lhakhang in Paro and many iron bridges throughout Bhutan and Tibet. Tachogang means temple of the hill of the excellent horse’ it is said that while Tangtong Gyalpo was meditating here, he had a vision of the spiritual horse Balaha-an emanation of Avalokiteshvara. He decided there upon to build a temple at this spot, in additional to one of his famous iron bridges later carried away by floods in 1969. A traditional style bridge with iron chains was restored in 2005. The temple is privately run by descendants of Thangtong Gyalpo.

Paro Town: Evening explore beautiful town of Paro which is typically Bhutanese architecture for Shopping.

Overnight in Hotel/Resorts at Paro

Paro Cultural tour should always start with a casual browse through the;

National Museum – Housed in the Ta Dzong (Watch Tower) of the Rinpung Dzong. In the Museum the intriguing collection of artifacts serves as a great introduction to the rich culture and Heritage of the Kingdom. The National Museum boasts a rich variety of exhibits collected from all over the country and belonging to different eras, Some as early as 2000 B.C.A visit through the galleries shows the country’s transition the later stone Age to a modern Mahayana Buddhist Kingdom.

Paro Dzong – Take in the amazing architecture of this 17th century monument, a premier example of Bhutan’s architecture. Paro Dzong, built in 17th century to defend Paro from the Tibetan invasion, is also known as Rinpung Dzong, Which means the ‘Fortress on a heap of Jewels’. This fine example of Bhutanese architecture now serves as a central monastic and administrative seat of the Paro district. From the Dzong, a leisurely walk back into Paro town crossed the scenic Nyamai Zampa, a unique model of Bhutan’s traditional cantilever bridge.

Kyichu Lhakhang – The 7th century monastery is one of the oldest and most sacred temples in the kingdom where the seed of Buddhism was won in Bhutan. The Tibetan King, Songsten Gampo ordered the establishment of monasteries in the Himalayan region to subdue evil spirits and to spread Buddhism. Of the 108, which were to be built, two major ones were built in Bhutan namely the kyichu Lhakhang and Jampa Lhakhang in Bumthang. Kyichu Lhakhang, which pins down the left foot of a treacherous Ogress, is a great finish to this day of cultural immersion and your journey to this ancient kingdom of Bhutan.

Overnight in Hotel/Resorts at Paro.

Taktsang (Tiger’s nest monastery) 4-5hrs hike – Tiger’s Nest or Taktshang Goempa is one of Bhutan’s most revered monuments. It literally hangs off the face of a cliff 900M (2952feet) above the valley floor. The legend states that Guru Rinpoche flew in to Bhutan on a mythical tigress and meditated in a cave before bringing Buddhism to Bhutan. The Taktshang Goempa is built around the cave, which is opened to the public once a year at the end of August. The four-hour round-trip hike offers spectacular views of the Goempa and the valley below. Horses or mules can be arranged on request to help lighten the journey.or

Chelela Pass– After breakfast, you will begin for the excursion to chelela pass the highest motor able road in Bhutan with 3899m. walking along the high ridges dotted with colorful Buddhist prayer flags will offer you stunning views of mount Jumolhari and other mountains and valleys below the pass if weather permits. Transfer to Paro for hot Lunch or Picnic on the way back from Chelela Pass. 

Overnight in Hotel/Resorts at Paro.

We will bid a fond farewell to this beautiful Himalayan country and take a flight back to your home. We hope you had a wonderful moment and have lots of beautiful pictures and memories taken from this land of thunder dragon to be cherished forever. We look forward to see you again in this beautiful land of endless Enchantments!