CLASSIC BHUTAN TOUR

Arrival

• Paro, transfer to Thimphu.
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• On arrival, guests will be received at the airport by our representative who will be your tour guide and companion for the whole duration of your tour in Bhutan, where you will get to experience a variety of different places. 
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• Drive to your hotel in Thimphu. After lunch, you will go sightseeing and visit Kuensel Phodrang and Motithang Takin Preserve. 
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• Kuensel Phodrang/Buddha Point is the world’s largest sitting Buddha statue (167 feet high). The statue is situated on top of a hill overlooking the city of Thimphu, The statue is constructed out of bronze and is studded with many semi-precious stones. 
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• Motithang Takin Preserve, also known as the Thimphu Zoo, is a small natural preserve for the Takin, Bhutan’s national animal. The preserve is a forested preserve that mimics the takin’s natural habitat. You can also find a few musk deer and barking deer.
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• Overnight stay in Thimphu

Thimphu sightseeing

• Post breakfast, you will go on a sightseeing tour of Thimphu.
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• Places you will be visiting: Jungshi Handmade Paper Factory, Folk Heritage Museum, Memorial Chorten, Changangkha Lhakhang, and Tashichho Dzong
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• Overnight stay in Thimphu. 

Thimphu – Punakha

• After breakfast, you will drive to Punakha. On the way stop at Dochula Pass (3,100 m)
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• The Pass is probably the best-known mountain pass in Bhutan. On a clear day, the pass offers visitors a spectacular view of the majestic eastern Himalayan Ranges. The pass is also marked by the 108 Druk Wangyal Chortens, which were built for the well-being of all sentient beings on earth and as a tribute to the Kings of Bhutan for their selfless service and leadership.
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• At Lobesa, hike to Chimi Lhakhang, also known as the ‘Temple of Fertility.’
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• Chimi Lhakhang sits on the top of a small round hill surrounded by rice fields. The temple is dedicated to Lam Drukpa Kuenley, also known as ‘The Divine Madman’. He was an accomplished master but he is remembered more for the outrageous nature of his teachings, often using sexual inclinations. It is a pilgrimage site especially for childless couples, and many swear that one will be blessed with children after visiting this place. 
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• Post lunch check-in at your hotel, rest a while and visit Punakha Dzong.
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• Pungtang Dechen Phortang Dzong is located at the confluence of the Mo Chhu and the Po Chhu River and is the second oldest Dzong in Bhutan. The Dzong is home to some of the most sacred relics of the Drukpa Kagyu School of Buddhism. Punakha Dzong also served as the capital of Bhutan till 1955 before the capital was moved to Thimphu. The Dzong is still the winter residence of the Je Khenpo (chief abbot). 
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• Overnight stay in Punakha/ Wangdue Phodrang

Punakha – Bumthang 

• Post breakfast, you will drive toward Bumthang. On the way you will cross 2 passes, the first one Pelela (3300m) is less than an hour’s drive away. From this Pass, you will start descending and come across many villages, each with its own charm and beauty. Stop at Trongsa viewpoint to take in the view of Trongsa Dzong. 
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• The road starts ascending up to the third pass, Yotungla. The air is much cooler, and from there you will descend towards the valleys of Bumthang. The hills are much gentler and the valley wider.
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• Bumthang is known as the ‘Switzerland in Bhutan’. Bumthang has 4 distinct valleys, Chumey, Chamkhar, Tang, and Ura; your hotel is located in the first valley which is about 25 km away from town (Chamkhar Valley) but is set in a picturesque location with views of open valleys of fields and meadows.
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• Overnight stay in Bumthang.

Bumthang Sightseeing

• You will spend most of the day visiting local places of interest.
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• Places you will be visiting: Jambey Lhakhang, Kurjey Lhakhang, Tamshing Lhakhang, and Mebartsho (the Burning Lake).
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• Overnight stay in Bumthang.

Bumthang Sightseeing

• Post breakfast, drive to Tang Valley, the birthplace of Bhutan’s most famous treasure discoverer, Terton Pema Lingpa.
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• Tang Valley is also the smallest and narrowest among the 4 valleys of Bumthang. The people raise sheep and cows and yak at a little higher elevation. The valley is not so fertile but has been subject to experimental farming to improve organic agricultural products. It’s about a 1.5 hour-long drive from Chamkhar town to the valley center from where one can see Ugyencholing Palace Museum perched on a hill overlooking the valley.
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• In Tang, you will visit Ugyenchholing Palace Museum: It used to be a residence of the ruler of the valley in the medieval days. It has now been converted into a museum and is managed by the descendants of the old family. Most of the time, the great grand-daughter stays there and gives tours to visitors. It takes about 30-45 minutes of hiking to reach the Museum located on top of a small hill in the valley.
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• Have lunch there and drive back to Chamkhar town.
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• Overnight stay in Bumthang.

Bumthang – Phobjikha

• Have early breakfast and drive to Phobjikha, the valley of the Black Necked Cranes.
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• This is the winter nesting grounds for the endangered Black Necked Cranes. They start arriving in October end and leave for the Tibetan plateau by February. The valley is believed to have been created by glaciers and is shaped like a bowl, hence the name ‘Phob’ meaning bowl.
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• Once there stop at Gangtey Monastery, a privately funded Buddhist college of the Nyingmapa sect. It’s worth going in for a short visit to see the beautiful carvings inside. 
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• In Trongsa, you will visit Trongsa Dzong. This Dzong has played a very important role in the unification of Bhutan. The old East-West highway passed right through the Dzong making the Governor a very powerful man. The first and the second Kings ruled the country from here.
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• After that, take a beautiful hike on the Gangtey Nature Trail, which takes you around the valley through lightly covered pine and juniper forests. This is also the closest you will come to the cranes (during winter) as it’s prohibited to go away from the trail and down to the marshes in the valley. Your car will pick you up at the end of the marshes in the valley to take you to your hotel.
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• Overnight stay in Phobjikha.

Phobjikha – Paro

• After breakfast, drive towards Wangdue Phodrang. Stop at the bridge for a photo op of the Wangdue Dzong ruins (destroyed by fire in June 2012). Drive up to Dochula Pass and then down to Thimphu where you will have lunch.
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• Post lunch, rest for a while in Thimphu before driving towards Paro to rest for the day.
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• Overnight stay in Paro.
  

Paro, Tiger’s Nest Hike

• After an early breakfast, you will drive up to the base of Taktsang Monastery (Tiger’s Nest) and go on the 6.5-hour hike. 
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• This is one of the most famous places and sacred sites among all the places in Bhutan. Guru Padmasambhava is said to have come riding on a flying tigress to this place and meditated in a cave for 3 months, it wasn’t until Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal came to this place and meditated that it gained the popularity that it has now. The present structure is said to be built in the 15th century but was destroyed by fire in 1998 and has been restored.
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• Overnight stay in Paro. 

Paro, Haa Valley Excursion

• Post an early breakfast, you will drive up to Chelela Pass at 3800m.
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• It is the highest motorable paved road in the country and is about 25 km from Paro town. On a clear day, the pass offers stunning views of Mt. Jomolhari and Mt. Jichu Drakey and if you are lucky you can even see Mt. Khangchendzonga at a distance. The pass itself is marked by many fluttering prayer flags. There is a place on top of the mountain ridge that is used for ‘Sky Burial.’ It is an ancient system where children’s bodies are chopped up and left on a large stone for the vultures to feed on. It is considered auspicious if eaten by vultures and inauspicious if eaten by 4-legged creatures like foxes and wolves.
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• From the pass, it’s downhill till you reach Haa. If you feel energetic you can go and visit Lhakhang Karpo (White temple) and Lhakhang Nagpo (Black temple).
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• Haa Valley is small and beautiful and is said to be a Hidden Land, a valley protected and blessed by Guru Rinpoche. This valley and places nearby weren’t open to tourists until a decade ago. The Indian Army’s base HQ in Bhutan is in this valley, and they have occupied the Dzong as their administration centre. You can visit the Dzong where the Indian Army has even set up a CSD and non-CSD canteen. The central tower is still managed by the central monastic body.
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• Have lunch in Haa and drive back up to Chelela Pass, and then down to Paro Valley. 
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• Overnight stay in Paro. 

Departure

• Your trip to Bhutan comes to an end. We hope you take back happy memories.