Bhutan Tour – 10 nights and 11 days

Fly from Kathmandu to Paro Airport with Druk Air, Royal Bhutan Airlines, or Bhutan Airlines. You will be welcomed and received at the airport by our representative and tour guide during your stay in Bhutan.

Drive to Thimphu (Capital city), which is 1.5 hours away from the airport. Check into your hotel, then explore the capital for the remainder of the day.

Walk: The trail to Wangditse Monastery is a light walk above the city, which offers a stunning view of Thimphu Valley.

Nature: Visit the Takin Preserve Center. This houses the national animal takin. This is an extremely rare member of the goat family. Found in herds in the very high altitudes (13,125ft and over).

Traditional and contemporary art: Exclusive tour of VAST art gallery and visit to the Traditional Painting School, which focuses on 13 traditional arts and crafts of Bhutan.

Sights: Visit Tashichhoedzong, fortress, built in the 17th century. It houses the throne room and the office of the Druk Gyalpo, His Majesty the King of Bhutan, the central monk body, and various government offices.

Overnight at Norkhil Boutique Hotel Spa in Thimphu.

History & Economy: Visit Loden Foundation, a Civil Society Organization dedicated to foster education and social entrepreneurs. Meet Dr. Karma Phuntsho, Founder of Loden Foundation, a well-known Bhutanese scholar, a former monk, who specialises in Buddhism, Tibetan & Himalayan Studies and Bhutan, author of the History of Bhutan.

Buddha Point: The massive bronze statue of Buddha standing 51.5 meters, making it one of the tallest Buddha statues in the world.

Cottage and Small Industry Market (CSI) is the largest dedicated platform for products made and grown in Bhutan. It aims to promote, market, sell and distribute made & grown in Bhutan products both locally and internationally.

In the Afternoon visit the Pangri Zampa, the oldest Buddhist school of Astrology in Bhutan. Consult in private with an astrologer.

Overnight at Norkhil Boutique Hotel Spa in Thimphu

Hike to Cheri Monastery: The Cheri or Chagri Dorjeden Monastery is a Buddhist monastery established by the founder of the modern Bhutanese State, Ngawang Namgyal or Zhabdrung Rinpoche. The hike up to the picturesque monastery is a little over one hour and offers an excellent view of the valley.

Exclusive talk on Gross National Happiness (GNH) – philosophy & practice – by Mr. Dorji Penjor, PhD, Anthropologist, researcher and Head of the Research Division of the Cnetre for Bhutan Studies & Gross National Happiness.

Centenary Farmers Market: Thimphu’s central vegetable market is a feast for the eyes, as it features a wide range of fresh local farm products like vegetables, fruits, dried meats, homemade honey, cheese and butter, different sorts of grains, incense powders and so forth. A great place to immerse oneself in the local way of life.

Option: Visit Royal Textile Museum.

Overnight at Norkhil Boutique Hotel Spa in Thimphu

Travel to Punakha through Dochula Pass (3,088m/10,130ft) from where you can enjoy the panoramic view of the Himalayan Mountain ranges on the clear days.

Chimi Lhakhang is the monastery of Drukpa Kinley (1455-1529), who is better known outside Bhutan as the divine Madman. His teachings of Buddhism by singing, humour and provocative behaviour stand in stark contrast to the orthodox ways and represent what we nowadays would call an “anti-establishment counter-culture”.  The monastery is famous for its fertility shrine and sought after by couples seeking to have children from around the world.

(Option instead of Chimi Lhakhang for hikers:) Hike From Dochula Pass mount through a rhododendron forest to a mountain Monastery (ascent: 2.5 hours, medium difficulty). Alternative: Visit the monastery of the Divine Madman, Drukpa Kinley.

Punakha Dzong: located on the island of the Pho Chu (Male River) and the Mo chu (Female River). The fortress was built in the 17th century to serve as the religious and administrative seat of the region. Visit the Kuenray, the Coronation Hall of the kings of Bhutan.

Option: Visit the longest suspension bridge in Bhutan.

Overnight at Dhumra Farm Resort

Drive to Bumthang via Trongsa

Trongsa dzong: The main administration center during the second kings’ reign and it is also known for its masterpiece of Bhutanese architecture.

Tadzong: The watch tower for the Trongsa Dzong in the olden times but now turned into a historical museum.

Overnight at Swiss Guesthouse in Bumthang

Cultural highlight: Visit Ogyencholing Palace museum in Tang valley, which provides an excellent insight into the lifestyles and living conditions of a typical Nobel family over the last century. Meet and greet Ashi (Princess) Kunzang Choden Roder, a renowned author, the descendant of the Feudal Lord of Tang Valley, who maintains and curates the Oygencholing Palace Museum.

Drive back to Bumthang, and visit Membartsho (Burning lake). It is considered one of the most sacred sites in the region as it is related to the renowned religious treasurer Terton Pema Lingpa. Pema Lingpa is considered an incarnated disciple of Padmasambhava who discovered treasure within the lake in late 15th century.

Overnight at Swiss Guesthouse in Bumthang

Option for avid hikers: Embark on a scenic hike Febela hike, a nature hike from Bumthang chamkar valley to Tang valley.

Kurjev Temple: One of the significant temples said to house a rock that shows Guru Rinpoche’s – the patron Buddhism saint of Bhutan – body imprint, after he subdued the powerful Shelging Karpo demon.

Jambay Temple: One of two temples in Bhutan built in in the 7^th Century by a Tibetan monarch.

GNH Centre

Scenic domestic flight back to Paro with Drukair (Note: not available every day).

Alternative instead of domestic flight: return by road

Overnight at Nemjo Heritage Lodge

You will embark on a half-day hike to Taktsang Monastery, also known as Tiger’s Nest. The climb up to the viewpoint will take around 1 ½ hours and from there you will enjoy a spectacular view of the monastery clinging to the side of the cliff. You can either stop for refreshment at the View Point Cafeteria or walk further up to the monastery which will take about 1 hour. The overall hike up to the monastery and down, including breaks, would be up to 5 hours.

In the evening relax with a hot-stone bath in Paro.

Overnight at Nemjo Heritage Lodge

Paro Tshechu is the most significant festival in Paro and a very authentic religious celebration conducted in of Guru Rinpoche, the patron Buddhism saint of Bhutan. Various masked and costume dances are performed by the monks and the laymonks and it is also one of the best ways to experience the ancient religious and cultural aspect of Buddhism in the daily aspects of Bhutanese life. The highlight of the festival is unfurling of the giant silk Thanka, Thongdrel (Liberation at sight)

You have the opportunity to dress in the traditional attire of Bhutan. Photo shoot at the Paro Dzong by a professional photographer is included.

Alternative if outside of Paro Tsechu festival: Visit Haa Valley. Overnight at Lechuna Heritage Lodge.

Overnight at Nemjo Heritage Lodge

Chele La Pass: Chele La is the highest motorable point in Bhutan, sitting 3,988 metres above sea level, between the Haa and Paro valleys. Enjoy a pic-nic with majestic view of Paro Valley.

Paro town: Take a walk in Paro town. Engage in souvenir shopping (e.g. Bhutanese tanka paintings, woodcraft and textiles).

Engage in a butter lamp lighting ceremony for the wellbeing of all sentient beings. At Kichu Monastery, one of the 108 temples built in the 7th century by the Tibetan King Songsten Gyembo.

Overnight at Nemjo Heritage Lodge

Your tour guide will escort you to the airport according to your flight schedule for your onward destinations.