BHUTAN - AN INTIMATE DISCOVERY in 9 days 8 nights

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  Arrival at Paro International Airport and drive to Thimphu.

  

  During this flight, you will be able to admire Mount Everest, Mount Kanchenjunga, and other mountains of the Himalayas, including the sacred mountains Jhomolhari and Jichu Drake in Bhutan. Upon your arrival at Paro airport, our representative will welcome you and drive you to Thimphu. After lunch, visit: - Buddha Point / Kuensel Phodrang: this is the largest Buddha statue in the country. From there, you can have a beautiful view of the Thimphu valley. - Memorial Chorten: built in 1974 in memory of our third king of Bhutan, His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. - Tashichho Dzong: the "fortress of the glorious religion" was originally erected in 1641 and rebuilt by King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck in the 1960s. Tashichho Dzong houses some ministries, His Majesty's secretariat, and the central body of monks. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 2

  Thimphu - Sightseeing

  

  - Changangkha Lhakhang - Located just above the Thimphu valley, this temple and monastic school were established in the 12th century on a site chosen by Lama Phajo Drugom Shigpo. - Motithang Takin Reserve - It is home to the rare national animal of Bhutan. The takin is classified by international conservation agencies as a vulnerable species, and it is a rare animal found only in Bhutan, Nepal, and Burma. - Institute of Traditional Medicine - In Bhutan, equal importance is given to allopathic and traditional medicines. The rich remedies based on medicinal plants are prepared and dispensed here. - Simply Bhutan - This is a living and interactive museum that offers a quick introduction to the different aspects of traditional life in Bhutan. - National Institute for Zorig Chusum - The school of arts and crafts is an institute where students follow a six-year course on the 13 traditional arts and crafts of Bhutan. Night at the hotel.

• day 3

  Thimphu - Phobjikha

  After breakfast, route to Phobjikha - about 6 hours of driving through picturesque valleys and mountain slopes dotted with typical Bhutanese villages. From Dochula Pass, at over 10,000 feet altitude, you can enjoy, in clear weather, vast panoramic views of the high snow-capped peaks of the Bhutanese Himalayas. Continue descending into the Phobjikha valley and visit Gantey Goenpa, as it is a major attraction with an ancient monastery dating from the 16th century. Later, tour the valley, which is also the winter habitat of the rare black-necked cranes, which migrate in winter from remote regions of Tibet, China, and Siberia to this valley. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 4

  Stop at Phobjikha

  Tourists can relax, explore the region, and walk along the natural trails of the pine forest. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 5

  Phobjikha - Punakha

  After breakfast, drive to Punakha. On the way, visit Chhimi Lhakhang. This center was founded in the 15th century by Lama Dukpa Kinley, also known as the Divine Madman. It takes half an hour to walk through a local village and a rice field. After lunch, visit Punakha Dzong, built in 1637 by Zhabdrung. It is one of the most beautiful dzongs in the country. Later, walk around Punakha and the town of Khuruthang. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 6

  Excursion to Khamsum Yulley Namgyel Chorten in Punakha.

  

  The idyllic Khamsum Yulley Namgyel Chorten is built on a ridge in the countryside north of the Punakha valley. It takes 30 minutes by car to reach the countryside from the town of Punakha, then the journey continues for 45 minutes on foot. Hikers start the hike through the rice fields. The way the terraces are built, fed by the irrigation canal, makes hiking during the planting or harvest season particularly pleasant and offers a panoramic view of the countryside. At the foot of the hill, the real trail begins through pine forests. Upon arrival, hikers can enjoy the spectacular view of the valley below. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 7

  Punakha - Paro

  After breakfast, drive to Paro. Driving time: about 4 hours. Visit: - Kyichu Lhakhang: one of the oldest and most sacred temples of the kingdom, dating from the 7th century. - Ta Dzong: former watchtower which now houses the national museum. - Rinpung Dzong: houses the monastic school and the civil administration office. You descend passing very close, crossing the typical Bhutanese wooden-roofed bridge, to the town of Paro. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 8

  Paro - Excursion to Taktsang (Tiger's Nest)

  After breakfast, drive for half an hour and start the hike, which lasts about 5 hours (round trip). The trail follows an ancient path marked by prayer wheels powered by the river. Upon arriving at Taktsang, you will be struck by the architectural marvel of this Buddhist sanctuary, the most pious in Bhutan. Perched about 1000 m on a cliff overlooking the valley, it can rightly be considered one of the wonders of Bhutan. It was tragically destroyed in a fire at the beginning of 1998. It has been rebuilt to its original glory. It is said that the legendary Indian saint, Guru Padma Sambhava, flew from Tibet on the back of a tigress to tame five demons who opposed the spread of Buddhism in Bhutan in 746 AD. Hence the name Taktsang, or "The Tiger's Nest." Return to Ramthangka. If time permits, go further north to visit another symbolic structure, which is now under reconstruction: Drugyel Dzong, or "Castle of the Victorious Drukpa," which was also built by the Shabdrung to commemorate Bhutan's victory over the Tibetans in the 16th century. From here, the Jomolhari peak ("mountain of the goddess") can be seen in clear weather (Alt. 7,329 m/24,029 ft.). Overnight at the hotel.

• day 9

  Paro - Departure

  

  After breakfast, meet at Paro International Airport for your connecting flight. Our representative will accompany you and bid you farewell. TASHI DELEK !!!