Spiritual journey

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  ARRIVAL IN PARO-THIMPHU

  Welcome to Bhutan and welcome to your first day in the magical Land of the Thunder Dragon! Upon your arrival at Paro International Airport, just outside the arrivals hall, you will be greeted by one of our guides. At over 7,300 feet above sea level, you will need to acclimatize to the high altitude. So we will take the time to relax with a short drive to your hotel, a Bhutanese lunch, and then a visit to some sights around the capital, Thimphu. We will start our visit at the Motithang Takin Preserve, which is home to Bhutan's national animal, the takin. This unusual animal is often described as a moose stung by a bee. Formerly a small zoo, the king decreed that keeping animals in captivity was against Buddhist beliefs, so they were released. The takin had trouble adapting, so the preserve was established to care for these gentle creatures. We will then go to the Buddha viewpoint, where the Buddha Dordenma statue is located. Standing 169 feet tall, this bronze statue is visible from anywhere in Thimphu. One of the largest statues in the world representing a seated Buddha, it is the perfect place to enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view of the city.

• day 2

  THIMPHU

  The Centenary Farmers' Market is where most of the region's residents gather every weekend on the riverbanks. Villagers from the neighboring valley come here to sell agricultural and artisanal products. You will visit the National Folk Heritage Museum, dedicated to connecting Bhutan to its past through exhibitions, demonstrations, and crafted objects. Designed to resemble a rural house, this 19th-century building houses three floors of art, culture, and relics. At the National Textile Museum, you will witness the art of weaving and learn the meaning of textile design. Bhutanese weaving is considered a living art, and traditional weaving methods are preserved by the Royal Government. The National Memorial Chorten was built in 1974 to honor the late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. A chorten is a hemispherical commemorative stupa. Known as the most visible religious landmark in Bhutan, it is used as a place of meditation. At Jungshi Handmade Paper Factory, you will witness the art of papermaking. Artisans show how Deh-sho paper is made from the bark of two local tree species. Buddhist monks use Deh-sho to write prayers and for woodblock printing. Outside Thimphu is Simtokha Dzong, the oldest fortress in Bhutan. Legend says it was built to imprison a demon that terrorized the region. The first fortress of its kind, it features beautiful Buddhist paintings and sculptures. Thimphu Tashichho Dzong, a traditional fortress and Buddhist monastery, is the largest in the city. Featuring typically Bhutanese architecture, without nails or written plans, the structure is the current seat of the king of the city of Bhutan.

• day 3

  THIMPHU-PUNAKHA

  On the way to Punakha, the former capital of Bhutan, we will stop at Dochula Pass. Offering a breathtaking 360-degree view of the Himalayan mountains, it is also the place where the 108 Druk Wangyal Chortens are located. Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck, the current Queen Mother of Bhutan, built the memorial to commemorate Bhutan's victory over Indian militants and to liberate the souls of those who died. Located at the confluence of two rivers, Punakha Dzong is considered one of the most beautiful places in Bhutan. With spectacular displays of Bhutanese architecture, it stands like a medieval city surrounded by Jacaranda lavender trees. Built in 1637, the six-story building is the second oldest and the second largest dzong in Bhutan. It still serves as the winter residence of the Je Khenpo, chief abbot of the clergy. In 2011, it hosted the royal wedding of King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema. Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten is a unique example of Bhutanese art and architecture, built by the third Queen Mother, Ashi Tshering Yangdon Wangchuck. This beautifully designed chorten took nine years to build, using only religious scriptures to erect the four-story temple. Accessible only on foot, the one-hour walk crosses a suspension bridge adorned with colorful prayer flags.

• day 4

  PUNAKHA-BUMTHANG

  The Bumthang valley is known as the heart of Buddhism in Bhutan. In 746 AD, it is said that Guru Rinpoche arrived here to exorcise a demon from the king, then converted the people to Buddhism, thus restoring peace in the region. Guru Rinpoche stayed in the valley to build more than 40 temples. In the morning, we will leave for Tamzhing Goemba. Built in 1501, it is an important monastery due to its direct link with the Buddhist saint Pema Lingpa. We will then visit the sacred monastery Kurjey Lhakhang, which houses a rock showing the body imprint of Guru Rinpoche after he subdued the powerful demon Shelging Karpo. According to legend, a giant demon was preventing the spread of Buddhism by laying its body over Tibet and Bhutan. In 659, King Sontsen Gambo built 108 temples in one day, thus pinning it to the earth. Jambay Lhakhang is one of the two temples built in Bhutan that day, and every October, it hosts a colorful festival to celebrate this event. Jakar Dzong was founded in 1549 by the great-grandfather of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, father and unifier of medieval Bhutan. Known as the Castle of the White Bird, it was built on top of the hill, as the lamas were guided there by a great white bird. In the afternoon, we will take an easy hike to Thangbi Lhakhang. Located in the picturesque Thangbi valley, it is only accessible on foot and by a suspension bridge.

• day 5

  BUMTHANG

  The Bumthang valley is known as the heart of Buddhism in Bhutan. In 746 AD, it is said that Guru Rinpoche arrived here to exorcise a demon from the king, then converted the people to Buddhism, thus restoring peace in the region. Guru Rinpoche stayed in the valley to build more than 40 temples. In the morning, we will leave for Tamzhing Goemba. Built in 1501, it is an important monastery due to its direct link with the Buddhist saint Pema Lingpa. We will then visit the sacred monastery Kurjey Lhakhang, which houses a rock showing the body imprint of Guru Rinpoche after he subdued the powerful demon Shelging Karpo. According to legend, a giant demon was preventing the spread of Buddhism by laying its body over Tibet and Bhutan. In 659, King Sontsen Gambo built 108 temples in one day, thus pinning it to the earth. Jambay Lhakhang is one of the two temples built in Bhutan that day, and every October, it hosts a colorful festival to celebrate this event. Jakar Dzong was founded in 1549 by the great-grandfather of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, father and unifier of medieval Bhutan. Known as the Castle of the White Bird, it was built on top of the hill, as the lamas were guided there by a great white bird. In the afternoon, we will take an easy hike to Thangbi Lhakhang. Located in the picturesque Thangbi valley, it is only accessible on foot and by a suspension bridge.

• day 6

  BUMTHANG-GANGTEY

  On the way to Gangtey, we will pass through Trongsa, the ancestral home of the Wangchuck monarchy. Meaning "new town," the first temple was built here in 1543. Traditionally, every king of Bhutan has always held the position of Trongsa Penlop (governor) before wearing the raven crown. Trongsa Dzong was built in 1644 and was controlled by the Wangchuck dynasty until they became the rulers of Bhutan in 1907. Occupying the only road that connected the east and west of Bhutan, all trade was controlled by this dzong. Flourishing under the command of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, this massive structure, with its high walls, could close all trade between east and west by shutting its gates. At the top of the mountain is the Taa Dzong, a watchtower built in 1652 to repel attacks from the town below. Today, it houses the Royal Heritage Museum, which traces the history of the region and the Wangchuck dynasty. There you will find Buddhist art, royal memorabilia, a 500-year-old jacket of Ngagi Wangchuck, and a personal copy of Padma Kathang, the handwritten biography of Guru Rinpoche. You can learn more about the history and significance of the Taa Dzong in the book "Tower of Trongsa" by Christian Schicklgruber.

• day 7

  GANGTEY

  We will travel to the Phobjikha Valley (Gangtey). Known as the winter home of the black-necked cranes (Grus nigricollis), you can see 600 of these elegant and shy birds that migrate from Tibet between November and March. This bowl-shaped valley is also a wildlife reserve, so you may also spot other native animals of Bhutan, including the muntjac, sambar, serow, or yak. Gangtey Goemba is a 17th-century monastery that stands on a hill overlooking the entire valley. An excellent example of Tibetan architecture, the prayer hall (tshokhang) features eight large pillars. In the 15th century, the Buddhist saint Pema Lingpa predicted that a temple would be built there so that his teachings could spread. In 1613, his grandson, and the reincarnation of Pema Lingpa, fulfilled the prophecy by building a Nyingma temple at this location. Kuenzang Chholing, the long white building nearby, is where the monks go to meditate for three years, three months, and three days. When visiting the Gangtey Valley, you can stay at a hotel or in a room with a local family in a modest farmhouse. This unique opportunity will allow you to get to know a Bhutanese family better by interacting with them on a personal level.

• day 8

  GANGTEY-PARO

  We return to the picturesque Paro valley, which is home to many of the oldest monasteries in Bhutan, as well as the country's only airport. This blend of old and new makes Paro an important part of Bhutan's past, present, and future. The valley is home to the mountain of Chomolhari (Jomolhari), located on the northwestern border of Bhutan and Tibet. Often called the wife of Kangchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world, Chomolhari is the third highest mountain in Bhutan, at 24,035 feet. The glacial waters of the mountain feed the rivers of the Paro valley. Paro (Rinpung) Dzong means "Fortress on Jewels" because it was built using stones rather than clay. It is an excellent example of 15th-century architecture and one of the most impressive dzongs in Bhutan. It is currently the government center of Paro. A cantilever bridge that crossed the river was damaged by fire in 1907, then swept away by floods, so the original construction was lost. Ta Dzong is located on a hill above Paro Dzong. This cylindrical watchtower was built in 1649 and transformed in 1968 into the National Museum of Bhutan. The spiral-shaped building houses antiques, art, textiles, weapons, and household items that tell the story of Bhutan.

• day 9

  PARO

  We will take a two-hour hike to the Taktsang Monastery, undoubtedly one of the most photographed monasteries in Bhutan. Accessible only on foot, this sacred site was precariously built on the edge of a cliff, more than 10,000 feet above sea level. It is here that the guru (Rinpoche) Padmasambhava, father of Bhutanese Buddhism, is said to have flown on the back of a tiger to meditate in a cave for three years. An exhilarating climb up to the cafeteria is adorned with colorful prayer flags and offers a breathtaking view of the Himalayas. The ruins of Drukgyal Dzong are just a few minutes' drive away. The great Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal built this fortress in 1647 to fight off invading Tibetan armies. In 1957, a fire destroyed the dzong, but it was left in ruins to remind people of Bhutan's glorious past military victories. On a clear day, you can see the snow-capped summit of Mount Chomolohari. We end our tour with a visit to Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Bhutan. It is the second of two temples built in Bhutan by the Tibetan king Songtsen Gambo in a single day to subdue the giant demoness who was preventing the spread of Buddhism.

• day 10

  Departure from Paro

  We will say goodbye to this beautiful country of the Himalayas and take a quick return flight to your destination. We hope that by now, you have made friends and that you will keep many photos and beautiful memories of Bhutan! We look forward to seeing you again in this beautiful land of endless enchantments! Tashi Delek!