The central Bhutan trip, which includes a visit to Bumthang is a magnificent tour that passes through scenic landscapes, wonderful new roads, and age-old historical cultural sites.
The Bumthang valley is also called the “The Buddhist Heartland” and “SECOND SWITZERLAND.” This Bhutan trip could take between ten to eleven days based on your interests and time.
On this amazing trip, you will visit several of Bhutan’s modern cities as well as beautiful rural places like Punakha, Haa, Phobjikha, Trongsa and Bumthang. You will also visit ancient temples and stunning fortresses with unique architecture.
While touring, you will VISIT ANCIENT TEMPLES AND STUNNING FORTRESSES THAT FEATURE unique architecture. If you like, there are also scenic day hikes in each area.
Trip Highlights
- Sightseeing in Thimphu
- Trashichho dzong
- Taktsang Monastery (The Tiger’s Nest)
- Handicrafts emporium
- Punakha Dzong
- Drugyel Dzong victory fortress
SHORT ITINERARY
Day 01 :
Bangkok – Paro then transfer to Thimphu. Overnight at a hotel.
Day 02 :
Thimphu – Punakha. Overnight at a hotel.
Day 03 :
Punakha – Bumthang. Overnight at a hotel.
Day 04 :
Bumthang sightseeing. Overnight at a hotel.
Day 05 :
Bumthang – Trongsa. Overnight at a hotel.
Day 06 :
Trongsa – Wangdi via Gangtey. Overnight at a hotel.
Day 07 :
Wangdi – Thimphu (capital). Overnight at a hotel.
Day 08 :
Thimphu sightseeing. Overnight at a hotel.
Day 09 :
Thimphu – Paro sightseeing. Overnight at a hotel.
Day 10 :
Paro Tiger’s nest hike. Overnight at a hotel.
Day 11 :
Paro – Bangkok departure. Transfer to the international airport for your final departure
You will have a wonderful view of the mountains of Nepal and Bhutan while you fly into Bhutan. Upon arrival, you will be received by the representative from Bhutan Travel Adventures and then drive to Thimphu for an hour. Overnight in Thimphu.
Day 02: Thimphu – Punakha
Drive to Punakha for 2 ½ hours with short stop at Dochula pass. If the weather is clear, you could have a superb view of the Bhutan’s Himalayas from the pass. Upon arrival in Punakha, check in at the hotel first. And have lunch in Punakha town and visit beautiful Punakha Dzong built in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. The dzong is situated between Pho Chu (Male River) and Mo Chu (Female River) two famous rivers of Bhutan. Punakha was the old capital of Bhutan, and winter capital for the central monk body at present.
After wards visit a farm house in one of a typical village in Punakha, to see how people live in rural Bhutan. You will be served some Bhutanese local wine, tea and snacks at the farm house. Overnight at the hotel in Punakha.
Day 03: Punakha – Bumthang
The drive will take around 7 ½ hours. You will have lunch at Chendibji Restaurant or in Trongsa. Drive to Bumthang with short stop at Chummey Yathra shop, the place where they weave the woolen clothes. Overnight stay at the hotel in Bumthang.
Day 04: Bumthang sightseeing
The valley is one of the most beautiful valleys in the kingdom. It is also the religious heartland where many saints and masters meditated leaving their imprints as sacred places of worship and pilgrimage Tales of Padmasambhava dominate these holy shrines. In the morning visit, Jampa Lhakhang which was built by Tibetan King Songtshen Gempo in the 7th century to pin down the left Knee of the ogress. And then visit Kurji monastery were body imprints of Guru Rimpoche from the 8th century remains preserved upon a rock. Then short hike to Tamzhing Monastery. If the weather is clear, you will enjoy the view of green valley, dotted with hundreds temples, thousand flags and beautiful chamkhar river flow through the valley. The valley is also called mini Switzerland of Bhutan. After Lunch, drive to visit Tang Member Tsho (Burning Lake), Saint Pemalingpa had discovered several hidden treasure from the Lake. Night halt in Bumthang.
Day 05: Bumthang – Trongsa
The drive will take around 2 ½ hours to Trongsa. And check in at the hotel and have lunch. After lunch visit Trongsa Dzong, which was the seat of successive Trongsa Penlop and ancestral home of the kings. Over night at the hotel in Trongsa.
Day 06: Trongsa – Wangdi via Gangtey
After breakfast drive towards Wangdi, which will take around 5 ½ hours. On the way you will visit Gangtey monastery founded in the 15th century. This is one of the Nyingmapa monasteries in the country, and it was renovated by his holiness Gangtey Trulku Rimpoche, and was consecrated only in November 2008. From the monastery you can also have a view of beautiful Phobjikha valley just below the monastery, which is a roosting place for the rarest Black Necked Cranes in winter. If you are here in winter you could see the Cranes and continue drive to Wangdi for overnight stay.
Day 07: Wangdi – Thimphu (capital)
Drive to Thimphu for 3 hours and check in at the hotel. Have lunch and in the afternoon visit the mini zoo to see the Takins which is our national animal. This is also an animal which is a rarest species. And visit the handicraft emporium and shops for your souvenir shopping. In the evening take a stroll around the capital city to see the life of urban Bhutan.
Day 08: Thimphu sightseeing
Visit the school of Arts and Crafts which was established to preserve and promote our age old practice. The students here are taught 13 different traditional arts. You can You can also visit the Memorial stupa which was built in the memory of our beloved 3rd King in1974. Visit the Folk heritage museum to see the living house in olden days. Visit Zilukha nunnery, one of the temple where the nuns live and study.
You can also visit the paper factory to see how the Bhutanese traditional papers are made. If the group visit doesn’t co inside with a festival time, we will host a cultural show in the evening for the group travelers. Overnight halt in Thimphu.
Day 09: Thimphu – Paro sightseeing
After break fast drive to Paro and check in at the hotel. And visit the National museum, the museum which houses numerous collections of arts and artifacts. This museum is also been rated as one of the best museum in Asia. The building was originally built in the mid 17th Century as a watch tower for the dzong below.
And then visit Kyichu monastery dating back to the 7th century, and it’s one of the oldest monastery in Bhutan. After that visit Drugyel dzong which is a ruin fortress at present and it was built in 1649 by Shabdrung Nawang Namgyel. The dzong was actually built to commemorate the winning victory over the Tibetans in 1644. Overnight at the hotel in Paro.
Day 10: Paro Tiger’s nest hike
The hike will take about 5 hours for a round trip with lunch stop. It’s an up hill hike. Taktsang monastery is perched on the face of a cliff 800 Mts, above the Paro valley. It is a memorable spiritual journey. It was here that the great Tantric master, Guru Padmasambhava flew in from Tibet on the back of a flying tigress to propagate his teachings in Bhutan. Lunch at the cafeteria or you will be served catering lunch from a restaurant. Walk back down hill to your hotel. Take rest or drive to the town for your last minute shopping. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 11: Paro – Bangkok departure
Our guide and driver will drop you at the airport for your departure back home.
Tashi Delek and have a pleasant flight back home
An Advance Payment USD 500 each with full airfare must be deposited for confirming the trip. And the remaining payment must be paid two months prior to your trip. So after which we can apply your Bhutan Visa, and send it to you in advance.
The minimum daily package for a group of 2 persons is as follows:
- Peak Season Cost: March, April, May, September, October & November
Staring Cost: USD 255 per night person. - Regular Season Cost: June, July & August
Staring Cost: USD 210 per night per person - The Daily Cost is less if you have a group of 3 people and above
The minimum daily package covers the following services:
- A minimum of 3 star accommodation (4 & 5 star may require an additional premium).
- All meals
- A licensed Bhutanese tour guide for the extent of your stay
- All internal transport (excluding internal flights)
- Camping equipment and haulage for trekking tours
- All internal taxes and charges
- A sustainable tourism Royalty of USD $65. This Royalty goes towards free education, free healthcare, poverty alleviation, along with the building of infrastructure.
Ans; The Daily Cost for such regular season is USD 210 per person per night only. And we provide minimum very good 3 Star Hotels and above. The cost includes; Government’s Sustainable Development Fee $65 per night per person and taxes, 3 star hotels, 3 meals a day, good guide, private car & driver and entry fees.
2. Do you apply our Bhutan Visa, and what documents are required for the Visa? And what is the Visa fee?
Ans; Certainly, we will apply/issue your Bhutan Visa upon receiving the full payment from you. And we just need your clear passport copy only for the Visa. The Bhutan Visa Fee is US $40 per entry only.
3. Do you book our flight? If so, which cities outside Bhutan we can fly to and from Paro and which is the most convenient as for flying to/from Bhutan?
Ans; We have flights to and from cities like Bangkok, Kathmandu, Delhi, Kolkata, Dhaka, Singapore, Guwahati and Bagdogra. Yet, the most convenient flights is via Bangkok as we have several flights in a day.
4. What is the procedure for this trek/trip booking?
Ans; You will have book this trek at least two months ahead with your confirmed flight booking. And then must deposit US $400 an Advance Payment with full airfare for your flight to/from Paro, Bhutan only.
5. Will the trip be an independent for us only?
Ans; Yes, you will have an independent trip.