The central Bhutan trip or tour to Bumthang is a magnificent trip that passes through scenic landscape, drives on wonderful new roads with a visit to the age old historical and cultural sites of west and central part of Bhutan.
The Bumthang valley is also called as the land of Buddhist heartland and second Switzerland as well since the place is beautiful. This trip could take around 10-11 day based on your interests and time.
On this amazing trip to Bhutan, you will visit few urban modern cities of Bhutan with mostly a visit to the beautiful rural places like Punakha, Haa, Phobjikha, Trongsa and Bumthang.
While touring through several places, you will visit many ancient temples and stunning fortresses featuring unique architectures. And then doing a scenic day hike in some area if you like could really make your trip gorgeous as well.
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 city sightseeing. Overnight at a hotel.
Day 03 :
Thimphu – Punakha. Overnight at a hotel.
Day 04 :
Punakha – Bumthang. Overnight at a hotel.
Day 05 :
Bumthang sightseeing. Overnight at a hotel.
Day 06 :
Bumthang – Trongsa – Phobjikha. Overnight at a hotel.
Day 07 :
Phobjikha – Wangdi. Overnight at a hotel.
Day 08 :
Wangdi – Haa. Overnight at a hotel.
Day 09 :
Haa – Chelela Hike – Paro sightseeing. Overnight at a hotel.
Day 10 :
Paro Tigers nest hike. Overnight at a hotel.
Day 11 :
Paro departure. Transfer to the international airport for your final departure.
Day 01: Arrive Paro – Thimphu
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 sightseeing
In the morning drive to the Buddha Point to see the world’s largest statue of Sykhamuni Buddha with the view of entire Thimphu city. 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 in 1974. Visit the Folk heritage museum to see the living house in olden days. You can also visit the paper factory to see how the Bhutanese traditional papers are made. Overnight halt in Thimphu.
Day 03: Thimphu – Punakha
Drive to Punakha for 2 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 04: 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 05: 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 06: Bumthang – Trongsa – Phobjikha
The drive will take around 4. 5 hours to Phobjikha. En-route, visit Trongsa Dzong, which was the seat of successive Trongsa Penlop and ancestral home of the kings and the Museum of Monarchs in Trongsa. And have lunch and continue your drive for another 2 hours to Phobjikha valley for your overnight. Night halt stay at the hotel or guest house.
Day 07: Phobjikha – Wangdi
After breakfast visit the crane information center if the cranes have arrived whilst your time of visit. And then drive to the Khewa Lhakhang an hike towards Gangtey monastery takes nearly 2 hours with short climb. On the way you will visit Gangtey monastery founded in the 15th century. This is one of the Nyingmapa monasteries in the country. 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. Continue your drive to Wangdue for your night halt stay in the hotel.
Day 08: Wangdi – Haa
Soon after your breakfast drive toward Haa takes nearly 5 hours and check in at the hotel. Have lunch en-route and drive through Dobji Dzong route. In the evening take a stroll around the small town in Haa and enjoy the peacefulness nature of rural Bhutan.
Day 09: Haa – Chelela Hike – Paro sightseeing
After your breakfast drive toward Chelela Pass for about 40 minutes and begin your amazing Chelela hike with stunning views of the snow-capped mountains and valleys. And you will hike through rhododendron forests, fluttering prayer flags takes you to Khungkarpo, the highest point in the area with 360 degree view. And you will ascend to the Kila Goenpa Nunnery to end the hike, and then drive to Paro takes an hour from there. Overnight at the hotel in Paro.
Day 10: Paro Tigers nest hike
The hike will take about 4 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 downhill to your hotel. Take rest or drive to the town for your last minute shopping. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 11: Paro – flight departure
Our guide and driver will drop you at the airport for your departure back home.
The minimum daily package covers the following services:
- Peak Season Cost: March, April, May, September, October & November
Staring Cost: USD 2,760 per person. - Regular Season Cost: June, July, August, December, January & February
Staring Cost: USD 2,430 per person
Note: Single Room Supplement Cost is, USD 30 per night for 3 Star hotels, USD 65 per night for 4 Star Hotels and around USD 300 for 5 Star Hotels.
The Flight cost for Singapore – Paro – Singapore is, USD 960 per person.
These rates are applicable per tourist per night halt in Bhutan.
Ans; The Daily Cost for 2 persons; Peak Season is USD 255 per person per night, and USD 210 per night per person for Regular Season. And then you will get S.D.F USD 65 per night off as you travel through the eastern region’s districts. 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 $500 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, the trip will be an independent trip for you.