Day 1. Arrive Paro – Thimphu
Your flight to Paro will provide you a wonderful experience with a view of various high snow-capped mountains of Bhutan and Mt. Everest on a clear day. Upon arrival at Paro, our representative from Bhutan Travel Adventures will receive you at the Airport. Drive to Thimphu for about an hour. After checking in at the hotel, you could rest for a while, and later walk around the city to see the life of urban Bhutan or the capital city. Overnight stay at the hotel in Thimphu.

Day 02. Thimphu hiking & sightseeing
After breakfast, drive for half an hour (12 km) north of the Thimphu valley, and then you will have to hike for almost 2 hours to and fro.

Tango Goemba (monastery): Lama Gyalwa Lhanampa founded the monastery in the 12th century. The present building was built in the 15th century by the Divine Mad Man “Drukpa Kuenly”. In 1616, Shabdrung Nawang Namgyel visited Tango Goemba and meditated in a cave nearby. Today, Tango is the residence of an important young Trulku (reincarnate lama) who is recognized as the 17th reincarnation of the highly respected fourth Desi, Gyalse Tenzin Rabgye, whose previous reincarnation passed away in 1830. Also, at present, the monastery serves as the prestigious Buddhist University for the monks of our state religion. Hike back all downhill and drive back to the city for lunch.

And then visit the folk Heritage museum, to see the house of living traditions in some of the rural areas, or the living house in olden days. Drive to Buddha Point to see one of the world’s largest statues of the Buddha. And visit the mini zoo to see the Takins, which are our national animals.. Visit the Memorial stupa, which was built in memory of our beloved 3rd King in 1974. Overnight halt at the hotel in Thimphu.

Day 03. Thimphu – Punakha
After breakfast, drive to Punakha for 2 ½ hours with a short stop at Dochula pass (3100 meters). If the weather is clear, you could have a superb view of the Bhutan’s Himalayas from the pass. Upon arrival in Punakha, check into the hotel first.

After lunch, visit a farmhouse to see how people live with their subsistence farm in the rural village. You can taste their traditional Butter tea with local homemade snacks, and taste Ara, which is a distilled local wine. Nighthalt stay at the hotel in Punakha.

Day 04. Attend Punakha Festival (Dromchey)
After your breakfast, drive to beautiful Punakha Dzong, built in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, and see the festival with the local folks in the dzong. Based on the prophecy of Guru Padmasambhava, the dzong is situated between two famous rivers, Pho Chu (Male River) and Mo Chu (Female River).

Today, there will be many local people dressed up in different, finest silk cloths with intricate designs; particularly, you will see many Bhutanese women wearing the most expensive cloths with jewelry and ornaments during the festival. And you will see different religious mask dances and some folk songs during the day at the Punakha festival. Overnight stay at the hotel in Punakha.

Day 05. Punakha – Phobjikha, day excursion
Drive to the beautiful Phobjikha valley for 2 hours. Phobjikha valley is a roosting place for the Blacked Necked Cranes in winter. Upon arrival at Phobjikha, visit the Crane Information Centre to see the cranes and take a short leisure walk around the valley, which will give you a warm feeling of rural Bhutan, as the valley is beautiful. And then drive back to Punakha in the evening. Overnight in Punakha.

Day 06. Punakha – Paro sightseeing
Drive back to Paro for 4 hours and check –in at your hotel first. Have your lunch in a good restaurant in the town.

After lunch, you will visit the Paro Ringpung dzong, built in 1646 and now serving as the head of the administration for the Paro district. And then, visit Kyichu monastery, dating back to the 7th Century. This is one of the oldest monasteries in Bhutan, built by the Tibetan king Songtshen Gempo to pin down the ogress. Afterwards, visit the historical Drugyel Dzong, which is a ruined fortress now, built by Shabdrung in 1649 to commemorate the victory over the Tibetans in 1644. Thus, Drugyel Dzong means the Bhutanese victorious fortress. Overnight stay in Paro.

Day 07. Paro – Taktshang hike
After your breakfast, drive till the road’s end and begin your hike uphill. Walking time will be around 4 hours for a round trip.

Taktsang monastery is perched on the face of a cliff 800m 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. If you cannot continue your hike inside the monastery, you can stop at the Cafeteria, from where you can have a spectacular view of the Tiger’s Nest. Lunch at the cafeteria, and hike back all downhill till you reach your car park point. You can stroll around the town in the evening for your last-minute souvenir shopping. Overnight stay in Paro.

Day 08. Paro – Flight Departure
Our guide and driver will drop you at the airport for your departure

Tashi Delek, and have a pleasant flight back home!

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 $100. This Royalty goes towards free education, free healthcare, poverty alleviation, along the building of infrastructure. 

 

1. What is the cost for the trip, and what type of accommodation do you provide? And what does the cost include?
Ans: The Daily Cost for such a regular season is USD 280 per person per night only. And we provide minimum very good 3 Star Hotels and above.  The cost includes: Government’s Sustainable Development Fee $100 per night per person and taxes, 3-star hotels, 3 meals a day, a good guide, private car & driver, and entry fees.

2. Do you apply for our Bhutan Visa, and what documents are required for the Visa?  And what is the Visa fee?
Ans: Certainly, we will apply for/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 can we fly to and from Paro, and which is the most convenient 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 are via Bangkok, as we have several flights in a day.

4. What is the procedure for this trip booking?
Ans: You will have to book this trek at least two months ahead with your confirmed flight booking. And then must deposit US $700 as an Advance Payment with full airfare for your flight to/from Paro, Bhutan only.    

5. Will the trip be an independent trip for us only?
Ans: Yes, it will be an independent trip unless you want to join a group