In addition, you can combine this with the Drupchen trip, which takes place before the main festivals. You will see many Bhutanese people coming in their finest and most expensive attire which is often woven from silk. Bhutan Travel Adventures will provide a grand picnic lunch for the festival, and you will have the opportunity to take lots of beautiful photos. Your tour reservation for the Thimphu festival should be booked with us at least 6 months beforehand if possible. We will assist you in assuring that flights and hotels are available if your inquiry is later than the recommended six months.
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 :
Attend Thimphu festival (Tsechu). Overnight at a hotel.
Day 04 :
Thimphu festival & Tango Monastery Hike. Overnight at a hotel.
Day 05 :
Thimphu – Punakha. Overnight at a hotel.
Day 06 :
Punakha – Paro. Overnight at a hotel.
Day 07 :
Paro – Tiger’s Nest or Taktshang hike. Overnight at a hotel.
Day 08 :
Paro departure. Transfer to the international airport for your final departure.
Day 01: Bangkok – 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. Visit Kyichu monastery dating back to the 7th Century. This is one of the oldest monasteries in Bhutan built by Tibetan king Songtshen Gempo to pin down the ogress. Afterwards visit the historical Drugyel Dzong which is a ruin fortress now, built by Shabdrung in 1649 to commemorate the winning victory over the Tibetans in 1644. Thus Drugyel Dzong means the Bhutanese victorious fortress.
Drive to Thimphu for 1 ½ hrs. After checking in at the hotel you could have rest for a while, and later walk around the city to see the life of urban Bhutan. Overnight stay in Thimphu.
Day 02: Thimphu city sightseeing
In the morning, drive 10 minutes to the Buddha point to see one of the largest statues of the Buddha in the world. Also the Thimphu city is best viewed from the Buddha point as well. Later 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 and crafts. 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. Visit our National library next to the folk museum. And visit the mini zoo to see the Takins which is our national animals.
After lunch you can visit the Handicraft emporium for your souvenir shopping. Visit the Memorial stupa which was built in the memory of our beloved 3rd King in1974. Overnight halt at the hotel in Thimphu.
Day 03: Attend Thimphu festival (Tsechu)
Attend the festival with the local folks since it’s both religious and social. Particularly Tsechu means the 10th day of lunar month which is connected with the birthday of the great tantric master, Guru Rimpoche (Padmasambhava), whose birthday is celebrated on the tenth day of the fifth month. Most of the tsechus are related to teachings of Guru Rimpoche.
You will see some of the following mask dances:
Dance of the Lord of Death and His Consort (Shinje Yab Yum)
Dance of the Black Hats with Drums (Shanag Nga Cham)
Dance of the Three Kinds of Ging with Sticks (Jug-Ging)
Dance of the Lord of the Cremation Grounds (Durdag)
Dance of the Three Kinds of Ging with Sword (Dri-Ging)
Dance of the Three Kinds of Ging with Drums (Nga-Ging)
Dance of the Stag and the Hounds (Shawa Sachi)
Overnight stay at the hotel in Thimphu
Day 04: Thimphu festival & Tango Monastery Hike
As a last day of the festival, just few mask dances will be performed until afternoon. Some cultural songs and dances will be also performed in between for the viewers during the festivals time.
After your lunch drive for half hour for your hike to Tango Goenpa (Monastery) for about 1.5 hours to and fro. 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 highly respected forth 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. You may also see some birds around this vicinity’s forest. After your hike drive back to your hotel. Overnight stay in Thimphu.
Day 05: Thimphu – Punakha
After breakfast, 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. Have lunch in Punakha town and visit beautiful Punakha Dzong built in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. Based on the prophecy of Guru Padmasambava the dzong is situated between two famous rivers, Pho Chu (Male River) and Mo Chu (Female River). Punakha was also the capital of Bhutan until 1955. Night halt in Punakha.
Day 06: Punakha – Paro
Drive to Paro for 4 hours and check in at the hotel first. Have lunch in the town.
After lunch you will visit the National museum, the museum which houses numerous collections of arts and artifacts. This museum is also rated as one of the best museum in Asia. It was originally built in the 17th Century as a watch tower for the dzong below. After lunch visit Paro Ringpung dzong built in 1646 and now serves as head of the administration for Paro district. You can stroll around in the town in the evening for your last minute souvenirs shopping. Overnight stay in Paro.
Day 07: Paro – Tiger’s Nest or Taktshang hike
After your breakfast drive till the road end and begin your hike up hill. Walking time will be around 5 hours for a round trip.
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. 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 or you will be served catering lunch from a restaurant. Overnight stay in Paro.
Day 08: Paro – Bangkok Departure
Our guide and driver will drop you at the airport for your departure.
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.