Itinerary
You are greeted at the Paro airport by your Bhutan Accompanying Tour Director and your chauffeur. Then proceed on an interesting drive about one and half hour’s duration to Thimphu, the modern capital town of Bhutan. Arrive at Thimphu and check in to your hotel.
Proceed for a visit to Trashichhoedzong (“fortress of the glorious religion”). This is the center of government and religion, site of monarch’s throne room and seat of Je Khenpo or Chief Abbot. Built in 1641 by the political and religious unifier of Bhutan, Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, it was reconstructed in 1960 in traditional Bhutanese manner, without nails or architectural plans.
Afternoon – Visit to the National Memorial Chorten. The building of this landmark was originally envisaged by Bhutan’s third king, His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuk (“the father of modern Bhutan”) who has wished to erect monument to world peace and prosperity. Completed in 1974 after his untimely death, it serves both as a memorial to the Late King and as a monument to peace.
Visit the government-run Handicrafts Emporium and privately owned crafts shops, which offer a wide range of handcrafted products, including the splendid thangkha paintings and exquisitely woven textiles for which Bhutan is famous. Also visit the folk Heritage and National Textile Museums, a fascinating testimony of Bhutan’s living traditions.
Check out from your hotel after early breakfast and drive to Dochu-la pass (3,088m/ 10,130 ft) stopping here to admire the view of chorten, mani wall, and prayer flags which decorate the highest point on the road. If skies are clear, the following peaks can be seen from this pass (left to right) - Masagang (7,158m), Tsendagang (6,960m), Terigang (7,060m ), Jejegangphugang (7,158 m ), Kangphugang (7,170 m ), Zongphugang (7, 060 m ), a table mountain that dominates the isolated region of Lunana - finally Gangkar puensum, the highest peak in Bhutan at 7,497m.
Later visit to Punakha Dzong, built strategically at the junction of Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal to serve as the religious and administrative centre of the region, Punakha Dzong has played an important role in Bhutan’s history. Damaged by four catastrophic fires and an earthquake, the Dzong has been fully restored by the present King.
After that drive to Wangduephodrang to visit Dzong and local market. The district of Wangduephodrang is also famous for its bamboo products, slate and stone carvings. Arrive at Punakha and check in to your hotel.
Check out of your hotel after breakfast and drive to Paro en route visit Simtokha Dzong. This dzong, built in 1627 is the oldest in Bhutan. It now houses the Institute for Language and Culture Studies. Arrive at Paro and check in to your hotel.
Afternoon – Proceed for a visit to Ta Dzong, once a watchtower, built to defend Rinpung Dzong during inter-valley wars of the 17th century, Ta Dzong was inaugurated as Bhutan’s National Museum in 1968.
From here, walk-down a hillside trail to visit Rinpung Dzong. Built in 1646 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the first spiritual and temporal ruler of Bhutan, the Dzong houses the monastic body of Paro, the office of the Dzongda (district administrative head) and Thrimpon (judge) of Paro district. The approach to the Dzong is through a traditional covered bridge called Nemi Zam.
Proceed for an excursion to the ruins of Drukgyel Dzong. It was from here that the Bhutanese repelled several invading Tibetan armies during the 17th century. Also visit to Taktsang Monastery, the most famous of Bhutanese monasteries. It is said that Guru Rinpoche arrived here on the back of a tigress and meditated at this monastery hence it is called “Tiger’s Nest”. The excursion to monastery takes about 5 hours for round trip.
Late afternoon – Drive back to Paro en route visit to Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest and most sacred shrines of the Kingdom.
Check out of your hotel and board the flight to your onwards destination. Your vehicle and driver are available till your assisted check in at the airport.
Our services end at Paro airport.
