Cultural Introduction “Know the country “

Unlike your average travel itinerary, these tours will provide you with an overview of everything that is Bhutan. It is ideal for the first time visitor as it will take the best from each of our specific and unique tours and give you the traveler an introduction into our country. Undoubtedly they will wet your appetite for another visit. Due to the time consuming nature of traversing the country the content of this tour will be structured around the dates in which you intend to travel and the length of time you wish to spend here.

Our tours are customized but as an example a suggested itinerary for a 10 day tour in April could be the Paro Festival Cultural Tour.
 

VIRTUAL TOUR OF BHUTAN

PARO FESTIVAL CULTURAL TOUR


Day 1: Arrive Paro:

Fly into Bhutan on Druk Airline. If you are lucky, you will have a glorious view of the Snow Capped Mountain. The remarkable and steep descent into the Paro valley is an awe-inspiring beginning to an adventure of a lifetime. After visa formalities and collection of baggage, you will meet the representative from Bhutan Journeys, who will drive through Paro valley to your hotel where you will settle in and have some lunch. In the afternoon you will drive to the Paro Dzong to witness the world famous tshechu (festival). Evening at leisure. Overnight Hotel


Day 2: Paro Festival and Tiger Nest Excursion


Early morning you will witness the unveiling and display of the Thangka (religious scroll) and then return to the hotel for breakfast. Then we drive to the north of Paro Valley to Ramthankha, from where we start our hike to the Taktsang Monastry (Tiger’s Nest). Visitors are permitted to hike up to the viewpoint from where you can see the monastery hanging on a cliff and we will obtain a special permit to allow you to visit the monastery. Legend has it that Guru Rimpoche flew from Eastern Bhutan on a tigress, bringing Buddhist teachings and meditated here in this cliff. This is one of the most venerated and sacred of all Buddhist sights around the world. Lunch will be served at Taktsang cafeteria. Walk downhill to the road and enroute home visit Drukgyel Dzong (now in ruins) this is the start point for the famous Jhomolhari trek and then to the Paro National Musuem. Overnight Hotel


Day 3: Paro /Punakha
This morning we will take a 2-hour leisurely drive towards the Capital of Bhutan, Thimphu. Enroute you will view Tachogang monastery, (the monastery of the Excellent Horse) built by Thangthong Gyalpo (Iron chain builder in Bhutan), before reaching to Chunzom. At the confluences of Paro/ Thimphu River, here you will see three forms of Chortens in different styles i.e. Nepalese, Tibetan and Bhutanese. The drive then follows the Thimphu River upwards passing through several villages. From Simtokha, we take the road that connects Punakha and Wangdue districts. The route passes through a horticulture center in Yusipang before reaching the 3050 m (10,00ft) Dochula Pass adorned with many colorful prayer flags and Chortens. On a clear you will be able to have a spectacular view of the Eastern Himalayas. Lunch will be at the cafeteria on the pass. After lunch, we shall descend through the forest of rhodondendrons and magnolla stopping on the way at various villages - Lumitsawa; Thinleygang finally reaching the fertile valley of Lobesa. After another 20 minutes drive you will arrive at the hotel where you will be free to relax and enjoy the view of the valley. Overnight: Hotel

Day 4: Punakha – via Wangdue - Trongsa
After breakfast we visit the Punakha Dzong which is one of the most architecturally impressive Dzongs in the country. It is ideally located between two rivers Pho Chu (male) and Mo Chu (female). It is the winter residence for the Jey Khenpo (Chief Abbot) and the central Monk body. We drive to Wangdue district, on the left side of the Wangdue; you can see a typical Bhutanese farm village in Rinchengang.. After passing through Wangdue town with a view of Wangdue Dzong perched on a cliff we drive through the tropical vegetation to Nobding and over the Phelela pass 3350m (11,000ft). Throughout your trip you will see the ever changing beautiful sceneries of rural Bhutan, with scattered settlements far from the road. A picnic lunch will be served enroute. As we descend through the open meadows and valley via the Chendebji Chorten we will see the occasional yak herd and several other villages. From here another 2 hours drive will take you to Trongsa, offering impressive view of Trongsa Dzong enroute. Overnight: Hotel

Day 5: Trongsa – Bumthang
In the morning you will visit the massive Trongsa Dzong  which has played such a vital role in shaping the political history of the country. Then we depart for Bumthang valley a 3 hour drive over the Yotung la pass 3425m (11,300ft). We descend to the Chumey valley (a section of Bumthang district). Enroute we will visit the Yathra (woolen cloth) weaving center at Zugney. From here another 30 minutes drive will take you to the Jakar Valley where you will check into your Hotel. Lunch will be served at the hotel. Afternoon will be free to explore the Jakar valley. Overnight: Hotel

Day 6: Bumthang Halt
Today’s sightseeing in Bumthang includes visits to:
Jambay Lhakhang: built by the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo in the 7th Century. Kurjey Lhakang: legend has it that the body imprint of Guru Rimpoche was left behind while meditating in a cave in this temple. We will then make a short walk to Tamshing Monastery built by Terton Pema Lingpa. Lunch will be served at your hotel.

Afternoon you will visit Jakar Dzong, castle of the white bird, which houses the administrative center and monastic centre of the valley and the Karchu Dratshang private monastic institute under His Eminence Namkaha Nignpo. Finally we will go to the Membrtsho (flaming lake) where Saint Pema Lingpa discovered the religious treasure hidden by Guru Rimpoche. Evening at leisure. Overnight: Hotel


Day 7: Bumthang – Phojikha

After breakfast we depart via Trongsa to Phojikha. Enroute a picnic lunch will be served at Chendebji Chorten. We will retrace our steps over the Phelela pass and after a 10 minute drive we turn left and head to the Phojikha valley and after about an hour we will arrive at our local guesthouse for an experience of local living. Phobjikha is an open wide valley, where Gangtey Gompa is ideally located on a hill over looking the valley. It is also the winter habitat for the Black Necked Cranes migrating from Tibet. These birds are veneterated by a festival in November and such is their significance no electric cables can be built for fear of injuring them. Evening at leisure. Over night: Guesthouse.

Day 8: Phobjikha – Thimphu
In the morning we drive back to Gangtey Gompa to see the renovation of the monastery and people at work. We continue our journey to Wangdue for lunch at one of the local restaurants. Afternoon we drive to Thimphu where you will be taken to one of the best hotels centrally located allowing you to visit the various shops of our capital. After checking into the hotel, you will have free time to go and explore Thimphu. Overnight: Hotel


Day 9: Thimphu – Paro

After breakfast, you will be taken to the following places of cultural interest in Thimpu.

Trashicho Dzong: The administrative centre of Bhutan

The Folk Heritage Museum: This museum lets you experience the Bhutanese way of living.

The Arts and Crafts Institute: This is a vocational training institute where the art of painting, woodcraft and sculpturing are taught to students with the objective of preserving the rich and pristine heritage.

In the afternoon you will be free to explore and hunt for souvenirs. Late afternoon depart for Paro. Overnight: Hotell


Day 10: Paro – Airport

Depart for Paro airport for your onward flight having experienced the best of Bhutan

Note: This itinerary is a sample itinerary intended to give you a general idea of the likely trip schedule. We have designed this itinerary focused on Paro Festival. We do have many other festivals in other districts and at other times and can customize the itinerary to suit your needs.
For detailed itinerary Contact us or email us at: journeys@druknet.bt We can customize the tour to suit your interests.