This is a 6 nights and 7 days ‘Western Bhutan cultural cum hiking tour’. You will be able to explore Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, and Phobjika located in the western Bhutan. These places are very rich in terms of Bhutanese culture and traditions and have rich history as well. Many beautiful temples, Dzongs (fortresses), museums and other important historical sites are located here. The driving distances between these places is approximately 1 to 2 hours. This tour package will also take you to the magnificent Phobjika valley which is in U-shape. Phobjika valley is home to Black necked cranes (endangered bird) which flies to Bhutan from Tibet during winter to roost.

Moreover, you will be taken for a hike to Paro Taktshang (Tiger Nest). Hike to this beautiful monastery is very popular among the tourists. The walk of approximately 2 hours uphill will take you almost a kilometer above the Paro valley (we will arrange a horse if you cannot hike). The Taktshang Monastery is built on a sheer cliff which is 900 meters above the valley from where you will have a spectacular sight of the valley floor beneath. The Monastery is an important pilgrim site for the Buddhists. The best time to visit Bhutan are during the spring and autumn seasons.

Highlights

•  Visit Taa Dzong (Museum), Drugyal Dzong, and Kicchu Lhakhang

•  Visit Tashi Chhoe Dzong , and important sites in Thimphu

•  Witness Archery game

•  Visit Dochula Pass, Chimi Lhakhang, and Punakha Dzong

•  Visit Gangtey Gompa (temple) and explore Phobjika valley located in Wangdue

•  Hike to Paro Taktshang ( Tiger’s Nest)

• Day 1
  ARRIVE PARO

• Day 2
  PARO TO THIMPHU

• Day 3
  THIMPHU TO PUNAKHA

• Day 4
  Thimphu

• Day 5
  PHOBJIKA TO THIMPHU TO PARO

• Day 6
  HIKE TO PARO TAKTSHANG

• Day 7
  DEPART FROM PARO

Detailed Itinerary

DAY 01 (ARRIVE PARO AIRPORT)

You will be received at the Paro airport. Then engaged in sightseeing around Paro after lunch wherein you will get to visit

• Taa Dzong (Museum)

• Paro Rinpung Dzong

• Drugyal Dzong and

• Farm house in Paro

Taa Dzonglies on the hill located above the Paro Dzong. It is an ancient watch tower which is now used as the National Museum. The building has a unique design built in a shape of a conch shell. The museum has different galleries which provide better display and various categorizations such as anthropology, arms and armor, pre-history, manuscript, paintings, textiles, bronzes, decorative arts, philatelic items, epigraphic items and numismatics.

Next visit will be to Paro Rinpung Dzong.Rinpung means, “Heaps of jewels” and it is a fortress monastery possessing a long history. Inside the Dzong, there are fourteen shrines and chapels.

After exploring Paro Rinpung Dzong, we will accompany you to Drugyal DzongDrugyal Dzong is one of the oldest Dzongs in the country which was built to commemorate the victory over an invasion from Tibet. Right after the visit to Drugyal Dzong, you would enjoy a visit to a farm house in Paro to know the lifestyles of local farmers.

 Overnight at your hotel in Paro

DAY 02 (PARO TO THIMPHU)

You will have a smooth drive towards Thimphu which would approximately take 45minutes from Paro. Upon reaching Thimphu, you will get to explore the place. Thimphu is the Capital city of Bhutan which is situated in the western part of the country. The place is rich in culture and tradition amidst the fast development occurring every day. It is also known for its Buddhist sites. The Bhutanese culture is fully reflected in the capital city in respect of literature, religion, customs, and national dress code, the monastic practices, music, dance, literature and in the media. Modernity has been blended without sacrificing on the traditional Buddhist ethos. You would be visiting the following sites:

• Visit Tashi Chhoe Dzong – This marvelous fortress was built by Lama Gyalwa Lhanapa. The Dzong houses the office of the King, the cabinet secretariat, ministry of home affairs and finance and also other government departments.

• Visit Buddha Dordenma Statue -It is a massive Shakyamuni statue built on the hill top of Kuenselphodrang which is 51.5 meters in height which is made up of bronze and gold. It is one of the largest statue in the world. This great statue also houses over one hundred thousand small Buddha statues. I bet that you will be startled to gaze at this gigantic statue right in front of you.

• Visit Bhutan Post Office -Bhutan post office is located in the heart of the Thimphu city. This is one exciting place to visit as there is unique collection of Bhutanese stamps and you will get to explore about Bhutan’s history from these stamps as well.

• Witness Archery game – In the evening, you would be visiting changlimithang ground to witness an Archery match. Archery is the national sport of Bhutan and the sport is played by the Bhutanese on several occasions. Archery is played differently in Bhutan as compared to international standards where the two targets are placed 100 meters apart from each other.

Overnight at your hotel in Thimphu

DAY 03 (THIMPHU TO PUNAKHA)

Travel to Punakha (2 hours’ drive)

• Visit Dochula Pass – On the way to Punakha you will come across Do Chula pass which is placed 3100 meters above the sea level. There are about 108 sacred stupas or temples being build out there. Gangkar Puensum, the highest peak in Bhutan is seen from the Dochula Pass.

• Visit Punakha Dzong – Punakha Dzong is the second largest and one of the most beautiful dzongs in Bhutan. It was built by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel as prophesied by Guru Rinpochhe. This Dzong is built at the confluence of Po Chhu and Mo chhu.

• Visit Chimi Lhakhang – It is a popular Buddhist monastery built around 1499 by Ngawang Chogyal in honor of Lama Drukpa Kuenley who is also known as a “divine madman” after he subdued the demon of the Dochula with his “magic thunderbolt of wisdom”. He is called as a “Divine madman because of his unusual ways of teaching Buddhism by means of singing, humor and outrageous behavior, which amounted to being bizarre and awful. He is also considered as a symbol of fertility and most childless couples visit his temple for blessing.

Overnight at your hotel in Punakha

DAY 04 (PUNAKHA TO PHOBJIKA)

Right after supper, we will accompany you to Gantey and you would definitely love this beautiful plane valley amidst the dense forest. The valley is wide and tightly enclosed. Here, you will visit the Gangtey Gompa (temple), which is built on a hill top. It is the only Nyingmapa monastery on the western side of the Black Mountain. Moreover, it is the biggest Nyingmapa monastery in the country.

Next, you would be exploring Phobjika valley which is one of the most beautiful U-shaped valley in Bhutan. Phobjika valley is home to Black necked cranes (endangered bird) which flies to Bhutan from Tibet during winter to roost. They migrate from higher altitude to spend their winter here because of the extreme cold weather in Tibet. The best time to visit this place is during winter as you can see Black necked cranes all over this magnificent valley. You can also see Yaks grazing on the mountains before entering the valley.

Overnight at your hotel in Phobjika

DAY 05 (PHOBJIKA TO THIMPHU TO PARO)

After breakfast, drive back to Thimphu in the morning. You will visit the following places in Thimphu:

• Visit Bhutanese Craft Bazaar – It is a handicraft market in Thimphu which is acquainted with unique arts and crafts of the country. It will indeed take you to the different world exhibiting its own beauty and charm.

• Visit Museum – Thimphu has Many Museums. Each artifact in the museum has its own stories to tell which you would love to listen.

• Visit Royal Textile Academy
  Simply Bhutan Museum
  National Folk Heritage
  National Textile Museu

Drive back to Paro in the evening
Overnight at your hotel in Paro

DAY 06 (HIKE TO PARO TAKTSHANG (TIGER NEST)

After the breakfast, there will be a hike to Taktsang Monastery. Paro Taktshang is one of the most prominent tourist destinations of the country and your trip would be tedious without visiting this most important Buddhist temple. Taktshang “Tiger’s nest” is built on a cliff which is about 3120 meters above the sea level. It is located 10 km away from the Paro town and will take at least 2-4 hours for trekkers to reach the spot. You can even have an exhilarating uphill ride on a rented horse. It is believed that Guru Rinpoche (Buddhist saint) came riding on a tigress to this site and meditated in the cave for 3 years, 3 months, 3 days and 3 hours so as to subdue evil spirits dwelling in that region. He was indeed victorious which is why Taktshang was built to signify the victory over the evil spirit. There is a Taktshang cafeteria which serves tea, lunch, snacks and fruit drinks at a reasonable price as well.

In the evening, we will accompany you to a farm house in Paro for a hot stone bath. This traditional bath uses fresh water from the river mixed with Artemisia leaves. The water is then heated by dipping hot stones in the water tub. This hot stone bath is a traditional method of healing diseases. In additional, you would feel relax while taking hot stone bath. So, if you are tired, a hot stone bath is all you need!

 Overnight at your hotel in Paro

DAY 07 (DEPART PARO)

After the breakfast, we will drop you to the Paro International Airport from where you will fly back home.

Khadenchey la!