Haa Dzongkhag (district) is located in western Bhutan and it is very close to Paro International Airport. To travel to this district, it will take 2 hours by road and you will come across the Chelela mountain pass on the way which is one of the tourist attraction site.
People from all over the kingdom visit this place in order to celebrate the Haa Tshechu. Haa festival is an annual event presenting traditional dances, traditional Bhutanese sports, Bhutanese cuisines, and showcasing nomadic life style as well. This festival gives you so many opportunities as you can participate in the traditional sport together with the local people. You can also do Yak riding which is indeed very much fun. At this festival, you will also get an opportunity to see this rare White poppy which cannot be found anywhere else in the world.
Day 1
ARRIVE PARO AND SIGHTSEEING AT PARO
Day 2
PARO TO THIMPHU
Day 3
THIMPHU TO PUNAKHA
Day 4
PUNAKHA TO THIMPHU
Day 5
THIMPHU TO HAA
Day 6
HAA SUMMER FESTIVAL
Day 7
PARO-HIKE TO PARO TAKTSHSNG
Day 8
DEPARTURE FROM PARO- OUR GUIDE WILL DROP YOU AT THE AIRPORT
DAY 01 (ARRIVE PARO AIRPORT)
You will be received at the Paro airport. Then engaged in sightseeing around Paro after lunch wherein we will accompany you to Taa Dzong (Museum), Paro Rinpung Dzong, Drugyal Dzong, and Kicchu Lhakhang.
Taa Dzong lies 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.
Finally, you would enjoy the visit toKicchu Lhakhang. The temple is one of the oldest temple built by a Tibetan Emperor, Songtsan Gampo. It is believed that this temple is filled with various hidden treasures. Before the dinner, we will orient you on Bhutanese etiquette.
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. On 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 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 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.
Visit Museum – Thimphu has Many Museums. Each artifact in the museum has its own stories to tell which you would love to listen.
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.
Drive back to Paro in the evening.
Overnight at your hotel in Paro.
DAY 04 (PUNAKHA TO THIMPHU)
On the next day, we will drive back to the capital city and visit the following places. Visit Royal Textile Academy
Simply Bhutan Museum
National Folk Heritage
National Textile Museum
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 centenary market – in the evening where many local produces foods stuffs as well as arts and crafts are sold in the market. Thus, this provide great opportunities for interacting with the local and photography session.
Visit one of the farm house – in Punakha to get the glimpse of daily activities, culture and lifestyle of the local people there.
Overnight at your hotel in Thimphu
DAY 05 (THIMPHU TO HAA)
Next day, we will head towards HAA which will take 3 to 4 hours. You will come across chelela pass on the way. In the afternoon, we will explore beautiful Haa valley. You will be engaged in other sightseeing as well.
Overnight at your hotel in Haa
DAY 06 (HAA (ATTEND THE FESTIVAL)
You will spend the whole day witnessing the festival. Haa festival is an annual event presenting traditional dances, traditional Bhutanese sports, Bhutanese cuisines, and showcasing nomadic life style as well. This festival gives you so many opportunities as you can participate in the traditional sport together with the local people. You can also do Yak riding which is indeed very much fun. At this festival, you will also get an opportunity to see this rare White poppy which cannot be found anywhere else in the world.
In the evening, we will drive towards Paro.
Overnight at your hotel in Paro
DAY 07 PARO (HIKE TO PARO TAKTSHNG)
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 08 DEPARTURE FROM PARO AIRPORT
After the breakfast, we will drop you to the Paro International Airport from where you will fly back home.
Khadenchey la!