Explore Bhutan Cultural Tours
(13 Days / 12 Nights)
DAY 01. BKK/PBH-PARO
The flight into Paro on our national carrier, Druk Air, is a befitting introduction to the spectacular beauty of our country. In clear weather, magnificent views of the world’s highest peaks, give way to the lush green Paro valley as you land. Your Bhutanese escort from Authentic Bhutan Tours will greet you on arrival, and then drive you to the Paro National Museum.
Lunch in the town. After lunch we will visit Paro Rimpung Dzong, the centre of civil and religious authority in this region
Dinner and over night stay in hotel, Paro
DAY 02. PARO-THIMPHU
After the breakfast, hike to the view point of Taktshang (Tiger’s Nest) monastery. We have to walk about 1hours & 30minutes up steep from the road end. The trail climbs through beautiful pine forest, many of the trees festooned with Spanish moss, and an occasional grove of fluttering prayer flags. After enjoying the view & photographs, and refreshment at the viewpoint (Taktshang Cafeteria) we will walk back.
Lunch will be served in the town. After lunch we will drive to Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan. The drive will take about 1hour and 30minutes.
Evening at leisure.
Dinner and over night stay in hotel, Thimphu.
DAY 03. THIMPHU HALT
The day begins with a visit to the National Memorial Chorten built in honour of our late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck and the Drupthop Lhakhang one of the few surviving nunneries in Bhutan. We then drive to the view point of Tashichho Dzong, seat of the national government and the Central Monastic Body, including the summer residence of the Je Khenpo (Chief Abbot of Bhutan), for your photograph and Folk Heritage museum.
Lunch will be served in the town. After lunch we will be visiting the Painting School where traditional art is still kept alive and finally visit the Handicrafts Emporium and shopping for souvenirs in the shops of Thimphu.
Evening at leisure.
Diner and over night stay at hotel, Thimphu.
DAY 04. THIMPHU – WANGDUE
After the breakfast, we will drive to Wangdue via Punakha. The drive will take about 3hours. At Dochula pass (3150m) we can see the eastern Himalayan Mountain ranges on the clear days. The view is so great and spectacular. Then the road will descend to 1300m above sea level, Wangduephodrang valley. The vegetation is made up of rhododendron, magnolia bloom in early spring and through the subtropical forest. At Punakha visit Punakha Dzong, it was the winter capital of Bhutan until 1955 when the capital was permanently shifted to Thimphu. It still served as the winter resident for the monk body.
Lunch at Punakha. After lunch we will drive to Wangdue. On the way we will visit Chhimi Lhakhang, which is located at a hilltop. We have to walk about 25minutes from the road point. This temple is also known as temple of fertility.
Dinner and over night stay at hotel, Wangdue.
DAY 05. PUNAKHA – GANGTAY
After breakfast, we will drive to Gangtay, Phobjikha. But before we proceed, we will visit Wangdue Dzong, was founded by the Lama Zhamdrung in 1638. The drive will take about 3hours.
Lunch will be at Gangtay. After lunch we will stroll around the Phobjikha valley, it is a glacial valley and is the winter home of the black necked cranes. This valley is a designated conservation area and borders Black Mountain National Park.
Dinner and over night stay at hotel, Phobjikha
DAY 06. GANGTAY – BUMTHANG
After the breakfast, we will drive to Bumthang. The drive will take about 4 hours. On reaching Trongsa we will visit the Trongsa Dzong-It is the most impressive Dzong in the country. It shows one of the most artistic and magnificent works of traditional Bhutanese architecture.
Lunch we will have at Trongsa. After lunch we will continue our journey to Bumthang, through the Yutongla pass (3400m)
Dinner and over night stay at Bumthang.
DAY 07. BUMTHANG HALT.
Today’s day begins with visit to Jambay Lhakhang, which is one of the oldest temples in Bhutan, built in 7th century, Kurjey Lhakhang, is named after the body print of Guru Rinpoche which is preserved in a cave inside the oldest of the three buildings, Tamshing Lhakhang – which was established by Terton Pema Lingpa in 1501 and is the most important Nyingma Goenba in the country.
Lunch in the Bumthang hotel.
After lunch we will visit Jakar Dzong, castle of the white bird, Mebertsho (Burning Lake) - This is a very scared lake for Bhutanese people. Terton Pema Lingpa discovered several of Guru Rinpoche’s hidden religious treasures from this lake.
Evening at leisure.
Dinner and over night stay at hotel, Bumthang.
DAY 08. BUMTHANG – MONGAR.
After our breakfast, we will drive to Mongar, over Thrumshingla pass (3800m). The drive will take about 7hours.On the clear days we will the white summit of the highest peak in Bhutan, Gangkar Puensum at 7545m. Today we will drive through the forest of rhododendron, conifer and the forest of semi-tropical and subtropical. The Mongar marks the beginning of our eastern Bhutan experience. The towns in eastern Bhutan are built on the sides of the hills, in contrast to western Bhutan where the towns develop on the valley floor.
Dinner and over night stay in hotel, Mongar.
DAY 09. MONGAR – TRASHIGANG
After visiting Mongar Dzong we will drive to Trashigang. The drive will take about 4hours. Today we will drive through the leafy forest with ferns and the Korila Pass (2333m). We will also pass through the scattered villages and cornfields and banana groves and the eight zigzags of Yadi.
Lunch will be served at hotel Trashigang. After lunch we will be visiting the Trashigang Dzong, and stroll around the Trashigang town.
Dinner and over night stay in hotel, Trashigang.
DAY 10 TRASHIGANG – TRASHI YANGTSHI (DAY EXCURSION)
We will make a day excursion to Trashi Yangtshi. The drive to Trashi Yangtshi will take about 1hour 30minutes. At Gomphu Kora, we will visit Gomphu Kora Lhakhang, a sacred meditation site of Guru Rinpoche and then continue the journey to Trashi Yangtshi. On reaching Trashi Yangtshi, we will visit Chorten Kora, is one of the stupa with styles similar to those found in Nepal. We will have picnic lunch here.
After lunch we will stroll around the Trashi Yangtshi town and drive back to Trashigang.
Dinner and over night stay in hotel, Trashigang.
DAY 11. TRASHIGANG – RADHI (DAY EXCURSION)
Today we will make another day excursion to Radhi village, which is famous for textile especially the raw silk. In winter we can see young and old women weaving the textiles. At Radhi we will visit the Radhi Lhakhang and we can the villages in harmony with the nature.
Lunch we will have picnic pack lunch. After lunch we will drive back to Trashigang.
Dinner and over night stay in hotel, Trashigang.
DAY 12. TRASHIGANG – SAMDRUPJONGKHAR.
After our breakfast, we will drive to Samdrup Jongkhar. The drive will take about 6hours and 30minutes. On reaching Khaling, we will visit the Khaling handloom, where young women are weaving and keeping our textile in alive in this modern world. Then we will continue the journey to Samdrup Jongkhar through the thick forest and scattered villages of the east.
Lunch we will have at local restaurant or pack lunch.
Dinner and over night stay in hotel, Samdrup Jongkhar.
DAY 13. SAMDRUPJONGKHAR – GUWAHATI (INDIA)
All the clients have to have their Indian visa. They have to get the Indian visa prior to their visit to Bhutan from the Indian embassies abroad. After the completion of the immigration formalities you will drive to Guwahati(India) by the Indian car. Our guide and driver will bid you fare well and we hope to see you again in Bhutan.
