Magical Bhutan with hike to Tiger’s nest monastery.Thimphu 2 nights, Punakha 2 nights, Paro 2 nights
The flight to Paro is one of the most spectacular in entire Himalayas. Flying along the Himalayan range from Kathmandu, the journey offers fascinating views and an exciting descent into the Kingdom. Bhutan’s first gift to you as you disembark from the aircraft will be cool, clean fresh and virgin mountain air. After immigration formalities and baggage collection, you will be met by our representative outside the exit gate. Paro is located at height of 7200 feet (2200 meters) above sea level so one can feel the effect of high altitude. To acclimatize we will take a short drive to Thimphu, the capital town of Bhutan and our tour starts.
6 nights
Paro, Thimphu, Punaka
March to May September to November
Tour Highlights
- Visit one of Bhutan's most iconic landmarks Tiger's Nest Monastery, perched on a cliff 3,120 meters above sea level.
- Visit to Punakha Dzong the "Palace of Great Happiness" is a magnificent fortress at the confluence of the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers.
- Lightening butter lamps at Kyichu Lhakhang. Enjoy authentic dinner/ lunch with a local family at a farm house.
- Hoisting of prayer flags at Dochula pass (3100 m) which offers panoramic views of the Himalayan range, including the 108 memorial chortens (stupas) built in honour of Bhutanese soldiers.
- Meditation at Dochula Caves and at Buddha Dordenma (the highest Buddha statue in the world).
Detailed Itinerary
Note: This is a suggested itinerary and can be customized as per your interest.
 | Thimphu |
 | Lunch & dinner included |
Meet and greet at the airport and drive to Thimphu. A short stop on the way to view Tamchog monastery. This monastery was built in the This monastery was built in the 15 th century by Thang Tong Gyalpo, popularly known as “The iron bridge builder”. He built 108 bridges across Tibet and Bhutan, out of which eight were built in Bhutan. Then check in at the hotel. Thimphu is a unique city with unusual mixture of modern development alongside ancient traditions. With the population of about 90,000 it is perhaps still the world’s only capital city without a traffic light.
While in Thimphu, you can visit to: National textile museum.
After lunch, we will take you to following sites:
- Simply Bhutan museum for wine tasting (Ara - local alcoholic drink), Bhutanese cultural show and visit folk museum.
- Painting school (School of 13 arts & crafts). Traditionally there are 13 arts and crafts in Bhutan. The students sell the works in a shop nearby to supplement their income. The 13 arts and crafts are Painting, Carpentry, Carving, Sculpture, Casting, Blacksmith, Bamboo works, Gold Smithing & Silver Smithing, Weaving, Embroidery, Masonry, Leather works and paper works.
- National library which holds a huge collection of ancient texts and manuscripts.
- Craft bazaar where you can buy Bhutanese handicrafts and art works. This market offers genuine Bhutanese arts & crafts thus contributing in promotion, protection and preservation of traditional arts.
In the evening, visit to Tashichho dzong, seat of the national government and the central monastic body including the summer residence of the Je Khenpo (The chief abbot of Bhutan. Dinner & overnight stay at hotel.
| Thimphu |
| Breakfast, lunch & dinner included |
After breakfast in the morning, proceeds for the sightseeing tour of the Thimpu, city’s main attractions that includes:
- National memorial chorten built in honor of the third King of Bhutan, late His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. A chorten is a stupa, or hemispherical structure, that is used as a place of meditation.
- The Tallest statue of sitting Buddha in the world (51.5 meters’ bronze statue of the seated Buddha Dordenma) at Kuensel Phodrang.
- Takin preserve center: Takin - A queer looking animal believed to be a mix of goat and a cow and has baffled the zoologists. The Bhutanese believe that this animal was created by Lama Drukpa Kuenley (The divine madman).
- Sangaygang view point – Walk across the field of prayer flags.
- Changangkha monastery, the oldest temple in Thimphu valley built in the 13th century by a Tibetan monk, Phajo Drugom Shigpo.
- Dupthob nunnery, one of the few surviving nunneries in Bhutan.
- National postal museum where you can print your pictures on the official Bhutanese stamps.
After lunch, we can visit to following sites:
- Simtokha dzong built in 1628 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel. The Institute for Language and Cultural Studies is located here now.
- Weekend market (Centenary farmers’ market). where all Bhutanese buy their groceries etc. also houses a handicraft section.
- Witness archery match
In the evening, free to stroll in the town for shopping and photography. Dinner and overnight stay at Hotel.
| Punakha |
| Breakfast, lunch & dinner included |
After early breakfast, drive to Punakha. A short stop on the way to explore the beautiful Dochu la pass 10,200 feet (3100 m) with 108 stupas. If the weather is clear, you can also view the panoramic Himalayan ranges. You can also visit meditation caves at Dochu la.
While in Punakha, visit Chimi lhakhang monastery (Temple of fertility): Built in 1499 by Lama Drukpa Kuenley, popularly known as “The divine madman”. The temple is also called “The temple of fertility”. He travelled throughout Bhutan and Tibet as a “Neljorpa” (Yogi) using songs, humor and outrageous behavior to dramatize his teachings of salvation through sex.
After lunch, visit the magnificent Punakha dzong.
Punakha dzong built in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. Punakha is the winter residence of Je Khenpo (The chief abbot of Bhutan). Punakha is also an ancient capital of Bhutan until the rule of the second King of Bhutan. The first national assembly of Bhutan was convened here in 1957. The war materials captured during the battle with Tibetan forces are preserved here.
Then hike to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Choling monastery. This monastery was built in 2004 by Her Majesty the Queen Tshering Yangdon Wangchuck and it overlooks Punakha valley.
Perched high on a hill on the bank of the river, the chorten houses paintings belonging to Nyingmapa traditions. This monastery was built for the world peace and long life of His Majesty the King, Jigme Singye Wangchuck.
In the evening, walk the longest suspension bridge in Bhutan (160 meters). This bridge is considered the longest of its kind in Bhutan and connects the two sides of the Pho chu river. You will get a great view of the river, valley, temple, and a good boost of adrenaline as well. In the early years, the bridge was made for the lamas of Punakha dzong who crossed the river very often to visit nearby villages. Dinner and overnight in Hotel.
| Wangdue Phodrang, Gangtey |
| Breakfast, lunch & dinner included |
In the morning, drive to Gangtey. On the way, we take a visit the Wangdue Phodrang dzong built in 1638 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal.
Note: Upper part of the valley is called Gangtey and lower part is called Phobjikha.
While in Gangtey, visit the Gangtey monastery.
This monastery was built in 1613 by Gyaltse Pema Thinley, the grandson and mind reincarnation of Pema Lingpa. The present abbot, Kunzang Pema Namgyal is the ninth re-incarnation.
Then visit the black-necked crane information center.
After lunch, hike the Gangtey nature trail (4 Km, 2 hours). You can see the beautiful view of Phobjikha valley below.
In the evening, drive back to Punakha. Dinner and overnight in Hotel.
| Paro |
| Breakfast, lunch & dinner included |
In the morning, drive to Paro via Dochu la pass (3100 m). We occasionally stop on the way to take pictures. Lunch in a typical Bhutanese farm house.
In the afternoon, we will visit following sites:
- Dungtse lhakhang built in the 15 th century by Thang Tong Gyalpo.
- Ta dzong built in 1649, an ancient watch tower which now houses the national museum of Bhutan.
- Rinpung dzong built in 1646 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. Rinpung literally means “The heap of jewels”. The dzong presently functions as the administrative centre of Paro district. It has a long and fascinating history. Along the wooden galleries lining the inner courtyard are fine wall paintings illustrating Buddhist lore such as four friends, the old man of long life, the wheel of life, scenes from the life of Milarepa, Mount. Sumeru and other cosmic Mandala.
In the evening, free to stroll in the town for shopping and photography. dinner and overnight stay at Hotel.
| Tiger’s nest monastery |
| Breakfast, lunch & dinner included |
In the morning, drive to Satsam chorten and 2 hour hike till the Tiger’s nest monastery (Taktsang Monastery).
The primary monastery was built around Guru Rinpoche’s meditation cave in the 1684 by the Penlop (Governor) of Paro Gyaltse Tenzin Rabgay. This incredible monastery clings to the edge of a sheer rock cliff that plunges 900 meters into the valley below. Legend has said it that Guru Padma Sambhava, the tantric mystic who brought Buddhism to Bhutan flew here on the back of a flying tigress, Dorji Drolo, said to be his favorite consort.
Drugyel dzong built in 1647 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel. This dzong served as the defense post against the Tibetan invasion in ancient days. It was destroyed by an accidental fire and is now under repair.
NB: You can hang prayer flags near the Tiger’s nest monastery and offer prayers inside the monastery.
In the afternoon, visit to: Kichu lhakhang built in 659 A.D by the Tibetan King Srongtsen Gampo. He built 108 temples in a single day to pin the ogress to the earth forever and at the same time, convert the Tibetan people to Buddhism. Six of these temples lie in Bhutan; most prominent of them are Jambay lhakhang in Bumthang and Kichu lhakhang in Paro. Kichu lhakhang is said to hold the left foot of the ogress and Jambay lhakhang pins the left knee.
In the evening, free to an exploratory walk around main street and market area for shopping and photography. Dinner and overnight stay at hotel.
| Nil |
| Breakfast included |
After early or packed breakfast, drive to the airport for flight to your onward destination. Our representative will see you off and then bid you farewell.
- Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) to the Government of Bhutan for your visa approval
- Accommodation on twin/double sharing basis as per the given itinerary
- All internal taxes and charges including Entry Fees / accommodations / meals
- Meals; Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
- Certified English speaking guide throughout the tour
- All ground transportation
- Mineral Water while traveling
- 108 Lamp lighting in Wangsisina Nunnery
- Hoisting Prayer flags in the mountains
- Bhutan Visa
- Travel Insurance / medical expenses
- Airfare & airport taxes (can be arranged by us)
- Any Expenses of Personal Nature (like tipping, laundry, Telephone/fax calls, camera/video fees etc)
- Consumption of alcoholic/other beverages
- Items not Included in inclusions
- Tipping for guide and driver.
- Festival Surcharges
USD 1,899*/ Person
7 Days 6 Nights
Suitable for Family, Friends
3 Star Hotels
*Terms & Conditions Apply