Bhutan Essentials Tour - A week-long group adventure in the majestic “Land of the Thunder Dragon”
Tour Outline:
Day One: Arrival in Paro. Paro Dzong, Zuri Dzong walk (1hr).
Day Two: Paro to Punakha. Trashigang Gonpa - Lungchuzekha Gonpa - Dochula Pass hike (3.5hrs) . Chimi Lhakhang.
Day Three: Punakha. Jilegang hike (3hrs). Punakha Dzong. Bhutanese karaoke (optional!).
Day Four: Punakha to Phobjikha Valley. Gangtey Monastery. Phobjikha Valley Nature Trail (1.5hrs).
Day Five: Phobjikha to Thimphu. Takin Breeding Centre. Wangditse hike (2hrs).
Day Six: Thimphu to Paro. Walk from Kuensel Phodrang to Changangkha Lhakhang (2hrs). Farmers Market. Memorial Chorten.
Day Seven: Tiger’s Nest hike (4 hours). Kyichu Lhakhang. Dinner at a local farmhouse.
Day Eight: Departure.
Day 01: Arrive Paro
Rinpung Dzong
Zuri Dzong short hike
The flight to Paro is one of the most spectacular air journeys in the world, with a constantly changing panorama of some of the highest mountains on earth. Paro International Airport is situated in a beautiful valley and sits at an altitude of 2235 metres, the highest of its kind in the world. Our representative will be waiting for you on your arrival and will take you to the group hotel, just a few minutes drive away.
After lunch, enjoy an afternoon of sightseeing in and around Paro including a visit to the magnificent Rinpung Dzong, which looms majestically over the city. A highlight of this former fortress is the huge painting of the Saint Milarepa, considered to be the master of meditation by the Bhutanese and was believed to have attained enlightenment in his lifetime. Dzongs are large monasteries and district administrative centres, which once served as strategic forts.
Next we will take a 1-hour walk along the forested hillside to Zuri Dzong, before descending to the road where our driver will be waiting. The walk passes the beautiful Gonsaka Lhakhang (Buddhist temple) and provides wonderful views of the valley and Rinpung Dzong. Zuri Dzong dates from 1352 and is home to the valley’s local protector gods.
Overnight at the tour hotel in Paro.
Day 02: paro – Punakha
Dochu-la Pass
Hike to Lungchutse from Trashigang
Chimi Lhakhang
After breakfast, we drive up towards the stunning Dochu-La pass (3,100 metres) which on clear days offers incredible views of the Himalayan peaks. Starting from Trashigang Gonpa, we begin our hike to Lungchutse Monastery. The trail (which passes through forest containing moss-covered rhododendron the size of trees, giant hemlock and juniper) is one of the most spectacular and picturesque walking courses in the region. If the weather is good, the 360 degree view of some of the highest mountain peaks in the world, including Jumolhari (7314m) and Masang Gang (7150m), is guaranteed to take your breath away. The descent to the pass is beautiful and its quite likely that we will come across some yaks and their herders. After arrival in Punakha, we will head to the very special and very unusual Chimi Lhakhang, also known as the fertility temple. After the site was blessed by the "Divine Madman", the maverick saint Drukpa Kunley (1455–1529), Chimi Lhakhang was built in 1499 and sits atop a small hillock. The surrounding buildings are adorned with the images of colourful erectile penises, mid-ejaculation. These are a feature throughout Bhutan, but nowhere are they quite as prevalent and graphic as here!
Overnight at our hotel in Punakha.
Day 03: Punakha
Jilegang hiking trail.
Punakha Dzong
Nunnery visit
We start the day by driving along the beautiful Punakha-Wangdue Valley-floor for around 15 km to the beginning of the Jilegang hiking trail. The hike, which is off the normal tourist route, offers amazing views of the lush valley below.
After a delicious lunch and playing some traditional games with the locals, we will visit Punakha Dzong. Constructed by Ngawang Namgyal, 1st Zhabdrung Rinpoche, in 1637–1638, it is the second oldest and second largest dzong in Bhutan and one of its most majestic structures. If we have sufficient time and energy, we can head by bus to the serene Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Nunnery, where we can enjoy the views and meet some of the nuns.
Overnight at hotel in Punakha.
Day 04: Punakha – Phobjikha
Gangtey Gonpa
Gangtey Nature Trail
After breakfast, we will head by private vehicle along mostly sealed and often dramatic roads until we reach Lawa-la Pass. From here it is a short drive (around 5kms) to the Gangtey Gonpa monastery, which is perched atop a small hill that rises from the valley floor.
The history of this splendid monastery traces back to the early 17th century and to the prophecies made by the well-known Terton (treasure finder) Pema Lingpa in the late 15th century.
From the monastery, we walk for about 2 hours on a stunning nature trail across the Phobjikha Valley-floor. At 3000 metres, Phobjihka is an incredibly beautiful (and incredibly green) grassy plain that has to be seen to be believed.
Overnight at hotel in Gangtey.
Day 05: Phobjikha – Thimphu
Crane Information Centre
Lunch at Thimphu
After a hearty breakfast, we can walk a short distance to the Crane Information Centre and learn a little about the conservation efforts being carried out in the area for the black-necked cranes. From here, we will drive directly to back to Thimphu in time for lunch. After eating at a local restaurant and following a further short drive, we will visit the Motithang Takin Preserve, a modest breeding and conservation centre for the takin (a large goat-antelope), Bhutan’s national animal. After some time viewing the animals, we will drive a few minutes to the start of the 2-hour Wangditse hiking trail. We will first head down to the sacred Wangditse Temple, before heading further downhill until we reach the road where our vehicle will be waiting for us.
Tonight we can eat at a local restaurant and sample various dishes that are popular with the locals.
Overnight in a hotel in Thimphu.
Day 06: Thimphu – Paro
Yak
Kuensel Phodrang
Thimphu Valley hike
Farmer’s Market and Memorial Chorten
We start the day by driving up to Kuensel Phodrang, a gigantic statue of Lord Buddha with an adjoining temple that looks down upon the city below. From here, we can take a 2-hour hike along narrow paths to Changangkha Lhakhang, the oldest temple in the Thimphu Valley. The route undulates gently and offers fantastic views over the nation's capital.
We will have time to visit the colorful Centenary Farmer’s Market and Memorial Chorten before driving back to Paro.
Overnight at hotel in Paro
Day 07: Paro
Paro Taktsang
Kyichu Lhakhang
Leisure time in Paro
After a hearty breakfast, we will begin our hike to the world famous Taktsang Lhakhang, Bhutan’s most iconic landmark and religious site. The name Taktsang translates to "Tiger’s Nest”. This temple is one of the most holy sites in the kingdom and clings impossibly to a sheer cliff face 900 hundred metres above the Paro Valley.
It was first built in 1692 in a cave entrance, where the Guru Rimpoche is believed to have meditated sometime in the 7th century. Legend states that Guru Rimpoche flew to the site atop the back of a tigress and meditated in the cave for 3 years, 3 months, 3 days and 3 hours in order to subdue evil demons residing within it. The cave has been considered a sacred site ever since and many famous saints have travelled to meditate in it.
After lunch we drive back into Paro to visit the historic Kyichu Lhakhang, a temple constructed by the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo.
In the evening we can enjoy one last feast together at a local farmer’s house. Sampling the delicious home-made food makes for a great end to the tour.
Overnight at our hotel in Paro.
Day 08 - Departure
A guide and driver will take you the short distance to the airport in plenty of time to catch your flight.
