Day 01: Arrival at Paro (2250 m) from Kathmandu and transfer to Thimphu.

Your flight lands in Paro at 13.30. You will meet our representative at the airport and will be driven to Thimphu, Check-in at the hotel. Later visit Tashicheo Dzong.

Day 02: Thimphu(2350m)to Punakha (1300m).

Drive to Punakha (driving hour 2.30hrs), the old capital of Bhutan. Drive over a pass (Dochu-la 3150m). La in Bhutanese means pass. There are 108 Chorten called “Druk Wangyel Chorten” with colorful prayer flags surrounding the area, which makes you fresh and feel at peace. Visit the Druk Wangyel monastery. If the sky is clear this provides the best place to see and take photos of Himalayan snow-capped mountain ranges which border Tibet(China), the following are the names of the peaks which can be seen from this pass (left to right): Masagang (7,158m), Tsendagang (6,960m), Terigang (7,060m), Jejegangphugang (7,158 m ), Kangphugang (7,170 m ), Zongphugang (7, 060 m ), a table mountain that dominates the isolated region of Lunana,  finally Gangkar puensum, the highest peak in Bhutan at 7,497m.

After that, we drive down the hill till we feel the warm air of Punakha Valley. We stop for lunch at Lobesa before we visit the fertility monastery. In Punakha, we visit the Chimi Lhakhang (the fertility monastery). Chimi Lhakhang is a small 15th-century temple famous for its fertility endowments/rites due to the blessings of Lam Drukpa Kuenley, in the western part of the country, he is known as Divine Mad Man. The temple sits on a hillock shape, as only Drukpa Kuenley could describe it “like a woman’s breast”. The word ‘Chimi’ translates as “No Dog” and is traced to the story of how Drukpa Kuenley subdued the demons of Dochula. Lam Drukpa Kuenley had followed the demons of Dochula down to the valley of Punakha and Wangdue. It is believed that the demons had disguised herself in a form of a dog. He then subdued the dog and buried it under a mound of earth, marking the place with a stupa and making a prophecy that a temple would be built on the spot in the future.

The temple houses the Lam’s iron bow and arrow, a small altar Chorten made by the Lam himself, and some of his personal effects scriptures. A wooden effigy of Drukpa Kuenley’s male organ(believed to be his) is used to bless pilgrims, particularly childless couples or those who have suffered miscarriages or early deaths of their children. Children born under such circumstances under the patronage of Drukpa Kuenley are often named Kuenley or Chimi in honor of the saint and the place.

Punakha Dzong: The Dzong was built in 1637 by Zhabdrung Ngwang Namgyal and it was named Pungthang Dechen Phodrang (Palace of Great Happiness). The Dzong is beautifully located in between the two rivers called Pho (male) and Mo (female) Chhu. The dzong continues to be the winter residence of the Je Khenpo (Chief Abbot) and the central monk body. The Dzong is surrounded by stories and myths, and you just have to ask your guide or local people they will have some great stories of the past. It was the capital of Bhutan till 1955. The establishment of the Wangchuck dynasty on 17th December 1907 took place here and the first National Assembly was also held in the Dzong in 1953. Overnight in Hotel.

Day 03: Punakha to Bumthang (2550m) via Gangtey

After breakfast, we drive to Bumthang. On the way, we visit Gangtey one of the few glacial valleys in Bhutan, which lies in the mountains, east of Wangduephodrang. After crossing over the pass, you soon come to the great monastery of Gangtey, established in the 17th century. The village of Phobjikha lies a few kilometers down from the monastery, on the valley floor. This quiet, remote valley is the chosen winter home of rare black-necked cranes, which migrate here annually from the Tibetan plateau. Many visitors refer to this place as heaven on Earth. We have lunch in a café(Chendebji Café) on the road to Bumthang. After lunch, we carry on with our drive. We pass through Trongsa town and slowly climb up towards the Yotongla pass, the highest pass in your journey. After the pass, we descend to Bumthang through the pine forest. Overnight Hotel.

Day 04: Sightseeing in Bumthang.

Bumthang has an individuality that charms its visitors and separates it from other regions. People often refer to it as the Swiss of Bhutan. It is also one of the most religious places in Bhutan. Comprised of four valleys, here tales of Guru Padmasambhava still linger in most nooks and corners. Visit Bjakar Dzong, Jambay Lhakhang, Kurjey Lhakhang, and Tamshing Lhakhang, If time permits drive towards the East to visit the Member Tsho (lake). Overnight in the same Hotel.

Day 05: Bumthang to Punakha.

We drive back to Punakha. On the way back we visit the Trongsa Dzong, built in the year 1648. This Dzong holds great historical importance. It is customary for all the kings of Bhutan to be invested as Trongsa Penlop (governor) before ascending the throne. You will be thrilled by the massiveness of the Dzong that covers a hilltop. After the dzong in Trongsa, we continue our drive to Punakha with a stop for lunch at Chendebji café. Overnight in Hotel.

Day 06: Punakha to Thimphu to Paro.

After an early breakfast, we drive to Thimphu and later to Paro. In Thimphu we do sightseeing. Like, visit the national animal, Takin. It is believed that the Divine Mad Man created this animal. Next visit the National Memorial Chorten, where meet the elderly generation in circumambulation of the Chorten. Chorten means “Seat of Faith” or the “ Mind of Buddha”. Treat yourself to the fantastic depiction of Buddhist teachings in the form of paintings and sculptures in this temple. As the name denotes this National Memorial Chorten was consecrated on July 28th, 1947 in memory of the Third Kind. Visit the Zorig Chusum (commonly known as the Painting School) where students undergo a 6-year training course in Bhutan’s 13 traditional arts and crafts. Later visit the Folk Heritage Museum, a fascinating testimony of the Bhutanese material culture and living traditions. Phelchey Toenkhyim (Folk Heritage Museum), is dedicated to connecting people to the Bhutanese rural past through exhibits, demonstrations, educational programs, and documentation of rural life. The principal exhibit in the museum is a restored three-story traditional building, rammed with mud and timber, which dates back to mid 19th century. To present a typical Bhutanese rural setting flavor, paddy, wheat, and millet fields, a traditional watermill (with millstones that dates back more than 150 years), traditional style kitchen gardens with vegetables that were grown and consumed over 100 years, and the famous hot stone bath complement the museum building and exhibition within. Also drive to the Buddha statue, one of the largest in the world. It is about 165 ft. high. You can also get a good view of Thimphu city. In the evening drive to Paro. Overnight in a hotel.

Day 07: Sightseeing in Paro

Taktshang: After an early breakfast visit the Tiger’s Nest (Taktshang)Hike up to the famous cliff hermitage called Taktsang, the “Tiger’s Nest.” This monastic retreat is built into a sheer cliff face, high above the Paro Valley. The Buddhist saint Padmasambhava flew across the Himalayas on the back of a tiger and landed here, bringing Buddhism to Bhutan. The trail to the monastery climbs through a beautiful pine forest and an occasional grove of fluttering prayer flags.

Kyichu Lhakhang: This Lhakhang(monastery), is one of the two oldest and most sacred shrines in Bhutan (the other being Jambey Lhakhang in Bumthang) Kyichu Lhakhang is composed of twin temples. The first temple was built by the Tibetan king, Songtsen Gampo in the 7th century. In 1968, H.M. Ashi Kesang, the Queen Mother of Bhutan, arranged for a second temple to be built alongside the first one, in the same style.

Rinpung Dzong: Built in 1646 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the “fortress of the heap of jewels“ stands on a hill above Paro Township. The approach to the Dzong is through a traditional covered bridge (called the Nemi Zam) and then up a paved stone path running alongside the imposing outer walls. The valley’s annual springtime religious festival, the Paro Tsechu, takes place in the courtyard of the Dzong and on the dance ground on the hillside above.

 Day 08: Departure for your destination

After breakfast, drive to the airport for your onward destination. Our representative will help you with exit formalities and bid you farewell.