Day 03: Dupshingpang – Chorten Nebu (7-8 hrs trek)
Day 04: Chorten Ningpo – Punakha
Day 05: Punakha (1350 m) and after lunch drive to Paro
Day 06: Sightseeing in Paro
Day 07: Departure For own destination
Cost Includes:
First aid box (Medicine)
Sleeping Tent (Two Men's Tent) with carpeted floor
Air mattress & Room Light
Kitchen tent with kitchen set & light
Toilet Tent with toilet pot
Hot water bag with cover
Shower tent with Shower Bag & Mat
Aprons for cook & Staff
Dining tent with dining set
Dining Table, Chair & Dining Light
All Freshly cooked meals by Cook staff Trekking Team
English Speaking Guide for trekking
Service Include in Tour Supplement
English Speaking Guide.
Travel Permits.
Land transportation
Accommodations on Full Board (BLD)
Entrance Fees for monuments as per itinerary
Cost Excludes:
Visa Fee Kathmandu and Bhutan
Airfare (Kathmandu-Paro-Kathmandu)
Travel Insurance
Departure Tax where applicable.
Rescue operations by helicopters.
Excess baggage charges.
Mineral water, soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, laundry, telephone calls, tips, and any other personal expenses.
Any services in Kathmandu/Nepal (hotels, transport, etc)
Any cost arising from political disturbances, strikes, cancellation of flights, deviation in the program, delays due to landslides/ road blockage, or otherwise.
* This tour can be fully customized as per your requirement.
Day 01: Arrival at Paro (2250m) from Kathmandu
As your flight lands in Paro. You will meet our representative at the airport and will be driven to Thimphu. Check into your hotel. If time permits Sight Seeing in Paro. Overnight In Hotel.
Day 02: Paro – Dechhencholing Sinchula
Drive towards Dechhencholing to Kabjesha to start the trek. The trek begins with a 4-5 hrs climb to Sinchula passing through blue pine, oak, and rhododendron forests. Night halt in camp at Sinchula at an altitude of 3380m.
Day 02: Sinchula – Dupsingpang (5-6 hrs trek)
On a clear day, views of Phajoding Monastery and some of the Himalayan peaks can be seen. The first part of the trek is rather slow due to difficult trail conditions. After an hour’s walk, the village of Thinley Gang, Talo Monastery, and the highway to Thimphu can be seen. The trail leads on for a 4-5 hours walk through mixed forests to the camp at 2440m.
Day 03: Dupshingpang – Chorten Nebu (7-8 hrs trek)
The third day of the trek starts with 4-hour descent through dense forests. A small stream has to be crossed twice. Then continue for another 3-4 hours through villages and rice fields to the village of Chorten Nebu, an old temple. Overnight at camp at an altitude of 1810m.
Day 04: Chorten Ningpo – Punakha
The trek will be through several villages till you reach the vehicle. Then you will drive to Punakha, which is the ancient capital of Bhutan. In Punakha, we will visit Sangchen Dorji Lhendrupchling Nunnery which is located above Khuruthang town. Overnight at a hotel in Punakha.
Day 05: Punakha (1350 m) and after lunch drive to Paro
After breakfast visit:
Punakha Dzong: The Dzong was built in 1637 by the unifier Zhabdrung Ngawang 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 (river). 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. Punakha Dzong continues to be the winter residence of the Je Khenpo (Chief Abbot) and the central monk body. The war materials captured during the Tibetan invasion can be found in the dzong.
Chimi Lhakhang is a small 15th-century temple famous for its fertility endowments/rites due to the blessings of Lam Drukpa Kuenley is west known as Devine 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 demoness of Dochula. Lam Drukpa Kuenley had followed the demoness 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 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. After visiting Chimi Lhakhang you will have lunch in a restaurant facing the Lhakhang. After lunch, we drive back to Paro. The driving hour is 3.5 hours.
If time permits, on your way to Paro visit Tashicheo dzong in Thimphu. Tashichhodzong, the “fortress of the glorious religion” was initially erected in 1702 and restored by the Third King in the 1950s. Tashichhodzong houses some ministries, His Majesty’s secretariat, and the central monk body. You can visit this Dzong after office hours on weekdays and weekends from 9 am to 5.30 pm. Overnight in a hotel.
Day 06: Sightseeing in Paro
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), built in the 7th century, 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. Overnight In Hotel.
Day 07: Departure For own destination
After breakfast, around 9.45 am drive to the airport for your onward destination. Our representative will help you with exit formalities and bid you farewell.
Please Check Available Dates for The Year of:
Start Date
End Date
Availability
Price
Booking
Visa Information
Indian, Bangladeshis, and Maldivian nationals can obtain a visa at the port of entry by producing a valid passport with a minimum of 6 months validity (Indian nationals may also use their Voters Identity Card (VIC). For other tourists, you will need to acquire visa clearance in advance. Visas are processed through an online system by your licensed Bhutanese tour operator, directly or through a foreign travel agent. Tourists are also required to book their holiday through a Bhutanese tour operator or one of their international partners. The tour operator will take care of Visa arrangements for visitors.
You are required to send the photo page of your passport (passport scanned copy) to your tour operator who will then apply for your visa. The visa will be processed by the Tourism Council of Bhutan (TCB) once the full payment of your holiday (including a USD 50 visa fee) has been wire transferred and received in the TCB bank account. Once received the visa clearance will be processed within 72 working hours. At your point of entry, you will be required to show your visa clearance letter and the visa will then be stamped into your passport.
Weather Information
There is no appropriate season which is to say that Bhutan’s warm and temperate climate, never-ending festivals, and rich and abundant heritage sites provide visitors with a wide array of experiences throughout the year across the country. Bhutan has all four seasons and the climate varies widely depending on the altitude.
Spring (March, April & May)
This time is considered the most beautiful time of the year, resplendent and ablaze with a spectacular array of bright colors. This is the time when the valleys are green with fresh vegetation and fruit trees are blossoming – the time when locals are naturally mirthful and cheery; when visitors are most welcome. Also, you can witness the famous Paro Tshechu festival.
Autumn (September, October & November)
Autumn is lovely with clear and crisp blue skies, providing a grand view of some of the tallest unclimbed mountains in the world. It is the best time for trekking and traveling. The climate is cool and temperate and you can get lovely photography opportunities of willows shedding their golden brown leaves, the solitude of parks, and somber views of dzongs and monasteries.
Monsoon (June, July & August)
During these months, Bhutan receives more rainfall than any other region in the Himalayas. Glorious sapphire skies and warm weather are a pleasant time to spend visiting places of cultural and historical interest though this season is not the best time for trekking. Enjoy a cup of warm, aromatic tea while watching the rainfall from your hotel window. Or if you possess an adventurous spirit, grab an umbrella/raincoat while it is raining and take a day tour through the town.
Winter (December, January & February)
Winter in Bhutan is sunny, cool, and agreeable to say the least. Much of the east-west highway remains snowbound during winter. It is the best time to tour the western districts of Paro, Wangdue, Punakha, Thimphu, and Haa. One of the chief attractions in winter is the beautiful Gangtey (Phobjikha) valley where you can expect to see a wide expanse of rolling plains with bamboo shrubs.
Safety Guidelines
Credit cards are not a convenient source of payment in Bhutan as only a handful of hotels in a few places provide this facility. Also, only MasterCard and Visa. US dollars are the most convenient currency and are cashed by most banks.
You should avoid drinking tap water altogether, but it is okay to use it for brushing your teeth. Bottled water is widely available and is best for drinking. It is also wise to carry water purification tablets when trekking in remote locations of Bhutan.
The local currency is the Ngultrum, which is pegged to the Indian Rupee. Note: The Indian Rupee in denominations of 500 and 1000 is no longer accepted in Bhutan.
Bhutan is the only country in the world that has banned the consumption and sale of tobacco, resulting in smoking being largely disallowed in public places. Having said that, consumption is not completely prohibited in Bhutan so if you want to smoke, bring your cigarettes and ask your guide where you can light up. (seal opened pack only)
Tuesdays are considered the national 'dry day,' with the sale of alcohol prohibited.
When taking photos/filming inside Dzongs, monasteries, temples, or any religious institutions, check with your guide whether it is permitted as some areas do not allow it.