Date
November 5 – 18, 2019
About This Tour
Bhutan is a remote place of remarkable natural beauty with a pristine and intact environment and a friendly, tradition-bound people. For the discerning international traveler who has been everywhere, Bhutan may just be the final frontier. This tiny kingdom, barely the size of Switzerland, zealously sequestered itself from the rest of the world for centuries. It only opened the doors to limited tourism in 1974.
Travel to Bhutan is really an exploration of traditions and a culture that has been preserved through the centuries. In Bhutan we are not going to see some display or cultural park that has been created for tourists. Rather, we will be sharing a true life experience with the Bhutanese. This tour involves some hiking and travels to several new locations that we haven’t seen on previous tours. Come with us through a doorway to a world unlike anything you’ve ever experienced before.
Tour Highlights
- Visit the Paro Dzong and Watchtower
- Tour Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan, and experience its exciting weekend market
- Observe the Jakar Festival and Black-Necked Cranes Festival
- Fly to the central Bumthang region
- Learn about the special powers of the “Divine Madman”
- Hike to the dramatic “Tiger's Nest” monastery
- Be amazed at spectacular views of the Himalayas * UNESCO World Heritage Sites
ITINERARY
Fly from Bangkok to Paro
Tour services commence in Bangkok very early today when we meet at the airport to catch our early morning flight to Paro, departing at 5:00am and arriving in Paro at 8:20am. You will need to check in for the flight at least 2 hours before departure, which means arriving at the airport no later than 3:00am today. We encourage you to arrive a day or two early into Bangkok to recover from jet lag and to avoid having any unexpected travel delays impact your Bhutan tour. For convenient access to the airport for our early morning check-in, we recommend you stay at the Novotel Airport Hotel. Our flight to Paro crosses the Himalayan Mountains, affording spectacular views of the jagged peaks, including the sacred Jumolhari and Jichu Drake in Bhutan. On arrival our representative greets us and provides a panoramic overview tour of Paro. We will visit Drugyal Dzong ruins with a view over the town, and the Ta Dzong Museum. Once our hotel rooms are ready for check-in, we'll settle in and relax after our very early start this morning. Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Paro. (Welcome Dinner included)
Fly to Bumthang
We drive to Paro airport for our domestic flight to Bumthang Valley. This 45-minute flight gives us spectacular views of the long east-west lateral highway as the plane glides above the highway and the border with Tibet in the north. On arrival we explore Chamkhar Town where we will be spending two nights to enjoy the Jakar Festival. (All Meals)
Jakar Festival
We spend today enjoying the Jakar festival dances and celebrations with locals of Bumthang and nearby villages. The festival is in honor of the teachings of Guru Rinpoche who came to Bhutan in 746 AD and introduced Buddhism. The mask dance festival is believed to bless onlookers, cleanse sins, and bring good fortune. People of all ages dress up in their best attire and come to witness the festival. It is a good opportunity to mingle with the locals. Overnight in Chamkhar. (All Meals)
Transfer from Bumthang to Wangdue
Today we drive to Wandue. Along the way we stop at Trongsa to visit the Trongsa Dzong - the biggest dzong in Bhutan. At one time it was the seat of power over central and eastern Bhutan. On the road again, we gradually ascend to Chendebji Chorten where we stop for lunch and then continue to Pele la Pass (10,989 feet). With an alpine environment of rhododendrons and dwarf bamboo, the pass is the boundary between West and East Bhutan. During clear weather, you can view the high, snow-capped peaks. We stop at the summit for photos and then descend through a subtropical forest and arrive at our resort for the next two nights. Overnight in Wangdue. (All Meals)
Metsina / Punakha
Today we drive to Punakha. En route we stop at Metsina and hike through rice paddies and up to the Chimi Lhakhang Temple. This temple is dedicated to the great Yogi of 14th century known as Drukpa Kuenley, or the "Divine Madman," who is believed to bless women who seek fertility. We will see plenty of sacred phallus! Continue driving to Punakha and on arrival visit the Punakha Dzong which is stunningly situated in between the male and female rivers like an anchored ship. This evening we return to our hotel in Wangdue. (All Meals)
Village Hike / River Rafting
We transfer to Punakha this morning and check in at a lovely resort. Later we take a hike to a local village. The village is reached by crossing a suspension bridge, which is the longest in Bhutan. We have an opportunity to explore the village farmhouses and learn about their architecture and the lifestyle of those who live here. A traditional lunch will be served in one of the farmhouses with Bhutanese butter tea and “ara” a local wine. After lunch we drive through other villages to reach Samdhingkha (put-in) where our rafting crew will be waiting. We take an exhilarating raft adventure on the Pho Chu River with stretches of Class II and IV rapids. We raft downstream in gorgeous mountain scenery past villages, sandy embankments and continue until we reach the placid section of the river below the Punakha Dzong. Overnight at our resort in Punakha. (All Meals)
Gangtey and the Black-Necked Crane Festival
This morning we drive to Gangtey to attend the Black-Necked Crane Festival with the people of Phobjikha and nearby villages. The festival comprises a variety of cultural shows and mimicry of the crane dance, depicting the graceful character of the cranes. After lunch, we set out for an exploratory hike in the Phobjikha Valley and its villages, passing close by the crane roosting habitats. At this time of the year, you can see cranes that have migrated from Tibetan plateau. You will also visit the Crane Information Centre, which instructs about cranes, their annual migration, and the valley environment. This evening we return to our resort in Punakha for the night. (Breakfast)
Drive to Thimphu
After breakfast, begin the drive to Thimphu via Dochula Pass, where we have lunch. Then we continue driving to Thimphu and upon arrival visit the School of Arts and Crafts (also known as the Institute for Zorig Chusum) and Folk Heritage Museum. Later in the evening visit the Majestic Tashichodzong. Overnight at our hotel in Thimphu. (All Meals)
Thimphu
This morning we visit the King's Memorial Chorten, built in memory of the third King of Bhutan who reigned from 1952-1972. Other place include Kuenselphodrang, where a giant Buddha statue is located, the zoo which contains the national animal of Bhutan (the takin), and the nunnery temple. After lunch, we visit the popular Weekend Market, the largest vegetable market in the country. You can see the enormous variety of foods grown in this country, including basket upon basket of fiery chilies, fresh cheese, and fruits. In addition, many stalls contain Bhutanese handicrafts and household items. This is a good opportunity for photography and to mingle with locals who come from the nearby villages to sell their farm products, and to buy some souvenirs. This evening enjoy free time to explore Thimphu town on your own. Overnight at a hotel in Thimphu. (All Meals)
Return to Paro
This morning we drive to Paro. Sightseeing in Paro includes the Rinpung Dzong, meaning “fortress of the heap of jewels". It has a long and fascinating history. Along the wooden galleries lining the courtyard of the Rinpung Dzong are fine wall paintings illustrating Buddhist lore. We then visit Kyichu Lhakhang, the oldest temple in the country built by the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo in 8th century. In the afternoon take some time to explore Paro town and do more souvenir shopping. Overnight at a hotel in Paro. All Meals
Haa Valley
Today we take an exciting drive to Haa via Chele La Pass, which is at 13,087 feet elevation. The pass is dotted with colorful Buddhist prayer flags and offers incredible vistas into the valleys below. From the pass, drive downhill for about 26km through the forests of blue pine, fir and oak and arrive at Haa, a picturesque remote valley, which has only recently been opened to tourists. We will spend some time this afternoon hiking in the Haa Valley. We’ll be getting acclimatized to the higher altitude and preparing for an even more adventuresome hike tomorrow. Spend the night in Hatoey village at a traditional house converted to a modern lodge. (All Meals)
Chele La Pass
This morning we return to Paro via Chele La Pass again. From the pass we will walk along the ridges, each higher than the last. You can see stunning views of Mount Jumolhari and Jichu Drake on your right and Mount Kanchenjunga in Sikkim, the world’s third highest mountain, on your distant left in clear weather. If you wish to be more adventurous, you can go up to the highest ridge, Kungkarpo which stands at about 13,780 feet – the spot for sky burials. Take a well-deserved rest and enjoy the spectacular views of the Himalayas. Later we hike back to our vehicle and drive to Paro. (All Meals)
Tiger’s Nest Monastery
Today’s activity is one of the highlights of the tour – the hike to Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest) Monastery. It is Bhutan’s most famous monastery. It is breathtaking, situated at 10,400 feet and perched on the edge of a steep cliff about 3,000 feet above the Paro Valley. Guru Rinpoche is said to have flown on the back of a tigress from Singye Dzong in Lhuntse to meditate in a cave where Taktsang Monastery now stands. Lunch is served in the Cafeteria Restaurant, located about halfway up the mountain. After having explored the monastery, we hike down to the valley floor. We celebrate our fantastic tour in Bhutan with a Farewell Dinner this evening, and one more overnight stay at a hotel in Paro. (All Meals)
Departure
Enjoy a relaxing morning at our beautiful hotel until check-out time. After lunch, we drive to the Paro Airport to catch our flight back to Bangkok, Thailand. Departure time is 4:10pm, arriving in Bangkok at 9:50pm. Tour services end with our landing in Bangkok. Schedule your departing flight from Bangkok no earlier than 2:00am on Tuesday, November 19. If you need to extend your stay in Bangkok in order to take a flight the next day, we recommend that you book the Novotel Airport Hotel directly. (All Meals)
