BHUTAN CULTURAL TOURS

Tour Duration: 06 day (s)
Destination(s): Thimpu-Paro-Tigers Nest- Gangtey
Specialty Categories: Art/Architecture  History  Museum  
Season: Round the year. Best season Oct – Dec. and Feb - May
Tour Starts at: Paro 
Ends at: Paro 

ITINERARY:

Highlight..
A glimpse of a magical world where past and present merge, where traditions live and where the spiritual and material are undistinguished and indivisible aspects of every facet of life.

Day 01 Arrival Paro International airport / transfer to Thimpu (2300m) – 2 hrs. drive
During the flight, on a clear day, you can see breathtaking views of the Himalaya Mountains,
including the sacred Jumolhari and Jichu Drake Peaks in Bhutan. On arrival you will be greeted by our representative and transferred to your hotel.

If time permit in the afternoon you can visit the following places:
-Kyichu Lhakhang
-Paro Dzong

In the evening you can drive to the capital town of Thimphu. 

Day 02 Thimpu sightseeing / Late afternoon transfer to Punakha (1250m.) – 3-4 hrs. drive
There are a good many things to see in the capital which has a very relaxed, laid-back feel about it. Thimphu is relatively small having a population of approximately 45,000 people and the streets are wide and tree lined. You will almost certainly visit the Late King's Memorial Chorten, the National Library, Drubthob Nunnery, Folk Heritage Museum, the handmade paper factory, the school of arts and crafts where young students learn the traditional arts and crafts (Zo Rig Chusum – the thirteen crafts), Gold and the Silver Smiths workshop, Zangtopelri Lhakhang, and the Handicraft Emporium and the local handicraft centers to see the weavers at work and also varieties of textiles, thangkha paintings, masks, jewellery etc
Late afternoon you will drive to Punakha (the former capital of Bhutan), with a stop en route for tea at Dochu La (3,100 meters), where on a clear day you can get spectacular views of the Himalayas.


Day 03  Excursion to Gangtey (2890m.) / Wangdiphodrang (1460m.) – 6-7 hrs. drive
After breakfast visit Punakha Dzhong, which is noteworthy both for being one of the most beautiful dzongs in Bhutan and also for having been built by the first Shabdrung in 1636.

After visit Punakha drive to Gangety (Phobjikha) Is one of the few flacial valleys in Bhutan and chosen home for Black Neck Cranes Which migrate from the central Asiatic Plateau to escape its harsh winters. Explore Phobjikha valley and also visit to Gangtey Monastery the only Nyingmapa monastery in Bhutan.  Evening you will return to Wangdiphodrang for overnight stay.

Day 04  Wangdiphodrang / Paro (2260m.) – 3-4 hrs. drive
Today we drive along the winding mountain road to Paro. Afternoon, tour of st1:place w:st="on">Bhutan's national museum, a fascinating place housed in an old watchtower above the huge Paro Dzong (monastery/fortress). The museum holds a fantastic collection of Bhutanese national treasures ranging from ancient armour to textiles and thangkha paintings. Then, we drive to the head of the valley and visit Drukgyel Dzong built in a location that was chosen for its control over the route to st1:place w:st="on">Tibet. A spectacular view of Mount. Jumolhari (23,996ft /7314m) can be seen from here. Also visit Rinpung Dzong and a typical Bhutanese farm house.

Day 05 Paro - hike to Taksang (Tinger’s Nest Monastery)
After breakfast hike to Taktsang (Tinger’s Nest) Monastery, which is Bhutan’s most famous monastery. It is perched on the edge of a steep cliff, about 900 meters above st1:placename w:st="on">Paro Valley. The hike to reach the viewpoint to the monstery makes for a nice half-day excursion. After lunch you can visit other important site which you could not complete previous days.

Day 06 Departue 
After early breakfast in the hotel, drive to the airport to connect flight for onward destination

Book this trip