ITINERARY
DAY 01 ARRIVAL – PARO [-/L/D]
Arrival at Paro in Druk Air, Bhutan National Airline: The flight takes you over the great Himalayas, offering the most beautiful scenery of the world’s highest glacial peaks. As you enter Paro valley, you will see the Rinpung Dzong (Spiritual and Temporal seat), the national museum and the Paro town.
DAY 01 ARRIVAL – PARO [-/L/D]
Arrival at Paro in Druk Air, Bhutan National Airline: The flight takes you over the great Himalayas, offering the most beautiful scenery of the world’s highest glacial peaks. As you enter Paro valley, you will see the Rinpung Dzong (Spiritual and Temporal seat), the national museum and the Paro town.
Your representative will welcome you at the airport and drive you through the fascinating valley of Paro . En route, client will visit the Ta-Dzong or National Museum: It houses a fine collection of art, relics, thankas, paintings, armoury & exquisite postage stamps. In the ancient days, it served as a watch tower, & later converted into a museum in 1968. Returning from the museum stop to visit the Dungsti Lhagang, built by a saint in the 14th century.
After a lunch, guests will be escorted to see the historical ruins of Drugyal Dzong,built in 1647 by Zhabdrung:It was built to commemorate the victory over repeated Tibetan invasions. The Fort was gutted by fire in 1951 and now stands as a monument for foreign visitors.
On a clear day, the snowy caps of Mt. Jomolhari can be seen.
Dinner and overnight at Gangtey Palace Hotel (standard hotel)
DAY 02 PARO [B/L/D]
After breakfast, guests will drive to the base of Ramthangkha for the rejuvinating hike to Taksthang monastery: which sits on the edge of a granite cliff at 9000ft above the valley floor: The hike takes aprrox: 4 hours up/down along trails of wooded bluepine & fluttering prayer flags.
For this day trip, we will have picnic lunch, which you can enjoy on a scenic spot:
When you have had your fill of Taksthang, hike down the mountain to your waiting vehicle & drive back to your hotel for a hot bath & rest.
After a good rest, your guide will escort you to visit the 7th century Kichu Lhagang and further down the valley to see the Paro Dzong, built in 1646, & is one of Bhutans most sacred places of worship.The Dzong houses both the administrative center & monastic bodies: It is also the venue for the popular Paro Festival: Rest of the day can be spent shopping for souvenirs in town.
Dinner and overnight at Gangtey Palace Hotel (standard hotel)
DAY3 PARO – WANGDUE PHODRANG - GANGTEY (car 6.5 hours) [B/L/D]
After breakfast, start your drive down the fertile Paro
view that they offer. Stop for a while for view & pictures ! Group will then walk down 10 minutes to the Dochula cafeteria to enjoy TEA/COFFEE.
After this brief respite, continue journey:
The road then descends a long way to Punakha & Wangdue through temperate forest of rhododendron & magnolia bloom in mid-March till May.
Then you will enter into a semi-tropical zone where orange trees, banana trees and cactuses are found in abundance.
From a distance you will see the awesome Wangdi Dzong. stratigically built on the spur of a hill between 2 flowing rivers: This Dzong was built in 1638 by Zhabdrung & still serves as the administrative center for both Wangdi district & monk body: Stop to visit the inner courtyard of the Wangdi Dzong & meet monks running about in their scarlet robes.
The continue drive to Gangteygompa which will be apprx: 3 hours drive along the same higheway, till it biforcates & continues for another 18/19km upto the peak of the Phobjikha valley & the Gangety monastery in full view, as it sits with a commanding view of the entire valley. The monatsery was built in the early 15 century & is an important center of learning for the Ngingmapa sect. There are about well over 200 monks living and studying the scriptrues. The valley is about 3000m & the winter resting ground for the Black necked cranes that arrive in November from Siberia, China & Tibet.
If guests are upto it, the open valley provides ample opportunities for energetic walks.
Dinner and overnight at Standard hotel in Gangtey
DAY4 GANGTEY - CHENDEBJI CHORTEN – TRONGSA DZONG – TRONGSA WATCH
TOWER - BUMTHANG (car 4 hrs) [B/L/D]
After breakfast, start journey to Trongsa: The drive to Trongsa is apprx:80kms, 3 hours in car.
On the way, you will cross the Pilela Pass (alt. 3.300m). After the pass, the road descends gradually till you reach Trongsa. En-route, you will stop at Chendebji Chhoeten built in Nepalese style by Lama Sidha in the 18th century. The next halt is 16 kms away from Trongsa from where you can have a close and spectacular view of Trongsa Dzong. Stop in Trongsa for lunch at YANGKHIL & then for a visit to the historical Dzong: The Dzong was built in 1648 : Then visit the Ta -Dzong ,or watch tower which has been converted to a museum of great interest. After this client will return to vehicle and continue 3 hours drive to Bumthang, one of the most magnificent valleys in Bhutan and also the heartland of Buddhism. 29kms away from Trongsa, you will cross Yotongla Pass (alt, 3,400m).
Beyond the pass, the landscape looks different as dense conifer forest stretches far and wide. You will also cross a small pass before descending to the valley of Chamkhar.
Dinner and overnight Standard guest house/lodge
DAY 05 BUMTHANG – NGANGLHAKHANG (Distance: 20 km, time: about 5 hours walk) [B/L/D]
The hike route follows the Chamkhar Chhu (river). Lunch stop at Thangbi Lhakhang before entering ‘Swan Land’ (Ngang Yul) with its centre ‘Swan Temple’ (Nganglhakhang). This part of the valley was first inhabited only by swans (ngang) from where the name of the place.
Overnight at Ancestral Family mansio, Bumthang
DAY 06 NGANGLHAKHANG [B/L/D]
A day of walking to nearby villages /monasteries.
Your host will pack lunch for your excursion around nearby villages and experience pure villagae daily lives.
Return from field trip, pack and drive to Jagar:
Overnight at Guest house-Jagar, Bumthang
DAY7 BUMTHANG [B/L/D]
Today visit all places of interest in the valley
Overnight at Guest House
DAY8 BUMTHANG – URA – SHINGKHAR (2hrs drive) [B/L/D]
After breakfast drive to URA/ Shangkhar village: Visit Ura village ,& monastery: experience the close community life of the people of both Shingkhar & Ura village:
Dinner and overnight at Shinkhar Nagsthang
DAY9 BUMTHANG – TRONGSA [B/L/D]
After breakfast drive to Trongsa and visit Trongsa Dzong & Museum
Overnight at Trongsa.
DAY 10 TRONGSA – PUNAKHA [B/L/D]
After breakfast drive directly to Punakha
Viist the Punakha Dzong and then check into your hotel for lunch.
Dinner and overnight in Punakha.
DAY 11 PUNAKHA – THIMPHU [B/L/D]
After breakfast and drive to Lobisa villgae for your hike to Chimmi Lhagang:
Return and drive to Thimphu, visit the Memorial Chorten in Thimphu
Dinner and overnight at Jomolhari Hotel
DAY 12 THIMPHU [B/L/D]
After breakfast visit all places of interest within the valley; Changangkha monastery/ Simtokha Dzong/ Takin Zoo/ or take a short hike to Tangu with picnic lunch.
Dinner and overnight at Jomolhari Hotel
DAY 13 THIMPHU – DEPARTURE [B/-/-]
Departure flight to your onward destination
END OF SERVICE
PRICING
After breakfast, start journey to Trongsa: The drive to Trongsa is apprx:80kms, 3 hours in car.
On the way, you will cross the Pilela Pass (alt. 3.300m). After the pass, the road descends gradually till you reach Trongsa. En-route, you will stop at Chendebji Chhoeten built in Nepalese style by Lama Sidha in the 18th century. The next halt is 16 kms away from Trongsa from where you can have a close and spectacular view of Trongsa Dzong. Stop in Trongsa for lunch at YANGKHIL & then for a visit to the historical Dzong: The Dzong was built in 1648 : Then visit the Ta -Dzong ,or watch tower which has been converted to a museum of great interest. After this client will return to vehicle and continue 3 hours drive to Bumthang, one of the most magnificent valleys in Bhutan and also the heartland of Buddhism. 29kms away from Trongsa, you will cross Yotongla Pass (alt, 3,400m).
Beyond the pass, the landscape looks different as dense conifer forest stretches far and wide. You will also cross a small pass before descending to the valley of Chamkhar.
Dinner and overnight Standard guest house/lodge
DAY 05 BUMTHANG – NGANGLHAKHANG (Distance: 20 km, time: about 5 hours walk) [B/L/D]
The hike route follows the Chamkhar Chhu (river). Lunch stop at Thangbi Lhakhang before entering ‘Swan Land’ (Ngang Yul) with its centre ‘Swan Temple’ (Nganglhakhang). This part of the valley was first inhabited only by swans (ngang) from where the name of the place.
Overnight at Ancestral Family mansio, Bumthang
DAY 06 NGANGLHAKHANG [B/L/D]
A day of walking to nearby villages /monasteries.
Your host will pack lunch for your excursion around nearby villages and experience pure villagae daily lives.
Return from field trip, pack and drive to Jagar:
Overnight at Guest house-Jagar, Bumthang
DAY7 BUMTHANG [B/L/D]
Today visit all places of interest in the valley
Overnight at Guest House
DAY8 BUMTHANG – URA – SHINGKHAR (2hrs drive) [B/L/D]
After breakfast drive to URA/ Shangkhar village: Visit Ura village ,& monastery: experience the close community life of the people of both Shingkhar & Ura village:
Dinner and overnight at Shinkhar Nagsthang
DAY9 BUMTHANG – TRONGSA [B/L/D]
After breakfast drive to Trongsa and visit Trongsa Dzong & Museum
Overnight at Trongsa.
DAY 10 TRONGSA – PUNAKHA [B/L/D]
After breakfast drive directly to Punakha
Viist the Punakha Dzong and then check into your hotel for lunch.
Dinner and overnight in Punakha.
DAY 11 PUNAKHA – THIMPHU [B/L/D]
After breakfast and drive to Lobisa villgae for your hike to Chimmi Lhagang:
Return and drive to Thimphu, visit the Memorial Chorten in Thimphu
Dinner and overnight at Jomolhari Hotel
DAY 12 THIMPHU [B/L/D]
After breakfast visit all places of interest within the valley; Changangkha monastery/ Simtokha Dzong/ Takin Zoo/ or take a short hike to Tangu with picnic lunch.
Dinner and overnight at Jomolhari Hotel
DAY 13 THIMPHU – DEPARTURE [B/-/-]
Departure flight to your onward destination
END OF SERVICE
PRICING
The total costing for the above itinerary is found below. Prices are per person based on adults sharing. Prices are in US Dollar.
US$ 4,520.00 Per person minimum 4 people required
US$ 4,520.00 Per person minimum 4 people required
VALIDITY: 01 November, 2010 – 31 October, 2011
INCLUDED IN THE TOUR PRICES ARE :
• Accommodation in shared twin room
• Meals as specified in the programme (fullboard)
• Tours and transfers by private van with English speaking guide
• Tourism Development Fund
• Visa fee
NOT INCLUDED IN THE TOUR PRICES ARE :
• Airticket to/from Paro
• Expenditure of a personal nature, such as drinks, souvenirs and laundry etc.,
Minor changes to the programme are sometimes necessary, we will endeavour to minimise these changes which are sometimes out of our control. WX
INCLUDED IN THE TOUR PRICES ARE :
• Accommodation in shared twin room
• Meals as specified in the programme (fullboard)
• Tours and transfers by private van with English speaking guide
• Tourism Development Fund
• Visa fee
NOT INCLUDED IN THE TOUR PRICES ARE :
• Airticket to/from Paro
• Expenditure of a personal nature, such as drinks, souvenirs and laundry etc.,
Minor changes to the programme are sometimes necessary, we will endeavour to minimise these changes which are sometimes out of our control. WX
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