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¤ BHUTAN ON YOUR OWN - 07 ¤ (13 Nights & 14 Days)

 

CENTRAL BHUTAN TOUR
 
All National Parks are closed from 01 June to 30 September every year.
 
Day 01:- Arrival- Paro
On your Arrival at the Paro airport, you will be received by your tour guide from Sakten Tours and Treks and escorted to your hotel. After a brief rest and some refreshment at the hotel, visit the Paro Rinpung Dzong which was built by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1644. Lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, visit the Dzong Drakha Goemba which is about 30 mins drive from Paro town. From the base point, hike up to the monastery. This will help you acclimatize to your new environment. The round trip hike will take about 2 ½ hrs. Then take a leisure walk from the base point, via bondey and paro town to the hotel. O/N at Gangtey palace / Olathang.
 
Day 02 :- Paro - Taktsang hike ( 4 hrs )
After an early B/F hike up to Taktsang Monastery. The round trip hike takes about 4-5 hrs. The Taktsang Monastery is built on a rocky ledge with a sheer drop of more than 1000m. It is considered as one of the most holy spots by the Buddhist piligrims. On the way back, visit the Drugyel Dzong just 15 - 20 mins drive from the base of Taktsang and the kyichu temple which was built some time during the early 7th century by the Tibetan King Songtsen Gempo to spread Buddhist religion in this region. After lunch visit the Ta - Museum and the Dungtse Lhakhang situated next to the Paro town. Evening: Visit a local farm house as well and experience the Bhutanese hospitality. O/N at Gangtey palace / Olathang.
 
Day 03 :- : Haa Valley Excursion ( 2 1/2 hrs drive from paro town )
Take an early morning drive to Haa via Chele La pass which is at 3810 m, the highest road pass in Bhutan, snaking upwards through blue pine and Rhododendron forests. Visit the Wangchulo Dzong which is presently occupied by the Indian Army. After visiting the bazaar, take a short walk along the Haa Chuu and have a picnic lunch beside the river. Also visit the Lhakhang Karpo ( white temple ) and the Lhakhang Nagpo. Take a leisurely stroll and explore this beautiful valley on foot. There are a lot of hiking options one could take and all of them are very interesting .Also visit some of the local homes. Evening: Drive back to Paro O/N at Gangtey palace / Olathang.
 
Day 04 :- Paro - Punakha ( 5 hrs drive )
After an early breakfast drive to Punakha. On the way, halt at the Dochula pass- 26 kms away from Thimphu ( 3120m alt.) for tea and snacks. From this pass, if the weather is clear, you will get the most spectacular view of the Entire Eastern Himalayan Mountain ranges. You will also find 108 beautiful Stupas known as the "Druk Wangyel Chortens' in the middle of the pass which reflects Bhutan's sprititual as well as artistic traditions. In Punakha, check into the hotel. Lunch at the hotel and then visit the Punakha Dzong which is strategically built between two rivers known as Phochu and Mochu which means " Male river and Female river", Then visit the beautiful Khamsum Yule Namgyel temple ( 30 mins round trip from the road). O/N at Hotel Zangdopelri .
 
Day 05 :- Punakha - Phobjikha ( 3 hrs drive)
After breakfast, drive to Gangtey also known as Phobjikha valley. Gangtey is a beautiful valley of rolling hills and green meadows surrounded by snowcapped mountains. It is situated at an altitude of 3000 m. It is also the winter home for the famous Black Necked Cranes who migrate here during the winter months. Visit the impressive Gangtey Goemba overlooking the lush green valley of Phobjikha. Check into the hotel. After lunch at the hotel, visit the Black Necked Crane centre and do some hiking in the National park. Also explore the valley of Phobjikha by walking along some of the most interesting nature trails and see the most fascinating cultural and natural sites. O/N at hotel Dewachen.
 
Day 06 :- Gangtey - Trongsa ( 4 hrs drive )
Early morning, drive to Trongsa. Check into hotel Yangkhill , relax and freshen up. After lunch at the hotel, visit the magnificent Trongsa Dzong. It is one of the most impressive works of Bhutanese architecture. Also see the Ta Dzong, the watch towers on the hill to the east of the dzong ( Ta Dzong closed for renovation) Then drive to Kuenga Rapten ( 1 hr ) to see the winter Palace of the 2nd King Jigme Wangchuk. Evening, drive back to Trongsa and O/N at the hotel.
 
Day 07 :- : Trongsa - Bumthang ( 2 ½ hrs drive )
Morning, drive to Bumthang. Bumthang is a land of myth and mystery and tales of the great Guru Padmasambhava. A beautiful view of the Jakar Dzong meaning "castle of the white bird" can be seen from the view point. In bumthang visit the Jamba Lhakhang, Kurjey Lhakhang. Check into the hotel. After lunch, visit the Jakar dzong and hike up to Lamey Goemba, a large palace and monastery built in the 1800s by the first king Ugyen Wangchuk for his two nun sisters. Outside Lamey Goemba, one can see a workshop for traditional Bhutanese paper-making. Evening : Visit the swiss cheese factory, the apple juice factory and walk through town. O/n at hotel Riverlodge.
 
Day 08 :- Bumthang
Early morning drive to the road to Toktu zampa ( 17 kms north of Kurjey lhakhang). From here, walk for 20 mins past fields of buckwheat to Thankabi Goemba. From this Goemba walk up to Ngan-Yul ( swan land) and then hike up to Ngang Lhakhang ( swan temple). Picnic lunch outside the temple and walk back to Toktu zampa. Drive/walk towards the east - 5 kms from jakar to visit the Tamshing Goenpa.Then visit the Konchogsum Lhakhang which is near Tamshing. Here you will find statues of the three Buddhas ( past, present, future ) believed to have flown straight from Kurtoe. Evening : Leisure stroll through Bumthang town. O/n at Riverlodge.
 
Day 09 :- Bumthang
Early morning drive to tang valley - 10 kms from jakar. Visit the membertsho (burning lake) which is a 5 min walk from the parking spot. Hike up to Kunzangdrak Goemba ( 4 hrs round trip ) which is one of the most important sites related to Pema Lingpa. Find a beautiful spot and settle down for a nice picnic lunch. Then drive to the road base from where you hike up to Ugyen Chholing Palace ( 45 min climb ). It's a 16th century palace originally built by Deb Tshokye Dorji, a descendant of Dorji Lingpa. O/n at Riverlodge.
 
Day 10 :- Bumthang - Ura - Bumthang
Full day Ura valley hike. O/N at Riverlodge.
 
Day 11 :- Bumthang - Wangduephodrang ( 6 hrs drive)
After breakfast, drive to Wangduephodrang. Check into the hotel. Evening at leisure!!! O/N at kyichu resort in chuzomsa or dragon nest.
 
Day 12 :- Wangduephodrang - Thimphu (3 hrs )
After breakfast visit the Wangduephodrang Dzong and drive to thimphu via Punakha. On the way, stop at Lobesa, Punakha and hike up to Chimi Lhakhang, known as the temple of fertility (1 ½ hrs round trip from the road). This temple was built in 1499 by Lama Drukpa Kuenley or the "Divine Madman" of Tibet/Bhutan. Many childless couples come here to be blessed with a child. Lunch at the Dochula cafeteria. In Thimphu, check into hotel Phuntshopelri/Jumolhari/Riverview. Thimphu Sightseeing (optional) Evening: Casual stroll through Thimphu town.
 
Day 13 :- Full day Thimphu sightseeing
After B/F , visit the Memorial chorten built in memory of the 3rd King of Bhutan, the National Library which has a huge collection of ancient Buddhist manuscripts and religious artefacts the Institute of Traditional Medicine, The Folk Heritage Museum and the Institute of Arts and Crafts. Lunch at a local restaurant and then proceed to visit the Tashichhodzong and drive up to Sangyegang view point from where you can see the entire Thimphu valley beautifully. On the way back, stop at the Takin sanctuary ( Takin is the National animal of Bhutan). The visit the post office,The handicrafts Emporium and the paper factory for traditional handmade paper. Visit some very interesting handicraft shops in town. O/n at the hotel.
 
Day 14 :- Early morning,drive to Paro for departure
 
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