Itinerary

DAY 1
Arrival in Paro, Bhutan. Visit to Bhutan’s National Museum, the Paro Dzong, and Drukgyel Dzong

Walking – easy to moderate, 1-3 hours.

Our flight from Bangkok, Thailand into Bhutan provides spectacular views of the Bhutan landscape as we approach the airport in the Paro Valley. The valley is a green bowl surrounded by jagged Himalayan Mountains and forested hillsides, crossed by beautiful rivers, and dotted with medieval fortresses. The first thing that we notice as we disembark in Bhutan is the absence of noise and a feeling of peacefulness that is rare in most other Asian cities. The Paro Valley has kept its bucolic nature and is one of the most scenic valleys in Bhutan. The houses are considered to be among the most beautiful in the country, and Paro is believed to be one of the first valleys to have received the imprint of Buddhism.

We are greeted with a warm Bhutanese reception and transferred to our first hotel where we enjoy a light lunch and afternoon tea. This afternoon we will visit the National Museum, housed in the round multi-storied Ta Dzong, built in 1775. The Ta Dzong was once the watch tower for the massive Paro Dzong, built in the 17th century by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. The museum’s collection includes ancient artifacts, weapons, a collection of antique thangkha (painted or embroidered religious pictures), textiles, and stamps. We walk from the museum to the Paro Dzong, the religious and secular center of Paro, and certainly the most dominant feature in the valley. The dzong was first conceived in the 15th-century, and finally consecrated in 1646.

Next we complete a short walk to Drukgyel Dzong, a ruined fortress where Bhutanese warriors fought Tibetan invaders centuries ago. This dzong was built in 1649 to commemorate Bhutan’s victory over Tibetan invaders, and sits at the point where the trail from Tibet enters the Paro valley. Bhutan’s dzongs are perhaps the most visibly striking aspect of the kingdom and these huge citadels dominate the landscape of the major towns and act as the administrative headquarters for their respective regions. If we are lucky and the weather is clear, we may have the opportunity to view the sacred Mt. Jhomolhari (23,977 ft), which lies along the border of Tibet and Bhutan.

We return to our lodge and relax with an orientation meeting and welcome dinner of Bhutanese cuisine.
Janka Resort, Paro, Bhutan

DAY 2
Taktsang (Tigers Nest) Monestary

Hiking – moderate, 3-4 hours on hiking trails; approximate elevation gain of 1,650 feet.

This morning we enjoy a hike to the famous cliff-hermitage called Taktsang, the Tigers Nest. This monastic retreat is built into a sheer cliff face high above the Paro Valley. Legend has it that the Tibetan Buddhist saint Padmasambhava flew across the Himalayas on the back of a tiger and landed here, bringing Buddhism to Bhutan. Entry into the monastery is now permitted, and we may be allowed to visit this sacred site. We enjoy lunch and the views of the valley below at the Taktsang teahouse before descending to the valley floor.
Janka Resort, Paro, Bhutan

DAY 3
Transfer to Punakha (approximately 5 hrs.); Temple of the Divine Madman

Walking – easy, 1-2 hours on local paths.

This morning, after an early breakfast, we say goodbye to Paro and transfer to Punakha, our home for the next two nights. The road to Punakha crosses the Dochula Pass (10,230 ft), offering a great view of the eastern Himalayan mountains. From the pass our road descends through magnificent pine and rhododendron forests and wanders through some of the most picturesque countryside in Bhutan.

On our road to Punakha we stop in a small village where a short walk brings us to Chime Lhakang, a temple dedicated to the Lama Drukpa Kunley. Drukpa Kunley is one of Bhutan’s favorite saints, and is more commonly known as the Divine Madman. He traveled throughout Bhutan and Tibet using songs, humor and outrageous behavior to dramatize his teachings, believing that the stiffness of the clergy and social conventions were keeping people from learning the true Buddhist teachings. This site is still believed to hold fertility powers for women wanting to conceive.
Hotel Punatsangchu, Punakha, Bhutan

DAY 4
Khamsung Yuely Namgyel temple to Punakha Dzong

Hiking – easy to moderate, 3-4 hours on dirt roads and trails.

Following breakfast and a drive through the Punakha Valley, we begin our walk by first ascending a series of switchbacks to the Namgyel Khamsum Yuely Temple. From the viewpoint at this modern temple we are afforded grand views of the Mo Chu River Valley below. We descend from the temple and follow a well-worn path down the valley through rice fields and small villages. Along the way we are rewarded with stunning views, the terraced rice paddies providing an exotic backdrop to the river below. After enjoying a picnic lunch alongside the river, we continue our walk to the Punakha Dzong. Constructed in 1637, the Punakha Dzong was the second of Bhutan’s dzongs and for many years it served as the seat of the government. Today it is the home to Bhutan’s spiritual leader, the chief abbot Je Khempo, who resides here with 1,000 monks during the winter months due to Punakha’s relatively low altitude by Himalayan standards (4,000 feet). From this spectacular dzong we can look back to see the Namgyel Khamsum Yuely Temple perched on the hillside far in the distance.

A short walk from the dzong takes us to our vans, waiting to shuttle us back to our hotel for the evening.
Hotel Punatsangchu, Punakha, Bhutan

DAY 5
Transfer to Jakar (approximately 6 hrs.). Visit to the Trongsa Dzong and Yathra weaving studios

Our road to the east, and the district of Bumthang, is an incredible feat of engineering which follows Himalayan ridges and valleys towards the cultural heartland of Bhutan. A winding and twisting route via the Pele La brings us to Trongsa, the ancestral home of Bhutan’s current royal dynasty, the Wangchuks. We visit the sprawling Trongsa Dzong, perhaps the most impressive Dzong in the kingdom. It is one of the most aesthetic and magnificent works of traditional Bhutanese architecture. Given its strategic location high above the Mande Chhu, it is often described as being perched so high on a mountain that clouds float below it.

After lunch and our visit to the dzong, we continue along the road to the Bumthang Dzongkag (district) and the town of Jakar, our base for the coming days. Along the way we visit yathra weaving studios where hand-spun, hand-woven wool strips with patterns specific to the Bumthang region are created. These strips were once used as shawls and raincoats to protect against the winter cold of Bumthang, but today they are more often fashioned into short jackets that women wear. The Bumthang region encompasses four major valleys: Choskhor, Tang, Ura and Chhume. The dzongs and the most important temples are in the large Choskhor valley, commonly referred to as the Bumthang Valley. Different from most other valleys in Bhutan, Bumthang is spacious and open and ideal for walkers and hikers. There are numerous Buddhist monasteries and pilgrimage sites to explore, making it the cultural and historic center of Bhutan. It would be difficult to find as many important temples and monasteries in such a small area anywhere else in Bhutan, and almost every little valley or hill has a background of interesting myths and legends about kings, Buddhist masters, and serpents.
Mountain Lodge, Jakar, Bhutan

DAYS 6 & 7
Bumthang Valley sites

Easy walking.

While in Bumthang we visit many of the valley’s significant sites. We visit Jampa Lhakhang, where according to legend it was one of 108 temples built in a day by Tibetan King Songsten Gampo to pin down an evil ogress (Jampa holds down the left knee.) In keeping with Bhutan’s significant historical figures, we also visit the Kurjey Lakhang where Guru Rimpoche came in the 8th century to settle issues with feuding local rulers. With a flash of his magic, the guru resolved the conflict and converted everyone to Buddhism, leaving his body imprint on a rock for which Kurjey Lhakhang is named. The Kurjey Lhakhang temple complex is made up of three buildings and the body imprint of the guru can be seen in the first and oldest of the temples which was built in 1652.

In the evenings we sample local specialties such as buckwheat noodles and pancakes, local Swiss cheese, fresh apple juice, and a delicious local wheat beer; and take part in local song and dance.
Mountain Lodge, Jakar, Bhutan

DAY 8
Transfer to Thimphu (approximately 10 hours).

Today we retrace our route to the capital city of Thimpu and home to Bhutan’s royal family, the Wangchuks. Before becoming Bhutan’s official national capitol in 1961, Thimphu was simply a rural farming valley. Small and secluded, Thimphu is unlike any other world capital. The city is quiet and there are still only a few streets, no traffic lights, and none of the traffic problems common to other Asian capitols.

Dinner this evening will be Asian-Bhutanese cuisine at one of the finer restaurants in Thimphu.
Hotel Migmar, Thimphu, Bhutan

DAY 9
Thimphu sites

Walking – easy, 2-4 hours

Thimphu is a city ideally explored on foot, and our walk today takes us between its many interesting sights. Before the day is through, we may visit the newly built textile museum, the Thimphu Dzong (seat of the government and main monk body), the School of Traditional Arts and Crafts, the Heritage Museum, and the Handicrafts Emporium, displaying the rich traditional crafts of the kingdom. Along the way we stop at a local restaurant for lunch before continuing our walk through the city.
Hotel Migmar, Thimphu, Bhutan

DAY 10
Cheri Goemba and the Choki School of Arts

Hiking – easy to moderate, 2-4 hours on dirt roads and trails.

This morning a short drive through the countryside surrounding Thimphu brings us to the Jigme Dorji Wildlife Sanctuary, the largest protected area in the country. The park is home to several endangered species including the takin, snow leopard, blue sheep, tiger, red panda, and the Himalayan black bear. More than 300 species of birds have been cataloged within the park.

Our walk begins from the small village of Dodena. Our trail starts by crossing a covered bridge over the Wang Chhu and we climb steadily to Cheri Goemba, a small monastery perched on the hill with a view over the Thimphu Valley. Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal built this monastery in 1620, and this is where the first community of monks in Bhutan was established. The monastery is consider very sacred as it contains the ashes of Tempi Nima, the father of the first Shabdrung of Bhutan, and beautiful frescoes of Buddhist saints.

After our visit to the monastery, we descend back the way we came, keeping our eyes open for the goral (wild goat) that are often spotted on the cliffs nearby. Back at the village of Dodena we follow a riverside trail via Begana to Cabesa, home to the Choki School of Arts. The Choki School is private and provides free skills-related education in the traditional arts and crafts of Bhutan to Bhutanese children who are unable to attend or complete their formal education. After visiting the school we continue along the riverside trail and pass through small rural villages before returning to Thimphu.
Hotel Migmar, Thimphu, Bhutan

DAY 11
Free Morning in Thimphu; Transfer to Paro

This morning is free to spend as you like before our afternoon return to Paro. There is time for walking, relaxing, or searching for the perfect traditional weaving in a Thimphu handicraft shop. Beautiful weaves in wool, silk and cotton, basketwork, silver jewelry, thangkas and other traditional crafts of the Kingdom are available in various shops.

Tonight we share one last dinner together as we celebrate our journey through this magical kingdom and the kind welcome that we have received from the generous people of Bhutan.
Janka Resort, Paro, Bhutan

DAY 12
Departure from Paro

An early morning departure from Paro returns us to Bangkok where we say farewell and journey home or to other exciting destinations.

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