7 Days Bhutan Tour

Day 01: Arrival Paro

The most spectacular mountain flights you will ever experience in a life time. Flying in from the heat of the plains of India one can witness from the left side of the aircrafts window a series of the world’s highest peaks. Your pilot will announce the names of the peaks if the weather is clear. You will descend into the high mountains and as the plane lowers you will not find any airstrip or any city but instead you will enjoy the view of the approaching valley of Paro, the alpine forests, little monasteries, temples and farm houses.

Before the plane touches the runaway, you will get a glimpse of the fertile valley of Paro, the Paro Dzong (Fortress) and Paro chu (river). Upon your arrival at the Paro airport, you will be greeted by a representative from Bhutan Tour Treks. After picking up your luggage and look for our representative with a Bhutan Tour Treks display board at the arrival gate. After that, you will be transferred to hotel in Thimphu. Evening visit Tashichoe Dzong (Fortress of Glorious Religion). Overnight at a hotel in Thimphu.

Day 02: Thimphu sightseeing.

Thimphu sightseeing includes the following:

After breakfast you will be transfer to the following places. And lunch will be served.

• Visit King's Memorial Chorten (Stupa). This Stupa was built in the memory of our Third King of Bhutan.

• Buddha Point (There is a statue of Buddha which is 169 feet).

• National Library: There are lots of Bhutanese scripts and also we have the biggest book in the world.

• Takin Preservation Centre (contains national animal takin).

Evening overnight drive back to Paro. Overnight at a hotel in Paro.

Day 03: Thimphu-Punakha

Morning drive to low lands of Punakha valley touching Dochula pass 3,100 m and on the stop at Hongtsho village. Stop at the immigration check point to stamp in your permit. Next to the check point you will find small local stalls selling fresh juicy local apples available for sale in plastic bags you could try some. You will be driving through the first mountain pass in the western part of Bhutan. You will find the 108 Druk Wangyal chortens on the top of the pass where the ridges are draped in colourful prayer flags greet you.

You could take three rounds and offer prayers, take some best photo shots.. If the weather is clear you will be able to see the highest peaks towards the north, Gangar Punsum among others is the highest unclimbed peak (24,000 ft) in the world.. If you are lucky you could see red pandas, different species of birds, you can take some photo shot close to the natural lake. Proceed down towards Punakha through Thinleygang village and upon reaching Lobesa turn left and enter Punakha valley.

On the way have Lunch at Lobesa and take a hike to Chimi Lhakhang (Temple). This monastery is dedicated to Lama Drukpa Kunley” Divine Madman” known for his outrageous behavior. It was built in 1499 by Ngawng Chogyal the, 14th Drukpa Hierarch. Many childless women visit this lhakhang (Temple) and seek blessings for a child.

The existing footpath to Chimi Lhakhang (Temple) passes through beautiful terraces of paddy filed after crossing paddy field. You will come across a Lobesa Village with lots of traditional house. Lobesa Village is situated in valley, surrounded by paddy fields on the way to important Buddhist Shrine “Chimi Lhakhang” in Punakha.

You can very well interact with local people and here also, you can visit some village houses to understand about their life style and proceed towards Chimi Lhakhang (Temple). Drive to Punakha. Overnight at a Hotel in Punakha.

Day 4: There are two Option in days 4

Option 1

Punakha – Phubjikha - Punakha

Morning transfer to Phobjikha (Altitude 3,000m) Important site for visit at Phobjikha is Gangtey Gonpa (Temple), the seat of Ngyingmapa Buddhism, one of the religious sects in Bhutan. It was built by Pema Thinley, first Gangtey Trulku (reincarnation) grandson of Pema Lingpa in the year 1613. After the visit of the lhakhang (temple) stroll around the beautiful valley of Phobjikha. This place serves as the winter habitat for endangered black necked cranes migrating from Tibet from November to February to escape harsh winter there. The road to Gangtey passes through dense forests of oak, rhododendron trees with beautiful scenery. Drive back to Punakha valley and overnight at a hotel in Punakha.

Option 2

Morning we will visit beautiful nunnery built on the hill top of Walakha, join the nuns for morning prayer and later on drive further north of Punakha to visit one of the beautiful Stupa or Temple built on ridge near the Punakha river known as Khamsum Yuelley Namgyel Chorten which will take around 30 minutes to reach from the town. It was built in honour for then Crown Prince Jigme Kheser Namgyel Wangchuk which was built in 1990s and took period of nearly 10 years. From the parking, it will take another 45 minutes uphill hike to reach crossing through rice suspension bridge and rice field and return portion downhill takes around 30 minutes.

Overnight at a hotel in Punakha

Day 5: Punakha – Paro

After breakfast drive back to paro valley. Overnight at a hotel in Paro.

Day 6: Paro valley sightseeing

There are 2 options below you can select and sightseeing:

Option 1

Paro – Chelela Pass

Drive to Chele la-la pass (3988 m), One the way to Chelela Pass visit a Kila Gompa.

Drive to Chele pass a favorite place for many visitors and is one of highest motor able passes in the country. For the Buddhists, it is also a sacred place to festoon the pass with prayer flags. For naturalists, the Chele la ridge offers gardens of Himalayan flowers, plants and of special pheasant species. Water is scarce on these ridges and it is recommended to have enough water supplies with you. Evening drive back to Paro. Overnight at a hotel in Paro.

Option 2

Hike to Tiger’s Nest

Taktshang (Tiger’s Nest) falls in top 20 places to visit in the world. Paro is a valley of religion and myth. The most famous landmark, Taktsang Monastery (Tiger’s Nest), stands on a granite cliff about 1000 m above the valley.

It is believed that Guru Rinpoche, a famous Buddhist saint, flew to Paro on a tigress and meditated at Taktsang. The monastery is considered a national treasure of Bhutan.

The hike to Taktsang would take us around 2 ½ hrs to reach a cafeteria, a point from where one can enjoy great view of the monastery. Those interested can walk further 45 minutes uphill to get a closer view of the monastery. Walk down back to road. The journey downward to the road would take us less 1 ½ hrs. Have lunch in Hotel. After lunch take a walk in Paro Bazar for shopping. Overnight at a hotel in Paro.

Day 7: Departure

After breakfast a representative from Bhutan Tour Treks will take you to the Paro airport approximately 2 hours before the scheduled flight. We hope you have enjoyed the tour with us, and we are sure you will be back making another trip somewhere with Bhutan Tour Treks again.