Glimpse of Bhutan

Day 01,: Arrive in Kathmandu

Upon arrival at Tribhuwan International Airport, you will be met by our representative and transferred to the hotel as booked. After freshening up, we will then visit Kathmandu Durbar Square and Swyambhunath Stupa.

Kathmandu, the largest city of Nepal, is the political as well as the cultural capital of the country. Like any big city, Kathmandu has seen rapid expansion in the last decade, but despite the hustle and bustle so typical of metropolitan cities, its people remain as refreshingly friendly as ever. Retaining its ancient traditions, Kathmandu is blessed by a Living Goddess and is enriched by endless ceremonial processions and events that take to the streets every now and then with throngs of devotees seeking blessings. These religious festivals are steeped in legend and are quite a spectacle with chariot processions and masked dancers often possessed by the spirits of deities.

Vegetable & spice markets: We visit the vegetable & spice market in Ason, and see its many courtyards and bustling bazaars.

The Temple of the Living Goddess: The Kumari Devi is the most important of several living goddesses in Nepal. She is seen on the temple’s balcony regularly.

Durbar Square: ‘Durbar’ means ‘palace’, and takes its name from the old Royal Palace. This is the centre of the old city, and there are a number of interesting temples including Kasthamandap, the House of Wood, which gives the city its name.

Kathmandu Valley comprises the three ancient cities of Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur, which were once independent states ruled by the Malla kings from the 12^th to the 18^th centuries. The three cities house seven UNESCO World Heritage shrines that are together listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (Culture). The valley is also home to hundreds of other exquisite monuments, sculptures, artistic temples and magnificent art – reminders of the golden era in Nepal’s architecture.

Swayambhunath Stupa also known as the Monkey Temple is a UNESCO WORLD Heritage Site. It rests on a hillock 3 km towards the western edge of Kathmandu and is one of the most important and the most sacred Buddhist shrines of Nepal. Legend has it that when Kathmandu Valley was a lake 2000 years ago, a single lotus flower grew at the center of the lake. When Saint Manjushree, the Bodhisatva drained the lake with a single slash of his sword, the lotus settled on top of a hill and magically turned into a stupa. Thus Swayambhunath is also known as a Self-Created stupa.

This stupa is the most ancient and the perhaps the most enigmatic of all holy shrines in Kathmandu. The area surrounding the stupa is filled with smaller chaityas, temples, painted images of deities and numerous other religious objects. There are many small shrines with statues of Tantric and shamanistic deities, prayer wheels for the Tibetan Buddhists, Shiva lingams and a popular Hindu temple dedicated to Harati, the Goddess of smallpox and other epidemics.

Overnight at Hotel [-/-/-]

Day 02,: Fly to Paro, drive to Thimphu

Distance: 53 kms/ 32 miles

Drive Time: 1 hour approx.

Altitude: 2350 m / 7709 ft

Flight Details: KB 205 Depart Arrive PBH

Fly into Paro by Druk Air, Bhutan’s National Airline. The great snow-capped peaks of the inner Himalayas can be seen during clear weather. As the plane approaches Bhutan, if you look down, farm houses appears as dots on the hillsides. As the aircraft enters the Paro valley, you will see Paro Dzong on the hillside overlooking the Paro Chu (river), with Ta Dzong, formerly a watchtower and now the National Museum, above it.

Later drive to Thimphu, the capital town of Bhutan. The road leads through the Paro valley to the confluence of Paro and Thimphu rivers at Chuzom (confluence).

Upon arrival in Thimphu, check in to the hotel.

Overnight at Hotel [-/-/D]

Day 03: Sightseeing in Thimphu

After breakfast at the hotel, we will continue our sightseeing in Thimphu.

The Memorial Chorten, a large Tibetan-style Buddhist Monastery is a popular landmark in the city with its golden spires and bells. It was built in 1974 to honor the memory of the third king, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. The architecture of the chorten has been designed to present it as ‘one of the most visible religious structures in Thimphu.

The Folk Heritage Museum: It is the first structure to incorporate both monastic and administrative facilities. Since 1961 it has been the home of the Rigney School for Dzongkha and monastic studies. Its students are both monks and ordinary people. The Dzong’s antique murals are renowned for their historic and artistic value and the frescoes and images are among the finest in the country.

The Folk Heritage Museum is set inside a 19th century three-storied traditional building and was established in 2001. The museum houses different tools, materials, objects, equipments and artifacts from rural Bhutanese households and gives a good insight of the traditional Bhutanse lifestyle. 

To showcase the authenticity of the country, the museum preserves a rural setting with paddy, wheat and millet fields, a traditional water-mill with mill stones more than 150 years old, traditional style kitchen gardens with vegetables that were grown over the past 100 years and the famous traditional hot stone bath. Native trees and plants that had domestic uses in Bhutanese rural household are being grown here in an effort to keep indigenous knowledge about the use of natural resources alive.

The National Library of Bhutan is a four-storied eight-cornered traditional building, which looks like the central tower temple of a Bhutanese Dzong. It was initially housed and established in 1967 within the central tower of Tashichho Dzong. Later, due to its growing collection, it was moved to its current location and inaugurated in 1984. The building that initially had a small collection of precious texts now holds an archive responsible for collecting and preserving important past, present and future documents on Bhutan for future generations. The library also has a representative collection of English and western language books mainly related to the Himalayas, Bhutan and Buddhism.

Next, visit the Institute for Zorig Chusum: Commonly known as the Painting School, the Institute offers a six-year course on the 13 traditional arts and crafts of Bhutan. On a visit one can see students learning the various skills taught at the school.

After lunch, visit Tashichho Dzong.

Tashichho Dzong: This dzong is an impressive building also known as ‘the fortress of the Dharma Raja’. It has traditionally been the seat of the Druk Desi, the head of the Bhutan’s civil government.

The dzong has suffered several damages in the past. The original dzong was destroyed in the 1771 fire and again twice since then. Later the dzong was damaged in an earthquake in 1897 and was rebuilt in 1902. When King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck moved his capital to Thimphu in 1952, he started a five-year project that completely redesigned, enlarged and redesigned the dzong without using any nails or written plans.

Note: Tashichho Dzong is only opened after office hours (5:00 PM) and is closed on weekends. 

Then, visit the government-run Handicrafts Emporium and local crafts shops, to browse through example of Bhutan's fine traditional arts. Here you can buy hand-woven textiles, thangkha paintings, masks, ceramics, slate and wood carvings, jewelry, interesting items made from local materials.

Later, in the evening, take a walk around the town.

Overnight at Hotel [B/L/D]

 Day 04,: Drive back to Paro

 After early breakfast, drive back to Paro and check in to the hotel.

Hike to Taktsang Monastery:

We will then take a bike ride till Ramthangka where our hike to one of Bhutan’s most revered icons starts, Taktsang (also known as Tiger’s Nest Monastery perched 3,000 feet above the valley floor). Far from being a monument, it is a living, breathing monastery, home to a handful of monks. Hang a prayer flag to send Buddhist blessings via the winds. Afterward, enjoy a lunch overlooking Taktsang. The hike is 6.5 hours.

After lunch, visit Paro Dzong, one of the most impressive and well-known dzongs in Bhutan. One of the finest examples of Bhutanese architecture, it is also known as the RingpungDzong, which means ‘fortress on a heap of jewels’

Also visit the National Museum of Bhutan, housed inside the revamped circular Ta-dzong building, an ancient watchtower above the ParoDzong. The original building was constructed in 1656 but the building was converted into a museum in 1968. The necessary infrastructure was created to house some of the finest specimens of Bhutanese art, including masterpieces of bronze statues and paintings gathered from different parts of the country.

Overnight at Hotel [B/L/D]

Day 05: Fly to Bumthang

Flight Duration (Domestic Flight): 30 minutes approx.

Altitude: 2,580 m / 8,464 ft

After breakfast, drive to airport for your flight to Bumthang.

On arrival at Bumthang, transfer to the hotel. We will then take a bike ride to Kujey Lhakhang (Kujey means, "Body imprint"). The temple to the right is the oldest and was built by Minjur Tempa in 1652. It was built around the cave in which Guru Rimpoche meditated and left his body imprint and visit to Tamshing Lhakhang.

In the evening, take a walk around the town for leisure.

Overnight at Hotel [B/L/D]

Day 06,: Hike & Sightseeing at Bumthang

After breakfast, hike to Petseling Monastery.  It is located about 3 hours hiking distance above the Swiss Guesthouse on a steep incline. It offers fine panoramic views of the central Bumthang valley. You can also hike beyond the monastery across the ridge and feel the spirit of the mountains and monastery.

Later, visit Jakar Dzong, "castle of the white bird". According to legend, when the lamas assembled in about 1549 to select a site for a monastery, a big white bird rose suddenly in the air and settled on a spur of a hill. This was interpreted as an important omen, and the hill was chosen as the site for a monastery and for Jakar Dzong. The fortress is now used as an administrative center of the valley and summer residence of Trongsa monks.

In the evening, take a ride on a bike around the town.

Overnight at Hotel [B/L/D]

Day 07: Drive to Gangtey

Distance: 188 kms/ 116 miles

Drive Time: 5-6 hours approx.

Altitude: 3,000 m / 9,842 ft

After breakfast, drive to Trongsa. Visit the Trongsa Dzong, the most impressive Dzong in the Kingdom, perched on a strategic position above the Mangde Chu (river). This Dzong is the ancestral home of Bhutan’s royal family. Also visit the Ta Dzong an ancient watch tower and Chendebji Chorten (Stupa).

Continue drive to Gangtey. The name commonly given to the Phojikha Valley, Gangtey is considered one of the most beautiful spots in Bhutan. It is a wide, flat glacial valley, which is 123 kms and the drive time is 6 hours. At evening explore and walk for leisure around.

Overnight at Hotel [B/L/D]

Day 08,: Sightseeing in Gangtey

After breakfast, hike the Gangtey Nature Trail (2 hours). It starts from the mani stone wall to the north of the Gangtey Gonpa and ends in Khewa Lhakhang. The hike leads you through spectacular untouched territory.

Later, visit Gangtey Gonpa monastery, complex with five temples that surround the main central tower. It is one of the main seats of the religious tradition based on Pema Lingpa's revelations and one of the two main centres of the Nyingmapa school of Buddhism in Bhutan.

In the evening, explore nearby places at Gangtay on a bicylce. You can also take a walk around the valley.

Overnight at Hotel [B/L/D]

Day 09, Hotel: Drive to Punakha

Distance: 78kms/ 48 miles

Drive Time: 3 hours approx.

Altitude: 1300 m / 4265 ft

 After breakfast, drive to Punakha.  On the way, visit local market at Wangdi. Upon arrival in Punakha, check in the hotel and have lunch.

After lunch, hike to Khamsum Yulley Namgyel Chhorten: This hike is through the farmer’s field and then through the pine forest. The hike is about 1 hour up steep climb, and visit the Kamsum Yule Namgyel Chorten, which is a temple inside. The temple inside will give the visitors, the good examples of tantric Buddhist and its philosophy. On your way back, you can take through the fields of Kabesa Village.

Hike Time: 1 ½ hours approx.

Later, you can visit the local farm house and can see the Bhutanese living style and can enjoy home cooked dinner with them.

Overnight at Hotel [B/L/D]

Day 10,: Drive to Paro

Distance: 143 kms/ 88 miles

Drive Time: 4.5 - 5 hours approx.

Altitude: 2250 m / 7382 ft

 After breakfast, we will visit Punakha dzong and continue our journey to Paro.

En route, we will hike to Chimi Lhakhang (30 mins), dedicated to the legendary Lama Drukpa Kinley (known as the Divine Madman). The monastery is also revered as a sanctum of fertility. Legend has it that the couples wishing to have a baby from across Bhutan and occasionally from overseas are blessed with a child after visiting the temple – Japanese and several American couples visited this temple and were blessed miraculously with children.

 Upon arrival in Paro, we will check in the hotel. If time permits, we will take a bike ride to Kyichu Lhakhang. Built in the 7th century, it is one of the two oldest and most sacred shrines in Bhutan (the other being Jambay Lhakahng in Bumthang).

Overnight at Hotel [B/L/D]

Day 11, Final Departure [B]

Flight Details:

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your onward journey.

Cost Includes:

Nepal Portion

• All the necessary arrival and departure transfers.
• Meet assistance at the airport.
• 01 nights’ accommodation at  Hotel in Kathmandu, in double room on bed and breakfast basis.

• All the sightseeing tour and transfers as per the itinerary with Spanish speaking guide by private vehicle.

• All monument entrance fees.

Bhutan Portion

• All necessary arrival and departure transfers.
• 02 Nights hotel accommodation in Hotel, Thimphu - in a double sharing room on full board basis.
• 02 Nights hotel accommodation in Hotel, Paro - in a double sharing room on full board basis.
• 02 Nights hotel accommodation in Hotel, Bumthang - in a double sharing room on full board basis.
• 02 Nights hotel accommodation in Hotel Gangtey - in a double sharing room on full board basis.
• 01 Night hotel accommodation in Hotel, Punakha - in a double sharing room on full board basis.
• All the sightseeing tour and transfers as per the itinerary with English speaking guide by private vehicle.
• Bhutan Visa Fees
• Tourism development fee & Entrance fee in Bhutan

Cost Excludes:

• Nepalese Visa
• International airfare and airport tax.
• Insurance and rescue of any form.
• Items of personal nature such as bar bills, alcoholic beverages, laundry, telephone calls, extra mileage, personal gratuities as tips to guide, porters, drivers etc
• Personal insurance policy - suggested a comprehensive travel insurance covering tour and flight cancellations, loss of valuables, thefts, illness, accidents and hospitalization.
• Excess baggage
• Gratuities, tipping to guides and drivers.
• Expenses incurred by re-routing, inclement weather, floods, famine, political disruptions, strikes, riots and other disturbances

Any items and services not mentioned on cost inclusions