DAY
01 Fly into Paro Bhutan from Delhi or Kathmandu.
On this flight, you can see breathtaking views of the
Great Himalayas. Upon arrival at Paro International Airport,
you will be welcomed to the Kingdom by Airport Representative.
15-20
minutes drive from the airport will reach you to the hotel.
Check in at hotel. Lunch served at the hotel. After lunch,
Orientation talk and introduction video show on Bhutan
with tea and snacks. Overnight Paro.
DAY 02 Paro Sightseeing.
The people of Paro are known for their hard work which
they like to show in their big and traditional country
houses. If you marry a girl from Paro, be prepared to
put metal roofing over the traditional shingle roof in
your wife's house and purchase farming machinaries, to
show that you are capable and well-to-do husband, so we
joke among ourselves. Paro's sightseeing is full of gems
uch as the 200 year old Watch Tower which has been renovated
and converted into National Museum in 1968. It houses
a fine collection of national costumes and fabrics, gallery
of thangkas, an impressive stamp
gallery with three dimensional and CD stamps issued as
early as 1960 that are remarkable, and other galleries
showcasing armour and silverware with the handsome Royal
tea pots. On the top floor there is a four sided temple
complex depicting the history of Buddhism and its propagation.
Visit
Drugyel Dzong, although mostly now in ruins. Built in
1647 by Shabdrung Nawang Namgyel to commemorate the victory
over Tibetan Invaders, which indicates by the name of
the Dzong meaning Victorious Bhutanese Fort. Visit Drugyel
High School and Kychu Lhakhang, the oldest monastery in
the valley built in 7th. century. Take a look at the shops
in Paro town. Lunch at the hotel. After lunch drive up-to
Chelila Pass (Alt. 3,780m) to view the spectacular scenery
of Mt. Jumolhari as well as Haa and Paro Valley. Overnight
Paro. DAY 03 Paro Festival. Watch Paro festival whole
day. vernight Paro.
DAY 04 Paro Festival. Watch The Great Thangka and Paro Festival. Get
up early morning at around 4 a.m. Go to see the N-furling
of Great Thangka of Guru Padmasambhawa, believed as the
re-incarnation of Lord Buddha who came to Bhutan in the
7th Century and introduced Buddhism in Bhutan. Watch festival
whole day. Lunch will be served at the Hotel. Evening
drive to Thimphu for Overnight at hotel. The drive from
Paro to Thimphu is spectacularly scenic. Magnificent monasteries
and stupas in the valleys and mountain tops. Experience
the "Last Buddhist Himalayan Kingdom" on Earth
and take precious memories back home.
DAY
05 Full day Thimphu Sightseeing.
Change money from the Bhutan National Bank
Purchase world's most beautiful postage stamps, collector's
items and postcards at face value from general post
office which is right next to Bhutan National Bank.
Visit Arts and crafts school where one can see young
children at work.
Visit Traditional Medicine Institute where the ancient
healing arts are still practiced.
Visit Memorial Chorten built in 1974 to honour memory
of Late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, popularly known as
the Father of Modern Bhutan. A multi-storied stupa that
will introduce you to the vitality of Tantric Buddhism.
Observe traditional paper making from Daphnia and
Edgeworthia shrub to the finished product and purchase
some beautiful writing sets from the factory.
Visit Botanical garden (Zoo) where one can see Yak
and Takin, the National wild animal of Bhutan.
Drive up to view point and take a hike beyond to see
the clear picture of Thimphu Valley.
Downtown Thimphu on foot visiting Handicrafts Emporium
and other Arts & Crafts stores. Buy stunning kiras
which can be used and bed covers or wall decoration,
jewleries and many more. O/n Thimphu
DAY
06 Thimphu - Wangdi
After breakfast 3 hours drive will take you across Dochula
Pass (10,500 feet) to the valley of angdi Phodrang and
Punakha. Check in at Hotel Dragon Nest. Lunch will be
served at the hotel. After lunch drive to Punakha valley
for Sightseeing. Overnight Wangdi.
DAY 07 Excursion
to Gangtey & Phobjikha Valley
After breakfast at the hotel drive to Gangtey and Phobjikha
valley. Phobjikha valley has been declared as the first
eco-tourism destination of Bhutan by the Royal Society for
Protection of Nature (RSPN). The valley falls under the
Black Mountain Natural Park. Phobjikha valley is the winter
home to rare and endangered black necked cranes (grus nigricllis)
which migrate in large folks to Bhutan from Tibet &
Sikang, Yunnan and Tonkin in eastern China. For centuries
the cranes have captured the human imagination with their
intelligence, poise, sociality, beauty and freedom, which
have given rise to several myths, legends, folktales and
songs. In 1998 there were about 250 cranes and the numbers
are increasing. By mid February, the cranes fly back across
the Himalayas to their summer homes in Tibet and China.
Besides cranes, there are lot's of other wild animals in
the
surrounding valleys like wild boar, barking deer, Himalayan
black bear, red fox, leopard and many more which if you
are lucky, then you can spot all along the route.Visit the
Nature Education center and talk to the experts there. Visit
the cranes roosting area. Visit the carpet factory and the
Sacred Gangtey Monastery which dominates the valley. Lunch
at Gangtey. Return to Wangdi for Overnight.
DAY 08 Wangdi -
Paro
After breakfast, 3 hours drive to Thimphu. Lunch will be
served at Thimphu. After lunch, walk round Thimphu town
for 1 to 2 hours for last minute souvenir shopping. Evening
drive to Paro. Overnight at Hotel, Paro.
DAY 09 Excursion to Taktsang monastery.
Day hike to Taktsang Monastery view point. Taktsang, meaning
"Tiger's nest," is built around a cave in which
Guru Rimpoche (Padmasambhawa) mediated, clings seemingly
impossible to a cliff of rock at 3,000 feet above the valley
floor. For the local people it is a place of pilgrimage,
but for a tourist, a hike up to the view point opposite
the monastery is exhausting, thrilling and mystical. The
legend has it that Guru Rimpoche is said to have
flown to the site of the monastery on the back of a tigress
from Tibet and meditated in the cave there for three months.
Although the main building of the temple was destroyed by
fire on 19 April 1998, the hike up to the view point is
still worth a visit once in a lifetime. The reconstruction
works have already started and soon it will be restored
in it's original form. In the Evening cocktail farewell
party and cultural show will be arranged for the group.
Overnight Paro.
DAY 10 Departure.
Depart to Kathmandu/Bangkok/Delhi by Druk Air flight.
Your guide will assist you to complete the departure formalities
and bid TASHI DELEK!
