7 Days Western Bhutan Tour

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Paro (Altitude 2280 m) (By Druk Air) – Thimphu (2320 m) (Distance: 54 km, 1 hr drive):

Stop At: Tachogang Lhakhang Bridge, Paro-Thimphu Highway, Paro 12001 Bhutan
Our Guide from Yak Holidays will receive you at the Airport and drive you to Thimphu city. On the way, see the Tamchog Monastery built by Thangthong Gyalpo (Popularly known as Lama Chazampa, which literally means, the Iron Bridge builder) in the 15th century.

Thang Thong Gyalpo (1385 – 1464) was a wonder working saint from Tibet who came to Bhutan in 1433 looking for Iron Ore. He built 108 bridges across Tibet and Bhutan, out of which 8 were built in Bhutan. His only surviving bridge is in Duksum (Tashi Yangtse district in Eastern Bhutan).
Duration: 30 minutes

Meals included:
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Hotel Pedling - 3 Star Lodge

Day 2: Thimphu Sightseeing: (Altitude 2320 m)

Stop At: Thimphu Chorten (Memorial Chorten), Thimphu Bhutan
The day begins with visits to the National Memorial Chorten (1974) built in honour of our 3rd King, late His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuk (The Father of Modern Bhutan), the Buddha Dordenma Statue, the Changangkha Lhakhang, Takin Preserve at Motithang, Sangaygang view point, and the Dupthop Lhakhang; one of the few surviving nunneries in Bhutan.

After lunch, visit the National Postal Museum, which is worth a visit for you can get your own picture on Bhutanese stamp impromptu. Get a photo clicked or give a photo of your near and dear ones and you can get personalized stamps in minutes, followed by a visit to the Painting School where traditional art is still kept alive through the art of painting Thangkas (sacred Buddhist religious scrolls) and the Folk Heritage Museum. In the evening, visit the Tashichho Dzong, seat of the national government and the Central Monastic Body, including the summer residence of the Je Khenpo (Chief Abbot of Bhutan) and finally visit the Handicrafts Emporium followed by shopping at the various souvenir shops of Thimphu city. Dinner and overnight in Hotel Migmar or similar.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Hotel Pedling - 3 Star Lodge

Day 3: Thimphu – Punakha: (Altitude 1310 m) (76 Km, 3 hrs drive).

Stop At: Punakha Dzong, Punakha 13001 Bhutan
After breakfast, drive to Punakha via Dochula pass (3116m). Stop for a while at Dochula pass to view the magnificent range of the Higher Himalayas. Drive further down and visit the Royal Botanical Garden at Lamperi.

The Royal Botanical park, also known as the Rhododendron Garden at Lamperi is a half hour drive towards Punakha/Wangdue valleys. With your spirits still high from the visit to the awesome sites of Dochula Pass with its 108 stupas and the beautifully arranged Himalayan mountain ranges, you will descend down to Rhododendron Botanical Garden, a nature reserve rich in flora and fauna and beautiful in itself. The recorded species are the monal pheasants, blood pheasants, musk deer, tiger, leopard, red panda and the leopard cat. A Rhododendron garden with 46 species of the plant is the theme of the botanical garden. Located 30 km from capital city, the park has numerous view points, a lake and a canteen. At this park, you can indulge yourself amongst these rich biodiversity.
Drive further down to the Punakha valley. On the way, view Chimi Lhakhang, which was built by Lama Drukpa Kuenley (Popularly known as “The Divine Madman”, in the year 1499. He subdued the demons of Dochula pass who used terrorize all and sundry with his “Magical Thunder bolt” and built the temple on top of a hillock. The Temple is also known as “the Temple of Fertility”.

Lama Drukpa Kuenley (1455 – 1529) was one of the Bhutan’s Favourite Saints who was born in Tibet, trained at Ralung Monastery and was a contemporary and a disciple of Pema Lingpa. He Travelled throughout Bhutan and Tibet as a Yogi using songs, humour and outrageous behavior to dramatise his teachings of Salvation through sex. Legend has it that he created the Takin, the national of Bhutan.
After lunch, visit the magnificent Punakha Dzong built in 1637 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal and is situated at the confluenceof the Pho Chu (Male River) and the Mo Chu (Female River). For many years until the time of the second king, it served as the seat of the Government. The construction of the Dzong was foretold by Guru Rimpoche, who predicted, “…a person named Namgyal will arrive at a hill that looks like an elephant”. There was a smaller fortress here called Dzong Chu (Small Dzong) that housed a statue of Buddha. It is said that Zhabdrung ordered the architect, Zowe Palep, to sleep in front of the statue, while Palep was sleeping; the Zhabdrung took him in his dreams to Zangtopelri and showed him the palace of Guru Rimpoche. From his vision, the architect conceived the design for the new Dzong, which in keeping with the tradition, was never committed to paper or an kind of blueprint whatsoever. The Dzong was named Druk Pungthang Dechen Phodrang (Palace of Great Happiness). War materials captured during the various battles with Tibetans are preserved here. Punakha is still the winter residence of Je-Khenpo, the chief Abbbot of Bhutan and King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk convened the First National Assembly here in 1952.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Hotel Vara - 3 Star Lodge

Day 4: Punakha – Wangdue – Thimphu

Stop At: Dochula Pass, Thimphu Bhutan
After breakfast, sightseeing in the valley of Wangdiphodrang includes visit to the Wangdiphodrang Dzong built in 1638 (which was razed by fire in 2012), & under construction (from outside). Legend relates that as the people were searching for the site of the Dzong; four ravens were seen flying away in four directions. This was considered auspicious sign, representing the spread of Buddhist religion to all directions. A particular boy named Wangdi had a significant hand in building the fortress, hence the name. The Dzong is situated at the confluence of Mo Chu and Tang Chu rivers.

We then drive back to Thimphu city. After lunch in Dochula Resort, drive to Thimphu and witness a archery match in Changlimithang. In the evening, a free stroll in town.
Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Hotel Pedling - 3 Star Lodge

Day 5: Thimphu – Paro: (Altitude 2280 m, Distance 58 km, Drive Time 1 hour):

Stop At: Rinpung Dzong, Paro, Bhutan
After breakfast, visit the Ta Dzong (built in1656 and renovated in 1968), an ancient watchtower, which now has been converted as the National Museum. Below the museum is the Paro Rinpung Dzong (literally meaning “Heap of Jewels”, built in 1646 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the centre of administrative and religious authority in this valley. A short walk takes you to the base of the Dzong thru a traditional cantilevered, covered bridge.

After lunch, visit to the ruins of the Drugyal Dzong (the fortress of the victorious Drukpas), 16 km up the valley built in 1647 by the great Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, father and unifier of medieval Bhutan, the Dzong was destroyed by an accidental fire and left in ruins as an evocative reminder of the great victories it was built to commemorate. Explore the ramparts and on a clear day experience an unforgettable view of Mt. Jhomolhari (7,314 m). On the way back, visit Kichu Lhakhang, built in 659 A.D by the Tibetan king Srongsen Gampo.

Srongsen Gampo: He was a Tibetan king who married a Chinese princess, Wenchen in 641, and as part of her dowry was a statue called “Jowo” which was an Indian image of Buddha, Sakyamuni as a small boy. In 659, He decided to build 108 Temples in a single day to subdue the Ogress to the earth forever and, at the same time, convert all Tibetans to Buddhism. 6 of these Temples are in Bhutan, the most prominent of them are Jambay Lhakhang in Bumthang and Kichu Lhakhang in Paro. Kichu Lhakhang is said to hold the left foot of the Ogress and Jambay Lhakhang pins the left knee.
Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Tashi Namgay Resort - 3 Star Lodge

Day 6: Paro Sightseeing (Hike to Tiger's Nest Monastery)

Stop At: Paro Taktsang, Taktsang Trail BT, Paro Bhutan
After breakfast, drive to the base camp and hike to Taktsang Monastery: a short drive will take us to Satsam Chorten, and from there a relentless 2 hour walk till the viewpoint point of the monastery. The trail leads thru beautiful pine forests, many of the trees festooned with Spanish moss, and an occasional grove of fluttering prayer flags. We stop for a rest for light refreshments at the Taktsang Jakhang ( a cafeteria) and then walk a short distance until we clearly see the wonderful Taktsang monastery. The primary Lhakhang (temple) was built around Guru Rimpoche’s meditation cave in the 1684 by the Penlop (Governor) of Paro, Gyaltse Tenzin Rabgay. This incredible monastery clings to the edge of a sheer rock cliff 900 meters above the valley. Legend has it that Guru Rinpoche, the tantric mystic saint who introduced Buddhism to Bhutan, flew here on the back of a flying tiger, Dorji Drolo, said to be his favorite consort.

NB: You can hoist prayer flags near the Tiger’s Nest, and offer prayers inside the monastery. You can also request the lamas to pray for you.

Hot stone bath: One of the best ways to unwind after a long tiring day in Bhutan is a hot stone bath. It is not only practiced as a comforting leisure but also a treatment for various ailments. Soaking in Menchu ( Bhutanese term for water with medicinal properties) is a major draw for Bhutanese, especially during the winters. The cost for one bath is US$10.
Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Tashi Namgay Resort - 3 Star Lodge

Day 7: Departure: (Altitude 2280 m)

Stop At: Paro Airport Bird's Eye View Point, Paro Bhutan
Early morning, drive to the airport and farewell.
Duration: 30 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.