Bhutan Thunder Dragon Tour

On arrival at Paro airport, your passport will be stamped with a visa. You will be required to have with you your visa an approval letter and two passport size photos. Your guide will be there to meet you and take you to your 3-star hotels in Paro. We will first visit the National Museum - a watchtower, which has many interesting displays on Bhutan’s history and culture. Next, we will visit Rimpung Dzong (Fortress) which was built in the year 1644 and is an architectural work of art. After a break for lunch, we will head to Kitchu Monastery, built in the 7th century and the Drukgyel Dzong which was built to celebrate the victory over the invading Tibetans.

Our road trip today follows the Paro River downstream to where it connects with the Wang Chu River. We then head upstream along the banks of the Wang Chu River until we reach Thimphu. After having lunch at our hotel we will visit the Memorial Chorten, dedicated to the Late Third King of Bhutan, His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, and then head to the Painting School where students practice in the traditional arts and crafts. From here we will go to the Royal Heritage Museum where you can see a depiction of how the Bhutanese live and practice their Buddhist faith. Next on the agenda is a visit to the mini zoo where Bhutan’s national animal, the Takin is housed. The last two places of interest we see today are the Handicrafts Emporium and Textile Museum where Bhutanese textiles and other arts are on display. Lastly, we will visit the Bhutanese Paper making factory. Today will be a real eye-opener and will give you a feel for how the government preserves their age-old traditions.

This morning we will drive to Punakha with a stop at Dochula Pass (3050m) for a panoramic view of the snow covered mountains. We will stop for a lunch break at Khuruthang visit to Punakha Dzong, which used to be the old capital of Bhutan. This astonishing fortress is built between two rivers and has survived glacial floods and fire. Every February a parade, known as the Punakha Serda, commemorates the Bhutanese victory over the Tibetans. We then hike up to Khamsan Yuley Namgyal Chorten, a temple built to celebrate the well being of all sentient beings – that naturally includes the king and his people.