Accommodation

The price includes standard twin sharing accommodation at 3-star hotels certified by the Tourism Council of Bhutan. Our partner hotels are handpicked based on the recommendations and good experiences from our past guests. You will be informed of where you will stay at each destination before your arrival. During the course of trekking, we provide full-service outdoor camping in the pristine wilderness at designated campsites. Our trekking crew will transport the tents and camping equipment, pitch the tents, prepare and serve meals, washings will also be done by our trekking staff. You just have to bring a sleeping bag and a travel pillow. We will send you a suggested packing list after we receive your booking. You will also have an option (prior arrangement required) to stay at village homestay/farmhouse at few destinations to get insight into the local culture and feast on delicious local cuisine and take part in preparing some of the popular dishes of Bhutan.

Optional

You will have an opportunity to try our Bhutanese traditional archery and dart throwing. A set of national costumes (Gho for men and Kira for women) will be provided. The costumes should be returned to the guide at the end of the tour.

Meals

All meals (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner). Breakfast & Dinner will be usually served at your hotels. Most of the lunches will be served at local restaurants while some can be arranged as a picnic. We also arrange dinners at some traditional restaurants to offer a better choice.

Others

Bhutan Visa Fee is included. Visa will be arranged for you. Trekking permit Bottled mineral water in the car

Guide

We believe tour guides play an important role in making your journey memorable and getting the most out of your trip. All our guides are experienced English-speaking licensed by the Tourism Council of Bhutan and they will accompany you throughout your trip in Bhutan. They are always ready to serve you and take care of you every step of your journey so that you go back home satisfied and happy with good memories that will last a lifetime. And the driver’s responsibility is no less. No matter how luxury the transport is, your safety and comfort are in the hands of a driver. Therefore, we employ only experienced drivers specifically licensed to drive tourists. If for some reason you are not satisfied with either of our guide or driver, let us know immediately. We never had such issues in the past but we’ll always try to have them replaced as soon as possible. NOTE: We can arrange guides speaking other major languages (French, Japanese, German, Chinese, Korean & Thai) at an additional fee.

Hygieneprotocol

Starting from 23rd September 2022, Bhutan will fully reopen for tourism without quarantine requirement. The pre-departure RT-PCR negative test certificate is also not required. However, all tourists are required to show up-to-date COVID-19 vaccinination record. You are also required to have travel insurance. You may be required to wear face mask at all public places.

Transport

All ground transportations including airport transfers. We provide: Luxury SUV for 1-2 person Luxury Minivan for a group of 3-8 person Luxury bus/coach for a group of 9 people and above Our fleet of transport vehicles are highly maintained and chauffeured by specially licensed professionals to drive tourists. Porter & Pony charges are also included for trekking adventures.

Not included:

Insurance

Travel insurance is mandatory.

Others

Entry fees to sacred sites, museums and other national monuments Emergency evacuation & helicopter services Alcoholic beverages, bar bills Laundry services, telephone call charges Premium accommodation in a 4-Star and above hotel Cultural shows that require an advance arrangement Tips to guides and drivers (optional) Any other expense of personal nature

Flights

Flights are NOT INCLUDED. We can help arrange your flights to/from Bhutan. The flight tends to get fully booked months ahead especially during the peak season. We highly recommend you to book flights a few months ahead of your departure date. There are only two airlines operating in and out of Bhutan: 1. Drukair, the national flag carrier of Bhutan (www.drukair.com.bt) operates from/to these cities/International Airports: Bangkok, Bagdogra, Bodhgaya, Dhaka, Delhi, Guwahati, Kathmandu, Kolkata, Singapore. 2. Bhutan Airlines, a private airline introduced in 2011 (www.bhutanairlines.bt) operates from/to these cities/International Airport: Bangkok, Delhi, Kolkata, Kathmandu.

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Arriva Paro International Airport - Excursion In Paro (2195M)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Arriva Paro International Airport - Excursion In Paro (2195M)

Paro Altitude: 2,195m/7,200ft.

Arrive Paro International Airport by Drukair or Bhutan Airlines. On arrival, go through the immigration and customs formalities and get visa stamped on your passport. Your guide and driver will receive you at the exit gate of the arrival hall.As you will need to acclimatize to the altitude, today we will take it easy and drive you to one or two places of interest within Paro town. If your arrival time is way earlier than the hotel check-in time, we will visit one or two places of interest within Paro town. Otherwise, you’ll be heading straight to the hotel. Your guide and driver will assist you to check into the hotel so that you can relax for a while and then have lunch, your first taste of Bhutanese cuisine.

Visit National Museum of Bhutan – Ta Dzong: The National Museum of Bhutan is located in Paro just above the Rinpung Dzong (administrative headquarter of Paro district). It is housed in an ancient watch tower called Paro Ta Dzong (Ta Dzong means “watch tower fortress”) built in 1649. It displays hundreds of ancient Bhutanese artifacts and artworks including traditional costumes, armour, weaponry and handcrafted implements for daily life. The collection at the National Museum preserves a snap-shot of the rich cultural traditions of the country. This unique ancient watch tower was converted into the National Museum in 1968.

Visit Paro Rinpung Dzong: Paro Rinpung Dzong (Rinpung Dzong means “fortress of the heap of jewels”) was built by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel in 1646 and established as the administrative and monastic centre of the western region. Today, the Dzong serves as the office of the governor of Paro district and head of the district monk body in Paro.

After visiting the Dzong, take a short walk to the traditional wooden cantilever bridge called Nemeyzampa, where your driver will be waiting for you. The roofed wooden cantilever bridge is built in a traditional style and this type bridges are called Bazam.

Leisure time to explore Paro town.

Overnight in Paro at Khankhu Resort or Bhutan Mandala Resort
Day 2 Day 2: Full Day In Paro - Hike To The Famous Paro Taktsang (Tiger’S Nest)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Full Day In Paro - Hike To The Famous Paro Taktsang (Tiger’S Nest)

Total Hiking Time: 4-5 hours, Taktsang Altitude: 3,120m/10,235ft.

Today, you will hike to Paro Taksang at 3,120m/10,235ft. It is going to be a wonderful adventure presenting you with picturesque view from above and a perfect way to get acclimatized before we start our exciting 6-day trek tomorrow. Later in the afternoon visit a very auspicious 7th century temple later in the afternoon.

Hike to Taktsang Monastery at 10,240 feet above the sea level: After early breakfast, drive to the base of the Taksang monastery from where the hike begins. It takes normally about 2 hours to reach the monastery from the nearest road point. The hike is a steep climb but takes you through the cool shades of pine trees giving you a lot of opportunities to take beautiful pictures of the valley below or the ridge above. There is a nice cafeteria on the way where you can rest and can see the breathtaking view of the Taktsang Monastery. It takes about another hour to reach the monastery from the cafeteria.

Taktsang or the Tiger’s Lair (people prefer to call Tiger’s Nest) is located on a sheer 800-meter rocky cliff in Paro. It is the most popular tourist attraction in Bhutan.

After lunch at Taksang Cafeteria, descend back to the base and drive to visit Kyichu Lhakhang.

Visit 7th century Buddhist monastery – Kyichu Lhakhang: Kyichu Lhakhang (Lhakhang means “temple”), which is located just a few minutes drive from the main town of Paro, is one of the oldest monasteries in Bhutan. It is believed to have been built in 659 A.D. by the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo.

According to the legend, spirit of a giant demoness lay spread across Tibet and Bhutan causing obstruction to the propagation of Buddhism. In order to subdue this demoness, King Songtsen Gampo was required to built 108 temples across the affected region. Kyichu Lhakhang, built to pin down the left foot of the giant demoness, is one of the two temples that were built in Bhutan. The other is called Jambay Lhakhang located in the district of Bumthang in central Bhutan and was built to pin down the left knee. Both the temples were believed to have been built overnight.

Overnight in Paro at Khankhu Resort or Bhutan Mandala Resort
Day 3 Day 3: Trek Begins] Paro / Jele Dzong / Camp At Jangchulakha (3770M)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Trek Begins] Paro / Jele Dzong / Camp At Jangchulakha (3770M)

After breakfast, drive to the starting point of the trek. The first day can be quite arduous as you have to climb more than 1,300m elevation. You’ll pass by the National Museum of Bhutan and drive a little farther up to the road head. The trek follows a gravel road past a few farms for about 30 minutes and then climbs up a steep ridge before leading through blue pine and fir forests to Damche Gom. You hike past Jele Dzong, a peaceful temple on the hill with a grand view of the mountains. Lunch will be served near the temple. Continue the hike through thick alpine forests and dwarf Rhododendron trees until you reach the campsite, Jangchulakha. You may see herder and their yaks around the campsite offering you an opportunity to interact and experience a glimpse of their semi-nomadic lifestyle.

Distance: 15km, Time: 6-7 hours, Ascent: 1,350m, Camp Altitude: 3,770m/12,370ft
Day 4 Day 4: Jangchulakha / Camp At Jimilang Tso (3870M)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Jangchulakha / Camp At Jimilang Tso (3870M)

The trail follows a ridge and on a clear day, the view of the mountains and valley are simply stunning. The campsite is close to the Jimilang Tsho Lake. This lake is known for its giant trout.

Distance: 11km, Time: 4-5 hours, Ascent: 330m, Camp Altitude: 3,870m/12,700ft
Day 5 Day 5: Jimilang Tso / Camp At Simkotra Tso (4110M)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Jimilang Tso / Camp At Simkotra Tso (4110M)

The trail takes you through dwarf rhododendron trees and past Janetso Lake. You may come across some yak herder camps where you will have the opportunity to get a glimpse of a nomad’s life. The campsite is close to Simkotra Tsho Lake.

Distance: 11km, Time: 5-6 hours, Ascent: 820m, Camp Altitude: 4,110m/13,485ft
Day 6 Day 6: Simkotra Tso / Phajodhing / Thimphu (2334M)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Simkotra Tso / Phajodhing / Thimphu (2334M)

The last day of the trek begins with a gradual climb. If the weather permits, you will have a spectacular view of Mount Gangkar Puensum, the highest mountain in Bhutan and several other Himalayan peaks. From this pass, the trek takes you downhill towards Phajodhing Monastery. After passing Phajoding monastery, the trek to Thimphu is downhill through a forested area of mostly blue pine. The walk, at a leisurely pace, takes about three hours. On the way, you will pass through Chokhortse Temple on the outskirts of Thimphu and a couple of hundred meters steep downhill brings you to a radio transmission tower where your driver will be waiting. This is the point where our trekking staff will bid you farewell.

Overnight in Thimphu either at Kuenphen Rabten Resort or Hotel Amodhara.

Distance: 15km, Time: 6-7 hours, Descent: 1100m, Thimphu Altitude: 2,334m/7,655ft
Day 7 Day 7: Full Day In Thimphu Sightseeing & Leisure
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Full Day In Thimphu Sightseeing & Leisure

Thimphu is the capital city of Bhutan and it is home to approximately 115,000 residents and increasing every year. This bustling little city is the main centre of commerce, religion and government in the country. It is the only capital city in the world without traffic lights and even commercial billboards.

After breakfast, visit the 169ft Buddha Dordhenma Statue located at Kuensel Phodrang overlooking the Thimphu valley. From there drive to visit the 13th century Changangkha Lhakhang considered as the national treasure.

Visit National Library of Bhutan considered as national treasure of Bhutan and fundamental source of Bhutanese history, religion, medicine, arts and culture. Opens during working weekdays & on Saturdays 10am – noon. Just nearby is the National Institute of Zorig Chusum (Institute of Traditional Arts & Crafts) where 13 traditional arts & crafts of Bhutan are taught. If the class is in session, you can hop in and observe while the students gets hands-on training. Opens during working weekdays & on Saturdays 10am – noon.

After lunch at the Folk Heritage Museum Restaurant, visit the Centenary Farmers’ Market to learn about the food preference and culture in Bhutanese society. Farmers from all over the country bring their farm produce to sell. The market opens from Friday – Sunday.

From there pass by the Changlimithang Archery Range and witness the game of archery if the match is in progress. You will see archers dancing and singing each time they hit the target from a distance of 145 meters. Archery is the national sport of Bhutan.

Leisure time around Thimphu town. Overnight in Thimphu either at Kuenphen Rabten Resort or Bhutan Damisa Hotel or Hotel Amodhara.
Day 8 Day 8: Thimphu / Transfer To Punakha Valley (1200M)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Thimphu / Transfer To Punakha Valley (1200M)

After breakfast, drive to Punakha valley. En route stop briefly at Dochula – a sacred mountain pass at an elevation of 3150m and enjoy a grand view of some of the highest mountains of Bhutan on a clear day. Good opportunity for photos! From there continue driving towards Punakha and gradually descend to a subtropical valley within an hour.

Just about 11km before reaching Punakha town, visit the famous 15th-century Chimi Lhakhang popularly known among tourists as “Temple of Fertility”. A gentle walk through the terraced rice fields and traditional farmhouses painted with phalluses will give you a unique experience. Walk and explore the village.

After lunch at a nearby hotel, drive to Punakha town and visit the most beautiful 17th century Punakha Dzong which displays fine Bhutanese arts and craftsmanship which continues to influence the Bhutanese architecture to this day. You will spend sometime appreciating the intricate wood works and sacred wall paintings. From there walk to Bhutan’s longest suspension bridge if interested.

Overnight in Punakha at Meri Puensum Resort or Hotel Lobesa or Hotel Pema Karpo.

Distance: 74 km, Time: 3 hours, Transport: Private SUV/Minivan/Bus, Punakha Altitude: 1,200m/3,935ft.
Day 9 Day 9: Sightseeing Punakha / Transfer To Paro (2195M)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: Sightseeing Punakha / Transfer To Paro (2195M)

After an early breakfast, drive to the nearest road head and then hike to the picturesque Khamsum Yuellay Namgyel Chorten located on a serene hilltop overlooking fertile Punakha valley. It usually takes 2-2.5 hours of walking through the terraced rice fields and a short climb through the pine trees.

OPTIONAL - Whitewater Rafting (additional fee applies): Instead of driving back to Punakha town after the hike, you can do whitewater rafting on the Mochu river graded 1-2 making it possible for all ages to try and experience rafting. Rafting distance is 10-14kms and takes about 1.5-hours from starting to the finish point. The best time to do rafting is in March to early June, October & November. A raft can carry up to 8 people and minimum of 4 people are required. Each raft cost USD180 approx. and are shared equally among the passengers.

If your group size is more than 3 people, a picnic lunch can be arranged by the bank of Mochu river on the way back to Punakha town.

After lunch drive back to Paro via Dochula pass.

In the evening, visit a beautiful farmhouse for authentic home-cooked local cuisine. If interested, you may soak in a therapeutic and revitalizing traditional hot stone bath for an additional fee of about $15 per person as charged by the owner.

Overnight at Khangkhu Resort or Bhutan Mandala Resort

Distance: 115km, Driving Time: 4-4.5hrs, Paro Altitude: 2,195m/7,200ft
Day 10 Day 10: Transfer To Paro International Airport And Departure
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 10: Transfer To Paro International Airport And Departure

After breakfast, drive to Paro and transfer you to Paro International Airport for your onward journey. Your guide will assist you to complete all exit formalities before you check-in.

10 days tour

Druk Path Trek And Cultural Tour In Pristine Bhutan

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Druk Path Trek And Cultural Tour In Pristine Bhutan

Day 1: Arriva Paro International Airport - Excursion In Paro (2195M)

Day 2: Full Day In Paro - Hike To The Famous Paro Taktsang (Tiger’S Nest)

Day 3: Trek Begins] Paro / Jele Dzong / Camp At Jangchulakha (3770M)

Day 4: Jangchulakha / Camp At Jimilang Tso (3870M)

Day 5: Jimilang Tso / Camp At Simkotra Tso (4110M)

Day 6: Simkotra Tso / Phajodhing / Thimphu (2334M)

Day 7: Full Day In Thimphu Sightseeing & Leisure

Day 8: Thimphu / Transfer To Punakha Valley (1200M)

Day 9: Sightseeing Punakha / Transfer To Paro (2195M)

Day 10: Transfer To Paro International Airport And Departure

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