Spirit Of Bhutan - 8 Days

The flight to Paro is one of the most spectacular mountain flights in the world, with a constantly changing panorama of some of the highest mountains on earth. Arrive at Paro and drive to Thimphu. Upon arrival, drive to capital city Thimphu, Check in hotel and visit the National Memorial Chorten depicting the Buddhist faith in the form of paintings and statues. This temple was first initiated by the Third King as a protection from the negative elements of modernisation, and as a monument to world peace. The Royal Queen Mother completed it as a memorial stupa for the Third King who passed away in 1972.His Late Majesty, King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk. Later visit Trashi chhodzong fortress of the glorious religion” Standing proudly on the western bank of the Wang Chhu a few kilometers north of central Thimphu, Tashichho Dzong looks every inch the seat of government. While the National Assembly no longer convenes inside the fortress's whitewashed walls, today the dzong still houses the throne room and the king's offices as well as the ministries of home affairs and finance. The dzong is a patchwork of old and new, with the impressive central utse and chapels dating from the eighteenth century surrounded by government offices constructed in the 1960s. Various other parts of the dzong have risen, phoenix-like, from the embers of three major fires and the earthquake of 1897, making it all the more impressive that its expansion and restoration hasbeen completed without either written plans or nails. The impressive open courtyard that abuts the northern side of the dzong is the site of Thimphu's largest festival, the annual Thimphu Tsechu. Unless your visit coincides with the tsechu, however, you should be able to explore the dzong's splendid interior in peace, broken only by the sound of pigeons flapping overhead.Over night at hotel in Thimphu.

Thimphu Sightseeing. After breakfast visit the world’s tallest sitting Buddha statue at Buddha point which is 169 feet tall. High up in the hills overlooking Thimphu, dawn light glints off the Buddha Dordenma's golden face as he gazes into the rising sun. Depicting Buddha at the moment of his enlightenment, sitting in bhumisparsha mudra with five fingers extended to touch the earth, the 51-metre (169-feet) tall statue is visible from across Bhutan's capital city. The statue was cast in bronze in China and transported by sea and road to this site once occupied by the palace of Druk Desi, a secular ruler of Bhutan in the eighteenth-century. At its completion, the statue will contain 125,000 gilded Buddha statues and a wealth of other statuary. In addition to celebrating the centenary anniversary of the Wangchuck dynasty, the statue fulfills a twelve-hundred year-old prophesy made by Guru Rinpoche that a Buddha image would be built at this dramatic siteand it’s the best place for photographers.  We start our hike form Buddha point to Changakha lakhang which is around 1 hours hike. You will be hiking through the trails which was made for mountain bikers which was used by our kings to cycle before, basically you will be hiking through the forest and will be having great views of Thimphu city. We end our hike Changangkha Lhakang, with its high walls and prayer wheels, built in the 12th century, is said to be the oldest monastery in the capital city, Visit the temple get some blessing.  After lunch visit Simply MuseumA “living” museum, Simply Bhutan is an initiative of the Bhutan Youth Development Fund that aims to increase young Bhutanese people's engagement with their traditional culture. Housed in a traditional building not far from the center of Thimphu, the museum offers visitors a fun opportunity to learn about Bhutanese traditions, dress up in kiras and ghos (as well as unusual regional costumes), and to try archery or khuru (darts) in the open courtyard. The museum doubles as a photo studio, offering a fun range of backdrops and props to help visitors capture a unique holiday snap. An on-site cafe serves Bhutanese food, and "Magical Moment" performances are held daily.  Later visit Painting School the Institute offers you a glimpse of novices learning 13 traditional arts and crafts of Bhutan. In the evening visit the some shops for shopping if interested. Over night at hotel in Thimphu.

Today after breakfast you will drive to Punakha (1300m/4265ft) the former capital of Bhutan. On the way after 45 minutes‟ drive from Thimphu will reach at highest pass between Thimphu and Punakha the place called Dochula pass (3140m). In 2004, Queen Mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck commissioned 108 chortens in Dochula, the pass between Thimphu and Punakha. These chortens commemorate Bhutan's victory over the Indian insurgents hidden in Southern Bhutan in 2003. The 4th Druk Gyalpo, King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, led the army. Hundreds of prayer flags flap in the wind at Dochula, carrying positive merit on the breeze to all sentient beings. For centuries, people have travelled through this pass while making their way across the country. On a clear day, the views from the top are astonishing. One can see many snow-covered 7000 meter peaks, including Gangkhar Phuensum, the world's highest unclimbed mountain. Gasa Dzong also appears in the distance. On arrival, visit Gangtey Goempa, the oldest Nyingmapa temple in western Bhutan. Gangtey Goemba sits on the crest of a hill, overlooking majestic views of the Phobjikha Valley. Quite appropriately, its name means simply “the temple on the hilltop.” Pema Thinley, the grandson of the great terton (treasure revealer) Pema Lingpa, founded this temple in 1613. In the Buddhist tradition of Bhutan, a terton is a gifted practitioner who discovers ancient teachings and reintroduces them to the world.The monastery, one of the largest in Bhutan, contains a monastic school and houses the ninth reincarnation of the Gangtey Tulku. Every year on the 11th of November, villagers from all over the valley gather in the courtyard here to celebrate the Black Necked Crane Festival. Locals wear their most beautiful ghos and kiras to watch the masked dances performed by the monks of Gangtey. Dressed as these cherished birds, school children dance the movements of the black necked crane to welcome the birds back to the valley. Every year, in the end of October and the beginning of November, the cranes arrive in the valley for the winter. They migrate in from the higher altitude plateaus of the Tibetan region. Then explore valley on foot is the best way to experience Gangtey as you will walk by small villages and picturesque scenery. Later visit, Crane Information Centre which gives all the information about birds. Overnight at hotel in Phobjikha