Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Paro - Thimphu
The international airport is located in Paro. Thus, you will be reaching Bhutan via Paro airport. After immigration processes, you will meet with the tour representative right outside the airport. He will drive you to Thimphu from Paro.
On the way, you will stop at Chuzom, the spot where River Paro and River Thimphu meet. Once you reach Thimphu, you will be checked into a hotel. After some rest, you will be taken on a walking tour around the market and main street of Thimphu.
Day 2: Thimphu
After breakfast, you will be taken on a road trip to Buddha Point. Buddha Point is a little away from Thimphu and stands at a strategic point to give a grand panoramic view of the Thimphu Valley.
Buddha Point (Kuensel Phodrang) also holds the largest Buddha statue of Bhutan. People offer their prayers to the statue and walk around the region basking in the beauty of the valley.
Later, you will visit an important religious site, King’s Memorial Chorten. Here, you will find people circumambulating as they murmur prayers and spin their prayer wheels.
Next destination is Changangkha Lhakhang. This is a monastic school located above Thimphu, over a ridge. The main attraction of this school is the fortress structure and the statue of Chenrezig, which is erected with eleven heads. From the courtyard of this structure, you can get a panoramic view of the Thimphu Valley.
In the afternoon, you will be taken to a series of attractions in Thimphu, The Textile Museum which is the museum of national art of weaving. The museum holds display of technologies used for weaving, local attire, textiles, and others.
Later visit Tashichho Dzong which is an important religious and administrative structure, which has the throne room, seat of chief Abbot, and others. The structure is also famous for its traditional Bhutanese architecture, built with no nails or plans.
Next visit is Folk Heritage Museum which holds exhibits of rural history, folk heritage, rural life, and others.
In the evening, you will be taken to the Handicrafts Emporium run by government and the local crafts bazaar for shopping souvenirs like masks, Thangka painting, jewelries, woven items, ceramic articles, wood articles, and others.
Day 3: Thimphu - Punakha
After breakfast, you will be taken on a three hour road trip from Thimphu to Punakha / Wangdue Phodrang, which is located across the famous Dochu La Pass.
During the road trip, you will pass through the Dochula, where you will spot mani wall, chorten, prayer flags, and others. This is the country’s highest road. You can even spot the peaks of surrounding mountains, if the sky is clear. Top peaks to spot during your drive are Masagang, Tsendagang, Terigang, Kangphugang, Table Mountain, and others. This includes the Gangkhar Puensum peak, which is the highest in Bhutan.
In the afternoon, you will be taken to Punakha Dzong (Palace of Great Happiness) of 17th century. The Palace of Great Happiness (Punakha Dzong) is built at the point where Mochu River and Phochu River meets. This palace was the administrative and religious center in the past and is famous for its gold-dome tower.
Later, you will drive to Chimi Lhakhang, which is located on top of a hillock, which is located at the center of the valley. This temple grants child wishes to couples, which is why it is called as the temple of fertility.
After exploring the temple, you can take a walk through a traditional village closer to the temple to explore the culture and lifestyle of the rural area.
Day 4: Punakha - Paro
After breakfast, you will leave Punakha/Wangdue and drive to Paro via Dochu La Pass, covering Paro Chuu river valley and Wang Chhu river valley. On the way, you will be visiting Simtokha Dzong, an old fortress which is now a school for Dzongkha language.
Once you reach Paro, you will be checked into a hotel. Later, you will be taken on a sightseeing tour covering important destinations of Paro. First, you will visit the Ta Dzong, which was once a watchtower, and today it is a national museum, with large collection of exhibits of historic artifacts, weapons, armor, Thangkha paintings, textiles, and others.
Later, you will be taken on a walking trail to visit the Fortress of heap of jewels, Rinpung Dzong. This structure is famous for its architecture, wall paintings illustrating Buddhist lore such as four friends, the old man of long life, scenes from the life of Milarepa, the wheel of life, Mount. Sumeru and another cosmic Mandala.
Day 5: Hike to Taktshang
After breakfast, you will be taken to visit Taktsang Monastery, located 900m above the valley, on the side of a tall cliff. It takes five hours including the walking trail. This is called as the Tiger Nest monastery, as folklore says that Guru Rinpoche reached the monastery at the back of a flying tigress. This is an important pilgrimage site for Buddhists.
Later, you will be driven to Drukgyel Dzong, ruins of a 17th century structure. You will find many farmhouses near the dzong.
You will be taken back to Paro on the route covering Kyichu Lhakhang, 7th century temple, which was a part of 108 temples built by Songten Gampo, a Tibetan King. This structure marks the beginning of the reign of Buddhism in Bhutan.
The rest of the evening is either spent in shopping or exploring the Paro City Center.
Day 6: Departure
