13 Days Bhutan Cultural Tour

The Dream Destine

This trip will take you for a ride into the eastern parts of the country as well. Unlike the west , the eastern regions has a varied topography as well as natural geography. The people in the eastern Dzongkhags are ethnically different to the westerners and speak a different dialect. The natives of these place is widely categorized as “Sharchops” (meaning easterners)and speak a common dialect “ sharchopkha” (meaning language of the sharchops).

Apart from exploring the west such as Thimphu, Paro and Punakha you will also visit some eastern Dzongkhags such as Trashigang Trashiyangtse and Mongar.

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1 : Arrive Paro

You will be received by our Representative at the airport and drive to your hotel.

After lunch visit

Ta Dzong (built in1656 and renovated in 1968) and Rinpung Dzong (literally meaning “Heap of Jewels”).

Dinner and overnight stay in a hotel in Paro. Food and accommodation will be arranged as per your reservations.

Day 2: Paro to Thimphu

After breakfast, take

An Excursion to Taktsang Monastery (Tiger’s Nest).

After lunch, drive to Thimphu.

On the way, view Tamchog Monastery built by Thangthong Gyalpo.

Dinner and overnight stay at a hotel in Thimphu.

Day 3: Thimphu Sightseeing

After breakfast, visit KuenselPhodrang, where the largest statue of Sitting Buddha is located. Takin Preservation center in Motithang and Changgangkha Lhakhang.
After lunch visit TashichhoDzong (the administrative headquarters of Bhutan) National Memorial Chorten and Handicrafts Emporium.
Dinner and overnight stay at a hotel in Thimphu.

Optional Activities you can choose:

Centenary farmer’s Market, attend a talk on Gross National Happiness / Buddhism.
Hike to Cheri Monastery / Tango Monastery / Phajoding Monastery.
Villages walk at Kabisa.
Mountain biking around Thimphu.

Day 3: Thimphu to Punakha

After breakfast, drive to Punakha. On the way to Punakha, halt in Dochu-La Pass (3140 m) for photography.
Visit Royal Botanical Park at LamPelri.
Upon reaching Lobesa, visit Chimi Lhakhang – dedicated to Lama Drukpa Kuenley also known as “Divine Madman”.
We halt in Lobesa town for Lunch.
After lunch, visit to Punakha Dzong – Built in 1637, by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal to serve as the religious and administrative center of the region.
Dinner and overnight halt at a hotel in Punakha.

Optional activities you can choose:

Drive to Talo Goenpa
Visit to Khamsum Yulley Lhakhang
White water rafting in Mo Chhu/ Pho Chhu
Camping in Jomlingthang.

Day 4: Punakha to Phobjikha

After breakfast,

start your journey towards Phobjikha. On the way visit Wangdiphodrang Dzong razed by fire in 2012(now under reconstruction).
Upon arrival in Phobjikha, lunch will be served.

After lunch,

Explore Phobjikha valley, famous for the Black Necked Cranes during winter. you can also opt for photography while you are in Phobjikha valley.
Visit Gangtey Gompa, in Gangtey village.

Dinner and overnight halt in hotel in Phobjikha.

Optional activities you can choose:

Gangtey Natural Trail (Gangtey). Take a hike around the Gangtey Trails.

Day 7: Phobjikha to Bumthang via Trongsa

After breakfast, drive to Bumthang.
On the way, visit Trongsa Dzong- built in its present form in 1644 by Chogyal Minjur Tempa and Ta Dzong – an ancient watch tower.
After lunch, continue your journey towards Bumthang.
Dinner and overnight stay in hotel in Bumthang.

Day 8 : Bumthang Sightseeing

After breakfast, visit

Jakar Dzong – Founded by great grand-father of the first Zhabdrung, the Dzong was initially built as a monastery in 1549.
Visit Jambay Lhakhang – built in the 7th century by Tibetan King, Songtsen Gampo and Kujee Lhakhang. Kurje Lhakhang consists of three temples. These three temples are surrounded by a 108 chorten wall

After lunch,

Drive towards Tang and visit Membarstho (The Burning Lake). Tang valley is a wide land on the Tang Chhu considered to be one of the greatest pilgrimage sites of Bhutan.

After lunch, drive back to Bumthang hotel. Dinner and overnight halt in hotel in Bumthang. Optional activities you can choose:

Tharpaling Monastery: This excursion begins with 30 minute drive to Lamigompa. The hike will take about 5 hours for average walkers.
Pasaling Gompa: This hike will take about 3hours.
Kunzang Drak: It is two hours walk above Drangchel, Tang Valley.
Ngang Lhakhang: It is three hours walk from Thangbi Goenpa.
Walk to Bathpalathang and visit the Red Panda Beer factory/ Swiss cheese factory.

Day 8: Bumthang to Trashigang

After breakfast, drive towards Trashigang. Dinner and overnight halt in Trashigang.

Day 9: Trashigang sightseeing

After breakfast, visit

Chorten kora in Trashiyangtse, a stupa built in as a replica of Boudhanath temple in Nepal.
Visit Bumdeling national park.

Dinner and overnight halt in hotel in Trashigang.

Day 10: Trashigang to Bumthang

After breakfast, drive towards Bumthang. Dinner and overnight halt in a hotel in Bumthang.

Day 11: Bumthang to Thimphu

After breakfast, drive towards Thimphu.
Halt in Pele-La Pass for photography.
Dinner and overnight halt in a hotel in Thimphu

Day 12: Thimphu to Paro

After breakfast, drive to Paro.
Visit Drukgyel Dzong (now under reconstruction). From here you will catch a glimpse of the Mt Jomolhari. Drukgyel is one of the most scenic valleys in Paro.
Dinner and overnight halt in Hotel in Paro.

Day 13: Departures from Paro

After breakfast, drive to the Airport and farewell.

13 Days Bhutan Cultural Tour

The Dream Destine