DAY 01 BANGKOK – PARO - THIMPHU
Fly from Bangkok to Paro on Druk Air. From a window seat on clear days you can experience a spectacular view of Bhutan’s snow capped peaks as you approach Paro. On arrival you will be received by our representative, and then drive to Thimphu the capital city (2500 meter / 8200 ft), which will take you about one and half hour. Overnight at Hotel.

DAY 02 THIMPHU SIGHTSEEING
After breakfast, visit Thimphu weekend market, which is in a permanent set of stalls, vendors from throughout the region arrive on Friday afternoon and remain selling their goods until Sunday night. It’s an interesting place to visit, where village people jostle with well-heeled Thimphu residents for the best - and cheapest – vegetables and foodstuffs. This is the only time that fresh produce is easily available and the shopping is enhanced by the opportunity to catch up on the week’s gossip. At the northern end of the market is a collection of stalls called the indigenous goods and handicrafts section. Here you will find locally produced goods, including religious objects, baskets, fabrics and different hats from various minority groups. Continue your sightseeing to Zangdopelri temple, the Changlimithang where you can witness young Bhutanese practicing their favorite archery game. Return to hotel for lunch, after lunch visit the Memorial Chorten built in honor of the late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, Dupthop Lhakhang (Monastery for the nuns) and other places of interest. Overnight at hotel.

DAY 03 THIMPHU-PUNAKHA
Leaving Thimphu the road climbs steeply through a forest of pine and cedar, festooned with hanging lichen high up near Dochula pass (3,050 m). This pass offers panoramic views of the Himalayan mountain ranges, as we descend along a series of hairpin bends to the fertile valley of Punakha (1,350 meters/ 4,430 feet). Before proceeding further to Punakha town we will take a short 30 minutes walk to the Chimi Lhakhang temple on a small hilltop. This temple is dedicated to the great Yogi in 14th century known as Drukpa Kuenley or popularly known as “Divine madman” to the westerners. It is believed that this temple blesses women who seek fertility. After lunch we will proceed to Punakha town to view the majestic Dzong (fortress), situated between the two rivers Pho Chu and Mochu (male and Female River). This fortress is now used as the winter seat of the Je Khenpo ( the Spiritual head of Bhutan). In the past this Dzong had served as the capital seat of the Kingdom for about 300 years. After strolling through the town of Punakha retire back to hotel.

DAY 04 PUNAKHA - TRONGSA
Today the drive to Trongsa is quite long and takes about 6 hours. We start early for the fabulous drive to the central valleys of Bhutan through the breathtaking beauties and serenity of Bhutan’s rich flora and fauna. As we cross the fertile valley of Punakha and enter into the valley of Wangdue Phodrang (1350m/4430ft). We take an opportunity to photograph the majestic fortress of Wangdue, which stands on a spur of a hill at the confluence of the Tsang Chu and Dang Chu rivers. We then climb steadily passing through semi-tropical vegetation and then to Pele la Pass (3,300 m/ 10,989 ft.) with an alpine environment of rhododendrons and dwarf bamboo. The Pass is traditionally considered the boundary between West and East Bhutan. During the clear weather we can view the high snow capped peaks specially the Mount Chomolhari (7,314 m/ 24,355 ft.). As we descend from the pass through the dwarf bamboo and quite often Yaks grazing we reach at Chendebji Chorten. A Lama known as Shida, in order to nail into the ground a demon that had been terrorizing the inhabitants of this valley and the Ada valley just over the ridge, built this Chorten or Stupa in 18th century. We will have our packed lunch here. We will continue our journey towards Trongsa (alt. 2200m / 7220 ft). 19 Kms. / 12miles before arriving Trongsa you will begin seeing the view of the majestic Trongsa Dzong, which sits narrowly on a spur that sticks out into the gorge of the Mangde River and overlooks the routes south and west. The view kind of teases you, making you wonder when you will arrive there. Overnight at Hotel in Trongsa.

DAY 05 TRONGSA – BUMTHANG
After breakfast we will visit the majestic Trongsa Dzong, built in 1647, by Shubdrung Nawang Namgyal, this Dzong was the source of many important historical events in making of Modern Bhutan. Next we will visit Taa Dzong, the ancient watchtower, overlooking the Dzong and the town. We will than resume our drive to Bumthang crossing the Yotongla Pass and into the first four valley of Bumthang known as Chumey, we will visit Domkhar Palace, this palace was used as the summer residence of 2nd king Jigme Wangchuk. Lunch will be served here in the open ground. Continue your drive further and stop at Chumey primary school, visit the school and study the education system of Bhutan. We will make another stop at Tsungney village, where we will observe the weavers weaving the famous Bumthang fabric known as Yathra. Continue our drive for an hour and arrive at the Chokhor Valley. Overnight at Lodge.

DAY 06&07 BUMTHANG SIGHTSEEING & URA FESTIVAL
Bumthang is the general name given to a complex of four valleys-Chumey, Choekhor, Tang and Ura. Choekhor and Chumey are agricultural valleys while Tang and Ura depend mostly on the animal husbandry. Your first day in Bumthang will be spent witnessing the ongoing Ura Festival, which is celebrated with performance of mask dances and folk dances.

Your second day in Bumthang includes the sightseeing in the of Choekhor valley. Begin your sightseeing by hiking from your Lodge to the Temple of Jambay Lhakhang through scattered and clustered villages of Jakar. A Tibetan King, Songtsen Gompo, built this temple in the 7th century. Your next stop will be Chakar Lhakhang, which was built in the 8th century. This House was a castle of the King Sindhu Raja who used to rule the Bumthang Valley. Continue your hike to Kurjey monastery, it is here, the great Tantric saint Padmasambhava had meditated and subdues a local deity known as Shelging Karpo. Continue your hike north and cross the Chamkhar River you will arrive at Tamshing Lhakhang. Terton Pemalingpa built this temple in 1500s. Your final stop of the hiking will be at Konchogsum Lhakhang, built in 7th century. From here you will drive to the Apple and Cheese factory. Your next stop will be the small town of Chamkhar. The car will drop you near the bridge from where you will stroll through the small half-kilometer town and return back to Lodge.

DAY 08 BUMTHANG TO TRONGSA
After breakfast we will drive back taking the same highway of day 5. We will have few stops en route for pictures. Upon arrival in Trongsa, stroll the small town and check into the hotel. After lunch we will drive south to visit Kungarabten Palace. This place had served as the winter palace for 2nd King Jigme Wangchuk. We can take a walk up hill to visit the nunnery, which houses over 70 nuns. Evening drive back to Trongsa. Overnight at hotel.

DAY 09 TRONGSA - PUNAKHA
After breakfast you will resume your journey to Punakha from the same road you had come. We will have several stops for pictures or sightseeing if we had missed any during our incoming. Overnight at hotel.

DAY 10 PUNAKHA - PARO
After breakfast resume your journey to Paro. Crossing Dochula Pass you will arrive at Simtokha dzong, visit the old fortress, now used as the Institute for traditional studies for lay men and women. Continue your drive to Thimphu, lunch will be served here. After lunch resume your journey to Paro, en route visit the 15th Century Tamchogang Temple. Overnight at Hotel.

DAY 11 PARO SIGHTSEEING
After breakfast visit, Drukgyal Dzong built in 1647 by Shubdrung Nawang Namgyal, the Dzong was destroyed by fire and left in ruins as an evocative reminder of the great victories it was built to commemorate. On a clear day you can get a magnificent view of the Mount Chomolhari, alt. 7314 m / 23,990 ft. Drive south and stop at the Taktsang Monastery view point, from here you will get birds eye view of the monastery. Continue your drive to Satsam Chorten, built in memory of the late Dilgo Khentse Rinpochey, and continue on to Kyichu Lhakhang, built in seventh century by a Tibetan King, Songtsen Gonpo. Return to hotel for your lunch, after lunch the sightseeing will be in the Paro market and visit the nearby village to get insight of Bhutanese village life and other places of interest. Overnight at hotel.

DAY 12 FLY BACK TO BANGKOK

Airfare Bangkok – Paro – Bangkok (Subject to change) $ TBA

Land Cost Includes: Twin sharing accommodation with full board (breakfast + lunch + dinner), all transfers as per the itinerary, English speaking guide, monument fees and govt. taxes.

Not included: Airfares to and from Bangkok, Bangkok – Bhutan – Bangkok (see the cost above), Visa fees, Excess baggage, laundry, phone calls, medical, insurance and any other expenses that are not mentioned above.

Note: This is a sample intended to give you a general idea of the likely trip schedule numerous factors such as weather, tour conditions, the physical ability of the participants etc., may dictate itinerary changes either before departure or while on the tour. We reserve the right to change this schedule in the interest of the trip participants’ safety, comfort and general well being.
RATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.