8 Day Tour of Bhutan

BHUTAN TOUR . 08 DAYS ITINERARY.

DAY  01: Transfer to the airport for the flight to Bhutan. Particularly exciting is the approach through the Bhutanese foothills and the landing, including a few steep turns to land at the tiny airstrip of Paro. In Paro you will be met by our Bhutanese guide and taken to the OlathangHotel.

After lunch, Paro sightseeing. Visit the environs of the Paro Rinpung Dzong and the old bridge. A trip to the end of the valley to look at the old ruined fortress of Drugyel Dzong, and return to wander round the main township.

DAY 02  :  After breakfast drive to Satsam chorten and then start hike to Takstang view point. (an arduous 03 hrs up and 02 hrs return, lunch at the cafeteria). After lunch hike back and then transfer to Thimphu.  In the late afternoon you will make the 2½ hour drive to the least visited of all the Himalayan capitals, Thimphu.  The road twists its way gradually up to the Thimphu valley.  The first large monastery fortress is Simtoka and like many of these large castles was built by the first ruler of Bhutan, Shabdrung Nawang Namgyal.   Overnight at the Motithang Hotel.

DAY 03: At leisure in Thimphu. There are a good many things to see in the capital which has a very relaxed, laid-back feel about it.  Thimphu is relatively small having a population of approximately 30,000 people and the streets are wide and tree lined. Thimphu has a wonderful weekend open market where you’ll have the chance to meet people from all over the valley. You will see Bhutanese farmers selling staples: datse­yak and cow cheese, buta or noodles, red peppers in all sizes, white and red rice, mashed and dried corn used for tsampa tea, brick tea, and a full range of local vegetables to delight the eye. An array of handicrafts is also available. Here make sure to bargain for a good price. You can also visit the recently-built Changlingmithang Lhakhang temple, and if there are any archery tournaments in progress time spent at one of these events is very rewarding. Overnight at the Motithang Hotel.

DAY 04:  Continue sightseeing in Thimphu. Other places you may visit are; The Takin Scantuary. ( The Takin is the national animal of Bhutan), the Zilukha Nunnery, the Bhutanese paper making factory  where you will see 'resho' or the cotton paper process in which the bark of two shrubs, the Daphne and Edgeworthia, undergoes a multi-stepped process to produce paper of excellent quality.
And the Handicrafts Emporium. Walk through the National Library which holds a vast collection of ancient Buddhist manuscripts, the School of Traditional Painting where we can see young talented boys learning the skill of carving, drawing, painting, and sculpting, and visit the impressive Jigme Dorji Wangchuck Memorial Chorten, which introduces us to the vitality of Himalayan Buddhism.
Evening at leisure in town. Dinner and overnight at the Motithang Hotel.

DAY 05 :  Complete any sightseeing not done, then Drive to Wangdiphodrang. the drive to Wangdiphodrang takes about 3 hrs. Leaving Thimphu the road climbs via a series of zigzags over the Dochu La Pass, 10,000ft.  On a clear day panoramic views can be had of the eastern Himalayas, including Bhutan's highest mountain, Gangkar Punsum, 24,770ft.  The road drops down through varied forest finally emerging into the highly cultivated valley of Wangdiphodrang. After lunch, visit the Rinchengang village.

Dinner and overnight at the Zangtok Pelhri Hotel.

DAY 06 : After breakfast, sightseeing in Punakha Valley. The Punakha Dzong was the power base for the old system of re-incarnate rulers. The remains of the original ruler of Bhutan, Shabdrung Nawang Namgyal, are still kept in a small room at the top of the highest tower; only the king and the head of the monastic order are allowed to enter this room. We will visit the exteriors of the dzong.

After Lunch, transfer to Paro. Dinner and over night at Hotel Olathang.

DAY 07 : Paro sightseeing. You will most certainly visit the national museum which houses a wealth of the nation's most interesting treasures

DAY 08 :             DEPARTURE FLIGHT FROM PARO TO …..