Day 01: Paro
Welcome to Bhutan, the Land of the Thunder Dragon. Touching down at Paro International Airport, you will be greeted by your guide upon exiting the arrival hall. Today, we will take it easy to acclimatize to the altitude. After lunch drive to the north of Paro valley. This area, the riverbank of Paro Chu is best known for ibis bill. They are found in this area throughout the year. (Depending on arrival of flight time). Evening ends with a walk through Paro’s main shopping district.
Day 02: Paro – Thimphu
Built as a watch tower the Ta Dzong, it has since been turned into the national museum. This Dzong was converted into the National Museum in 1968. The museum boasts antique Thangka, textiles, weapons and armour, household objects and rich assortment of natural and historic artifacts. After which, visit the largest Dzong, Thimphu Dzong, which is also the seat of the office of the King of Bhutan. Afternoon drive towards the north of Thimphu valley to Dodina, here you may see black faced laughing thrust, brown dipper, spotted laughing thrust, Fire capped Tit.
Day 03: Thimphu – Punakha
Dochula Pass – the 108 chortens was built by the present Queen Mother of Bhutan Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck to commemorate Bhutan’s victory over indian militants and to liberate the souls of the souls lost. In this area you may see Satyr Tragopan, Spotted Nutcracker, Large Hawk Cuckoo, Darjeeling Woodpecker, Yellow billed Magpie, Chest Tailed Minla, Collard Blackbird, Ultramarine Flycatcher, Brown Bullfinch, etc.
Built in 1637, Punakha Dzong continues to be the winter home for the clergy, headed by the Chief Abbott, the Je Khenpo. It is a stunning example of Bhutanese architecture, sitting at the fork of two rivers, portraying the image of a medieval city from a distance. The dzong was destroyed by fire and glacial floods over the years but has been carefully restored and is, today, a fine example of Bhutanese craftsmanship.
Day 04: Birdwatching in Punakha
In the morning, drive to Menchuna and start birding descending to Punakha in cold broad-leaved forests. You may see Scarlet Finch, Black Drongo, Chestnut bellied Nuthatch, Slaty backed Forktail, Gorgeted Flycatcher, White throated Laughing thrust, Eurasian Jay, Wedge Tailed Green Pigeon, Mountain Imperial Pigeon, Verditer Flycatcher, etc.
Day 05: Birdwatching in Punakha
In the morning, drive to Tashithang and birding in warm broad-leaved forest. You may see Great Barbet, Barred Cuckoo Drove, Magpie Robin, Green Magpie, Palla’s Fish Eagle, Osprey, River Lapwing, Ruddy Shelduck, Eurasian Wigeon, Common Merganser, Pied Kingfisher, Red-vented Bulbul, Golden throated Barbet, Golden throated Barbet, Kalij, Pheasant, Orange bellied Leaf bird, Common Buzzard, Great Cormorant, Crested Bunting, etc.
Day 06: Punakha – Gangtey
In the morning, drive to Gangtey via Wangdue, one of the major towns and district headquarters of Western Bhutan. We then climb steadily passing through semi-tropical vegetation and then finally onto Phobjikha valley (3,100 m) with an alpine environment of rhododendrons and dwarf bamboo. Afternoon walks into the habitat of cranes, and studies the cranes and also visits the crane centre situated in the heart of the valley.
Day 07: Gangtey – Trongsa
Early morning studies the behavior of the cranes and other birds inhabited in the region and then drive to Trongsa over the Pelela pass (3,300m) and enroute visit Chendebji Chorten, passing through warm/cold broad-leaved and coniferous forests. You may see Mountain Bulbul, Striated Bulbul, common Kestrel, Spot-winged Grosbeak, Mountain Hawk Eagle, ward’s Trogon, Satyr Tragopan, Whiskered Yuhina, Wall Creeper, Himalayan Swiftlet, Himalayan Monal Pheasant, Blood Pheasant, Snow Pigeon, Cross bills, Fire-tailed Sun bird, Plain Mountain Finch, etc.
Day 08: Trongsa – Tingtibi
Morning drive towards the south of Trongsa in to the valley of Tingtibi and birding to Yeshi Zam, best place for spotting Yellow-rumped honey guide. Birding in cold broad-leaved forests. Birding in Namling areas. These areas possess best-unexplored forest in Bhutan. You may see ward’s Trogon, Satyr Tragopan, Grey chinned Minivet, Chestnut breasted Partridge, Striated Laughing thrust, etc.
Day 09: Birdwatching in Tingtibi
Today birding in warm broad-leaved forests. You will see Rufous-necked hornbill, Blue throated bee-eater, Maroon Oriole, Racket tailed Drongo, Red headed Trogon, Grey Treepie, Grey Nightjar, Hill Prinia, Asian Emerald Cuckoo, Great hornbill, etc.
Day 10: Tingtibi – Trongsa
Morning drive towards the south of Trongsa in to the valley of Tingtibi and birding to Yeshi Zam, best place for spotting Yellow-rumped honey guide. Birding in cold broad-leaved forests. Birding in Namling areas. These areas possess best-unexplored forest in Bhutan. You may see ward’s Trogon, Satyr Tragopan, Grey chinned Minivet, Chestnut breasted Partridge, Striated Laughing thrust, etc.
Day 11: Trongsa – Thimphu
Early morning drive to Thimphu over the Pelela and Dochula pass and enroute visit Wangdue Dzong. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
Day 12: Departure
Today we will bid fond farewell to this beautiful Himalayan country. We hope by now you would have made some friends and also kept many photos and beautiful memories of Bhutan! And we look forward to seeing you again in this beautiful land of endless Enchantments!
Day 01: Paro
Welcome to Bhutan, the Land of the Thunder Dragon. Touching down at Paro International Airport, you will be greeted by your guide upon exiting the arrival hall. Today, we will take it easy to acclimatise to the altitude. Lets have your first taste of Bhutanese cuisine before visiting Rinpung Dzong, the locals call the ‘fortress of a heap of jewels’. Then, proceed to the first National Museum known as the Ta Dzong which is on a ridge immediately above Rinpung Dzong. Next, drive north of Paro Valley. We will be visiting Drukyal Dzong, built in 1647 by the great Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, father and unifier of medieval Bhutan.
Day 02: Paro – Bumthang
In the morning, take the domestic flight to Bumthang, one of the most spectacular valleys in Bhutan and also the heartland of Buddhism in Bhutan. A day hike to Tamshing Goemba, built in 1501 by the Buddhist saint Pema Lingpa. Then, visit Kurjey Lhakhang, one of the most sacred monasteries in Bhutan. Built by the Guru Rinpoche in 1652, it houses a rock with his body imprint. Head to Jambay Lhakhang, built in 659 by Tibetan King Sontsen Gampo to pin down a demoness who was obstructing the spread of Buddhism. Thereafter, visit Jakar Dzong, built as a monastery in 1549 by the great grandfather of the Zhabdrung.
Day 03: Bumthang – Thimphu (Start Tour of the Dragon)
Today is the day for the Tour of the Dragon mountain bike race. Starting in Bumthang, Central Bhutan the race travels 268 kilometres across four high mountain passes ranging 1,200 m to 3,340 m before concluding at the clock tower in the capital of Thimphu, Western Bhutan. Follow the Bumthang Chhu 2,610 m and then climb to Kiki La 2,950 m to Yotongla 3,425 m and reach Pelela 3,390 m, followed by Dochula 3,116 m. After Dochula, it is all downhill to Thimphu 2, 320 m with a small climb only to the clock tower at Thimphu city square.
Day 04: Tour of Thimphu
In the morning, head to Kuenselphodrang Nature Park and admire the 169 feet bronze statue of Buddha Dordenma, Vajra Throne Buddha makes it one of the largest statue of Buddha in the world. Then, meet the elderly generation in circumambulation at the National Memorial Chorten, consecrated on July 28, 1974, in memory of the Third King. Chorten means ‘Seat of Faith’ and Buddhists often call such monuments, the ‘Mind of Buddha’. Next, visit Thimphu Dzong, the “fortress of the glorious religion”, constructed in 1641 and restored by the Third King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck in the 1960s. Thereafter, head to Institute of Zorig Chusum, also commonly known as the school of the Thirteen Arts.
Day 05: Thimphu – Punakha
Dochula Pass – The 108 chortens was built by the present Queen Mother of Bhutan Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck to commemorate Bhutan’s victory over Indian militants and to liberate the souls of the soldiers lost.
Chhimi Lhakhang – A 20 minutes walk across terraced fields through the village of Sopsokha from the roadside to the small temple located on a hillock in the centre of the valley below Metshina. Ngawang Chogyel built the temple in 15th century after the ’divine Madman’ Drukpa Kuenlay built a small chorten there. It is a pilgrim site for barren women.
Punakha Dzong – Built in 1637, the dzong continues to be the winter home for the clergy, headed by the Chief Abbott, the Je Khenpo. It is a stunning example of Bhutanese architecture, sitting at the fork of two rivers, portraying the image of a medieval city from a distance. The dzong was destroyed by fire and glacial floods over the years but has been carefully restored and is, today, a fine example of Bhutanese craftsmanship.
Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten – Built by the third Queen Mother Ashi Tshering Yangdon wangchuck this Chorten is a splendid example of of the Bhutanese architecture and art and is the only one of its kind in the world. It has been built over eight and a half years and its details have been drawn from religious scripture.
Day 06: Punakha – Gangtey
The valley of Phobjikha is well known as the winter home of the Black necked crane (Grus Nigricollis). Bhutan is home to around six hundred black-necked cranes with Phobjikha being one of the popular places that the birds migrate to in the winter months from the Tibetan plateau. The elegant and shy birds can be observed from early November to end of March. This is an old monastery that dates back to 17th century. Today we will do some short hikes around the valley of Phobjikha. Head back to Punakha for the night stay over.
Day 07: Gangtey – Thimphu
Head to Heritage Museum which was built to connecting people to the Bhutanese rural past though exhibition of artefacts used in rural households. Next, you will witnesses the art of papermaking at Papermaking Factory and witnesses the art of traditional weaving at Textile Museum. On the way to the viewpoint over Thimphu is the home of Bhutan’s national animal, the Takin, a strange looking beast some say looks like a bee stung moose. Five miles from Thimphu, on a lofty ridge, stands Simtokha Dzong the oldest fortress in the Kingdom.
Day 08: Thimphu – Haa – Paro
Drive to Haa through Chele La (3,988m). From the pass you can see Paro valley on one side and then Haa valley on the other. You can also have a picnic at Chele La if you like to. In Haa, some sightseeing and then going to katsho village and visiting the Katso Lhakhang. The valley of Haa was only opened to Tourist in 2002 and Haa is the least visited valley in Bhutan due to the lack of Tourist infrastructure. This has helped in keeping Haa the way it has always been, with Bhutanese families living their traditional and simple life. There are no tourist standard hotels in Haa valley so we return back to Paro for the night.
After a day of hiking, perhaps its to explore the main street of Paro town and check out if there’s anything you will like to pick up as a souvenir!
Day 09: Hike to Paro Taktsang Monastery (Tiger’s Nest)
An one hour hike to the cafeteria is also a vantage view whereby you can enjoy the stunning view of the Taktsang Monastery. Prayer flags adorn the cliffs and this is also where Guru Padmasambhava landed on the back of a tigress in the 8th century. After a sumptuous local lunch, we will retrace our steps to visit Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest temples in Bhutan.
Day 10: Departure
Today we will bid fond farewell to this beautiful Himalayan country. We hope by now you would have made some friends and also kept many photos and beautiful memories of Bhutan! And we look forward to seeing you again in this beautiful land of endless Enchantments!
