Starting at $1500

AVAILABILITY: Yearround

ACCOMMODATIONS: Hotels and lodges

 

Commonly known as Land of the Thunder Dragon, the Kingdom of Bhutan is also referred to as the crown jewel of the Himalayas and the last Shangri-La on earth. A small and peaceful country, Bhutan is cradled between China to the north and India to the south. Its lands include subtropical savannahs to forests to the Himalayas that guard the country’s eastern border.

 

The country’s isolation, domestic policies and decision to limit tourism have helped to protect its culture and its natural beauty. Bhutanese culture is regarded as one of the oldest and most well-preserved cultures in the world. 

ITINERARY​

• DAY 1: Flight Kathmandu to Paro (by Druk Air) – Transfer to hotel; You’ll take an hour-long flight over the Himalayas. You'll be greeted by your guide and drive to Paro for lunch. After lunch visit Ta dzong, an ancient watchtower that now houses the National Museum and Paro Rinpung Dzong, built in 17th century to defend the valley against Tibetan invaders. The dzong is now used as an administration center and school for monks. Evening ends with a stroll through the main street of Paro.

• DAY 2: Paro – Thimphu (Capital of Bhutan); After breakfast you’ll take a 2-hour drive through Paro and Thimpu valleys. After breakfast a 2-hour drive through the Paro and Thimpu valleys to Thimpu the capital of Bhutan (Altitude 7500 ft.). Enroute visit the Simtokha Dzong, the oldest fortress of its kind. This fortress, built by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1627, once guarded the Thimpu valley and is now a religious university. Drive to your hotel for lunch, then visit the National Library which holds a vast collection of ancient Buddhist manuscripts, the School of Thangka painting and the Traditional Medicine Institute where centuries-old healing arts are still practiced. Visit the Memorial Chorten to His Late Majesty, King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck and take a 15-minute drive to Dechencholing to witness the gold and silver smiths at work. Then, the Tashichho Dzong ("Fortress of the Glorious religion"), built in 1641 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namkgyal. It was reconstructed in 1961, using traditional methods (without the use of any nails or plans) under the rule of late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, the father of modern Bhutan.

• DAY 3: Thimphu valley sightseeing – Punakha; Thimphu sightseeing includes a visit to the National Memorial Chorten, built in honor of the late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk; a visit to the Folk Heritage Museum, which is dedicated to connecting people to the Bhutanese rural past through the exhibition of items and artifacts used in rural households; and the Textile Museum, where the art of traditional weaving is still kept alive and preserved through exhibition and has a good collection of old textiles which are rich in its color and design. Lunch will be served at a restaurant in Thimphu. After lunch visit the School of Arts and Crafts where 13 crafts are taught to young children. The school was established in 1971 to preserve and promote the traditional arts and crafts and to create more job opportunities. Later in the afternoon, depart to Punakha, an ancient capital of Bhutan. Leaving Thimphu the road climbs steeply through a forest of pine and cedar, festooned with hanging lichen high up near Dochula pass (10,000 ft.). This pass often offers panoramic views of the Himalayan mountain ranges. After stopping for tea and the view, we descend along a series of hairpin bends to the fertile valley of Punakha.

• DAY 4: Punakha – Wangdue – Paro; In the morning visit Punakha Dzong, winter seat of the Je Khenpo and the Monk Body, located between the rivers of the Mo (Female) Chu and Pho (Male) Chu. A short drive from Punakha will take you into the valley of Wangdue, one of the major towns and district headquarters of Western Bhutan where we make a stop to view the Wangdue Phodrang Dzong, located on the spur of a hill at the confluence of the Tsang Chu river  and then drive to Paro over the Dochola pass to Paro.

• DAY 5: Paro – Kathmandu (by Druk Air); After an early breakfast served at your hotel, we'll drive you to the airport where your Bhutanese escort will bid you farewell at Paro airport.

 

Program includes: Accommodations, sightseeing excursions mentioned in itinerary, transport, meals during tour, English-speaking guide.

 

Program excludes: Travel Insurance, Entry Visa Fee US$30 for 60 days duration of single entry, personal expenses, alcoholic beverages and soft drinks, tips, temple and monastery entrance fees.