Bhutan Real Cultural Tour (6 Night/ 7 Days)

Detail Itinerary

Day 01: Fly To Paro, Transfer to Thimphu

Fly on board Druk Air to Paro, Bhutan. On a clear day the panoramic views of the Himalaya are sensational, including Everest, but 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. On arrival, once you have cleared any airport formalities, you will be met and transferred to Thimphu, the least visited of all the Himalayan capitals. This is a 1 hour 15 minutes lovely drive through spectacular mountain views and peaceful countryside. Thimphu is a small, charming capital city sandwiched in the heart of the Himalayas. It is nothing like what a capital city is imagined to be. All the houses and buildings are painted and constructed in traditional Bhutanese style. En route to Thimphu, you will make a short stop to visit Tachhogang Lhakhang- In the afternoon, you may have some time to stroll around the capital city depending on your arrival time. In the evening, you will have a chance to witness a cultural programme of folk songs and masked dances performed by a local troupe at your hotel. Overnight at Hotel Taj Tashi or Le Meriden in Thimphu

Day 02: Thimpu- Full Day Exploration

The capital of Bhutan is situated on west bank of the river Thimpu, (Thimphu Chhu) in a wooded valley at an elevation of 2320m. Prior to 1961 Thimpu was only an insignificant village, but since the country emerged from isolation its importance has grown and it has many official buildings. The Secretariat, King’s offices and some ministries are housed in the Tashichho Dzong, next to which one of the world’s highest golf courses (9 hole) has been made. With a population of not more than 100,000, Thimphu is an easy place to wander around, and will enable the visitor to appreciate the detail of Bhutanese architecture. Places to visit: King’s Memorial Chorten – every day many Bhutanese come to this Tibetan-style chorten to honour the memory of the third king. Inside there are numerous religious paintings and statues of different Buddhist deities. Institute for Zorig Chusum– commonly known as the Painting School, the Institute offers a six-year course on the 13 traditional arts and crafts of Bhutan. On a visit one can see students learning the various skills taught at the school. Folk Heritage Museum – an outdoor museum which gives an insight into rural life is centred around a mud and timber farm house. National Textile Museum – a brief introductory video explains the complexities of Bhutanese dress before entering the exhibition of dress and textiles from around the country. National Library– The National Library was established in the late 1960s primarily to conserve the literary treasures which form a significant part of Bhutans cultural heritage. It now houses an extensive collection of Buddhist literature mostly in block-printed format, with some works several hundred years old. This collection, known as the Choekey Collection, mainly comprises Buddhist literature written in Choekey, the religious script of Northern Buddhism, but also includes works written in Tibetan and in Dzongkha, Bhutans national language. There is also a small Foreign Books Collection, stock of which mainly comprises works written in English, with subject interest on Buddhist studies, Bhutan, the Himalayan region and neighboring countries. Mini Zoo – this large grassy and treed enclosure holds several takins, the unusual-looking national animal that normally migrates to high alpine valleys in summer. Kuenselphodrang (Buddha Point) – drive up to Kuenselphodrang, popularly known as the Buddha Point for a birds eye view of Thimphu city. The park here has several walking trails which range from leisurely to moderate. Places to visit: Hand-made Paper Factory- this place produces traditional Bhutanese paper for local use as well as for export. Changangkha Lhakhang- a fortress-like temple and monastic school perched on a ridge overlooking the Thimphu valley. Later in the evening, you will be taken to attend an evening prayer session at the Drubthob nunnery at Zilukha. Overnight at Hotel Taj Tashi or Le Meriden in Thimphu

Day 03: Drive to Punakha, Local Sightseeing

After breakfast, you will drive to Punakha, the former winter capital and presently the administrative seat of the district (3 hours drive). The drive will take you via the Dochula Pass (3150m) where you will stop for tea/coffee and snacks. On a clear day, the most spectacular view of the Eastern Himalayan mountain ranges is visible from here. Visit the newly built Druk Wangyal Khangzang Chortens, a unique cluster of 108 Namgyel Khangzang Chortens that spiral up to a main monument Chorten. This is a tribute and monument to the selfless service and visionary leadership of His Majesty the King. The Chortens are also a celebration of the stability and progress that His Majesty the King brought to the nation. These chortens are a new landmark for travelers as they cross Dochula, the first mountain pass into the interior of the country. En route to Punakha, you will stop at Messinha to take a pleasant 20 minutes walk through paddy fields and farm houses to Chimi Lhakhang, the temple dedicated to Bhutans popular saint Drukpa Kuenley, also known as the divine madman (1455-1529). He preached in the way that is unlike the stiffness of clergy and society of the time; he dramatized the teachings using songs and outrageous sexual humor! Bold Phallus symbols and paintings on the houses or temples come as a result his influence to date. After lunch, drive further to Punakha to visit the imposing Punakha Dzong which lies at the confluence of the Mo and Pho rivers. The large fortress with its temples, hall and towers overlooks the town and provides excellent views. Then make a tour to visit to Nalanda Buddhist College at Laptsakha where you will have the opportunity to meet and interact with the monks. Overnight at Uma Resort or Dhensa Resort in Punakha

Day 04: Drive to Paro, Local Sightseeing & Experience traditional hot stone bath

After an early breakfast, drive to Dochu La Pass for morning views over the Eastern Himalayas. After a short break over tea/coffee and snacks, we travel through blossoming hills and pine forests to reach Paro in time for lunch. Afternoon in Paro, you will visit Paro Rinpung Dzong (fortress of the heap of Jewels) which is the seat of the district administration as well as the home for the monastic school. The central tower (utse) of the dzong, with its superb woodwork, is one of the most beautiful in the country. The dzong was built in 1645 A.D by Shabdrung Nawang Namgyal. Later in the afternoon, visit the sacred Kyichu Lhakhang dating back to the 7th century, and a typical Bhutanese farm house for traditional hospitality. Bhutan is justly NOT famous for its cuisine, which is somewhat predictable. Eating at a local farmhouse at least gives a slightly different variation, and a chance to see the inside of such a home, rather than just the brightly decorated exteriors. Then later in the evening, you will be treated to a session of traditional hot stone bath at a local farm house. Overnight at Local Village Farm House in Paro.

Day 05: Paro- Full Day Sightseeing

This morning, you will visit the national museum, a fascinating place housed in an old watchtower above the huge Paro Dzong (monastery/fortress). The museum holds a fantastic collection of Bhutanese national treasures ranging from ancient armour to textiles and thangkha paintings. Later in the afternoon, you will try your hand at a short cooking session at a fine local restaurant in town. Here the cook will explain and show how some of the local Bhutanese dishes are prepared and you can then try preparing them yourselves. Today is also an opportunity for you to try your hand at a few rounds of archery- the traditional sport of Bhutan. This session will help you experience how the national game is played on traditional bow and arrows. Overnight at Uma Resort or Le Meriden or Hotel Zhiwa Ling in Paro

Day 06: Paro- Hike to Tigers Nest Monastery

This early morning you will drive 12km out of town towards Satsam Chorten to start your hike to Takstang, or the Tiger’s Nest Monastery, perched high on a cliff and one of the most important places in Buddhism. While flying on the back of a tiger, Guru Rinpoche identified Taktsang as a sacred place and meditated in a cave for three months. Guru Rinpoche is also known as Padmasambhava, the tantric mystic who brought Buddhism to Bhutan in 747 AD. Today it’s perhaps the best-known monastery in the world, because of its stunning location and it is the unofficial symbol of Bhutan. The monastery was built around the meditation cave in 1684 by the Penlop of Paro and although a fire destroyed most of the original buildings in 1998, these have since been painstakingly restored to their former glory. The hike to Taktsang is a steep walk and takes 2- 2 hours to reach. The trail climbs through beautiful pine forest, many of the trees festooned with Spanish moss, and an occasional grove of fluttering prayer flags. We stop for a rest and light refreshments at the Taktsang Jakhang (cafeteria) and then walk a short distance until we gain an incredible view of the Monastery, perched precariously on the edge of the sheer 800m cliff! After lunch at the caf, walk down to your bus and make a short drive to visit Drugyal Dzong (now in ruins). Drukgyel Dzong is built in a location that was chosen for its control over the route to Tibet. A spectacular view of Mount. Jumolhari (23,996ft /7314m) can be seen from here in clear weather. Overnight at Uma Resort or Le Meriden or Hotel Zhiwa Ling in Paro.

Day 07: Departure To Onward Destination

You will be collected from your hotel and taken by private transfer to the airport in plenty of time for your flight to onward destination.