SIMPLY BHUTAN TOUR PACKAGE

Welcome to Thimphu

Arrive in Bhutan with your family where an agent’s representative will meet and greet you at the airport. Proceed for your hotel transfer and register yourself at the reception. Relax in your room before proceeding for local sightseeing. Visit Memorial Chorten and National Library as part of your Bhutan tour itinerary.

Memorial Chorten: Also known as Thimphu Chorten, this stupa located on Doe Boom Lam is unlike most stupas in the world. The Memorial Chorten does not enshrine human remains but instead represents the mind of the Buddha. Teach your kids about the culture and tradition of Bhutan as you revel in these architectural marvels.

National Library: Your final stop for the day is the National Library and Archives of Bhutan. The library was established in 1967 and has been used to promote and preserve regional culture, ever since. Go through old sacred texts and know more about the rich history of Bhutan.

Come back to the hotel after a mesmerizing day of sightseeing for a good night’s sleep.

Distance from Paro airport to Thimphu: 48 km

Travel time: 1 hour (approximately)

Visit enchanting local sites as part of your Bhutan tour itinerary

Savor a delectable breakfast and gear up for local sightseeing in Thimphu. Visit Buddha Point and Bhutan Textile Museum with your loved ones.

1. Visit Buddha Dordenma: At more than 50 meters high, Buddha Dordenma is a giant statue of Lord Buddha and one of the most significant landmarks in Thimphu. It is considered a sacred site and a symbol of peace, happiness, and prosperity.

3. Take a Trek to Tango Monastery: Tango Monastery is a 13th-century temple that sits atop a hill five kilometers from Thimphu. A trek to the monastery is one of the best activities in Thimphu. It offers a stunning view of Thimphu valley and a hike through rich woodlands, traditional villages, and fertile farmland.

4. Visit Changangkha Lhakhang: This 12th-century fortress-like structure is another important destination in Thimphu, which is located in a serene, elevated spot overlooking the town. It is an excellent place for tourists to understand the Bhutanese approach to spirituality and religion.

5. Attend a Local Festival: Thimphu has many festivals throughout the year, which offer an excellent opportunity to witness Bhutanese culture, music, food and artwork in its purest form. The most popular festivals include The Thimphu Tshechu, Jomolhari Mountain Festival, Black-Necked Crane Festival, and Haa Summer Festival.

6. Royal Textile Museum: Bhutan is known for its rich textile industry, and the Royal Textile Museum in Thimphu is an excellent place to explore Bhutanese textile history, as well as watch traditional weaving techniques, and embroidery.

7. Visit the National Folk Heritage Museum: The National Folk Heritage Museum is an excellent way to immerse yourself in Bhutan's cultural heritage. It provides an overview of traditional Bhutanese lifestyles, farming, and the heritage artifacts that tell the story of Bhutan's past.

8. Shop at the Weekend Market: The weekend market in Thimphu is a buzzing open-air bazaar, where locals from all over the valley descend every Saturday and Sunday to sell fresh produce, food, handicrafts, textiles and more. It offers a great opportunity to experience Bhutanese life.

Overnight stay in Thimphu.

Get transferred to Punakha on Day 3 of your Bhutan tour itinerary

This morning drive to low lands of Punakha valley touching Dochula Pass 10,000 ft and on the way stop at Hongtsho village. Stop at the immigration check point to stamp in your permit. You will be driving through the first mountain pass in the western part of Bhutan.

You will find the 108 Druk Wangyal chortens on the top of the pass where the ridges are draped in colorful prayer flags greet you.  

Stop at Lamperi and visit the Royal Botanical Park for 30 minutes. Proceed down towards Punakha. On the way stop and take a short walk through the villages to Chimmi Lhakhang - The divine madman also known, as Drukpa Kinley is a famous teacher with whom the phallic symbol is associated. Tales told by your guide would have excited you to visit Chimmi Lhakhang. Japanese and several American couples visited this temple and were blessed miraculously with children.

Afternoon visit majestic Punakha Dzong placed strategically at the junction of the Pho Chu and Mo Chu rivers, the dzong was built in 1637 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal to serve as the religious and administrative seat of the region. It was here that the dual system of government was introduced in the 17th century and in 1907, enthroned the first King Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuk

Shop for souvenirs and come back to the hotel in Punakha for a good night’s sleep.

Optional: Shopping (charges extra)

Distance from Thimphu to Punakha: 75 km

Travel time: 3 hour 15 minutes (approximately)

Visit sightseeing of Phobjikha as part of your Bhutan tour itinerary

After breakfast visit Chimi Lhakhang on foot, the temple of fertility associated with religious art of phallus.

En route visit Wangdi ruin Dzong and continue to Phobjikha over the pass at 3140m.

Visit Gangtey Gompa, the largest and the only monastery of the Nyingmapa sect in western Bhutan.

Evening relax in your hotel or take a stroll.

Overnight in Punakha

Distance from Punakha to Phobjikha: 98 km

Travel time: 3 hour (approximately)

Get transferred to Paro on Day 5 of your Bhutan tour itinerary

After a piping hot breakfast, Paro en route visit Simtokha Dzong. This dzong, built in 1627 is the oldest in Bhutan. It now houses the Institute for Language and Culture Studies.

Afternoon in Paro, visit Ta Dzong, once a watchtower, built to defend Rinpung Dzong during inter-valley wars of the 17th century, Ta Dzong was inaugurated as Bhutan’s National Museum in 1968.

Afterwards, walk down a hillside trail to visit Rinpung Dzong. Built in 1646 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal , the first spiritual and temporal ruler of Bhutan, the Dzong houses the monastic body of Paro, the office of the Dzongda (district administrative head) and Thrimpon (judge) of Paro district. The approach to the Dzong is through a traditional covered bridge called Nemi Zam

Return to your hotel for a comfortable overnight stay.

Optional: Shopping (charges extra)

Distance from Punakha to Paro: 125 km

Travel time: 4 hour 15 minutes (approximately)

Enjoy a thrilling trek to Tiger’s Nest today as per your Bhutan travel itinerary.

Arise fresh amidst unpolluted expanses and gorge on a delicious breakfast. The day presents you an incredible trek to Tiger’s Nest. The ascent is an easy one and you can reach the top in almost 2 hours, if you are an enthusiastic trekker. Beginners might take a little more time.

Tiger’s Nest: Also known as Taktshang Goemba or Paro Taktsang, Tiger’s Nest is a monastery that is perched on a cliff and offers you a spectacular scenery of blue pine and rhododendrons forest. Legends state that Guru Rinpoche flew to this site on a tigress’ back to mollify a local demon. Later, he meditated here for three months.

Once you have enjoyed the adrenaline rush with this Bhutan trekking, come back to the hotel and relax your weary self.

Tip: Clicking pictures is not allowed inside the monastery. So, make sure you hold back the photographer in you.

After breakfast, driving excursion to Chelela pass.

Chele la (pass), at an elevation 3,988 meters is considered to be one of the highest motorable passes in Bhutan. About an hour's drive along a thickly-forested road, is this Pass-a botanical paradise. The pass provides stunning views of the sacred mountain Jomolhari and Jichu Drake.

Afternoon drive to Drukgyel Dzong, a ruined fortress where Bhutanese warriors fought Tibetan invaders centuries ago. The snowy dome of sacred Chomolhari, "mountain of goddess'' can be seen in all her glory from the approach road to the Dzong.

Along the way, visit the 7th century Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the 108 temples built in the Himalayas by Tibetan King, Songtsen Gampo. The building of this temple marks the introduction of Buddhism in Bhutan.

Evening an exploratory walk around main street and market area.

Overnight at the hotel in Paro. (Altitude 2,280m)

Your 7 nights 8 days Bhutan India package culminates.

Enjoy a healthy breakfast and checkout from the hotel. You will now be transferred to the Paro airport to board your flight back home.

Tour Ends.