Overview
This package covers popular destinations in the west and take you further east, seldom visited by tourists. You will pass through many secluded communities leading simple lifestyle as you make your way from the west to the east. As you venture east, the tour is less about tourist attractions and more about the experience of going a road trip across Bhutan.
Highlights
- The Tallest Sitting Buddha on a mountain top
- Tashichodzong – 17th century Fort
- Vast Gallery
- Zorig Chusum
Itinerary
Upon arrival at Paro International Airport, you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel in Thimphu, Bhutan’s beautifully located capital city which is about 45 minutes drive (53km) from the airport.
Lunch will be served at your hotel.
In the afternoon visit the Tashichho Dzong, the beautiful medieval fortress/monastery which houses most of the Government’s office and King’s Throne room. It is also the summer residence of Je Khenpo, the Chief Abbot. Then visit the National Library which has a vast collection of ancient Buddhist texts and manuscripts. After that, drive to Painting School, famous for traditional thangkha paintings. Here you will see students at work producing intricate design on cloth. If time permits, also visit the Traditional Medicine Institute.
Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Thimphu
Breakfast at your hotel, then a scenic drive into the upper reaches of the Wang Chhu Valley which is home to both the Tango and Cheri Monasteries. Here you will have the chance to visit one or both of these amazing monasteries which are located high on adjacent hillsides surrounded by lush forests.
Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Thimphu.
Breakfast at your hotel then drive up into the mountains and the spectacular Dochula pass at a height of around 3140m. If the weather is clear you will be able to enjoy superb views over the high Himalayan mountain peaks.
Here you can also take a 3 hour trek to Lhuenchutse monastery several hundred meters above the Dochula pass. A late lunch or afternoon tea will be served at the Dochula Resort.
On the way to Punakha, visit Chimey Lhakhang located on a hillock in the centre of the valley below Metsina. Built in 1499 the temple is also known as “the Temple of Fertility”. A wooden effigy of the lama’s thunderbolt is preserved in the lhakhang, and childless women go to the temple to receive a blessing.
Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Punakha.
Breakfast at your hotel.
Take a 45 minute walk to a chorten or stupa at Nyizergang followed by a visit to the amazing Punakha Dzong which was built in 1637. This impressive Dzong is situated between Pho Chu (Male River) and Mo Chu (Female River). The Punakha Dzong was the second of Bhutan’s dzongs and until the mid-1950s, it served as the seat of the government. It is also the winter residence of Je-Khenpo and the Central Monastic Body.
After lunch, drive through to Gangtey.
Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Gangtey.
After breakfast at your hotel, take a leisurely walk through Gangtey village and then along a nature trail through the Phobjikha valley. This glaciated valley on the western slopes of the Black Mountains is the winter home for a large flock of black-necked cranes. In addition to the cranes, there are also muntjacs (barking deer), wild boars, sambars, Himalayan Black bears, leopards and red foxes in the surrounding hills.
Lunch at your hotel then drive through to Trongsa.
Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Trongsa.
Breakfast at your hotel, and then visit Trongsa Dzong, which is probably the most impressive dzong in Bhutan. It was built in its present form in 1644 and it is the ancestral home of the present Royal Family. Here you may also have a chance to see Bhutanese archers playing their favourite sport.
After lunch drive through to Bumthang in the central heart of Bhutan.
Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Bumthang.
After breakfast at your hotel, visit Jambay Lhakhang Kurje Lhakhang, Tamshing Lhakhang, and Kenchosum Lhakhang plus the Jakar Dzong,
Lunch at your hotel and then a very scenic drive through to Ura, a traditional village in Central Bhutan. On the way, visit Membar Tsho, the Burning Lake.
Dinner and overnight at your guest house in Ura.
Have breakfast at your guest house before driving about 15km to the tiny settlement of Gayzamchu to commence a full day trek back to Ura. Return to Bumthang.
Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Bumthang.
Breakfast at your hotel, and then take the mountain road back to Thimphu. You will be able to have a short stop at Wangdue Phodrang if time permits.
Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Thimphu
Breakfast at your hotel, then drive to the forested edge of Thimphu to commence a five hour return trek to the Phajoding Monastery – which dates from the 13th century. The route climbs 1,100m through rhododendron forests to the monastery at 3,600m above sea level. The resident monks will welcome you to their place of worship – and a picnic lunch will be served. This day walk is actually the first part of the famous Druk Path trek between Thimphu and Paro.
Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Thimphu.
After breakfast, drive through to Paro to visit Simtokha Dzong, built in 1627 and also to visit the ruins of Drukgyal Dzong which was built in 1644 to commemorate the victory over the Tibetan invaders. The dzong was used as an administrative centre until 1951 when a fire caused by butter lamp destroyed it. Then visit Kyichu Lhakhang, one of Bhutan’s oldest and most sacred monasteries dating from the introduction of Buddhism in the 8th century and also visit the Rimpung Dzong built in 1646.
Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Paro.
After breakfast, take a short drive to the base of the famous Taktshang Monastery or Tiger’s Nest, which clings to a sheer rock face at a height of 2600m above sea level. The climb is quite steep, but ponies are available for those who feel they cannot make the climb themselves.
The main temple was built around Guru Rinpoche’s meditation cave in 1684 This incredible monastery clings to the edge of a sheer rock face which plunges 900 meters into the valley below. Legend has it that Guru Padmasambhava, the tantric mystic who brought Buddhism to Bhutan in 747 AD, flew here on the back of a flying tiger, Dorje Drolo.
After lunch, visit Ta Dzong an ancient watchtower, which now houses the National Museum. Below the museum is the Rinpung Dzong (literally meaning “Heap of Jewels”), the centre of civil and religious authority in this valley, built in 1646.
Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Paro.
After breakfast drive to Paro International Airport for your departure from Bhutan.
Cost
The Cost Includes
- Bhutan visa fee
- Government royalty & taxes
- Dedicated English speaking tour guide
- Dedicated tour vehicle and driver
- 3-star accommodation (twin sharing)
- Daily 3 meals (B/L/D)
- Airport transfers
- Bottled water
The Cost Excludes
- Flights to and from Bhutan
- Personal expense/shopping
- Alcoholic Beverages
- 4 or 5 star accommodation (extra charges will apply)
- Travel insurance
- Entry fees to parks and monuments
- Tips for guide and driver
FAQs
Annapurna Base Camp is a Grade B or a moderately difficult trekking route. So any fit person can do this trek, even if you do not have any previous experience. You should be aware of what to expect and mentally prepare for it. Then, as long as you will too, you can.
On average, you walk about 4 to 6 hours per day. One or two days can be as less as 3hrs and one or two days can be as long as 7hrs.
The highest altitude reached is 4190m. This is the elevation of Annapurna Base Camp. ABC is the highest we will climb in this trek.
Yes, you can charge batteries en route. Charger should be brought. There are hot shower facilities as well. You may have to pay a certain amount for both ($1-$2). Negotiate. Also, a hot water facility could be free at a lower elevation.
No. There are no ATMs on this trek route. You will have to draw enough cash in Pokhara or Kathmandu. There are a number of ATMs in these cities. Everything is paid in Nepali rupees. So money should be exchanged before the start of the trek.
Yes. The Internet can be accessed in most places. Sometimes, there might be some technical problems. The Internet in Nepal is not as fast as you are used to and at times you can just lose connection.
Not really. It depends on you. If you want, ABC trekking can be done independently. You could hire a guide and a porter by yourself instead of going through an agency or not hire a guide at all. Although, not having a guide can be a little problematic during the offseason.
It really depends on you. Is it your first time in Nepal? How confident are you of being able to find your way around? How pressed on time are you? If you go through an agency, it will be costlier but everything will be planned. You will only have to come, trek and return.
For the Annapurna region, pay for guides range from $20 to $30 per day and porters take $15 to $25 per day.
