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Overview
- Take a Thimphu in-depth tour to reach the unknown part of the city
- Driving on the postcard-worthy mountain road
- Hiking to Taktsang Monastery, the best-known attraction in Bhutan
- Relax yourself via a traditional hot stone bath
- Drink traditional red rice beer with unique local taste
- Dress in traditional National Attire to take a photo
- Get 1 Bhutan sim card of 5GB internet access
- Culture dance show with dinner
- Try local archery, which is not only Bhutan’s national sports, but also art
Highlights
- PARO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT – THIMPHU (L/D)
- THIMPHU-PUNAKHA (B/L/D)
- PUNAKHA-THIMPHU (B/L/D)
- THIMPHU-PARO (B/L/D)
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.
Travel to Punakha with a stopover at the Dochula pass (altitude 3140m). If the weather is clear, you will have spectacular views across the Himalayas.
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 in Punakha, drive to Wangdue Phodrang and visit the Wangdiphodrang Dzong built in 1638. Legend relates that as the people were searching for the site of the Dzong, four ravens were seen flying away in four directions. This was considered an auspicious sign, representing the spread of religion to the four points of the compass. The dzong is situated at the confluence of Mo Chu and Tsang Chu rivers.
Later in the afternoon drive to Thimphu.
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 Drukgyel Dzong which was built in 1644 to commemorate the victory over the Tibetan invaders. The Dzong was used as an administrative center 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 8thcentury 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 Rimpoche’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
- 1. English-speaking local guide
- 2. Meals listed in the itinerary [Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner]
- 3. Accommodation in 3-star hotel under twin/dbl bed sharing basis
- 4. All transportation within the country including airport transfers
- 5. Entrance fees for Museums and Monuments
- 6. Bhutan SDF fee
- 7. Bhutan visa fee: USD 40 per person
The Cost Excludes
1.Single room supplement charges- 2.Personal expense and Travel Insurance
- 3.Cost for any services not mentioned in the "PRICE INCLUDES"
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.
