Overview
This tour is designed for travellers with comfort in mind rather than lengthy treks in the high mountains.
Bhutan is one of the few countries in the world that offers a unique combination of tranquility, spirituality, unspoiled culture, natural beauty and adventure. With attention to every detail, we offer you the perfect opportunity to rejuvenate and detoxify whilst enjoying a magical journey through breathtaking forests and mountain valleys, with gentle day walks, visits to stunning, ancient dzongs and monasteries, and real experiences of Bhutanese rural life.
Highlights
- Trek to the world-famous Everest Base Camp
- Enjoy the amazing view of the Himalayas from Kala Patthar
- Travel through the Sherpa villages of Namche, Khumjung, Khunde, and Dingboche
- Visit Tengboche the biggest and oldest monastery n the region.
Itinerary
Upon arrival at the Paro International airport, you will be met and warmly welcomed by your guide before transferring to your hotel in Thimphu.
Before proceeding to Thimphu, visit Ta-Dzong (built in 1656 and renovated in 1968), 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 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal.
After lunch at the Hotel Zhiwaling, drive through to Thimphu. The drive along a winding road by the Paro Chu (Chu means water or river) downstream to the confluence with the Wang Chu, then turn upstream along the Wang Chu to Thimphu, Bhutan’s scenically located capital city, takes about an hour.
In the evening, visit the Tashichho Dzong, the seat of the national government and the Central Monastic Body which includes the summer residence of the Je Khenpo (Chief Abbot of Bhutan).
Welcome dinner and overnight at the deluxe Amankora Resort in Thimphu.
After breakfast, drive to Punakha via the Dochula Pass (3140m). On the way stop to see the spectacular array of Druk Wangyal chortens, to enjoy the superb view over the snow capped Himalayan Mountains and also to the Gasa Dzong at a distance if the weather is clear.
After lunch, take a leisurely walk for about 25 minutes along the beautiful terraced farmlands and farm houses to visit the Chimi Lhakhang, which was built by Lama Drukpa Kuenley (the Devine Madman) in the 15th century. He subdued the demoness with his “Magical Thunder bolt”. The Temple is also known as “the Temple of Fertility”.
Then visit the Punakha Dzong. This impressive dzong lies between two great rivers. The names of the rivers are Pho Chu (Male River) and Mo Chu (Female River). This Dzong serves as the winter residence for the Je Khenpo, Chief Abbot of the Central Monastic Body and also the office of the district Administration.
Dinner and overnight at the luxury Dhensa Resort in Punakha.
After an early breakfast, drive about 7 km from Punakha and cross the suspension bridge over the Mochu River before walking approximately 30-45 minutes to the Khamsum Yuelley Namgyel Chorten (Stupa) which is perched on a strategic ridge overlooking the nearby villages under Kabisa geog. It was built under the sponsorship of Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Tshering Yangden Wangchuck to remove evil forces and promote peace, stability and harmony throughout the world. As the first of its kind in the world to have been constructed, the details and the architectural designs were drawn from scriptures as visualized by Dudjom Lingpa.
After lunch, drive through to Gangtey via Wangdiphodrang.
Dinner and overnight at the deluxe Amankora Resort 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.
Here you may also have a chance to see Bhutanese archers playing their favourite sport. After lunch return through the mountains to Thimphu with a short stop at Wangdue Phodrang if time permits.
Dinner and overnight at the deluxe Taj Tashi hotel in Thimphu.
After breakfast, drive to the National Institute of Zorig Chusum, famous for traditional thangka paintings. Here you will see students at work producing intricate design on cloth. If time permits also visit the Traditional Medicine Institute.
Upon arrival in Paro, visit the 7th century old Kyichu Lhakhang (a ten-minute drive from Paro town). The Kyichu Lhakhang is one of the oldest lhakhangs to have been built in Bhutan. It is one of the 108 lhakhangs built by the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo in the 7th century AD. The king is said to have built 108 lhakhangs in a day throughout the Himalayan regions, of which the Kyichu lhakhang in Paro and the Jampa lhakhang in Bumthang are two. Most of the remaining lhakhangs can be seen in Tibet.
Dinner and overnight at the deluxe Uma Resort in Paro.
After breakfast, you will visit the Drugyal Dzong (a ruined fortress), 16 km away from Paro. Although it is now in ruins, this dzong has great historical importance for the people of Bhutan. It was a place where the Bhutanese finally defeated the Tibetan invasion. On a clear day one can view sacred Mt. Jomolhari (Mountain of Goddess).
We will then drive you to the trailhead to take a breathtaking and memorable hike through beautiful pine forest. You will stop for light refreshments at the Taktsang cafe before walking to the famous, Taktsang monastery or Tiger’s Nest. The primary Lhakhang or main temple was built around Guru Rimpoche’s meditation cave in 1684 by the Penlop of Paro, Gyalse Tenzin Rabgay. This incredible monastery clings to the edge of a sheer rock cliff that plunges 900m 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, Dorji Drolo from Kurtoe Singye Dzong in the east.
In the afternoon, you will have an opportunity to explore the beautiful town of Paro.
Farewell dinner and overnight at the deluxe Uma Resort in Paro.
After breakfast, drive to Paro International Airport where your guide will accompany you tol bid you farewell.
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
Visitors of all nationalities, except those from India, require a visa before entering Bhutan. For all visitors, except those from Bangladesh and the Maldives, this visa must be applied for and approved in advance of travel. Visitors from Bangladesh and the Maldives also require a visa, but this can be applied for and approved either in advance of travel or upon arrival in Bhutan.
Visitors from India are able to apply for a permit but are required to hold an Indian passport or an Indian voter ID card. For Indian nationals under the age of 18, a passport or a birth certificate can be used to enter and they must be accompanied by a legal guardian.
Nationals from Switzerland and Thailand holding diplomatic or government-official passports are eligible for a visa at their port of entry.
Among the languages, Dzongkha is the national language of Bhutan and is spoken by more than half of the people in the kingdom. Once you learn this new language, you will have more opportunities to get closer to the people and culture. Whenever you meet a local, say “Kuzu zangpo la”, which means “hello” in Bhutan. In conversation, Bhutanese often add “la” at the end of sentences as a sign of respect. After that, they might say “Jen Pa Leg Sho”, which means “welcome”. You can generally say a simple “Kuzuzangpo” to a child and “Kuzuzangpo la” to an elderly person.
Traveling to the landlocked kingdom of Bhutan, you will notice that Buddhism is practiced throughout the country, establishing unique customs, and tourists must follow some basic Bhutanese customs rules when visiting the country:
Bhutanese follow Asian standards of modesty. In Bhutan, both men and women should avoid revealing clothing, including shorts, crop tops, short skirts, and halterneck tops. Nudity is completely prohibited. By contrast, the government requires tourists to dress neatly and modestly, especially when visiting pontificates or temples. Often, locals love to see tourists in traditional Bhutanese clothing, including Gho or Kira, and they are always happy to help you buy this unique garment.
In Bhutan, when enjoying a meal with a group of people, you should wait until everyone is ready to eat it. If you are invited to eat at a local’s house, sometimes the host will politely invite you to eat first and then eat, which is the Bhutanese etiquette for serving guests first. During the meal, eat with your mouth closed, and don’t make any noise while eating, especially when your mouth is full of food.
The staple foods of Bhutan include rice, buckwheat, and corn. Bhutanese also eat beef, pork, fish, chicken, lamb, and yak meat, and they like to eat spicy food. Chili peppers are used as a vegetable rather than a seasoning. When cooking, no matter what the dish is, plenty of dried chilies are added. Also, locals like to use raw chili peppers for salads. Before eating, drinking, and drinking tea, people throw a little food, tea, and wine into the air to pray for God’s blessing.
Personal space is an important part of every Bhutanese. Therefore, you should not touch a person’s head as it is considered a special part of the body. Also, don’t point your fingers at others, especially religious objects, and open your palms up. Also, you should use your hands to give or receive something. When walking along a stream or lake, remember not to swim or throw any stones at it, as every item in Bhutan is also considered sacred.
Bhutan is home to countless dzongs and ancient temples shrouded in mythology and magic, making visiting these sacred destinations one of the best things to do in Bhutan. Whenever you enter a dzong or temple, remember to take off your shoes, hat, and sunglasses before entering. Also, speak softly as you tour around the temple and always move in a clockwise direction for holiness and good luck.
You should note that no stones are allowed to be picked up and thrown anywhere or carried with you as this is considered disrespectful to the Holy Land. Photography is allowed in the courtyard, but not allowed inside the temple. It is customary for people to leave a small sum of money on the altar when approaching the center of the temple. When you do this, the monk may pour a small amount of holy water into your hands, which you should drink or pose as you drink it, and then apply the remaining water to your head from front to back.
In Bhutan, never open gifts in public or front of the giver. Bhutanese will reject something three times before they reject it (they are not rude). Even if you are a tourist, you should refuse at least once.
It is customary to exchange gifts between Bhutanese citizens unless a gift is received from a superior. If you receive a gift, be sure to return the gift container and include a small treat such as fruit, bread, or candy. Bhutanese consider those who do not return the containers to be a symbol of poverty.
