Bhutan Tour

Bhutan is the best-kept secret in the travel industry. Due to its relative isolation, the country is not known to the outside world and until 1960, western visitors rarely visited the country. Today still, few people know of the beauty of Bhutan. The few who do visit this magical place find an ancient Buddhist culture thriving in a landscape of incredible natural beauty. The mountains are magnificent, the countryside green, the air pure and unpolluted and the architecture striking. Our tours and treks give you an intimate insight into Bhutan’s Buddhist culture and way of life.

Day 01 Kathmandu, 1360m
You arrive in Katmandu and are transferred to the hotel. A pre-trek briefing will be scheduled to discuss the trekking program and co-ordinate any last-minute arrangements.

Day 02 Kathmandu Sightseeing
Today we explore Katmandu on an organized sightseeing tour. This will include a visit to the Bodhnath Stupa, one of the biggest Buddhist shrines in the world. We also visit Pashupatinath, located on the banks of the holy Bagmati River and home to the most famous Hindu temple in the country. Here we will see Hindu holy men (saddhus) and pilgrims performing ritual bathing, and occasionally, funeral pyres burning on the Ghats.
The early afternoon will be free to relax in the hotel garden or visit Thamel for last minute shopping. You will be supplied with your trek departure information in the afternoon.

Day 03 Flight Kathmandu-Paro
The flight into the Himalyas reveals breathtaking views of great peaks, taking you right into the Dragon kingdom’s cloud scraping air-strip at Paro.Your Bhutanese tour guide will greet you on arrival to drive you through the beautiful Paro Vallley to your hotel situated on a breezy pine scented hillside. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

Day 04 Paro sightseeing includes
A drive to the ruins of Drugyel Dzong (18 kms up Paro valley). Built in 1647 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel to commemorate his victory over Tibetan invaders. On a clear day the 7314 m white-domed Namgyel peak of sacred Mt. Chomolhari (Mountain of Goddess) can be seen looming overhead. You visit the Taa Dzong-The National museum, housed in an ancient watch-tower. This museum has fine collection of ancient thankas paintings, textiles, weapons and other artifacts. Meals and overnight at the hotel. Evening at leisure

Day 05 Paro-Day Excursion to Taktsang
Morning drive to Satsam Chorten. Take a 2 hour hike to Taktsang climbing 980m above the valley floor to the viewpoint of the monastery. You stop for lunch at Taktsang Jakhant. Then walk back to Satsam Chorten and return to the hotel. Evening at leisure.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 06 Paro-Thimpu (68 Kms)
After breakfast an hour drive through the Paro and Thimpu valleys to the capital of Bhutan Thimpu, stopping at the hotel for lunch. An afternoon visit to the Memorial and the Handicrafts Emporium.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 07 Thimpu-Punakha/Wangdi (101 Kms)
The drive to Punakha takes you through Dochula pass, 3100 m-site of one of Bhutans most enchanting views. On a clear day the whole range of the Himalaya stretching from east to west can be viewed. The journey continues through varying scenes of greenery to Punakha. View the Punakha Dzong from outside. This Dzong (fort) is set at the junction of the rivers Phochu (male river) and Mochu (female river) with their waters merging in front. This Dzong serves as the winter residence for the Je Khenpo, the chief abbot of the central monks body. From Punakha, we rejoin the east-west highway at Lobeysa and continue eastwards at the Lodge.

Day 08 Wangdi-Thimpu
Drive back to Thimpu Sight seeing in Thimpu includes-visit to the Painting School of Buddhist Art, the National Library, which holds a vast collection of ancient Buddhist manuscripts and the Indigenious hospital, where centuries old healing arts are still praticed. Then, visit the Handicrafts emporium Meals and overnight at Hotel.

Day 09 Thimpu-Paro
A leisure drive to Paro. Meals and overnight at the hotel.

Day 10 Paro-Kathmandu
Breakfast at the hotel and drive to the airport to board your flight. Your BTCL representative will see you off and bid you farewell.

Day 11 Katmandu Departure