Bhutan Mystical Traveller

Our representative and your guide will meet you and take you to your hotel to freshen up and go over your programme. Sightseeing includes the National Museum (Ta Dzong). Once the watchtower for Rinpung Dzong (fortress), it became the National Museum in 1968. The museum stands on a promontory overlooking the Paro valley in all its glory. Visit the Rinpung Dzong.

A flagstone path climbs gently to the dzong from a beautiful covered wooden bridge with a guardhouse at each end. Built in 1645 AD, this massive fortress is today the seat of the district administration and home to the monastic school. Its central tower (utse), with superb woodwork, is one of the most beautiful in the country.

Take a leisurely drive to the ruins of Drukgyel Dzong. On a clear day you can see Mt. Jomolhari (7,326 m) from here. On the way back, visit Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest temples in the kingdom, built in the 7th century by a Tibetan king to pin down a giant demon. In the evening, walk around Paro town. Overnight Paro. (Alt; 2280m)

After an early breakfast, drive from Paro to Punakha (128 km, about 4 hours) along the winding Paro Chhu and Wang Chhu rivers. Stop for a hot coffee at Dochu La pass (3,150 m), with spectacular views of the eastern Himalayan ranges. Walk around the 108 stupas that decorate the pass and visit Druk Wangyal Lhakhang, built as a tribute to the Fourth King.

After lunch, visit Punakha Dzong, the “Palace of Great Happiness”. Once the winter capital, it is now the seat of the district administration and the winter home of the Central Monastic Body and its Chief Abbot. The dzong stands between two rivers, the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu (the male and female rivers).

In the evening, walk to Chimi Lhakhang, the temple of Lama Drukpa Kunley, one of Bhutan’s best-loved saints, also known as the “Divine Madman”. It is called the Temple of Fertility because childless couples who pray here are often blessed with a child. Overnight Punakha/ Wangdue. (Alt; 1240m)

After dinner, you can take a leisurely walk around Punakha town. Overnight Punakha/ Wangdue. (Alt; 1240m)

In the morning, visit Wangdue town on its hilltop, do some shopping at the weekend market and walk to the dzong (fortress), rebuilt after the 2012 fire. Your guide will take you to some of the main shrine rooms for blessings.

After breakfast, visit the ancient watchtower, now a museum. From the top there is a great view of the fortress and the surrounding villages. Drive to Bumthang from Trongsa (68km/ 3hr), the spiritual heartland of Bhutan.

The road follows one of the most scenic routes in Bhutan, over Yotong La pass (3,425 m), home of the satyr tragopan pheasant. It is great for photography.

As you enter Chumey Valley (the first of the four valleys that make up Bumthang), you can visit a centre of yathra weaving. Yathra is a locally made, hand-woven woollen cloth. Its distinctive patterns and bright, earthy colours are sought after throughout the country.

After checking in and resting, visit Kharchu Dratshang, a monastery on the northern slope of Bumthang valley. It is one of the largest Buddhist colleges in the kingdom and the seat of Namkhai Nyingpo Rinpoche. It offers a beautiful view over the valley and its quiet town, which many travellers call “the Switzerland of Bhutan”. Stay for the golden light at sunset.

In the evening, stroll down from the monastery to the river and walk around Bumthang’s peaceful town. Overnight Bumthang. (Alt; 2580m)

In the morning, visit the historic Jakar Dzong (Fortress of the White Bird) on the hilltop above Bumthang valley and its river. It is one of the largest dzongs in Bhutan, with outer walls about 1 km around. Then take a leisurely walk to several ancient and important temples, such as Jambay Lhakhang, Kurjey Lhakhang, Konchogsum Lhakhang and Tamshing Lhakhang.

Many legends surround their origins, and some date back to the 7th century; your guide will tell their stories as you visit.

In the evening, drive to Membartsho (the Burning Lake), about 20 km from town. Local visitors tie a coin inside a white scarf, make a wish and offer it to the lake, believing the wish will one day come true. Overnight Bumthang. (Alt; 2580m)

After an early breakfast, drive from Bumthang to Phobjikha (148 km, about 5.5 hours) through changing forests and landscapes. Phobjikha is a glacial valley on the north-western edge of Jigme Singye Wangchuck (Black Mountains) National Park. The valley is a conservation area on the northern side of the Jowo Durshing range.

The whole area is often called Gangtey, after Gangtey Goenpa, the monastery on a ridge overlooking the valley. It was founded in 1613 by the grandson (the mind incarnation) of Pema Lingpa. Phobjikha is also the main winter home of the black-necked cranes, which fly here each year from the Tibetan plateau.

Visit the Black-necked Crane Information Centre. In the evening, walk through blue pine forest to a village farmhouse and try traditional snacks made from maize and rice. Overnight Phobjikha. (Alt;2900m)

Get up early and walk out into the valley to enjoy the sunrise. Then climb to Gangtey Goenpa while the monks are at their morning prayers; it is one of the largest Nyingma monasteries in the kingdom. Drive to Thimphu, stopping at Dochu La for the mountain views and refreshments.

Thimphu is a small, charming capital nestled in the heart of the Himalayas. It is nothing like the capital city you might imagine: most houses and buildings are painted and built in the traditional Bhutanese style.

On the way, visit Simtokha Dzong, built in 1629, one of the oldest fortresses in Bhutan.

Check in to your hotel and rest, then drive up to Buddha Point (Kuensel Phodrang) to enjoy the sunset and the view of Thimphu. The giant Buddha Dordenma statue here overlooks the whole valley. On the way back, walk around the Memorial Chorten, a large stupa built in memory of the Third King and a favourite place of prayer for the people of Thimphu.

Then take a walking tour of the town centre, including Norzin Lam, the main traffic junction and the Clock Tower square. Overnight Thimphu. (Alt; 2320m)

In the morning, visit the Takin Preserve to see Bhutan’s national animal, the takin. Walk to the BBS tower viewpoint, known locally as “romantic point”, for a panoramic view of Thimphu valley, and visit the nunnery on the way, where you can pray with the Buddhist nuns.

Visit the National Library, where ancient manuscripts are preserved. It also displays one of the world’s largest published books, a picture book on Bhutan.

Visit the Institute of Traditional Medicine, with its hospital and herbal medicine unit. It also trains traditional doctors, known as “drungtsho”.

Visit the Institute for Zorig Chusum (the thirteen traditional arts and crafts), followed by the Textile Museum, the Handicraft Emporium and some local craft shops.

Visit the traditional paper factory, where handmade paper still widely used in Bhutan is made.

Visit the weekend farmers’ market and meet villagers from all over the region.

Visit Tashichho Dzong, which houses the throne room, government offices and the Central Monastic Body.

After evening tea, watch a lively archery match, with plenty of singing and shouting. Archery

is Bhutan’s national sport and a great way to meet local people. Afterwards, the evening is free for shopping. Overnight Thimphu. (Alt; 2320m)

Take a day trip to Tango and Cheri monasteries. Tango Monastery stands on a quiet forested hill and is one of the most important centres of Buddhist study; several reincarnate lamas study here.

Cheri Goenpa, founded in the 17th century, is one of the most popular meditation retreats for monks, with retreat huts clinging to the cliff above the river valley. After graduating from Tango, many monks meditate here for three to nine years. Both are about 12 km from Thimphu.

The hike to Tango takes about 1.5 hours and to Cheri about 2.5 hours, both for the round trip. A picnic lunch is served along the trail. After visiting the shrines, you can spend some time meditating in the peaceful grounds.
Evening at your leisure. Overnight Thimphu.

After breakfast, drive to Paro (53 km, about 1.5 hours). On arrival, spend the day hiking up the forested path to Taktsang Monastery, also known as Tiger’s Nest, Bhutan’s most famous and scenic icon. The climb is steep and takes about five hours for the round trip.

An important place of pilgrimage and refuge for more than 1200 years, Taktsang Monastery clings to sheer cliffs 900 metres above Paro Valley, and from your closest vantage point on a rocky ledge directly across from it, you will still need a 200–300 mm lens for close-up photographs.

This sacred place got its name when Guru Rinpoche rode there on the back of a flying tiger and meditated in a cave behind the present-day monastery. Sadly, in 1998 the central temple was destroyed by fire, leaving the country mourning one of its holiest places. The King and religious leaders quickly made plans to rebuild it, donations poured in from Buddhist centres around the world, and the monastery was fully restored by 2005. Tiger’s Nest is once again the subject of cloud-shrouded posters that say, “Bhutan, Land of the Thunder Dragon.” Lunch at the hillside cafeteria.

We arrange your entry permit for the monastery. Photography is not allowed inside the shrines. The shrines are said to hold the blessings of the great saints who meditated here, and many visitors find it easy to slip into meditation simply by sitting quietly.

In the evening, visit a village home for a traditional Bhutanese dinner with the local spirit, “ara” (it tastes somewhat like Japanese sake). Then relax in a traditional hot stone bath (“menchu”). River rocks are heated and dunked into a large wooden tub with herbs. The bath is believed to have healing properties. Overnight Paro. (Alt; 2280m).

Our representative will see you off at Paro International Airport. Tashi Delek!