Bhutan Cultural Tour

On arrival at Paro International Airport (PBH), Paro, complete the formalities (Arrival visa).  You will be greeted with a warm smile by our representative and they will escort you to your hotel. Check-in and have some rest. Our guide will meet you in the evening and give you a quick overview of the trip.

Dinner and Overnight at the Hotel.

Today you will have your breakfast early in the hotel before departing for Haa Valley. Haa valley is 65 km far from Paro valley.  It takes about 2.5 hrs drive from Paro to Haa valley. With an hour of drive through dense spruce and larch forest, with views of yak grazing, flowing frozen river, waterfalls, and roadside springs rhododendron forest, you will arrive at Chele la Pass (3,988m). Lying between Paro and Haa valley, Chele La pass is the Bhutan’s highest road pass, covered in prayers flags, white poppy, and surrounded by forest hills.  On a clear day, you can see the stunning Himalayan views (the sacred Mt. Jomolhari, Tsherimgang, Jinchu Drake) with panoramic view of Paro and Haa valley from the pass.

Spending some time in the pass you will proceed to Haa valley. Haa valley is the paradise of Bhutan, where nature is at its best. It is a must-visit destination in Bhutan, who check-inexperience the original Bhutanese culture in the lap of nature. We will visit the Lhakhang Karpo (White Temple), Lhakhang Nagpo (Black temple) and Haa Gompa. After finishing the sightseeing we will return to Paro.

Dinner and overnight at Paro Hotel.

After enjoying breakfast, you will depart for Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan. It is approximately a 1.5hrs drive from Paro to Thimphu. On the way to Thimphu, you will get to see the fascinating valley of Paro; rice fields, apple orchards, and farmhouses. On arrival at Thimphu, check into your hotel. Having some rest, you will go for the Thimphu sightseeing.

You will go to Kuenselphodrang to visit the giant golden Great Buddha Dordenma, commonly known as the “Big Buddha Statue”. It is one of the greatest monuments which is 51m tall, that guards the entrance to the Thimphu valley. You can see the whole Thimphu valley and mountain peaks from the Kuenselphodrang viewpoint.

Following, you’ll visit the Memorial Chorten (Late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk’s Memorial Chorten), built-in 1974 to memorialize the end of the reign of Bhutan’s third king, Jigme Dorji Wangchuk popularly known as “Father of Modern Bhutan”.

After that, you will visit Tashichho Dzong (Thimphu Dzong) built-in 1641. You will see the King’s throne, the King’s office, the Secretariat office, and the central body of the monk in the dzong. After finishing sightseeing you will return to the hotel.

You can visit the Centenary Farmers Market which is open from Thursday to Sunday only. It is the point used to buy and sell foodstuff, local arts and crafts.

If interested, you can also go to Changlimithang National Stadium to watch the national game of Bhutan i.e., Archery Match.

Dinner and Overnight stay at Thimphu Hotel.

After breakfast, check out from the hotel and make your way to Gangtey. It is a culturally diverse valley in Bhutan with many temples, shrines, monasteries, and beautiful landscapes. The drive takes approximately 6 to 7 hours. The first half of the journey is to Wangdue valley via, the Dochula Pass. You’ll make a stop at Dochula Monastery to see the 108 memorial stupas known as “Druk Wangyal Chortens”. Admire the view of the Mani walls, chortens, colorful prayer flags, and mountains.

After that, proceed to Gangtey, Phobjika Valley. Phobjika valley is one of the glacial valleys in Bhutan and is the winter home of rare black-necked cranes. On arrival at Gangtey, check-in your hotel. The rest of the time is all yours. During this time you can go to enjoy the national game of Bhutan- Archery along with Dharts, or take a stroll of the valley with your guide.

Dinner and Overnight at the Lodge.

Enjoying your breakfast, today you will visit some important sites of Phobjika valley. Starting with, a visit to Gangtey Gompa– the only Nyingmapa Monastery on the western side of the Black Mountains in central Bhutan. In the monastery, you can learn about Pema Linga’s religious traditions from the monks. You can also combine a visit to Gangtey Gompa with a pleasant walk along the Gangtey Nature Trail, which passes through the beautiful village, forests, temples, and ends at the Tabiding football ground.

Later, we will drive to Punakha- the old capital of Bhutan. The drive takes about 30 min to Punakha. We will go for an easy hike to Chimi Lhakhang Temple, also known as the “Fertility Temple”, built by Yogi Ngawang Chogyel also called the “Divine Madman”. It is a well-known Buddhist monastery in Punakha that is said to bring fertility for all the visitors who come here wishing to have a child. You can witness the unusual traditional and cultural ceremonies performed by the visitor who comes with the wish of a child or to receive blessings for their child. Visiting the temple, you will move to the hotel. On arrival, check into your hotel and Have rest.

Dinner and overnight at Punakha hotel.

After having breakfast, you will set out for Punakha Sightseeing.  Begin with a visit to Punakha’s main attraction, the Punakha Dzong. It is the second oldest, largest, and most magnificent dzong of Bhutan and the administrative center of the Pukhana district. From there a 45-minute hike will take you to the popular Punakha suspension bridge. Following it, you will head to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten which will take around 30 min from town. It is the Hilltop Buddhist temple with a lush valley view. Back at the hotel and rest.

Dinner and overnight at Punakha hotel.

After breakfast, check out from the hotel and you will drive to Paro. It is a 4-5hrs of drive from Punakha to Paro. On arrival at Paro valley, check into the hotel. Get fresh up, have lunch and you will go to visit Drukgyel Dzong, a 17th century ruined fortress where the Bhutanese got victory over Tibetan’s attack. It is also a famous archeological site in Bhutan. Mt. Jomolhari (7,320m) can be seen from the Dzong in clear weather.

Proceeding from there you will visit Ta dzong- The National Museum of Bhutan. Explore and learn the whole history of Bhutan in the museum.

After that, you will take a short walk to Rinpung Dzong, the administrative center and school for monks.  From the Dzong, you can walk down to the oldest bridge of Bhutan, the Rinpung Bridge.

After the sightseeing. You will return to the hotel.

Dinner and overnight at Paro hotel.

Breakfast in the hotel, today you will go for a hike to Paro Taktsang Monastery. It is the most sacred pilgrim’s center for Buddhists from all over the country, which is perched on a cliff 900m above the Paro valley. It was built by the Bhutanese ruler Tenzin Rabgye on the site of the meditations cave of Guru Rinpoche who converted Paro valley to Buddhism. Guru Rinpoche is said to have flown over there sitting on the back of Tigress and meditated for 3 months. So, this monastery is also called “Tiger’s Nest Monastery”.  It takes 2hrs to reach the closest monastery viewpoint at the top of the hill and then 1hr to reach the monastery. Exploring the monastery, you will descend to the valley.

On your way back you will pay a visit to Bhutan’s oldest temple, Kyichu Monastery. With this, you will head back to the hotel. Free for the rest of the time.

Dinner and overnight at Paro hotel

Today is your final day in Bhutan. After having breakfast, check out from the hotel, and you will be escorted to the airport 3 hours before your flight time. Until the flight time free to explore around the valley.