Bhutan is known for its unique culture and traditions. Bhutan Cultural tours offer a unique insight into the culture and tradition of the nation. It provides an opportunity to interact with the native people. Cultural tours highlights are Tshechu (annual festivals) where Buddhist teaching are dramatized and shown through mask dances. It also takes you to visit Dzongs (Fortress), Monastery and other religious monument that were built 300 years ago.
DAY 1 Arrival at Paro
DAY 2 Paro Sightseeing
Beautiful Monuments can be seen at Paro. It includes Drugyel Dzong, a ruined fortress having a great historical importance where Bhutanese finally defeated Tibetan invaders and drove them back. Other monuments include Dilgo Khyentshe’s temple, Kichu lhakhang built in 7th century, Dungtshe Lhakhang built Lam Thongto Gyalpo who first introduced iron in Bhutan. Take a break for lunch at the finest restaurant at the town. Visit National Museum housed in Ta Dzong which was used as watch tower during the time of Tibetan invasions and amazing Rimpung Dzong below Ta Dzong. In the evening visit to a farmhouse in a local village and take leisurely stroll around the town.
DAY 3 Taktshang Hike, Paro- Thimphu
Your hike will be to Taktshang Monastery literally meaning Tiger’s Nest in local Language. It is located at 2000ft/600m in a steep Rock cliff. It is believed to be a place where Guru Rinpochoe flew on the back of Tiger and meditated there. The place is about 3 hours walk from the nearest road. Lunch and tea will be served in a tea house on the way with the majestic view of the Taktshang Monastery and Paro Valley. Ponies will be arranged on request till the tea house which is about 2 hours walk from the nearest road. You may opt to further continue the trip from the tea house which is about 1 hour walk uphill. On return back to the road it would take about 1 and half hours walk downhill. At this point driver will be waiting for you to proceed to Paro town and then continue to Thimphu which is about 1 and half hours drive along the Paro River downstream to the confluence with Wang Chhu then turn upstream along the Wang chhu to Thimphu.
DAY 4 Thimphu, Sightseeing
Sightseeing in Thimphu includes Memorial temple built in the memory of our third King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, Buddha Statue at Kuensel Phodrang, Tashichho Dzong main secretariat building with Monk Bodys’ living quarters, His Majesty the king’s Throne room and Offices of Government Ministries are housed, National Library where ancient manuscripts are preserved, paintings and wood crafts schools where traditional arts are kept alive, indigenous hospitals, textile museum, handmade paper factory, folk heritage museum, Simtokha Dzong the first and oldest Dzong in Bhutan and other various Monastery around Thimphu.
DAY 5 Thimphu – Punakha
Drive east across the Dochula pass (10000ft/3000m) that has beautiful view with 108 temples and a Monastery. On the clear day panoramic view of Himalayas and Gasa Dzong can be seen. The road after the pass is routed down the hill through the varied and ever changing forest and vegetation finally arriving at the settlement/farmland areas, low lying- sub-tropical Punakha and Wangduephodrang valley. An easy walk across the paddy field for about 20 minutes to Chimmi Lhakhang dedicated to Saint Drukpa Kuenley known as a divine madman. After Lunch drive to Punakha Dzong which is at the edge of confluence of two rivers Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu.
DAY 6 Punakha – Bumthang
Drive down the valley towards the Wangduephodrang town and see the Wangduephodrang Dzong located on a hillock that resembles a sleeping elephant. Continue the road to east with the changing and varying forest and vegetation as the road gradually winds upway crossing Black Mountain at pelela pass (11,152 ft). On a clear day mountain Chomolhari and valleys can be viewed from here. As we cross the pelela pass and route down the hill, we reach Trongsa to have lunch there. Continue the journey crossing Trongsa driving up the hill to reach another pass Yotogla at 11234ft and then descend down into the valley of Chumey, first village of Bumthang. As we move further we need to cross Jakar central Bumthang to reach Chamkhar town. In the evening walk through the town of Chamkhar
DAY 7 Bumthang Sightseeing
Bumthang considered to be one of the most sacred places in Bhutan and known as Switzerland of Bhutan. Present royal families trace their ancestry back to a famous saint called Pemalingpa, who was also a smith in Jakar. Sightseeing in Bumthang would include Jambay Lhakhang which was built in 7th century when Kichu Lhakhang at paro was built, Chakhar Temple (Iron castle), Kurjey Lhakhang, cross the suspension bridge over the Chamkhar River to visit Tamzhing Lhakhang, Kenchosum Lhakhang. Walk through the farm land to Swiss farm area where your driver will be waiting for you to pick up and take you to a hotel for lunch. After lunch visit to Jakar Dzong, Traditional Hospital, Lam Namkhai Nyingpo’s Monastery and Membartsho (the burning Lake). Dinner
DAY 8 Drive back to Trongsa:
From the campsite, the transport will be provided and drive along the rough road out of Tang valley for about 25 kms to join the main east-west road. This takes about an hour depending on the road condition. Then it is another 3 hours to Trongsa passing Jakar, Chume valley and across Youtongla pass. In the afternoon visit huge and historical Trongsa Dzong (fortress). Trongsa Dzong is a rambling collection of buildings that trail down the ridge with remarkable street like corridors and wide stone stairs running down. It was from here that the present royal family emerged as the most powerful force at the beginning of this century. The first two hereditary kings ruled the country from here and it is still a tradition that the crown prince first serves as the Trongsa Penlop before ascending to the throne. Also visit Ta Dzong (watch tower) which now houses the temple dedicated to Jigme Namgyel father of the first King of Bhutan.
DAY 9 Trongsa – Thimphu
Today is a long drive of about 7 hours from Trongsa as you retrace back across the Mangde region with sights of terraced fields, spectacular landscapes, villages and vegetation with wild orchids and other wild flowers depending on the season. You should also be able to spot some yaks and yak herders as you cross the black mountains at Pelela pass and descend into the lush and warm Wangduephodrang. Then continue across Dochula pass to the capital Thimphu.