Middle Path. 9 nights 10 days.
Day 1: The flight into Bhutan takes you close to the Great Himalayan ranges and beautiful snow capped mountains of Bhutan. As you enter Paro valley, you’ll sweep past forested hills with the silvery paro river meandering below paro valley. Paro dzong and Ta- dzong will be fine sight on the hillside above town. After completing formalities, drive around 1 hrs to capital city Thimphu.
Halt in Thimphu.
Day 2: Today we’ll do full day sightseeing which includes visit to; Giant Buddha on the hillside of Thimphu town and has very good viewpoint over Thimphu town. Visit Zorichusum{ thirteen arts and crafts school} which gives courses in traditional arts and crafts of Bhutan. Memorial stupa built by Queen mother in year 1974 for the memories of late third king of Bhutan and also as a monuments for peace and prosperity in the world. Painting and statue inside the Monument provides great insight of Buddhist philosophy.
Visit Textile Museum, Different kind of fabric hand woven products will be displayed and varieties of colors too. You will see women busily weaving and implementing their skill on piece of cloth. Centenary Farmers Market is allocated place where people can sell their local organic products. People from different region, comes to sell and buy the products. Watch Archery match played in Archery stadium. It’s our traditional game played in the range of 145 yards. Scroll around the down town of Thimphu .
Overnight hotel in Thimphu.
Day 3: After early breakfast, drive up to Dochu La Passé {3140 Mts.} stop here to take in the view and admire the 108 chorten, Mani wall and prayer flags decorates the highest point on the road. If you are lucky you will be able to see snow capped peaks of Bhutan. From pass, its long windy descends into the Wangdi Phodrang valley. Stop at bridge to make photo of burnt down fortress of Wangdi . Journey will ascend from Tiki Zampa till we will break for Lunch in Nubding, small settlement with Government school and community police nearby.
After lunch, continue ascending till another pass Pele La [3300 Mts.] marked by white chorten and prayer flags. There is an abrupt change in vegetation at this point, mountain forest replaced by high altitude dwarf bamboos. Stop at Chendibji chorten, painted with eye at four cardinal points and patterned on Swayambhunath stupa built by Lam Sidha during 18th century.
Overnight in Trongsa.
Day 4: After breakfast visit Trongsa Dzong built in 1648, it was the seat of power over central and Eastern Bhutan. Both first and second kings of Bhutan ruled the country from this ancient seat. All five king served as Trongsa Penlop{ Governor} prior to ascending the throne. Dzong is massive structure with many levels, sloping down the contours of the ridge on which it is built. Drive to Chumey, first valley of Bumthang region which will take around one and half hours through another pass known as Yotong La. Mixture of fir, pine, and high altitude dwarf bamboos continues till you reach in open cultivation valley.
Lunch in Chumey.
After lunch drive till Tharpaling Monastery and do hiking through pine forest which will give you good view over the chumey valley and exit near Jakar Dzong.
Overnight in Bumthang.
Day 5: Bumthang is combination of four valleys, Chumey, Chokor, Tang and Ura with altitude varying from 2600m to 4000m. It is home to many of prominent Buddhist temples and monasteries. Visit to Kurji Lhakhang, where the saint Padma Sambhava subdued the local demon Shelneng Karpo and left his body print on rock in the main chapel. Hike to Jampa Lhakhang built in 7th century by Tibetan King Tsongtsen Gembo. Visit panda local beer factory which is near to cheese factory.
Lunch in Town.
After lunch drive to Tamshing Monastery which has very old wall painting painted by Treasure reveler Pema Lingpa. The temple was built in 7th century.
Dinner we’ll go to Farm house where we will eat 9 typical Bumthap dish.
Overnight in Bumthang.
Day 6: take domestic flight to paro. After drive up to Ramthangka as you are going to visit Taksang Monastery which is about 4 hrs Round trip. Taksang means Tiger nest and it is believed once during mid 8th century Guru, a great saint from India visited Bhutan to subdue local demons, meditated at actual place where the monastery is located flying on the back of tigress. Way back to hotel visit to old temple built during 7th century by King of Tibet Tsongtshen Gembo.
Hot stone bath complementary from company side
Overnight in Paro.
Day 7: Drive to Ta-Dzong the watch tower for the fortress in olden days and latter converted into national museum which has great collection of artifacts and Thanka’s.
Visit huge structure known as Paro Rimpung Dzong built on the foundation of mediation cave by Zhabdrung in year 1646. The Dzong house the monastic body and administration office of Governor and court of justice. Drive till Chele La pass and do hiking till Kila Goenpa Nunnery after lunch at pass. Drive back to paro and do last minute shopping.
Overnight in Paro.
Day 8: After early breakfast drive to airport to catch you flight to next destination.
End of Tour & safe journey.