Western Marathon. 5 nights 6 days.
Day 1: During the journey, one will experience breath taking views of Mounts Everest, Kanchanjunga and other famous Himalayan peaks, including the scared Mounts Jomolhari and Jichudrake in Bhutan. On arrival you will be welcomed by our representative at airport and escort to hotel. After lunch visit Round structure on hill side known as Ta Dzong means watch tower used for safeguarding the fortress. Latter in 1968 it was converted into museum. It has lots of collection of paintings, masks, household items, on display. Way back make a visit to Dumtse Lhakhang built in 15th centuries by Thongtong Gyelpo. Take a leisure scroll around Paro town.
Dinner and night in hotel
Day 2: After early breakfast drive about 25 minutes towards north of Paro town. While reaching to base Ramthangka, you will hike for around 5 hrs round trip. The name Taksang means Tiger nest. Monastery is pranced on a rocky ledge with sheer drop of nearly 800 Mts and overlooks the Paro valley. It is said that second half of 8th century, Guru Padma Sambhava known as second Buddha in Bhutan, meditated at the spot where the present monastery is situated.
Picnic lunch at base.
While driving back to farm house stop at Kitchu Lhakhang, oldest temple built by Tibetan King.
Dinner in farm house and night at hotel.
Day 3; Today you are going to Capital city of Bhutan, drive leads through windy road along side of Paro and Thimphu rivers. Visit giant Buddha 51.5 Mts. long constructing site still not yet finished its surrounding on the hillside of Thimphu town and its best view point of capital. Make a stop at Tibetan style stupa built by Queen mother in year 1974 as a monument and in Memorial of late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk. Thirteen arts and crafts school takes students with poor economic background who could not continue their studies. It’s place where you can see our traditional arts and crafts being kept alive by our youth.
Lunch in Town.
After lunch visit Textile museum where there is lots of products in different colors on display and also you will come across how women of Bhutan weaves their fibers. Takin is our national animal and we have mini zoo in upper Motithang, visit to make photo of mythical animal. Scroll around town and make visit to CFM[ centenary farmers market] where local people from different region comes to sell their organic local products. Way back to hotel some time you will see man playing our traditional game Archery, stop to witness the game.
Dinner and halt in Hotel.
Day 4: Early breakfast and drive around 30 minutes through the settlement of Hongtsho and along the road side you will see young women selling apples and dried chesses of yaks and cows. On a clear day from Dochula 3140 Mts. {pass between Thimphu and Punakha} you will see beautiful snow capped mountain ranges. Pass is surrounded by colorful prayer flags and 108 Bhutanese style stupa built to celebrate victory over Indian rebels during 2003 war. Stop for hot tea at café. You will feel and see the changes in climates as you are descending towards 1700 Mts.
Lunch at chimi lhaking café.
After lunch hike around 25 minutes through the village of Lobesa to visit Chimi Lhakhang, in common Temple of Fertility. Its constructed by cousin brother of Divine Mad Man. You will see black stupa near temple, this is place where he buried three sister demons of nearby Passes on the hill which has shape of women’s breast,and converted into protective deities of that local area. Now drive about 30 minutes and stop at view point of Punakha fortress located between two rivers namely male and female rivers. It holds great historic background as our first King was enthroned in 1907 in this fortress. It served as capital for more than 300 years and was constructed by Zhabdrung in year 1638. After shifting the capital to Thimphu, it became winter residence of monk. Every year around 500 monks migrates towards winter residence and it will be right time for that place to celebrate rituals festivals performed by monk and local people of Punakha
Halt in Phunakha Hotel.
Day 5; Today you will first drive to base of Khamsum Yuely Namgyel chorten and do hiking for about 45 minutes round trip. Drive back to Dochula café for Lunch. After lunch drive towards paro and stop in Chuzom, it is a confluence where Thimphu and Paro Rivers meets. It is believed that to built anything nearby is bad Omen where rivers and roads has a junction so to come over this bad omen ,three different style of stupas are built that you will see. Hot stone bath will be complementary.
Night halt in Paro
Day 6; Our Guide and Driver will take you to Paro international airport to catch your next destination and see off.
Tashi Delek and Safe Journey.