Visit enchanting local sites as part of your Bhutan tour itinerary Savor a delectable breakfast and gear up for local sightseeing in Thimphu. Memorial Chorten: Also known as Thimphu Chorten, this stupa located on Doe Boom Lam is unlike most stupas in the world. The Memorial Chorten does not enshrine human remains but instead represents the mind of the Buddha. Teach your kids about the culture and tradition of Bhutan as you revel in these architectural marvels. National Library: Your final stop for the day is the National Library and Archives of Bhutan. The library was established in 1967 and has been used to promote and preserve regional culture, ever since. Go through old sacred texts and know more about the rich history of Bhutan. Tashichhoedzong - The seat of the government since 1952 and presently houses the throne room and offices of the king, the secretariat and the ministries of home affairs and finance Buddha Point: The Buddha Dordenma statue in Thimphu at 51.5 meters is among the largest Buddha statues in the world. Located atop a hill in KuenselPhodrang Nature Park, the statue is gilded in bronze and gold. Seek peace in this scenic haven and cherish the wonderful time with your kids. Bhutan Textile Museum: Visit the textile museum located near the National Library as your second sightseeing spot for the day. Established in 2001, the museum sustains and promotes the art of weaving. One can also buy books and textiles from the museum shop. Changangkha Lhakhang: This popular temple, perched like a fortress on a ridge above central Thimphu, hums with pilgrim activity. It was established in the 12th century on a site chosen by Lama Phajo Drukgom Shigpo, who came from Ralung in Tibet. Parents traditionally come here to get auspicious names for their newborns or blessings for their young children from the protector deity Tamdrin (to the left in the grilled inner sanctum). Children are blessed by a phurba (ritual dagger) and given a sacred thread. The interior murals are particularly fine. Give the resident astrologer your birth date and he will consult divination charts to decide which kind of protective prayer flags will benefit you (Nu 150 for the flags). Don't leave without checking out the shrine to the tshomen (mermaid) in the central courtyard and then taking in the excellent view from the back kora (pilgrim path), with its lovely black-and-gold prayer wheels. Takin Zoo: Motithang Takin Preserve, located in the Motithang district of Thimphu, Bhutan is a wildlife reserve area for takin, the national animal of Bhutan. Originally a mini-zoo, it was converted into a preserve when it was discovered that the animals refrained from inhabiting the surrounding forest even when set free. The reason for declaring takin as a national animal of Bhutan on 25 November 2005 (Budorcas taxicolor) is attributed to a legend of the animal’s creation in Bhutan in the 15th century by Lama Drukpa Kunley Cherri Monastry: Chagri Dorjeden Monastery, also called Cheri Monastery, is a Buddhist monastery in Bhutan established in 1620 by Ngawang Namgyal, 1st Zhabdrung Rinpoche,[1] the founder of the Bhutanese state. The monastery, which is now a major teaching and retreat center of the Southern Drukpa Lineage of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism, is located at the northern end of the Thimphu Valley about 15 kilometers (9.3 mi) from the capital. It sits on a hill above the end of the road at Dodeyna and it takes about an hour to walk up the steep hill to reach the monastery from there. Come back to the hotel for a peaceful night’s sleep. Optional: Shopping (charges extra)
Day 4 · Punakha
Day 4: Thimphu – Punakha via Dochu La
Get transferred to Punakha on Day 4 of your Bhutan tour itinerary This morning drive to low lands of Punakha valley touching DochulaPass 10,000 ft and on the way stop at Hongtsho village. Stop at the immigration check point to stamp in your permit. You will be driving through the first mountain pass in the western part of Bhutan. You will find the 108 DrukWangyalchortens on the top of the pass where the ridges are draped in colorful prayer flags greet you. Stop at Lamperi and visit the Royal Botanical Park for 30 minutes. Proceed down towards Punakha. On the way stop and take a short walk through the villages to Chimmi Lhakhang - The divine madman also known, as Drukpa Kinley is a famous teacher with whom the phallic symbol is associated. Tales told by your guide would have excited you to visit Chimmi Lhakhang. Japanese and several American couples visited this temple and were blessed miraculously with children. Afternoon visit majestic Punakha Dzong placed strategically at the junction of the Pho Chu and Mo Chu rivers, the dzong was built in 1637 by ZhabdrungNgawangNamgyal to serve as the religious and administrative seat of the region. It was here that the dual system of government was introduced in the 17th century and in 1907, enthroned the first King GongsarUgyenWangchuk Shop for souvenirs and come back to the hotel in Paro for a good night’s sleep. Optional: Shopping (charges extra) Distance from Thimphu to Punakha: 75 km Travel time: 3 hour 15 minutes (approximately)
Night in Punakha · Punakha Residency or Pema Karpo or Hotel Kingaling (Deluxe) ★★★
Includes: Breakfast, Dinner, Sightseeing
Day 5 · Paro
Day 5: Punakha – Paro via SimtokhaDzong
Get transferred to Paro on Day 5 of your Bhutan tour itinerary After a piping hot breakfast, Paro en route visit SimtokhaDzong. This dzong, built in 1627 is the oldest in Bhutan. It now houses the Institute for Language and Culture Studies. Afternoon in Paro, visit Ta Dzong, once a watchtower, built to defend RinpungDzong during inter-valley wars of the 17th century, Ta Dzong was inaugurated as Bhutan’s National Museum in 1968. Afterwards, walk down a hillside trail to visit RinpungDzong. Built in 1646 by ShabdrungNgawangNamgyal , the first spiritual and temporal ruler of Bhutan, the Dzong houses the monastic body of Paro, the office of the Dzongda (district administrative head) and Thrimpon (judge) of Paro district. The approach to the Dzong is through a traditional covered bridge called NemiZam Return to your hotel for a comfortable overnight stay. Optional: Shopping (charges extra) Distance from Punakha to Paro: 125 km Travel time: 4 hour 15 minutes (approximately)
Night in Paro · Pema yangsel or Center Point Paro or Hotel Sangayling or Taksang Paradise (Deluxe) ★★★
Includes: Breakfast, Dinner, Sightseeing
Day 6 · Paro
Day 6: Paro: A remarkable trek to Tiger’s Nest
Enjoy a thrilling trek to Tiger’s Nest today as per your Bhutan travel itinerary. Arise fresh amidst unpolluted expanses and gorge on a delicious breakfast. The day presents you an incredible trek to Tiger’s Nest. The ascent is an easy one and you can reach the top in almost 2 hours, if you are an enthusiastic trekker. Beginners might take a little more time. Tiger’s Nest: Also known as TaktshangGoemba or Paro Taktsang, Tiger’s Nest is a monastery that is perched on a cliff and offers you a spectacular scenery of blue pine and rhododendrons forest. Legends state that Guru Rinpoche flew to this site on a tigress’ back to mollify a local demon. Later, he meditated here for three months. Once you have enjoyed the adrenaline rush with this Bhutan trekking, come back to the hotel and relax your weary self. Tip: Clicking pictures is not allowed inside the monastery. So, make sure you hold back the photographer in you.
Night in Paro · Pema yangsel or Center Point Paro or Hotel Sangayling or Taksang Paradise (Deluxe) ★★★
Includes: Breakfast, Dinner, Sightseeing
Day 7 · Phuentsholing
Day 7: Paro - Phuentsholing
Drive from Paro to Phuentsholingon Day 7 of your Bhutan tour itinerary After Breakfast drive to Phuentsholing. Evening an exploratory walk around main street and market area. Overnight at the hotel in Phuntsholing Optional: Shopping (charges extra) Distance from Paro to Phuentsholing: 160 km Travel time: 4 hour 30 minutes (approximately)
Night in Phuentsholing · Alem Resort or Asian Kitchen (Deluxe) ★★★
Includes: Breakfast, Dinner, Sightseeing
