Meet & Greet on arrival at Hasimara Station & transfer to Pheuntsholing – The Gateway of Bhutan by Road from India , Pheuntsholing (also sometimes spelled Phuntsholing) is the second largest town in Bhutan (population around 40,000) and is located on the Indian border, next to the town of Jaigaon . After reaching, we shall process with permit which is to obtained at department of Immigration.(Permit procedure may take times). After Permit , drive to Thimphu. On the way, visit KharbandiGumpha, Confluence of Paro Chu &Thimpu Chu.. On arrival at Thimphu check in at the hotel. Overnight in Thimphu.

After breakfast, we will start exploring Thimphu City with a visit to its cultural sites: Visit the Institute of ZorigChusum (Painting School) where traditional arts and crafts are still kept alive. The school show cases the 13 arts and crafts of Bhutan. Students at the school receive training for six years on thangka painting, slate curving, tailoring, stone carving, embroidery, etc. Upon completion of the training, they either find employment in the government or the private sector and some even start their own arts and crafts enterprises. If you are interested to avail some students made products, they are available for sale. Textile Museum serves as the living art of Bhutanese weaving culture. It is located at the heart of Thimphu town. We can see the intricately designed local fabrics used for making dresses worn by men and women and used for making souvenirs. There is a small group of weavers working on looms to demonstrate this artistic works who come from Lhuentse district, the ancestral home of Bhutan’s royal family in eastern Bhutan. Weaving a complete set of Gho or Kira, the national dress of Bhutan, would take a weaver five to six months or a year and their price would vary from US$ 1,000 to 2,000. Then visit National Library, which has a stock of holy scriptures especially on Buddhism. Mini Zoo, houses the national animal-Takin will be a place of interest to visit. The 4th King at one point wanted the animals to be released to the forest but they kept moving around Thimphu town and had to be re-confined at the enclosure. Afterward, take a ride to Sanjaygang to have a bird’s eye view of Thimphu valley as well as to have some snap shots of the big apple of Bhutan. Next, if you are interests, Bhutan Post, as they have a good collection of stamps which the Bhutan is known for. They can also print stamps with your photo at a nominal charge, which you can take as souvenirs back home. Then, visit the handmade paper factory, where traditional paper is made out of inner pulp of daphne and edgeworthia plants. Before it is being processed into paper, the pulp is soaked, boiled, and grinded to a fine pulp and only then laid into a layer of sheets. The process is quite labour intensive, but worth it. In Bhutan it is mainly used for printing Buddhist Holy Scriptures, souvenirs and some are exported to international markets such as North America, Asia and Europe. They have a showroom where the products are on display. Next, take a ride to the Buddha Point (Kuenselphodrang), where the tallest Buddha statue, which is 161 ft and still under construction and enjoy the view of southern parts of Thimphu valley. evening travel to Punakha and over night stay in Hotel.

Distance: 71 km, estimated travel time: 2 1/2 hrs After breakfast, visit the PunakhaDzong , located on the island of the Pho Chu (male river) and the Mo chu (female river). 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 GongsarUgyenWangchuck. Damaged over the centuries by four catastrophic fires and an earthquake, the dzong has been fully restored in the recent years by the 4th King JigmeSingyeWangchuck. At the dzong you can see the highest standards in woodwork. Also visit the massive Kuenray, the Coronation Hall of all Bhutanese kings, the Dzongchung at the entrance to the dzong and the cantilever bridge over the Mochu that has been recently renovated. In the evening travel to phobjikha Valley Overnight at hotel in Phobjikha.

We will be passing through the valley of Wangdue Phodrang, which served as the seat of south-central power in the past. Wangdue Dzong has been gutted by fire on 24 October 2012 and it is being rebuilt to its original shape. The road towards Phobjikha would wind gently towards Pele La Pass (11,152ft) and pass through rice fields, beautiful scattered villages houses, thick forest of rhododendron, magnolia and hard oak trees. Before reaching the Pele La Pass, we will take a right turn through the alpine forest, rich in rhododendrons and magnolia in full blossoms during April/May, and dwarf bamboo and arrive to the glacial valley of Phobjikha/Gangtey. The place is known for the harmonic existence between the Black Necked Crane and the local communities. The area is the biggest and widest glacial valley in Bhutan and one of the wintering habitats for the endangered Black Necked Cranes that come to roost from the central Asiatic Plateau from October to February annually. People of the area revere the birds and do not disturb them. Even there is a song dedicated to the birds. Over night stay in hotel

After an early breakfast, drive to Paro. The beautiful Paro valley provides a visitor with all the essential elements of Bhutan, in general ancient temples, massive forts, monasteries, picturesque villages, scenic hikes, and drives. Upon arriving in Paro, we will visit the Ta Dzong (Watch Tower), located above the Dzong is used as the national museum of Bhutan since 1967. However, it is under renovation as of this writing, but the Museum is housed in a separate building and it has collection of large vessels used during ancient times to cook and store water. Other items include traditional weapons, a variety of plants and animals, coins, jewelry and traditional costumes, adzes and earthenware pots collected from different parts of the country, scroll paintings on cloths (Thangkhas) and Bhutanese stamps. Located below the Ta Dzong is the RinpungDzong (ParoDzong) built in 1646 and currently houses the district administrative offices and the central monastic body. The name stands for “heave of jewels.” The fortress was destroyed by the earthquake of 1897 but was restored to its original shape. An annual festival dedicated to the protecting deity of the area is held at the fortress in March/April as per the lunar calendar. During the event, a big Thangka painting (Throngdrol) is unfurled to the public for viewing and blessings and it is believed that a mere sight of it can liberate one’s soul. The Film ‘Little Buddha’ was also shot within the premises of the fortress in 1992. An archery ground is located further below the dzong and probably we might be able to witness an archery match in action. Archery is the national sport of Bhutan. Then, we will take a 16 km drive to the ruins of DrukgyelDzong, 16km up the valley. This dzong was built by ShabdrungNgawangNamgyal to commemorate the victory over the Tibetan invaders in 1644 (in fact the dzong’s name means “victorious Bhutan”). The Dzong was used as an administrative center until 1951 when a fire caused by a butter lamp destroyed it. In the evening, take a leisurely walk in and around Paro’s main shopping area. Overnight stay in a hotel in Paro.

Have an early breakfast and travel to Paro for Taktsang hike (Tiger’s Nest Monastery). Drive to Tiger’s Nest base camp would take one and half years and climb to the Taktsang Monastery will take around 5-6 hours, both ways. The trail climbs through beautiful pine forest, many of the trees festooned with Spanish moss, and an occasional grove of fluttering prayer flags. You stop for a rest and light refreshments at the only cafeteria mid-way and then further walk a short distance until we see Taktsang monastery. The monastery was built in this holy place in 1684 A.D. Legend has it that Guru Padmasambhava, the tantric mystic who brought Buddhism to Bhutan, flew here in the form of DorjiDrolo, mounted on a flaming tigress in 747 A.D. and meditated for 3 months. This incredible monastery clings to the edge of a sheer rock cliff that plunges 900 msl into the valley below. Lunch will be served at the cafeteria. After lunch we will return to the hotel. Next, visit DungtseLhakhang, built in 1421 by the famous Tibetan Lama, ThangtonGyalpo (1385-1464) in the form of chorten to subdue a demoness in Paro valley. It is the only Lhakhang, except the Memorial Chorten in Thimphu, that was built in the form of chorten and has one of the most extraordinary collections of paintings in Bhutan. Overnight stay in a hotel

• Haa-Paro • Distance: 65 km • Estimated driving time: 1 1/2 hrs • After breakfast travel to Haa valley (the valley of Guardian Spirit) through Chelela pass ( 3810 m). On a clear day you will see Himalayan mountain peaks from Chelela pass. From the pass , you can see Paro valley on one side and then Haa valley on the other other. After lunch return back to Paro through Chelela Pass for overnight stay.

In the morning after breakfast you will be driven back to Phuentsholing and further travel to Hasimara for your onward journey. TOUR ENDS