Ultimate Bhutan Experience

Day 1 – Paro to Thimphu

On arrival at Paro airport you will be received by Charisma Bhutan representative, who will be your tour guide throughout your entire travel in Bhutan.

• Relax and refreshment in Paro than visit to the National Museum, Ta Dzong (watchtower). Here you can the collection of artifacts provide a wonderful introduction to the rich culture and heritage of Bhutan.

• Trail walk to Paro Dzong, Bhutanese historic architecture.

• Drive to Thimphu, the capital town of Bhutan. The road runs down through the Paro valley will give another beautiful view Chuzom.

On arrival to Thimphu check into hotel.

Overnight at the hotel in Thimphu.

Day 2 – Thimphu Sightseeing

Sightseeing in Thimphu includes visit to:

• The National Library, was established in 1967 for the purpose of “preservation and promotion of the rich cultural and religious heritage” of Bhutan. 

• The folk heritage museum, the museum is housed in a 3-story 19th century traditional rammed mud and timber house aged more than 150 years. It includes paddy, wheat and millet fields, watermill, kitchen gardens, hot stone bath etc.

• The School of Arts and Crafts, this institute, commonly known as ‘the painting school’, operates four- to six-year courses that provide instruction in Bhutan’s 13 traditional arts. Students specialize in painting (furniture, thangkas – painted religious pictures, usually on canvas), woodcarving (masks, statues, bowls), embroidery (hangings, boots, clothes) or statue-making (clay).

• Buddha Point, the Buddha Dordenma is located atop a hill in Kuenselphodrang Nature Park and overlooks the Southern entrance to Thimphu Valley. 

• The Memorial Chorten, The stupa, built in 1974 to honor the third Druk Gyalpo, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck (1928–1972), is a prominent landmark in the city with its golden spires and bells. In 2008, it underwent extensive renovation. It is popularly known as “the most visible religious landmark in Bhutan”.

• The Tashichho Dzong, fortress of the glorious religion.

• Visit local crafts shops, to browse through examples of Bhutan’s fine traditional arts. Here you can buy hand-woven textiles, thangkha paintings, masks, ceramics, slate and wood carvings, jewelry, and other interesting items made from local materials.

Overnight at the hotel in Thimphu.

Day 3 – Thimphu Short Trekking to Tango Monastery

• After breakfast, drive to the base camp of Tango Monastery and hike up to the Monastery. Tango is the center for higher studies for monks. The hike up will take approximately 45 minutes. The view from Tango Monastery is breathtaking.

Drive back to Thimphu and evening Leisure time around Thimphu town.

Overnight at hotel in Thimphu.

Day 4 – Thimphu to Punakha / Wangdue

• After Breakfast, drive to Punakha via the Dochula pass, view of the Eastern Himalayas on a clear day with a powerful binocular telescope. Visit the beautiful 108 chortens built on the hill by Her Majesty Ashi Dorji Wangmo for the security and well being of His Majesty the King of Bhutan.

• After lunch, visit to the Devine Madman’s Monastery-Chhimi Lhakhang, famously known for its fertility shrine, where one can receive a special fertility blessing.

• Drive towards Punakha, the old capital of Bhutan and presently the winter residence of the central monk body. Visit thePunakha Dzong, located on the island of the Pho-Chu (male) river and the Mochu (female) river. Visit the Dho Jha Gha Lam Temple.

Overnight at Punakha in Hotel

Day 5 – Punakha to Phobjikha

• After breakfast, drive to Phobjikha valley, One can see the natural view and extraordinary feeling of other way to Bhutan.

• Visit Gangteg Gompa and trail walk to view the beauty of nature and also if in season endanger bird Black necked Crane in the valley.

Overnight in Phobjikha hotel.

Day 6 – Phobjikha to Bumthang vai Trongssa

• After early breakfast, drive to Trongsa via Pele la pass at an altitude of 3,150 metres, a wonderful opportunity for photographs. Stop over at Trongsa to visit Trongsa Dzong, and Ta Dzong (Museum) which is the most impressive dzong in Bhutan. Built in 1644 by the Shabdrung, the dzong is an architectural masterpiece.

• Drive to Bumthang, this is one of the most spectacular valleys in Bhutan and also the heartland of Buddhism. Visit YathaWeaving Center, a cooperative of the National Women Association of Bhutan where the women of the region sell their textiles and Yatha specialty.

Overnight at Bumthang in Hotel.

Day 7 – Bumthang Sightseeing

Sightseeing includes visit to the following:

• Jambay Lhakhang, built in the 7th century by the King Songtsen Goempo of Tibet. In his effort to propagate Buddhism he had a plan to build a total of 108 temples in Tibet and neighboring kingdoms. It is one of the 108 monasteries built by him to subdue evil spirits in the Himalayan region.

• Kujey Lhakhang (“Body imprint”). The temple to the right is the oldest and was built by Minjur Tempa in 1652. It was built around the cave in which Guru Rimpoche meditated and left his body imprint.

• Tamshing Lhakhang (Temple of the Good Message).

• Jakar Dzong, “castle of the white bird”. According to legend, when the lamas assembled in about 1549 to select a site for a monastery, a big white bird rose suddenly in the air and settled on a spur of a hill. The fortress is now used as an administrative center of the valley and summer residence of Trongsa monks.

Overnight at hotel in Bumthang.

Day 8 – Bumthang to Mongar

• Your tour continues eastwards, winding through more rugged terrain. The drive, with spectacular views, will take about 6 hours. Pass through Ura village in Bumthang before climbing sharply to the highest motor road pass in the Kingdom, theThrumshingla Pass. Gradually drop down to Sensor. Watch cascading waterfalls along the way. The descent stops at 2,130 ft on a bridge over the Kurichu. Climb again through pine forest, maize fields and eastern hamlets to Mongar town.

• The Mongar Dzong, built not too long ago, yet maintains the architectural traditions of the old dzongs.

Overnight at hotel in Mongar

Day 9 – Mongar to Trashigang

• After breakfast drive towards Trashigang, the road from Mongar to Trashigang, the eastern most regions, begins through lush forests and ferns passing over the Kori La pass. Descending rapidly through corn fields and banana groves, you reach Yadi village. Follow the Gamri river until the bifurcation to Drametsi. This temple, perched atop a steep hill, was founded by Nun Choden Zangmo in the 16th century.

• This is the place from where the famous Drametsi Nga Chham, mask dance with drums, originated. About 30 kilometres onwards lies Trashigang, at 3,775 ft. Trashigang is the center of the biggest and most populated district in the nation. View the dzong, built strategically on a spur going out towards the Gamri Chu.

• After lunch, visit Khaling, it is the weaving center under women association of Bhutan, there you can see all the process and materials involved in weaving.

Drive back to Trashigang for overnight stay.

Day 10 – Day Excursion to Trashiyangtse

• After breakfast, excursion to Gom Kora and Tashiyangtse.

Overnight at hotel in Trashigang

Day 11 – Trashigang to Mongar

After breakfast, this is the beginning of the return journey. After sightseeing Trashigang valley, travel back to Mongar.

Day 12 – Mongar to Bumthang

Travel back to Bumthang. Ovrnight at Bumthang.

Day 13 – Bumthang to Wangdue

Drive to Wangdue for overnight halt, evening stroll around Wangdue town.

Overnight in Wangdue

Day 14 – Wangdue to Thimphu

• After breakfast, walk to Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten temple built by the Queen of Bhutan for peace and stability in this ever-changing world.

• Drive back to Thimphu, visiting Simtokha Dzong en route. This dzong, built in 1627, is the oldest in Bhutan. It now houses the Institute for Language and Culture Studies.

• In the evening,drive to see the Takin Zoo, which houses the national animal the Takin that is only found in Bhutan. Drive further upto Sangaygang to get a bird’s eye view of the Thimphu valley in the evening.

Overnight at hotel in Thimphu.

Day 15 – Thimphu to Paro

• After breakfast, drive to Paro. Visit Kichu temple,one of the 108 temples built in the 7th century by the Tibetan King Songsten Gampo. The story goes that a giant demon lay across the whole area of Tibet and the Himalayas and was preventing the spread of Buddhism. To overcome her, King Songtsen Gampo decided to build 108 temples, which would be placed on all the points of her body.

• After lunch visit Drukgyel Dzong, 18 km. from Paro town on the north side of the valley. It was from here that the Bhutanese repelled several invading Tibetan armies during the 17th century. Evening at leisure to visit local shops.

Overnight at hotel in Paro.

Day 16 – Paro Hike to Taktsang OR Drive to Chelila Pass

• After breakfast drive to Satsam Chorten and then hike to viewpoint of Taktshang, the Tiger’s Nest. This monastery clings to a vertical granite cliff 3,000 ft above the valley floor.

• Drive to Chelila Pass where one can see beautiful mountain ranges and rhododendron flowers in bloom.

Overnight at hotel in Paro

Day 17 – Paro Departure

After breakfast Charisma Bhutan Tours & Treks, your local Bhutan travel agent will see you off at the Paro International Airport