Druk Wangyel Festival Tour

Overview

Druk Wangyel Festival Tour (Dochula Pass Festival) of 5 Nights and 6 Days will be the festival event which has greater historically significant and it’s beautiful and unique than other festivals of Bhutan. This Druk Wangyel in Dochula Pass is a unique festival performed by the Royal Bhutan Army rather than monks or lay people in Bhutan. It is a tribute to the wise leadership of His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the Fourth King of Bhutan. It also celebrates the continuous efforts of the Royal Bhutan Army in protecting the sovereignty and the stability of the country. Apart from the Festival visit one can also visit other famous tourist sites too.

DEPARTURE / RETURN LOCATION	Paro International Airport
DEPARTURE TIME	Please arrive at least 2 hours before the flight.
SUITABLE MONTHS	Seasonal
INCLUDED	Land Transportation within Bhutan Tours specified in the itinerary Sustainable Development Fees (SDF) Three star hotel accommodation (Government approved 3 stars and above) Meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner, tea/conee with snacks as and when required) Rooms on Twin Sharing basis Experienced and English-speaking licensed guide All necessary permits for entering Dzongs, Monasteries, Monuments Mineral water on long trips. Full service & assistance before, during and after your Bhutan trip
EXCLUDED	Airfare Monument fees and other special entry fees Beverages of any kind Personal Shopping Laundry Tipping

Day 1: Arrival at Paro international airport (Paro vicinity tour)

Representative from Charisma Bhutan Tours & Treks will pick you up from Paro International airport and transfer to your hotel. After Lunch we will drive around Paro valley and pay visit to following places:

Ta Dzong, five and a half kilometres’ drive from Tshongdu town, thedzong was built in the mid-17th century as a watchtower overlooking Paro Rinpung Dzong, the circular dzong houses the National Museum of Bhutan.
Paro Dzong, Paro Dzong, formally known as Rinchen Dzong. It is one of the most beautiful and historically important dzongs in the country. Today, it houses both district administration and monastic body.

Overnight at hotel in Paro

Day 2: Paro – Thimphu (capital)

After breakfast, we will drive towards Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan. It is located 65 km east of Paro. At Thimphu we will be visiting to following places:

Memorial Chorten, it was built in 1974 by Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Phuntsho Choden in memory of her son, Third King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. The Chorten is today the spiritual nerve center of the city.
Buddha Statue, facing Thimphu valley down bellow is the worlds’ largest and tallest Buddha statue standing at the height of 169 feet (52 m). From here one can have a 360 degree view of Thimphu valley.
Textile museum, it was established in the year 2001. The museum contains Bhutanese textiles, arts, crafts and more importantly the royal collections.
Tashicho Dzong view,Tashicho Dzong was built in 1641 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal and enlarged in 1694 by Gyalse Tenzin Rabgay. Today, the dzong is the seat of the central government, His Majesty the King’s office, and the summer residence of the Central Monastic Body.

Overnight at hotel in Thimphu

Day 3: Witnessing festival – Punakha

After early breakfast at Thimphu we will drive towards Dochula pass, located 23 km east of Thimphu town to witness the festival. We will spend half of our day here, witnessing festival, mingling with locals who have come for the festival and enjoying the spectacular view of snowcapped mountains at the backdrop. Towards afternoon, we will start descending down towards Punakha valley.

Overnight at hotel in Punakha.

Day 4: Punakha sightseeing – Paro

In the morning we will pay visit to Punakha Dzong. From here slowly we will start driving back towards Paro. On the way we will pay visit to Chimi Lhakhang located at Lobesa.

Punakha Dzong, dzong is situated on a stretch of a land where two rivers – Phochu and Mochu – meet. Today it serves as the winter residence of the Central Monastic Body.
Chimi Lhakhang, the temple was built in 1499 by Lam Ngawang Chogyal, the cousin of Lam Drukpa Kunley, on the spot where the latter subdued a demon who was running away in the form of a dog.

Overnight at hotel in Paro

Day 5: Paro – Taktsang monastery hike

After breakfast another interesting program of our tour is hiking to Taktsang monastery. Taktsang monastery to Bhutan has become like an Eifel tower to Paris

Taktsang monastery, history tells that, on this very cliff where the monastery stands today, Guru Rimpoche, the great Buddhist saint flew from Kurtoe Singye Dzong (located in eastern Bhutan) on a back of Tigress to subdue the demon who was opposing him from spreading Buddhism in Bhutan. Hence the name Taktsang, Tigers Lair or nest derived.
Drugyal Dzong, the Dzong was built as one of the principal Dra Dzong (defense dzongs). While some attribute the building of the Dzong to Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1649 to commemorate a victory over Tibetan invasion, some attribute it to the second Druk Desi Tenzin Drukdra. But as its name suggests (Druk – Drukpa; gyal – victory), the Dzong was built to celebrate the victory over Tibetans
Kichu Lhakhang, the temple is one of the two among 108 temples built by Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo in the 7th century to subdue a demon that lay supine across Tibet and Bhutan. The temple contains sacred relics dating back to the 7^th.

Overnight at hotel in Paro

Day 6: Paro Departure

After breakfast, your guide and driver will see you off at Paro international airport for your onward destination.