Bhutan itinerary 12 days

Your guide and driver will receive you at the Paro International Airport and drive to Thimphu, the capital city.

A short stop on the way to view Tamchog lhakhang built by a wonder working saint, Thang Tong Gyalpo (1385 – 1464).

• Tashichho dzong, the royal secretariat and seat of the national government. The annual Thimphu Tshechu festival is held in the courtyard of this dzong.

In the evening, free to stroll in the town for shopping and photography.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

Morning sightseeing includes:

• Tallest statue of sitting Buddha (51.5 m).
• National memorial chorten (1974) built in honor of third King of Bhutan, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck and for the world peace.
• Folk heritage museum.
• The painting school (The school of 13 arts and crafts).

After lunch, visit to:

• Postal museum where you can make your own stamps.
• Changangkha lhakhang, the oldest temple in Thimphu valley.
• Dupthop lhakhang, one of the few surviving nunneries in Bhutan.
• Takin preserve center (A very unique animal believed to be a mix of a cow and goat).
• Sangaygang view point – We walk across the field of prayer flags.

In the evening, visit to the craft bazaar and free to stroll in the town for shopping and photography.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

Morning – Drive to Punakha valley and visit:

• The beautiful Dochula pass and also view the higher Himalayas.
• Botanical garden at Lam Pelri, also called rhododendron garden.
• Chimi lhakhang or the temple of fertility built in 1499 by Lam Drukpa Kuenley, popularly known as “The divine madman”.

After lunch, visit to:

• Punakha dzong built in the 7^th century by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. Punakha is the winter residence of Je-Khenpo, the chief abbot of Bhutan. The annual Punakha festival is held here in early Spring.

In the evening,

• We walk across the longest suspension bridge in Bhutan (160 m).

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

After breakfast, hike to Khamsum Yulley Monastery built by her majesty the Queen Ashi Tshering Yangdon Wangchuck.

We drive to Gangtey. Upper part of the valley is called Gangtey and lower part is called Phobjikha valley.

Enroute sightseeing in the valley of Wangdue Phodrang valley includes:

• Wangdue Phodrang dzong built in 1638 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel.
• Gangtey Gompa monastery built in the 17^th century by Tenzin Legpai Dhendup.
• Explore Phobjikha valley, the roosting ground of the rare black necked cranes in winter.

In the evening, explore the valley.

• Black necked cranes information centre.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

Morning – Drive to Bumthang. On the way, we visit:

• Trongsa dzong, the most impressive dzong in Bhutan, built in the 17^th century by Chogyal Minjur Tempa. The first two hereditary kings ruled Bhutan from this dzong.

After lunch, visit to:

• The tower of Trongsa / Ta dzong or national heritage museum. The chapel inside the Ta dzong is dedicated to the Trongsa Penlop, Jigme Namgyal.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

Morning sightseeing includes:

• Jakar dzong, which literally means “The castle of white bird” built in 1667. The annual Jakar festival is held here in October.
• Jambay lhakhang built in 659 AD by the King Srongtsen Gampo of Tibet. In October, one of the most spectacular festival, “Jambay lhakhang Drup” is staged here.
• Kurjey lhakhang where you can see the body print of Guru Rinpoche on a Rock. The famous annual Kurjey festival is held here in July.

After lunch, visit to:

• Tamshing lhakhang established by Pema Lingpa in 1501.
• Kencho Sum lhakhang and cheese factory.

In the evening,

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

Morning – Drive to the beautiful Tang valley. On the way, visit to:

• Mebar Tsho or “The burning lake”. The Terton Pema Lingpa discovered the treasures hidden by Guru Rinpoche in the 14^th century.

• Explore the beautiful Tang valley and visit to Ogen Choling museum.

After lunch, drive back to Bumthang.

In the evening, free to stroll in the town for shopping and photography.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

After breakfast, drive to the Badbalathang Airport and fly to Paro (30 Minutes).

Your guide will receive you at the airport and drive to the Hotel.

After lunch, drive to Haa valley. On the way to:

• visit Kila Gompa nunnery – the oldest nunnery in Bhutan established in 9th century by Drupthob Chhoeje Norbu.
• Explore the beautiful Chelela pass (3988 m) which separates Paro from Haa valley. You can see the beautiful views of the Himalayas including Mt. Jomolhari.

In the evening, free to stroll in the town for shopping and photography.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

Morning visit includes: Haa dzong, Chorten Nagpo and Chorten Karpo and Juneydrak hermitage.

After lunch, explore Haa town and drive to Paro valley.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

Morning sightseeing includes:

• Ta dzong which was built in 1656. This is an ancient watchtower, which now houses the national museum of Bhutan.
• Paro dzong (Rinpung dzong) built in the 17^th century by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal where the famous Paro festival is held in early Spring.

After lunch, hike to Dzongdrakha monastery near Bonday. The hike is for 30 minutes (One way).

In the evening, visit to a Bhutanese farm house.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

Morning – Drive to the base of the monastery.

• Hike for 2 hours to Taktsang monastery (Tiger’s nest). The primary temple was built around Guru Rinpoche’s meditation cave in the 1684 by the Penlop of Paro, Gyaltse Tenzin Rabgay.

NB: You can hand prayer flags near the Tiger’s nest and offer prayers inside the monastery. 

After lunch, visit to:

• Drugyel dzong built in 1647 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal.
• Kyichu lhakhang built in 659 A.D by the Tibetan King, Srongtsen Gampo.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

After breakfast, drive to the Paro airport and farewell (End of Bhutan itinerary 12 days).