Land Of Thunder Dragons - Bhutan Tour

After Breakfast Go For Morning Sightseeing - Visit The Indigenous Hospital Where Traditional Old Art Of Healing Is Still Practiced, Art & Craft School, National Library, Royal Goldsmith Workshop And Handicraft Centers. Afternoon Visit The Memorial Chorten Built In The Memory Of The Late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, 15 Century Changangkha Monastery, Mothinthang Mini Zoo To See The Rare "Takin" National Animal Of Bhutan And Drive Further Down With Good View Of The Thimphu Valley. Overnight At Hotel.

After Breakfast Drive 3 Hrs To Wangduephodrang Via Punakha (70 Kms / 03 Hrs, 1350Mts/4430Fts) Crossing The Dochu La Pass 3100 Meters. On Fine Weather You Will See The Eastern Himalayan Ranges Including The Highest Mountain In Bhutan Mt.Gangar Punsum 7520 Meters. The Drive From The Pass Is All The Way Downhill Dropping To The Lower And Warmer Valleys Of Lobesa. Visit Punakha Dzong Built At The Confluence Of The Po And Mo Chu Rivers In The 17Th Century By Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel Served As Capital Of Bhutan Until 1955. Every Year During The Month Of February A Procession Known As The Punakha Serda Takes Place To Commemorate The Victory Over The Tibetans. Further Proceed 20 Minutes Drive To Wangduephodrang (17 Kms / 20 Mins, 1350Mts/4430Fts) And View The Dzong From Outside And Stroll Around The Market Area. Overnight At Hotel.

After Breakfast Drive Almost (197 Kms / 08 Hrs, 2477Mts /8125Fts) Crossing 3 Passes Over 3000 Meters. The Route Offers Magnificent Views Of The Himalayas And Beautiful Landscape Through Scattered Hamlets And Forest Of Rhododendrons And Pine. After One And Half Hrs From Chendebji Chorten Arrive At A Small Town Known As Trongsa Meaning New Village. The Town Mainly Consists Of Fresh Tibetan Refugees But The Most Impressive Of All Is The Trongsa Dzong. The Whole Of Eastern Bhutan Was Con Trolled From This Fortress During The Mid 17Th Century. Visitors Are Not Allowed Inside The Building. Proceed Another 2 Hrs To Bumthang Visiting The Chume Weaving Center. Overnight At Hotel.

After Breakfast Sightseeing Of Bumthang Which Lies At A Altitude 2600M Has An Individuality That Charms Its Visitors And Separates It From Other Regions. Comprised Of Four Smaller Valleys, The Deeply Spiritual Region Of Bumthang Is Shrouded In Religious Legend. Here Tales Of Guru Padmasambhava And His Re-Incarnation Known As Tertons Still Linger In Most Nooks And Corners. It Is Also Known For Its Woolen Material (Yathra) Which Can Be Seen Hung Outside Of Houses For Sale. Sightseeing - Visit The Jakar Dzong, 7Th Century Jambay Lhakhang, Kurjey Monastery, Tamshing And Kunchosum Monastery. This Sightseeing Is A Round Trip So It Is More Interesting Done On Foot. Overnight At Hotel.

After Breakfast Drive To Wangduephodrang (197 Kms / 08 Hrs, 1350Mts /4430Fts) Back To Wangduephodrang. Overnight At Hotel.

After Breakfast Drive To Paro (135 Kms / 05 Hrs / 2134Mts / 7000Fts) Via Lobesa And A Short Walk Through Farm Houses And Fields To Chimme Lhakhang. This Monastery Was Built In The 15 Century And Dedicated To The Famous Lam Drukpa Kunley Or Divine Mad Man. He Is One Of The Most Famous Saints In Bhutan And His Temple Is Visited Mostly By Childless Couples. Lunch At Thimphu (Optional) And Drive To Paro Visiting The Oldest Building In Bhutan, The Simtokha Dzong. It Now Serves As A Buddhist University. Overnight At Hotel

After Breakfast Go For Day Hike To Taktsang Monastery. Horses Can Be Arranged With An Extra Cost. The Hike Which Is All The Way Uphill Takes About 3 /4 Hrs Through Pine Forests. The Monastery Clings To A Huge Granite Cliff 800 Meters From The Paro Valley. It Is Believed That The Great Saint Padmasambhava Came In The 7Th Century On A Flying Tigress And Meditated In A Cave For 3 Months. The Demons Were Subdued Who Were Trying To Stop The Spread Of Buddhism And Converted The Paro Valley Into Buddhism. During The End Of The 17 Century A Monastery Was Built On The Spot Where The Saint Mediated And It Is A Pilgrimage Site For Every Bhutanese To Visit Once In Their Life Time. Stroll Back To Hotel. Evening At Leisure. Overnight At Hotel Or Optional Tour To Haa Valley (On Extra Cost).

Day Excursion To Haa Valley (04-05 Hrs To & Fro). This Valley Remains One Of Bhutan’s Most Pristine Regions. At The Chuzom Confluence, The Road Ascends The Dramatic Wang Chu Valley Where There Is Time To View The Dobji Dzong And If Time Permits, Hike Around Its High Ramparts. The Road Into Haa Winds Up Through Quaint Villages And Thick Conifer Forests Before Leading Into A Valley Carpeted With Fields Of Millet, Barley, Potato And Wheat. The Patchwork Fields Are Dotted With Farmhouses All Adorned With Intricately Painted Cornices And Door And Window Frames. Visits To Both Chhundu Lhakhang And Lhakhang Karpo Provides An Insight Into The History Of The Valley. There Are Arrangements To See The Wangchulo Dzong As Well. The Winding Road Then Ascends Through Pastureland Past Grazing Yaks, Before Reaching The 3,900M Cheli La Pass. Descending Into The Paro Valley, The Scenery Transforms From Sub-Alpine Pasture Brilliant With Wild Mountain Flowers, To Lush Forests Of Blue Pine, Cypress, Larch, Fir And Rhododendron. Overnight At Hotel.

After Breakfast Go For Paro Sightseeing - Visit The Ruined Fortress Of Drugyel Dzong Which Still Attracts Visitors Due To The Strategic Location Of The Fort. The Fort Defended The Paro Valley From The Tibetan Invasion From The North In The Early 17Th Century. On Clear Weather Mount Chomolhari 7320 Meters Can Be Seen Towering Over The Dzong. Proceed Through The Beautiful Valley To The Watch Tower Or Locally Known As Ta-Dzong. Visit Ta Dzong (National Museum) Opening Hours - Whole Week - 0900Hrs To 1600Hrs & Closed On National Holidays , Which Was Built In 1651 As A Watchtower. Since 1951 The Dzong Has Been Re-Established As The National Museum And Holds Fascinating Collections Of Art And Religious Thankha Paintings. A Short Walk Downhill To The Rinpung Dzong Which Serves As The Administrative Center And School For Monks. Walk Further Down Crossing The Traditional Bridge Into Paro Town. Overnight At Hotel.