7 DAYS (Paro-Thimphu-Punakha)
Day 1: PARO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT – THIMPHU
Upon arrival at Paro International Airport, you will be met by your guide/driver and transferred to your hotel in Thimphu, Bhutan’s beautifully located capital city which is about 1hour drive (53km) from the airport.
Day 2: THIMPHU
Visit the Tashichho Dzong, the beautiful medieval fortress/monastery which houses most of the Government’s office and King’s Throne room. It is also the summer residence of Je Khenpo, the Chief Abbot.Visit to Painting School, famous for traditional arts and crafts paintings. Visit Kuensel Phodrang to see one of the largest Buddha rupas in the world, 2 kilometer drive from capital city. Visit Takin preserve area; the national animal of Bhutan can be seen there. Visit Thimphu Memorial Stupa, built in 1974 to honor the third King, Jigme Dorji Wangchuk. Visit Sangaygang, a wonderful view of Thimphu Valley.
Overnight stay in Thimphu.
Day 3: THIMPHU-PUNAKHA
Travel to Punakha with a stopover at the Dochula pass (altitude 3140m). If the weather is clear, you will have spectacular views across the Himalayas.
On the way to Punakha, visit Chhimi Lhakhang located on a hillock in the centre of the valley below Metsina. Built in 1499 the temple is also known as “the Temple of Fertility”. A wooden effigy of the lama’s thunderbolt is preserved in the lhakhang, and childless women go to the temple to receive a blessing. Followed by a visit to the amazing Punakha Dzong which was built in 1637. This impressive dzong is situated between Pho Chu (Male River) and Mo Chu (Female River). The Punakha Dzong was the second of Bhutan’s dzongs and until the mid-1950s, it served as the seat of the government. It is also the winter residence of Je-Khenpo and the Central Monastic Body.
Overnight stay in Punakha.
Day 4: WANGDUE-PARO
Travel to Paro and on the way visit to Royal Botanical Park. It’s first Botanical Park in Bhutan, located at the high of around 3000m. Small lake and 46 species of rhododendron can be seen and these bloom mid-march to early august.
Overnight stay in Paro.
Day 5: CHELE LA PASS
Take ride to visit Chele La pass, located at 3810m, between the valley of Paro and Haa, the highest road passes in the country and Paro sightseeing
Overnight stay in Paro.
Day 6: TAKTSHANG MONASTRY OR TIGER’S NEST
After breakfast, take a short drive to the base of the famous Taktshang Monastery or Tiger’s Nest, which clings to a sheer rock face at a height of 2600m above sea level. The climb is quite steep, but ponies are available for those who feel they cannot make the climb themselves.
The main temple was built around Guru Rimpoche’s meditation cave in 1684. This incredible monastery clings to the edge of a sheer rock face which plunges 900 meters into the valley below. Legend has it that Guru Padmasambhava, the tantric mystic who brought Buddhism to Bhutan in 747 AD, flew here on the back of a flying tiger, Dorje Drolo.
Overnight stay in Paro.
Day 7: PARO – PARO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
After breakfast drive to Paro International Airport for your departure from Bhutan.
Contact Information :
Bhutan Greenery Travels
Address: Mothithang, Thimphu, Bhutan
Contact Number: +975 17407644
email ID: bhutangreenerytravel@gmail.com