Bhutan Tour – 6 Days

Day 01: Arrival in Bhutan and Sightseeing in Paro (2,250m / 7,382ft) : 1 Hr Flight 

You will be welcomed by an amazing view of The Himalayas as you approach Bhutan. At the airport, you will be welcomed by a representative of Alpine Club of Himalaya. Once you have settled in our hotel, you will embark on your journey to Paro. In Paro, you will visit places such as the Dungste Lhakang, a 15th-century temple with the Ugyen Perli Palace visible through its fence, the Rinpung Dzong, a fortress-monastery, the national museum, and Kichu Lhakhang, the oldest Bhutanese temple. Overnight in Paro.

Day 2: Paro to Thimphu (2,320m/7,610ft): 54 km, 1 hour drive: Hike to Taktsang Monastery

After breakfast, you will take a scenic hike for about 4-5 hours to Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest), the most sacred monastery in Bhutan, built on steep cliff, offering you enchanting views of the Paro valley.Guru Padmasambhava who introduced Buddhism to Bhutan, is said to have meditated there for three years, three months, three weeks, three days and three hours in the 8th century. Lunch will be served at the restaurant located halfway up the mountain. You will then hike back down the valley and drive to Thimphu.  Overnight in Thimphu.

Day 3: Hike to Wangditse Gompa followed by sightseeing in Thimphu

We drive up to BBS Television Broadcasting Tower in the morning, and then hike up for an hour to the Wangditse Monastery, with great views of Tashichho Dzong, a Buddhist monastery and fortress, the Samtenling Palace, and the Dorje Drak meditation retreat.

We then hike back down to Thimphu. In Thimphu, you will visit landmarks such as the National Memorial Chorten, the Drubthob Gonpa/Zilukha Nunnery, the majestic Tashi Chhoe Dzong (Fortress of Glorious Religion), the gigantic Buddha Dordenma Statue, the Takin Sanctuary, the National Library that houses ancient manuscripts, the National Institute of Traditional Medicine, the mini zoo, and many other prominent cultural heritage buildings. We may also visit the Textile Museum, the Handicraft Emporium, the traditional paper factory, and the majestic Tashichho Dzong. Overnight in Thimphu.

Day 4: Thimphu to Punakha (1,250m/4,100ft): 76 km, 2 – 3 hours drive: Hike to Lungchutse Monastery

After breakfast, we drive to Dochula pass (3,100 meters), a mountain pass on the road from Thimpu to Punakha where 108 memorial chortens or stupas known as “Druk Wangyal Chortens” have been built by Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuk, the eldest Queen Mother. To the east of the pass, the snow clad mountain peaks of the Himalayas are seen prominently and among them is the Mt. Masanggang at 7,158 metres (23,484 ft), which is the highest peak in Bhutan. From there you will take a 2-hour hike up to the Lungchutse Monastery. The pass was part of ancient trails or tracks between Thimphu and Punakha, and offers panoramic views of the Bhutan Himalayas and a rhododendron garden. Hike back to Dochu La Pass. After lunch, drive downhill through the rhododendron, fir and hemlock forests. On the way, we stop at Metshina Village and take a 20-minute walk through the rice fields to Chimi Lhakhang, which is a fertility temple dedicated to the Divine Madman or Lama Drukpa Kuenley. Overnight in Punakha.

Day 5: Punakha to Paro: 130 km, 4 hours drive: Hike to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten

At dawn, we drive 12 km north of Punakha to the base of the hill, at which the majestic Khamsum Yulley Namgyal is built. From the car park, you have to cross a suspension bridge and walk through rice fields before you start climbing a moderately inclined trail surrounded by pine trees. The temple was built over a period of 9 years, with Bhutanese craftsmen including carpenters, painters, and sculptors consulting only holy scriptures rather than engineering manuals to construct it. Khamsum Yulley Namgyal is a splendid example of Bhutan’s fine architectural and artistic traditions and is the only one of its kind in the world. Enjoy a spectacular view of the Punakha Valley from the temple. On the way back, we visit the Punakha Dzong, the second oldest and the second largest Dzong in Bhutan, built in 1637.  In the afternoon, we drive back to Paro and spend the night there.

Day 6: Final Departure

After an early breakfast, we leave to Paro airport (approx. 1 hour). Druk Air generally departs early in the mornings to avoid adverse weather conditions.

Important Note :

Your safety is of paramount importance to us at Alpine Club of Himalaya. We have the absolute authority to cancel the trip or change the itinerary, when deemed necessary or when we have reason to believe your safety is at stake. Weather conditions, the health condition of a group member, natural disasters, and such, can contribute to changes in the itinerary when traveling in remote mountainous regions. In these extreme situations, we kindly request that you offer your full co-operation to the trusted leader of the group appointed by Alpine Club of Himalaya. However, we assure you that we will make every effort to keep to the above itinerary.