Bhutan Cultural Tour-5 Nights/6 Days - 06 Days

The flight into Paro on Bhutan’s national carrier, Druk Air, is a befitting introduction to the spectacular beauty of our country. In clear weather, magnificent views of the world’s highest peaks give way to the lush green Paro valley as you land. First gift from Bhutan will be the cool, clean fresh air as you step out of the plane. After clearing customs and visa control you will be brief by our guide and transferred to Thimpu, the capital city of Bhutan. We then depart for Thimpu, the modern capital of Bhutan. The drive will take around 1.5hours. Thimpu has a population of about 100,000. The town is made up of just three lines of shops and is the only capital in the world without traffic lights. In the evening, we will visit the Handicrafts Emporium, where all types of Bhutanese handicrafts are made and sold, overnight at Hotel.

After breakfast drive at Sangaygang, a field of Bhutanese prayer flags perched high above the city. Colored flags send prayers to the heavens and white flags honor the dead. Visit the Motithang Mini Zoo where you can see the National animal Takin research centre where these odd animals graze peacefully in a small protected park. Walk to the Zilukha Nunnery. Thimphu sightseeing continues with the Folk Heritage Museum (a beautifully restored Bhutanse farmhouse from the last century) and the National Painting School. Visit the Weekend market where vendors from throughout the region arrive on Friday afternoon and remain till Sunday. Here you will find indigenous goods, handicrafts, locally produced goods, etc. In the evening visit the National Memorial Chorten built in honor of our 3rd king Jigme Dorji Wangchuck (a wonderful opportunity to mix with the local population). All the buildings in Bhutan conform to national building principals and are beautifully carved and decorated. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

Early morning you will drive to Punakha. Punakha was built between two rivers in the 17th century by Shabdrung and served as the winter residence of the central monk body. Punakha's climate and warmer temperatures make its valley one of the most fertile in Bhutan. Punakha served as the capital of Bhutan until 1955. After visit the Punakha town, evening return to Thimphu. Overnight stay at hotel in Thimphu.

After breakfast drive over the confluence to the forbidden valley of Haa (it was closed to tourism until 2002). It is the last valley of Bhutan bordering with autonomous Tibet. Visit the Dzong of Haa and also the temples of Haap Chhundu (guardian deity of the valley) and drive back to Paro via Chelela pass, one of the highest points (3,780m) of motorable road in Bhutan. From here you will be able to view some of the highest mountains of Bhutan from here and the scenery is magnificent. Dinner and stay overnight at hotel.

After breakfast, we drive to the winding road to the Drukgyal Dzong, the ruined fort, which was once defended this valley from Tibetan invasions, and also visit a Bhutanese farm house of a local family at Drukgyal for a close up view of everyday Bhutanese life. We then drive beyond Satsam Chorten to hike up (or horse ride) to the Taktsang monastery (Tiger’s nest).  The horse ride up to the cafeteria will take around 1.5hrs. At the view point, you will enjoy the stunning view of the monastery, where Guru Padmasambhava landed on the back of a tigress in the 8th century. We then walk back to the road point and visit Kyichu Lhahang, one of the oldest temples in Bhutan, overnight at hotel.

After an early breakfast at your hotel and then drive a short distance to the Paro airport where, your Bhutanese escort will bid you farewell with Good-bye and happy journey back home.