7D Discover Bhutan

Upon arrival in Paro International Airport, transfer to your hotel in Thimphu while enjoying an afternoon tour of along the way.
*Note: Early check-in subject to hotel's availability at point of arrival.

Depending on your actual arrival time, stop by places enroute such as:

- Tamchog Lhakhang, a monastery located by the Paro River to which you must walk across a unique iron chain bridge with colourful fluttering prayers flags to arrive at.

- The 51.5m-tall Buddha Dordenma Statue - built with bronze and glided in gold, this is the world's largest sitting Shakyamuni statue, with 125,000 smaller Buddha statues placed within it. After 9 years of building, this was finished in 2015 to fulfil an ancient prophecy to emanate an aura of hapiness and peace all over the world.

- The first dzong built in Bhutan during the 17th century, Simtokha Dzong is a charming ancient fortress which is still intact in its original state today. Strategically built on a projecting ridge with deep gullies, the dzong overlooks the entire Thimphu Valley. Just above it is Bhutan's Institute for Language and Culture Studies.

Overnight in Thimphu.
[ - / - / Dinner ]

Today, continue exploring Bhutan's capital city. Visit the Bhutan Post Office Headquarters, home to the world's largest photo book and the most interesting collection of Bhutanese stamps. Only here, you can get personalised stamps of your own faces - a fun souvenir! (Closed on Sundays.)

Visit the Motithang Takin Preserve, a wildlife reserve area for the national animal of Bhutan - Takin. Drukpa Kunley, a famous Tibetan saint (also known as the Divine Madman), is said to be responsible for the creation of this unique creature called Takin which has the head of a goat and the body of a cow.

Stop by the National Memorial Chorten, Thimphu's most visited landmark built in memory of the Third King, Jigme Dorji Wangchuk (the Father of Modern Bhutan) by his mother. This Tibetan-style chorten is also a good place to see local Bhutanese people circling the monument throughout the day in a clockwise direction in prayer.

Learn about the traditional Bhutanese lifestyle at the Folk Heritage Museum, where you may also watch demonstrations of the rural customs, skills and habits. Nearby is the Thimphu National Institute for Zorig Chusum, a school dedicated to preserving and promoting the country's traditional arts and crafts.

Check out Tashichho Dzong, a fortress and monastery which houses the throne and offices of the King, the secretariat, and key ministries. A short drive away is the Zilukha Nunnery, the biggest nunnery in Bhutan and home to approximately 70 resident nuns. From here, one can get a nice view of Tashichho Dzong.

Overnight in Thimphu.
[Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner]

After breakfast, set off for Punakha [approx. 74km // 2.5hrs] via the Dochula Pass, a beautiful mountain pass with 108 memorial chortens placed in honour of 108 Bhutanese soldiers who lost their lives in the war of December 2003 against militant groups. In good weather, you will get breathtaking views of the snowcapped Himalayas.

As you arrive in Punakha, visit Chimi Lhakhang, famed as a temple of fertility where childless couples seek blessings from the Lama (monk). This temple is associated with the famous Drukpa Kunley (Divine Madman), known for using his phallus to guide people to enlightenment and subdue demons, hence the symbol of phalluses can be seen all around the site.

Stop by the Wangdue Phodrang Dzong, chosen for its ideal position for defense and commanding view of the Punakha river valley, as well as the Punakha Dzong, also known as the most beautiful dzong in Bhutan. First built in 1637, this dzong was the administrative centre of Bhutanese officials until the capital was moved to Thimphu in 1955.

Check in to your hotel and rest. Overnight in Punakha.
[Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner]

Before departing Punakha, visit the Khamsum Yueley Namgyal Chorten this morning. After crossing a suspension bridge, take a 45-minute hike to the chorten. This Bhutan-style pagoda took nine years to finish, and was built to drive off evil forces and bring peace to Bhutan and around the world.

Continue to Gangtey [approx. 75km // 2.5hrs], where you will explore the Black Necked Crane Information Centre in the afternoon. Here you'll be able to enter the observation room and use the telescope and spotting scopes to watch the Black-necked crane (Grus nigricollis). Every year (Oct-Feb), over 300 cranes will migrate from Tibet to Bhutan for their winter months in Phobjikha Valley. As an indigenous Himalayan species, the local people see it as a holy bird and a sign of longevity.

Overnight at Gangtey.
[Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner]

This morning, take a light hike on Gangtey Nature Trail (4km // 1.5-2hrs) from Gangtey Monastery (3030m altitude) to Khewang Lhakhang (2850m altitude), this is one of the most beautiful of the shortest trails in Bhutan. On 11 November each year, the Black-Necked Crane Festival is held at the monastery's courtyard to celebrate the arrival of the endangered bird species arriving from the Tibetan Plateau.

After the hike, continue back to Paro.

Overnight in Paro.
[Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner ]

Breakfast in hotel and proceed to the starting point of the hiking route to the Tiger's Nest Monastery, which is easily the most iconic landmark in Bhutan (approx 5hr roundtrip). This UNESCO World Heritage Site sits on the side of a cliff 900m above the Paro Valley, and is a sacred once-in-their-lifetime pilgrimage site for the Bhutanese. At the halfway point of the hike, take a rest at the viewing terrace and admire the views.

After the trek, visit the National Museum of Bhutan (Ta Dzong), famed as Bhutan's tallest building - which stands at 22m tall with six floors. It was constructed as a watchtower in 1649, and then converted to the museum it is today with a rich collection of ancient artifacts.

Farwell dinner with a Bhutan Cultural Dance Show. Overnight in Paro.
[Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner ]

Time to say goodbye to the beautiful Himalayan country of Bhutan. Free at leisure until time to meet with the local representative at your hotel and transfer to Paro International Airport for your onward flight.

[Breakfast / - / - ]
End of itinerary.

• Early check-in and late check-out is subject to hotel's availability.
• Itinerary sequence may be altered without prior notice in the event of weather disruption and/or other unforeseen circumstances.
• All prices indicated are valid at point of quotation, and are subject to change based on final travel dates, availability at point of booking, and any other add-ons or customisation to the base package.
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