Eastern Bhutan Tour

^{14 Days / 13 Nights}

Itinerary (Paro - Thimphu - Gangtay - Bumthang - Mongar - Trashigang - Bumthang - Wangdue - Thimphu - Paro)

Private tour (EB14) : Daily departure from Paro with a guide in the language of your choice (surcharges may apply)


Day 1 : PARO ARRIVAL (-/L/D)
The flight to Paro is one of the most spectacular of all mountain flights. One can see the Mt. Everest, Mt. Kanchanjunga, Mt. Makalu and other peaks in Bhutan. The green wall of hills known as the doors, or gateways into Bhutan from the plains climbs continually higher as down the forested mountainsides, and to the north, the great snowcapped peaks of the inner Himalayas rise up to the sky. You will be received by our representative and escorted to the hotel. Welcome drinks will be served. Visit the Ta Dzong rated as one of the finest natural Museum in South Asia. Drive to see the Rinpung Dzong, built in 1645 to defend the valley against Tibetan invaders. Drive to Drukgyal Dzong now in ruins, which were built in 1646 by Shabdrung to commemorate his victory over the Tibetan invaders.

Day 2 : PARO DAY EXCURSION (B/L/D)
Drive to the famed Taktsang Monastery (Tiger's Nest) where Guru Rimpoche flew on a tigress in the 8th century and meditated there for three months. Perched on the side of the cliff at a height of 900 m above Paro valley, it is the most sacred place. Visit Kyichu temple one of the 108 temples built in the 7th century by the Tibetan King Songsten Gampo. The story goes that a giant demoness lay across the whole area of Tibet and the Himalayas and was preventing the spread of Buddhism. To overcome her, King Songtsen Gampo decided to build 108 temples, which would be placed on all the points of her body. Of these 108 temples, 12 were built in accordance with precise plans. Thus, it happened that in about the year AD 638 the temple of Jokhang in Lhasa was built over the very heart of the demoness.

Day 3 : PARO - THIMPHU (B/L/D)
This capital city, lies 54 kms or about one hour, 30 minutes drive away from Paro. Drive through the idyllic countryside, through villages and paddy fields, cross rivers and natural forests. In the afternoon, visit the Tashichho Dzong, the seat of the central government where both the temporal and spiritual heads of the country preside. The dzong was rebuilt in the 1960s on the ruins of an earllier structure. Visit the Memorial Chhorten, built in the memory of the Late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. Stroll through town. One may be able to catch a game of archery in progress at the Changlimithang stadium below the town. Overnight Thimphu.

Day 4 : THIMPHU - GANGTAY (B/L/D)
The drive will take about eight hours. Drive up from Thimphu, climbing steadily up to the Dochula pass at 10,500 ft. Enjoy a panoramic view of the mountain ranges to the north. Descend down through temperate forest bloom with rhododendrons and magnolias to the semi tropical zone or orange, bamboo and cactuses. Have a glimpse of the Chimi Lhakhang, perched atop a mound. This temple was built by Lam Drukpa Kuenley, the divine mad man. Couples unable to have siblings, usually come here to pray. Further down stream is the Wangduephodrang Dzong, strategically built on a promontory overlooking the junction of the Sunkosh and Tangmachu rivers. The dzong is the gateway to central and eastern Bhutan, and was built by Shabdrung in 1638.

Day 5 :GANGTAY – BUMTHANG (B/L/D)
This entails a five hour drive. Drive upwards to the Pele La Pass, crossing over the Black Mountains which divide western and central Bhutan. Pass through rich rhododendron and magnolias and Yak settlements. Cross the Nikachu bridge to enter the Trongsa regions in central Bhutan. Chendebji chorten, a great white stupa, built in the 18th century in Nepalese design, stands below the road. It stands testimony to the subjugation of a demon by the Lama Shida. The approach to Trongsa can be quite frustrating. Here the hills rise steeply forming deep gorges. Trongsa can seem very near but the winding roads make reaching there quite time consuming. Commanding the Mangde chu at an altitude of 2,200 mts., Trongsa Dzong is the most mpressive dzong in Bhutan. Built in 1647 by the Shabdrung, the dzong is an architectural masterpiece. After lunch drive for two to three hours to Jakar, Bumthang.

Day 6 : BUMTHANG SIGHTSEEING (B/L/D)
Visit the Jakar Dzong, built in the 17th century during the time of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal – 1st Religious and Political King of Bhutan. The fortress is now used as an administration center of Bumthang valley. Visit Jambay Lhakhang: This monastery was built in the 7th century of Tibetan King Songtsen Gembo, believed to be the reincarnation of the Buddha of Compassion. It is one of the 108 monasteries built by him to subdue evil spirits in the Himalayan region.
Kurjey Lhakhang: This temple is located above Jambay Lhakhang and consists of three temples. The one on the right was built in 1652 on the rock face where Guru meditated in the 8th century. The second temple is built on the site of a cave containing a rock with the imprint of Guru’s body and is considered the most holy. The present Royal Queen Mother recently built the third temple. These three temples are surrounded by 108 chhorten wall symbolic of each joint of the human body. Drive to see Tamshing temple, which was founded in 1501 by Terton Pema Lingpa, the re-incarnation of Guru Padmasambhava. The monastery has very interesting religious paintings like 11000 Buddhas and 21 Taras (female form of Boddhisatava). The temple was restored at the end of the 19th century. See Mebar tso (Fire burning lake) where Terton Pemalingpa an incarnation of Guru Rimpoche found religious treasures. In the evening, visit the local cheese and honey farm.

Day 7 : BUMTHANG – MONGAR (B/L/D)

The journey continues eastwards, winding through more rugged terrain. The drive, with spectacular views, will take about six hours. Pass through Ura village in Bumthang before climbing sharply to the highest motor road pass in the Kingdom, the Thrumshingla Pass – 12,465 ft. Gradually drop down to Sengor. Watch cascading waterfalls along the way. The descent stops at 2,130 ft on a bridge over the Kurichu. Climb again through pine forest, maize fileds and eastern hamlets to Mongar town. The Mongar Dzong, albeit built not to long age, still maintains the architectural traditions of the old dzongs.

Day 8 : MONGAR – TRASHIGANG (B/L/D)
The road from Mongar to Trashigang, the eastern most region, begins through lush forests and ferns passing over the Kori La at 8,000 ft. After about an hours journey you reach the village of Ngatshang, the site of one of the fiefdoms before unification of the nation. Descending rapidly through corn fields and banana groves, you reach Yadi village. Follow the Gamri river until the bifurcation to Drametsi. This temple, perched atop a steep hill, was founded by Nun Choden Zangmo in the 16th century. This is the place from where the famous Drametsi Nga Chham, mask dance with drums, originated. About 30 kilometres onwards lies Trashigang, at 3,775 ft. Trashigang is the center of the biggest and most populated district in the nation. View the dzong, built strategically on a spur going out towards the Gamri Chu.

Day 9 : DAY EXCURSION TO TRASHIYANGTSE (B/L/D)
Excursion to Gom Kora and Tashiyangtse and sightseeing around Trashigang.

Day 10 : TRASHIGANG – BUMTHANG (B/L/D)
Drive back to Bumthang. Check into hotel. Free time to relax.

Day 11 : BUMTHANG – WANGDUE (B/L/D)
After early breakfast, drive to Gangtey Gompa with picnic lunch. Visit Gangtey Gompa, which now houses one of the only Nyingmapa monastery in Bhutan. The valley is also the winter home to the rare black-necked cranes (Grus Nicorocolis), which migrate, from remote parts of Tibet, China and Siberia to winter in this valley. Overnight guesthouse, Phobjikha.

Day 12 : WANGDUE – THIMPHU (B/L/D)
In the morning, walk to Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten (50 minutes walk) – temple built by the Queen Of Bhutan for peace and stability in this ever-changing world. Drive back to Thimphu. Stop enroute at Dochula to enjoy the view of the Druk Wangyal Khangzang Chhortens, a unique cluster of 108 temples that spiral up a main monument. It was build as a tribute and monument to the self less service and visionary leadership of His Majesty the King. Transfer to Thimphu, driving through the idyllic countryside, dotted with villages and paddy fields, crossing rivers and natural forests to Thimphu.
 
Day 13 : THIMPHU - PARO (B/L/D)
More Sightseeing in Thimphu. After lunch, drive back to Paro. Check into hotel.

Day 14 : PARO – DEPARTURE (B/-/-)
In the morning, your guide will escort you to the airport for your flight onwards.


*B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner