Jewel of the East

^{15 Days / 14 Nights}

Itinerary (Paro - Thimphu - Punakha - Wangdue - Bumthang - Mongar - Lhuntsi - Mongar - Trashigang - Bumthang - Wangdue - Paro)

Private tour (JE15) : 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. 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, led by Mongolian Warlord, Gushri Khan.

Day 2 : PARO DAY EXCURSION - THIMPHU (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. Transfer to Thimphu, the modern capital of Bhutan. Check into hotel. Free time to relax.

Day 3 : THIMPHU SIGHTSEEING (B/L/D)
Drive to see the Takin Zoo, which houses the national animal the Takin that is only found in Bhutan. Drive further up to BBS tower to get a view of the Thimphu valley. Visit the National Library, a treasure trove of priceless Buddhist manuscripts. Visit Changangkha temple, which is the temple of Chenrizig or Compassionate Buddha.

See the Traditional Painting School of Arts & Crafts where children are taught centuries old craft, and the National Folk Heritage Museum to get an insight into the typical Bhutanese way of life. Visit the Bhutan Post to see the different stamps of the country. See the Traditional Incense and Paper Factory.

Day 4 : THIMPHU - PUNAKHA (B/L/D)
Drive to Punakha via the Dochula pass. An hour’s drive from Thimphu will take you to this pass where one can have a superb view of the Eastern Himalayas on a clear day. Drive onto Punakha, the old capital of Bhutan and presently the winter residence of the central monk body. After lunch, visit the Punakha Dzong, located on the island of the Pho – Chu (male) river and the Mochu (female) river. Visit the Dho Jha Gha Lam Temple. Walk to Chimi Lhakhang, temple of the divine Madman Lama Drukpa Kuenley where couples unable to have siblings come here to pray. Walk around the street of Wangdue.

Day 5 : WANGDUE – BUMTHANG (B/L/D)
Today drive to Trongsa via Pele la pass at an altitude of 3,150 metres, a wonderful opportunity for photographs. Commanding the Mangde Chu at an altitude of 2,200 metres Trongsa Dzong is the most impressive dzong in Bhutan. Built in 1644 by the Shabdrung, the dzong is an architectural masterpiece. Drive to Bumthang, this is one of the most spectacular valleys in Bhutan and also the heartland of Buddhism. Here the great teachers meditated and left in their wake many sacred grounds. The Guru and his lineage of Tertons, treasure finders, have led to the sprouting of many temples in the valley. Check into Hotel.

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 – LHUNTSI (B/L/D)
After running for a few kilometers through open countryside of the mountain, the road turns north and goes down into the gorge of the river, following its left bank at an altitude of 1,100 m. The landscape is spectacular with cliffs and coniferous forest from which turpentine is extracted. Lemon grass also grows in abundance. Visit the Lhuntshi Dzong, which was built in the year 1962 but was restored several times. It is the administrative center of the district and it houses a monastic community of about a hundred monks.

Day 9 : LHUNTSHI EXCURSION – MONGAR (B/L/D)
In the morning, visit the village of Gompa Karpo, which is four-hour, walk east of the Dzong that are especially renowned for the fine quality of the fabrics they produce. Drive back to Mongar for overnight stay.

Day 10 : 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 11 : DAY EXCURSION TO TRASHIYANGTSE (B/L/D)
Excursion to Gom Kora and Tashiyangtse and sightseeing around Trashigang.

Day 12 : TRASHIGANG – BUMTHANG (B/L/D)
Drive back to Bumthang. Check into hotel. Free time to relax.

Day 13 : 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 14 : WANGDUE – PARO (B/L/D)
In the morning, walk to Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten (50 Mins) – temple built by the Queen Of Bhutan for peace and stability in this ever-changing world. Drive back to Paro. 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 Paro, driving through the idyllic countryside, dotted with villages and paddy fields, crossing rivers and natural forests to Paro.

Day 15 : PARO – DEPARTURE (B/-/-)
Morning your guide will escort you to the airport for your flight onwards.


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