Magic & Mountains

^{11 Days / 10 Nights}

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

Private tour (NM11) : Daily departure from Paro with a guide in the language of your choice (surcharges may apply)


Day 1 : PARO – THIMPHU (-/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. Visit the Ta Dzong, built in the 17th century as a watchtower for the Paro Dzong. This dzong was converted into the National musuem in 1967. Drive to the Rinpung Dzong, built in 17th century, to defend the valley against Tibetan invaders. Drive to Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan. Check into hotel. Walk around the National Memorial Chorten built in 1974 in honor of the late King.

Day 2 : THIMPHU SIGHTSEEING - WANGDUE (B/L/D)
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 Incense and Paper Factory. 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. Drive to Punakha (70Km) via the Dochula pass (3,140 m). An hour’s drive from Thimphu will take you to this pass (3,140 m) where one can have a superb view of the Eastern Himalayas on a clear day. There is a powerful binocular telescope in the cafeteria. From west to east these are the different peaks with their elevation:
   Kang Bum                                    6,526 m
   Gangchhenta                               6,840 m
   Masang Gang                              7,165 m
   Tsenda Gang                               7,100 m
   Teri Gang                                      7,300 m
   Jejekangphu Gang                     7,100 m
   Zongophu Gang ( Table Mt )     7,100 m
   Gangkhar Puensum                   7,541 m (Highest mt that is completely inside Bhutan)
Drive onto Punakha, the old capital of Bhutan and presently the winter residence of the central monk body. 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.

Day 3 : WANGDUE – TRONGSA – 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. Visit Yatha Weaving Center a cooperative of the National Women Association of Bhutan where the women of the region sell their textiles and Yatha specialty. Check into Hotel.

Day 4 : BUMTHANG – MONGAR (B/L/D)
Wangduephodrang Dzong stands strategically built on a promontory overlooking the junction of the Sunkosh and Tangmachu rivers. Drive upwards to the Pele La Pass, crossing the Black Mountains, which divide western and central Bhutan. Pass through rich rhododendron and magnolias and yak settlements. Cross the Nikarchu Bridge to enter the Trongsa regions. Have picnic lunch enroute to Trongsa. Visit the beautiful Trongsa Dzong built in 1648, the ancestral home of the Royal Family. Both the second and third King ruled the country from this ancient seat. All four Kings held the post of Trongsa Penlop prior to being crowned as King. Tour Ta Dzong, the watchtower that once guarded Trongsa Dzong from internal rebellion, stands impressively and provides visitors an insight into historical significance of Trongsa in Bhutan's history.

Day 5 : 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. After lunch, visit Khaling, it is the weaving center under women association of Bhutan and is under the Government of Bhutan. There you can see all the process and materials involved in weaving. Drive back to Trashigang for overnight.

Day 6 : DAY EXCURSION TO TRASHIYANGTSE (B/L/D)
Excursion to Gom Kora and Tashiyangtse and sightseeing around Trashigang.

Day 7 : TRASHIGANG – BUMTHANG (B/L/D)
Drive back to Bumthang. Check into hotel. Free time to relax.

Day 8 : BUMTHANG – GANGTAY – 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. Drive to Wangdue for overnight halt. Evening stroll around Wangdue town.

Day 9 : WANGDUE – THIMPHU (B/L/D)
Morning: Hike a hike to Khamsum Yuelley Namgyel Chhorten built by the Queen of Bhutan for peace and stability in this everchanging world. This temple is built in an auspicious place, which is like a palm of the hand and has been described in the old Buddhist scriptures. Drive back to Thimphu.

Day 10 : THIMPHU - PARO (B/L/D)
Drive to Paro. Check into hotel. After Lunch, hike up to the Taktsang Monastery (Tiger’s nest). The climb up to the viewpoint will take approx. 3hours. Enjoy the stunning view of the monastery, where Guru Padmasambhava flew on the back of a tiger and landed there in the 8th century, and meditated for three months. The monastery was later built in this holy place in 1684. After tea in the cafe, walk back to the road point and drive to hotel for lunch. 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. Visit the Dungte Lhakhang.

Day 11 : PARO – DEPARTURE (B/-/-)
Morning your guide will escort you to the airport for your flight onwards.


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