Author : Ten Dorji

The flight into Paro on our 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. Your Bhutanese escort from Authentic Bhutan Tours will greet you on arrival, and then drive you to the Paro Rimpung Dzong, the centre of civil and religious authority in this region. After this we will have lunch in the Paro town. We will visit the National museum and Kyichu Lhakhang, the oldest temple in Bhutan. Welcome dinner and over night stay at Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary Resort at Paro.

Today after our breakfast in the resort, we will drive to Thimphu and visit to National Memorial Chhorten, Buddha point, Weaving Center, Bhutanese Paper factory. Lunch will be served in one of the restaurant in Thimphu. In the afternoon, we will Visit to Zilukha Nunnery, BBS and stroll around Thimphu town. In the evening we will visit the Thimphu Tashichhoe Dzong. Then drive to Paro and dinner and over night stay at Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary, Paro.

After our breakfast at the resort, hike to Tiger’s Nest and lunch at the resort. Relax at the resort compund. Dinner and overnight stay at the Resort.

After our breakfast drive to Paro International Airport for your onward flight. We wish a very safe and pleasant journey back to your country. We hope to see you again in Bhutan in the future.

The flight into Paro is a befitting introduction to the spectacular beauty of our country. In clear weather, magnificent views of the world’s highest peaks like Gangkar Puensum, give way to the lush green Paro valley as you land. Your Bhutanese guide and driver from Authentic Bhutan Tours will warmly welcome & greet you on arrival, who will remain with you all through out your journey across Bhutan.  Then we will drive to Thimphu. Lunch will be served at Thimphu. After lunch we will visit to Memorial Chhorten – built in 1974 in the memory of third king late Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, and the temple inside gives good examples of tantric Buddhist and its philosophy and then we will visit to Big Buddha Statue – this gigantic statue of Shakyamuni measures in at a height of 51.5 meters, making it one of the largest statues of Buddha in the world. Evening stroll around Thimphu town. Dinner and overnight stay at Thimphu Hotel.

After enjoying the breakfast at hotel, we will do sightseeing in Thimphu City.. Visit to Post office, to make your own stamp and send to your loved ones.. Traditional Bhutanese Paper- to see the traditional methods to produce the authentic Bhutanese Paper known as Deh-sho), Weaving center, you will see here our young girls and women weaving so interestingly. Lunch will be served at one of the Restaurant at Thimphu.

After lunch, we will continue with our sightseeing and visit to Drupthop Dewachen Nunnery, this nunnery was founded in 1976 by Rikey Jadrel, who is considered an emanation of Thangtong Gyalpo and then Takin zoo, to see the national animal of Bhutan. Evening visit to Trachichho Dzong, it is an architectural delight and houses the throne room, and the office of His Majesty the king and the ministries of home affairs and finance. Then stroll and explore around Thimphu town and do some shopping in Bhutan.

Dinner and over night stay at one of the hotel in Thimphu.

After our breakfast, we will drive to Punakha/Wangdi. The road climbs steeply through forests of pine, hemlock spruce and rhododendrons. At Dochula Pass (3150m) you will have a breathtaking panoramic view of the Eastern Himalayan Mountain ranges on clear days. The pass is adorned with 108 small stupas and many kinds of prayer flags. Then the road descends through lush forests to the fertile valley of Punakha & Wangdi Phodrang. On reaching Lobesa, we will visit Chhimi Lhakhang, which is located at a hilltop. The temple is known as ‘the temple of fertility’.  Lunch will be served here at Lobesa, one of the restaurants. At Punakha, visit the most beautiful dzongs in Bhutan, Punakha Dzong. After this, we will drive till the view point of Khamsum Yule Namgyle Chhorten, passing the beautiful rural landscape. Evening at leisure. Dinner and over night stay at Hotel Punakha

After breakfast, you will drive to Gelephu, the southernmost district of Bhutan bordering with India. You will stop for lunch on the way. Seven hours journey leads through the sub tropical forests, villages and small townships of Tsirang and Sarbhang before you arrive Gelephu. Walk around the town. Dinner and overnight stay at Gelephu hotel.

After the breakfast at hotel, we will take the 150km drive from Gelephu to Gongphu and enjoy the ascent from 280m-1450m. You will pass through Surey village where mandarin and cardamom farming is the main cultivation. From Surey you can also see Jo Dungshing peak on clear days. This peak is the highest in the Black Mountain range. Gongphu is the northern most tip of the Royal Manas Park. The area gets maximum rainfall in the country. This makes the area a thriving sub-tropical ecosystem. This is the haven for wildlife such as langur, tiger, leopard, clouded leopard, samber, and large number of bird species. Overnight in Eco-camp at Gongphu.

After the breakfast, we will drive to Panbang through forests of mixed broad-leaved forests and thick undergrowth with numerous birds such as barbets, hornbills, bulbuls, doves, woodpecker and cuckoos. The camp is on the way to a village and provides a good view of the area due to being located at a higher alleviation. Overnight in Eco-camp Panbang.

After the breakfast, drive to Royal Manas Park and do the Elephant Safari. Cross the river using the boat and do the Elephant Safari. This safari allows for the perfect tour to appreciate the wealth and the beauty of the park. Towards evening drive back to Panbang and dinner and overnight stay at the Panbang Eco Camp.

Morning explores the villages nearby the Eco camp and after the lunch, we will enjoy the River Rafting. Overnight at Eco-camp at Panbang.

Stay one more day here and explore other activities here at Royal Manas National Park

After breakfast, you will drive to Trongsa. As you drive you will notice that the vegetation changes from sub-tropical to broad-leaved evergreen forests. This route has one of the richest forests and has many varieties of trees and orchids and other botanical plants. Check into your hotel on arrival.

In the morning, you’ll visit Trongsa Dzong, the masterpiece of Bhutanese architecture. You will then drive to Gangtey. You will stop at Chendebji Chorten for lunch. After lunch, you will continue driving to Gangtey through dense forests of oak trees and rhododendrons. On taking the diversion from the high-way, and crossing Lawala pass blanketed with dwarf bamboos, you will arrive at Gangtey. From Gangtey, you can see the picturesque Black Mountain range as well as Phobjikha Valley, the winter habitat of the black-necked cranes. Visit Gangtey Goenpa, the only Nyingmapa monastery in western Bhutan. You can spend some time interacting with the monks studying here. The college offers nine-year course in Buddhist studies.

Today you will hike through Phobjikha valley to explore the nearby villages. The valley is mostly covered with high altitude dwarf bamboo, hiking trails, pine trees and farmhouse with impressive art and wood carving. Any of the houses will be happy to have you walked into their houses for a cup of locally made wine, “ara” or Butter Tea. After lunch, you will drive back to Punakha. On a clear day, you can see views of Juchu Drakye, Kang Bum and other peaks en route. On the way, you will stop at Lobesa to hike through rice paddies up to the Chimi Lhakhang Temple. This temple is dedicated to the great Yogi in the 14th century known as Drukpa Kuenley, or the “Divine Madman,” who is believed to bless women who seek fertility. Check in to hotel on arrival.

Today, you will then drive back to Paro. On the way, you will stop at Metshina Village and take a 20-minute walk through the rice fields to Chimi Lhakhang, which is a fertility temple dedicated to the Devine Madman or Lama Drukpa Kuenley. If you wish, receive the blessing from the Lama’s wooden phallus! You will stop at Dochula for lunch. Continue drive to Paro. Check into hotel on arrival.

After the breakfast we will drive till the Ramthangka, where the hike to one of the Bhutan’s most dramatic monuments, the Tiger’s Nest (Taktshang Monaster). We will use pony till the Taktshang cafeteria. From cafeteria, we have to hike up to monastery about 1hr 30minutes. Even from the cafeteria, we can see the spectacular views of this most scared monastery in the Buddhism world. Some of you, if you cannot hike from cafeteria, we can sit and enjoy the view of the monastery, which is perched on the rocks, 900m above the valley floor. Our lunch will be served here at cafeteria. On our way back to hotel, we will visit to Kyichu Lhakhang, it is one of the two most sacred and the oldest temples in Bhutan, built in 7th century by Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo (the 33rd Tibetan king, who is also the manifestation of avoloketeshivara, commonly known to Bhutanese as Chenrize). Evening stroll around the Paro vally, the valley of surpassing Beauty.

Dinner and over night stay at Paro hotel. Le Meridian

After our breakfast, we will drive to Paro International Airport for your onward flight. Our guide and driver will bid you farewell here at the airport. We wish you a very safe and pleasant flight for your onward destinations.