Bhutan Pilgrimage Tour

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 like Gangkar Puensum, give way to the lush green Paro valley as you land. Your Bhutanese escort from Authentic Bhutan Tours- For Your Bhutan Experience! will warmly welcome & greet you on arrival, and then drive you to the Paro Rimpung Dzong, the center of civil and religious authority in this region.

After this we will have lunch in Paro town. Then we will drive to Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan. The drive will take about 1 hour and 30 minutes along the river valley, pass small villages and traditional farmhouses, through peaceful countryside. It’s a small & charming capital city located in the heart of the Himalayas. On reaching Thimphu, we will do a short hike, (Sangaygang Cross Country) Wangditse Hike. The hike starts from BBS tower till Dechenphodrang, through pine forest. From this hike we can see the Thimphu town (Capital City) beautifully. The hike will take about 1hour 30minutes.

Evening visit to Tashi Chho Dzong,seat of the national government and the Central Monastic Body, including the summer residence of the Je Khenpo (Chief Abbot of Bhutan) and stroll around Thimphu town. Dinner and overnight stay in the hotel, Thimphu

  Meal Plan: Welcome Dinner   Accommodation: Hotel Thimphu

Today we will hike to Tango Monastery with picnic lunch. Drive by the car to Doedena. From here walk up the Tango Monastery. The hike will take about 1hour 30minutes. Visit the monastery and then we will mediate inside the monastery for about 1hrs and walk back. We will take our lunch near the Doedena River side.

After lunch we will drive back to Thimphu and visit to Memorial Chhorten, Changangkha Lhakhang, Nunnery and stroll around Thimphu town. Dinner and over night stay at hotel 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 at hotel, we will drive to Bumthang over Pelela Pass and Yontongla pass. Lunch will be served on the way. At Chendebiji, we will stop to see the Chendebji Chhorten – The Chorten is patterned after Swayambhunath in Kathmandu and was built in the 19^th century by Lama Sidha, from Tibet, to cover the remains of an evil spirit that was killed at this spot. On reaching Trongsa, visit to the Tower of Trongsa, Religion and Power in Bhutan. The Tower of Trongsa is a museum in which aspects of Bhutanese culture and history are explained by beautifully objects, while for others it is as scared place of encounter with the gods. Then continue the journey to Bumthang through the hairpin bends with the dense forest of rhododendron, conifers, alder and oak crossing Yotong La, 3425m. The road then comes out into a wide-open cultivated valley – which is the Chumey Valley, the first of Bumthnag’s four valleys. From here the road goes on straight until we see Jakar Dzong and then drops into bends before straightening out again in the main valley at Chamkhar. The drive will take about 2hours and 30minutes.Dinner and overnight stay at  Bumthang Bhutanese Farmhouse.

Today we will do sightseeing in the Bumthang city – visit to Kurjey Lhakhang, is named after the body print of Guru Rinpoche which is preserved in a cave inside the oldest of the three buildings, Tamshing Lhakhang – which was established by Terton Pema Lingpa in 1501 and is the most important Nyingma Goenba in the country.  Then we will drive to Tang Valley and visit to Mebar Tsho (Burning lake). Then lunch will be served at Farmhouse or we will take hot picnic lunch. We will visit to Jambay Lhakhang, which is one of the oldest temples in Bhutan, built in 7th century. Then we will go to farmhouse for dinner and overnight stay. Today after dinner we will enjoy with the Traditional Hot-stone bath.

Hike to Tharpaling Monastery or Petsheling Monastery with picnic hot lunch.

We can mediate or relax in a monastery and very peaceful surroundings.

(Stay at hotel or farmhouse)

Today after the breakfast at hotel or Farmhouse (if stay at farmhouse) we will drive to off beaten track of Phobjikha Valley. It is a glacial valley and is the winter home of the black-necked cranes. This valley is a designated conservation area and borders Black Mountain National Park. Lunch will be served on the way. On reaching Gangtey, visit to Gantey Goenpa Lhakhang, the most important temple in Nyingmapa sect of Buddhism in Bhutan. After this we will go Gangtey Natural Trail hike. This hike is one of the easiest hike in Bhutan through pine forest and open meadow. It offers panoramic and stunning view of the valley. Dinner and overnight stay at Phobjikha Valey Hotel.

Unique Spiritual Experiences in Bhutan.

Early morning visit to Gangtey Shedra (monastic School) – for Morning Prayer. Back to hotel and have breakfast. Then visit Gangtey Goenpa Lhakhang. This temple is one of the most important temples in Nyingmapa Sect of Buddhism in Bhutan). Gangtey Natural Trail Hike-This is one of the easiest hike in Bhutan through pine forest and open meadow. Make time to meet the Khenpo/trulku to discuss and ask some clarification about your spiritual quest. Lunch at hotel. Free time to stroll around the valley. Evening visit again to Gangtey Shedra for Meditation Class and evening prayer. We have customs to give a small donation to the head monk or temple.

Donation:

It is a custom that we have to give some donations to the services that we received from Monks, Tulku and other religious figures. The donations are usually given in an envelope to the monk as part of a brief ceremony at the end of teaching or prayer or at where the individual gives the donation and holds the scarfs and the master gives a blessing, placing the ceremonial scarf on the individual. All the prices and donations can be discussed with our guide.

After the breakfast at hotel, drive back to Paro. The road descents to Wangdi Valey and 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. Lunch will be served at Dochula Café or on the way. Continue the journey to Paro. On the way we will visit to Tachho Gang Lhakhang crossing over the iron chain bridge. On reaching Paro, we will stroll around Paro town, for some shopping. Dinner and overnight stay at Paro Hotel.

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.