8 Nights 9 Days

The flight to Paro is one of the most spectacular in the entire Himalayas. Whether flying along the Himalayan range from Kathmandu or over the foothills from Kolkata, the journey offers fascinating views and an exciting descent into the Kingdom. Bhutan’s first gift to you as you disembark from the aircraft will be the cool, clean, fresh mountain air. After immigration formalities and baggage collection, you will be met by our representative and afterwards drive to Punakha.

En route stop at Dochu La pass (3,080m). In Bhutan, the passes are marked by a large Bhutanese Chorten and prayer flag. Dochula pass offers the most spectacular view over the high peaks of the eastern Himalayas on a clear day. 

Post lunch, visit Chimi Lhakhang. Perched on a hill in the centre of the valley, Chimi Lhakhang is a temple dedicated to Lama Drukpa Kuenley. Also known as the 'Divine Madman', he used humour, song and dramatic reenactment to disperse his teachings back in the 15th century. Chimi Lhakhang is widely known as the temple of fertility; locals come here to receive blessings from the lama. They pray and ask to be blessed with a child. Locals also bring their newborns to be named here. The lhakhang is about a 30-minute walk through fields from the main road.

Then you will drive to your hotel for check-in and relax.   

After breakfast drive for around 10 minutes to the parking for Khamsum Yuelley Namgyel Chorten, starts hike up through fields of chilies, cabbages to Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten, which was built to remove negative forces and promote peace, stability and harmony in the changing world. The Chorten dominates the upper Punakha Valley with commanding views across the Mo Chhu and up towards the mountainous peaks of Gasa and beyond. A stunning monument recently built by the Queens and consecrated in 1999.

After the hike drive back to your hotel and get refreshed followed by Lunch at hotel.

After lunch, visit Punakha Dzong, built strategically at the junction of Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers in 1637, by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal to serve as the religious and administrative center of the region, Punakha Dzong has played an important role in Bhutan's history. Damaged by four catastrophic fires and an earthquake, the Dzong has been fully restored by the present King. The Dzong is open for visitors during Punakha festival and in summer months when the monk body moves to Thimphu.

Later visit Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Lhakhang nunnery: Perched on a ridge amid pine trees and overlooking valleys of Punakha and Wangduephodrang, gleams the magnificent structures of Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Lhakhang (Temple). The temple houses a 14-foot main bronze statue of Avalokiteshvara (Chenrigzig chagtongchentong). Other statues include those of Guru Padmasambawa, Gautama Buddha, Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, Tsela Namsum, the 21 Taras and Tsepamay (Buddha of longevity). The Avalokiteshvara statue, one of the biggest in the country, was the handiwork of entirely local Bhutanese artisans.  

The temple complex also houses a permanent higher learning and meditation centre for nuns where, apart from religious trainings, it provides life skill training such as tailoring, embroidery, statue making and thangka painting.

After breakfast at hotel, drive to Thimphu across Do Chula pass (3,080m).

Check in to Hotel.

After lunch, Visit King's Memorial Chorten continuously circumambulated by people, murmuring mantras and spinning their prayer wheels. Construction of this landmark was the idea of Bhutan’s third king, His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuk (“the father of modern Bhutan”) who has wished to erect monument to world peace and prosperity. Completed in 1974 after his untimely death, it serves both as a memorial to the Late King and as a monument to peace. 

Followed by a visit Buddha Point (Kuensel Phodrang). Located a short drive away from Thimphu city centre, visitors can get a panoramic view of the Thimphu valley from here. You can pay your obeisance and offer prayers to the Buddha, the largest in the country. A walk in and around the premises taking in the scenic beauty of the surroundings is a popular activity even among the locals.

In the evening, Conclude the tour of the day with a visit of Trashichhoedzong, “fortress of the glorious religion”. This is the center of government and religion, site of monarch’s throne room and seat of Je Khenpo or Chief Abbot. Built in 1641 by the political and religious unifier of Bhutan, Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, it was reconstructed in 1960s in traditional Bhutanese manner, without nails or architectural plans.

After breakfast, drive to Haa en route taking a short stop at Chele la pass. At an elevation of 3,988 meters, Chele la is one of the highest motor able passes in Bhutan. About an hour’s drive along a thickly forested road, this pass is a botanical paradise. The pass provides stunning views of the sacred mountain Jumolhari and Jichu Drake. It is also marked by hundreds of prayer flags fluttering in the wind.

Haa valley also known as ‘the Hidden-Land Rice Valley’ lies along the three distinctive sister hills (Meri Pun Sum). These hills present a breathtaking view, like heaps of flour in the middle of valley. They appear equal in height, in aline and upright without touching one another. Haa valley is one of the most picturesque places in the country.

On arrival you will pay a visit to the Lhakhang Karpo (white temple). Towards the southern foothills of the three towering mountains known as Rigsum Gonpo, meaning the “Lords of the Three Families”, refers to the enlightened deity trinity of Avalokiteshvara, Manjushri and Vajrapani, stands the mystical Lhakhang Karpo which basically translates to white temple. Lhakhang means temple and Karpo means white.Lhakhang Karpo was established in the 7th century. It is believed that two birds that is a black dove and a white pigeon were released in order to allocate the site for construction of the shrines and when the white pigeon rested on the grounds near the three towering temples that is when the Tibetan King Songtsen Gempo decided to raise the temple which stand firm still date,it houses the monastic body for the Haa region and the festivals that is to be held in the Dzong are usually organized at this Lhakhang and in order to maintain this tradition this Lhakhang has been recently rebuilt into a more beautiful looking master piece.

Few minutes away from the Lhakhang Karpo is the Lhakhang Nagpo which literally means the Black temple. In order to feature the name of the temple, the temple has been built with a grey tint in order to represent the darker color. Both the White and Black temple houses statues of the three great mountains peaks above the valley which local tradition believes as Gods known as Rigsum Gonpo, meaning the “Lords of the Three Families”, refers to the enlightened deity trinity of Avalokiteshvara, Manjushri and Vajrapani.This Lhakhang was built by the King Songtsen Gampo in the 7th century. The reason why this temple is known as the black temple is because the king released a black pigeon along with a white one to designate a site for building of the temples and the Lhakhang Nagpo was built on the site where the black pigeon actually landed. There is an opening inside the floor of the temple that leads to the underground lake. The statue of Jowo Sakyamuni can be found at this temple at the inner side of the shrine and the red –faced protector Drakdu Tsen on the outer chapel house.

Overnight stay at Soednam Zingkha in Haa.

After Breakfast, you will take a Haa Panorama hike which was developed with a team of 21 people working in tourism such as guides, cooks, and horsemen revived an ancient route in

Haa and developed it into a new trekking trail when the Tourism has been put at halt due to global

pandmic. Calling it the ‘Haa Panorama Hiking Trail’ (HPHT), the one-day hiking trail overlooks four major

monasteries of upper Haa: Yangthang, Katsho, Dranadingkha and Takchu goenpas.

The hike could either start from Yangthang goenpa or Wangtsa village through thick pine covering and

provides a bird’s eye view of Haa valley.  It gently ascends to 3,150 meters above sea level and passes

through Juney Drak, Katsho and Yanthang goenpas. Haa Panorama Hiking is ideal for a day hike. “One

can cycle through the rich forest.”

The trail covers 11 kilometers in about five hours.  The trail connects two gewogs of Katsho and Bji with two exit points in between. “If hikers can’t complete the journey, they can exit from Katsho goenpa and Juney Dra.”The trail has two canopies, a bazam, 15 log bridges and a picnic spot with a hot stone bath. 

Meanwhile, Haa opened to tourism in 2002 when the people of Haa valley approached the National

Assembly and expressed their desire to introduce their community to the world of tourism, but only a few

tourists visited. Although Haa has a strategic location and proximity to Thimphu, Paro international airport, and the southern gateway town of Phuentsholing, it lacks proper infrastructure, according to Haa’s tourism action

plan.

After breakfast, drive towards Paro across chelela pass.

Enroute, you can start a Kila Nunnery hike which begins from Chele La (Pass), the highest motor-able road in Bhutan set at an altitude of 3810 meters. It is one of the most beautiful day hikes that you can take while in your Bhutan Tour.

It takes about one and half hour (65 Km) drive from Paro town to reach Chelela (Pass). The drive from Paro to Chelela would be through a winding road over the dense pine forest, the view is spectacular.

After lunch proceeds to visit Ta Dzong, originally built as Watchtower, which now houses National Museum. The extensive collection includes antique thangkha paintings, textiles, weapons & armour, household objects and a rich assortment of natural and historic artifacts.

Ta Dzong visit shortly followed by a short walk down the trail to visit Rinpung Dzong, meaning (“fortress of the heap of jewels”), which has a long and fascinating history. Along the wooden galleries lining the inner courtyard are fine wall paintings illustrating Buddhist lore such as four friends, the old man of long life, the wheel of life, scenes from the life of Milarepa, Mount. Sumeru and another cosmic Mandala.

Stroll around the Paro Town and KAJA THROM (Farmer’s Market).

After breakfast drive to Sang Choekhor, to meet our ponies. While they are loaded up, we should have time to pay our respects at the Buddhist College, with outstanding views of the valley below. Striding out on foot from here, we make one to two-hour ascent of the ridge, which is steep at times but in cool shade. This brings us to a clearing with prayer flags and views down into the Paro and Do Chhu Valleys. Above us, the Chhoe Tse Lhakhang temple nestles in the mountainside – a further two-hour walk, where we will stop for lunch. Afternoon the trail undulates for a while before the steep pull up. From here, you can soak up the dramatic views south over Paro and north to the snow-capped Himalayas. We plunge back into the ancient forest, coming out on a high wide meadow dotted with sacred Chorten and white flags. Our wild camp for the night is tucked under Bumdra Monastery (Cliff of a Hundred Thousand Prayers) with incredible views of the Himalayan range. If time permits, we can visit the monastery and also climb the peak to the sky burial site (about 4,000m) for even better views, returning in time for a hearty dinner. 

After a filling breakfast, we can either head back into the valley or linger a while to soak up the view and perhaps hang some prayer flags of our own. Eventually we drop back into the ancient pine and rhododendron forest on the zig-zag trail. During our descent, we catch glimpses of temples below. The path snakes across the mountainside between the temples, before reaching the gardens of Zangktopelri, from where we can see straight down onto the ornate rooftops of Taktsang monastery, perched against the cliff-face far below. An hour later and we are at the gates of Taktsang, looking across the gorge; a steep descent to a waterfall then up some steps to pass into Tiger’s Nest itself. Retracing our steps we begin the final descent to reach our vehicle and drive back to hotel in Paro – not forgetting to stop on the other side of the valley and look back at all that we have achieved.

Along the way, visit the 7th century Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the 108 temples built in the Himalayas by Tibetan King, Songtsen Gampo. The building of this temple marks the introduction of Buddhism in Bhutan.

Depart for your onward journey.