5D4N BHUTAN

5D4N Bhutan

Altitude: about 2,300m above sea level

On arrival at Paro Airport, your guide will meet you at the arrival hall and drive you to Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan and also the fourth highest capital in the world.  Stretched out along the Wang Chhu (river), Thimphu is a bustling mini-metropolis and also the economic centre of Bhutan.  Home to about 100,000 people including the Royal Family, Thimphu is remarkable for having no traffic lights and the absence of the likes of McDonald’s, Starbucks and bill boards!  Enroute to Thimphu, visit the Tamchog Temple, a temple dedicated to a 13th century Tibetan renowned for building bridges and in particular iron-chain bridges.  (In fact, there is an iron-chain bridge providing direct access to the temple and legend has it that this is one of the many such bridges built by him.)  In Thimphu, visit the National Memorial Chorten (a stupa), and Tashichho Dzong – a Buddhist monastery and fortress which also houses the throne room, the office of the king, the central monastic body, the secretariat building and some government ministries.  Also visit the Mothithang Takin Preserve, previously called a “mini-zoo“, with only one type of animal, the national animal of Bhutan – the takin (a type of antelope found primarily in the Himalayan mountains).

Day 02 – THIMPHU – PUNAKHA/WANGDUE   [B/L/D]

Altitude: about 1,350m above sea level

In the morning, head to the Kuenschholing View Point (with the largest sitting Buddha statue in Bhutan) where you can get a good overview of the Thimphu valley.  Next, visit the Handmade Paper Factory.  Paper-making is a skill that has long been nurtured in Bhutan and for centuries this cottage industry produced sufficient paper for domestic consumption.  The factory was established almost 3 decades ago in an effort to manufacture paper commercially for sale in Bhutan and beyond.  At the factory, visitors can watch the factory’s workers transforming natural fibres into delicate sheets of paper.  Continue on to the General Post Office to get an insight into Bhutan through its stamps.  Also visit an authentic craft bazaar.  Enroute to  Punakha, the former capital of Bhutan,  enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of the Himalayan mountains at the Dochula Pass, a popular stop among tourists for the stunning views that it offers.  Punakha has the second oldest and the second largest dzong in Bhutan.  (Dzong is a distinctive type of fortress architecture found mainly in Bhutan and Tibet).  The Punakha Dzong, built in 1637 between two rivers, is one of the most majestic structures in the country displaying, amongst others, unique Bhutanese architecture..

Day 03 – PUNAKHA/WANGDUE – PARO   [B/L/D]

Altitude: about 2,300m above sea level

Enjoy a morning 1-hour hike through paddy fields and villages to the top of the Khamsum Yul-le Lhakhang, a temple complex displaying the finest of Bhutanese craftsmanship and artistic traditions that was commissioned and dedicated by the Queen Mother in the late 20th century to the kingdom and the King of Bhutan.  Also experience a walk on the longest suspension bridge in Bhutan located just behind the Punakha Dzong.  Depart Punakha and drive towards Paro.  In Paro, visit the National Museum of Bhutan and the hospitable Paro farmers with their picturesque farm houses that dot the valley amongst fields and hillsides.  The beautiful Paro valley is home to many of Bhutan’s oldest monasteries and temples, and also home to Mount Chomolhari (7,300m) situated at the northern end of the valley whose glacial waters plunge through deep gorges to form the Paro River (the “Pa Chu”) that flows through the valley.

Day 04 – PARO   [B/L/D]

Enjoy a morning hike to the Tiger’s Nest (Taktsang Lhakhang), Bhutan’s most recognizable cultural icon perched on a cliff about 800m above the Paro valley.  This temple is one of the most holy sites in the kingdom of Bhutan.  Although tragically and mysteriously consumed by fire in April 1998, it has since been restored to its former glory.  It is believed that in the 8th century, Guru Rinpoche, the founder of Tibetan Buddhism and the contemporary Buddha (“2nd Buddha”) flew on the back of a tigress to the site where the monastery now stands and meditated in the cave for 3 years 3 months 3 days and 3 hours in order to subdue the demons residing within it.  The cave has since been considered a sacred site.  In order to get to the temple, visitors need to trek for 2-3 hours through the cool and shady pine forests.  Lastly, end the day enjoying the national sport of Bhutan, Archery, with the target set at a distance of 150m.

Day 05 – PARO – PARO AIRPORT   [B]

Your driver will send you to Paro Airport for your return flight.

Whether you prefer the above itinerary “as-is” or have it customised, if you will indicate the start/end dates of your intended travel and provide your contact details, we will get in touch with you to discuss the itinerary on a no-obligations basis on your part.