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Central Bhutan Historic Cultural Tour
(10 Nights 11 Days)

Duration: 10 Nights 11 Days
High Season- March, April, May, September, October & November
Low Season- January, February, June, July, August & December

Itinerary Outline:

Day 01: Arrive Paro - Thimphu
Day 02: Thimphu
Day 03: Thimphu - Trongsa
Day 04: Trongsa - Bumthang
Day 05: Bumthang Sightseeing
Day 06: Bumthang - Trongsa - Gangtey - Phobjikha
Day 07: Phobjikha / Punakha
Day 08: Khamsum Yuley Namgay Chorten / Punakha Dzong
Day 09: Punakha / Paro
Day 10: Hike to Taktsang, the“Tigers Lair”
Day 11: Depart

Trip Facts: This itinerary combines the main valleys of Bhutan. You will explore the Valleys of Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, Wangduephodrang, Trongsa, Bumthang and the beautiful Phobjikha (also in Wangdue). Phobjikha is a beautiful valley and is the home to the endangered Black-Necked Cranes that winter here. You hike through lush green valleys and villages with many opportunities to interact with the locals, visit ancient monasteries and Dzongs and conclude your visit to Bhutan with a hike to the magical ridge-top “Tigers Nest” or Taktsang Monastery. But you will remain in touch with the fellowship in Thimphu and Paro. You can hear experiences from Bhutanese fellowship and share your own. You will probably find that fellowship wherever they are from share similar pasts and lead familiar lives..

Detailed Itinerary:

Day 01: Arrive Paro - Thimphu

Dawn as experienced from Druk Air

During your flight to Paro, you will experience breathtaking views of the Himalayan Peaks including sacred Jhomolhari and Mt. Jichu Drakey in Bhutan. On arrival at Paro International Airport you will be received by our representative, who will be your guide and friend, and who will be accompanying you throughout the trip. From the airport drive for a little more than an hour along theParo and Thimphu rivers to Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan. The road leads through the Paro valley to the confluence of the Paro and Thimphu rivers at Chuzom (meaning 'confluence of rivers'). Three different styles of Chortens adorn the Confluence (see above). A short way beyond, on the left, is Tachogang Lhakhang, the Temple of the Hill of Excellent Horse. It is a private temple, built in the 15th century, as the result of visitation from Balaha, the Excellent Horse, a manifestation of Chenrezig- the Compassionate Buddha. After the narrow, rock lined section of the road opens up as Thimphu approaches, Semtokha Dzong lies enroute. ‘Semtokha’ means the 'Place of Profound Tantric Teaching’- this Dzong now houses a school for the study of the Dzongkha language. On arrival in Thimphu, check into your three star hotel.

About Thimphu:
Thimphu was a wooded farming valley until 1961, when it became Bhutan's official national capital (previously it was Punakha). Even today, it still only has minimal roads and no traffic lights. The massive Tashichhodzong, about 700 years old, was carefully revamped in the 1960s by the late Third King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck to house the royal and main government offices. It is also the summer residence of the Je Khenpo, Bhutan’s Chief Abbot (equal in rank with the King). Even the most remote village farmhouses are hand-crafted using the same ancient methods used to create Bhutan’s religious Dzongs (fortresses). Thimphu is home to the Bhutanese Royal Family, the Royal Government and to several foreign missions and development projects. Bhutan’s only golf course, a nine-hole circuit, is situated next to the magnificent Tashichhodzong. The Third King, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck was the main architect of modern Bhutan. He died in 1972 and was succeeded by his son, His Majesty the (Fourth) King, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, who was 17 years old at the time.

Day 02: Thimphu

Full day sightseeing in Thimphu. Visit the King's Memorial Stupa built in 1974, Changangkha Lhakhang, Jungshi Paper factory where they make traditional Bhutanese paper, the National Library that houses the world’s largest book, ancient Buddhist texts and manuscripts and the Painting School famous for traditional thangkha paintings. Also visit the Folk Heritage Museum founded by Her Majesty the Queen Mother, Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck. The museum is one of a kind that portrays the lifestyle of a genteel family in the Thimphu valley in the olden days. Visit the Choki Handicrafts shop where Bhutanese textiles and other handicrafts are displayed and can be purchased. The shop is closely linked to the Choki Traditional Art School- many of the goods are produced in the school itself and all proceeds go towards the upkeep of the school and the provision of tuition for the students. Later, visit the Tashichhodzong (the Dzong which also houses the Monastic body can be seen above). This“Fortress of the Glorious Religion’ houses the Throne Room of His Majesty the King, the main Secretariat Building and the Central Monk Body. Its courtyard is open to visitors during the off-office hours- on weekends and weekdays after 4 pm in the winter and 5pm in the summer. Overnight at Hotel.

Day 03: Thimphu - Trongsa

We head out of town on a spectacular 7 hours drive to Trongsa crossing the Dochu La Pass at 3100 metres from where you can see the 108 beautiful Chortens built by Her Majesty the Queen Mother, Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck. From this pass, on a clear day, you can have a superb view of the highest peaks in Bhutan. We continue our drive to Trongsa crossing the Pelela pass (altitude 3,300 metres above sea level), the traditional boundary between the east and west of Bhutan. The pass is marked by a large prayer flag and the ground is covered with high altitude dwarf bamboos. Stop enroute at Chendbji Chorten, which was built in the 18th century by a lama named Shida- it is Nepalese in style with eyes painted at four cardinal points (see left). Overnight at hotel in Trongsa.

Day 04: Trongsa - Bumthang

After breakfast walk by Trongsa Dzong built by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the unifier of Bhutan in 1647 and visit the Tag Dzong (watch tower) dedicated to the Buddhist epic hero, King Gesar of Ling. Then drive to Bumthang which is about a 2 hours drive. 29 kms from Trongsa the road reaches the Yutong La pass (alt. 3,400 m). Further 13 kms ahead, the road enters into a wide, open, cultivated valley known as Chumey valley. On arrival in Bumthang check into the lodge.

Day 05: Bumthang Sightseeing

Bumthang valley, as seen on the right, is one of the most sacred in the Kingdom and innumerable legends surround the area. It is here that the Kings are cremated and the present Royal Family traces their ancestry back to the famous Saint, Pemalingpa. Full day sightseeing includes visit to Kurjey Lhakhang (where the Saint Padmasambhava subdued a local Demon and left his body imprint on a rock) and then Jambay Lhakhang which was built in the 7th century, then Jakar Dzong (the Fortress of the White Bird as seen on the top right of the picture) built in the 17th century by Tenzin Rabgay (the fourth Desi) and Tamshing Lhakhang built in 1501 by Terton Pema Lingpa (the Founder of Religious Treasures). Then visit Kenchosum Lhakhang and Membartsho (the Burning Lake) which in fact is a gorge where the river runs through but legend runs that Pema Lingpa discovered religious texts from this lake. Also worth seeing are the woodcraft workshop, traditional hospital and the cheese factory. Overnight in Bumthang.

Day 06: Bumthang - Trongsa - Gangtey - Phobjikha

After breakfast proceed to Gangtey/Phobjikha via Trongsa. The approach to Phobjikha valley is through a forest of Oak and Rhododendron. It is a glacial valley on the western slopes of the Black Mountains. The only Nyingmapa (a sect of Buddhism) monastery, Gangtey Goenba sits prominently on a hill top. The valley is a designated conservation area which borders on the Black Mountain National Park. Because of the large flock of black-necked cranes (Grus nigricollis), like the one seen on the right, that migrate here in the winter, it is one of the most important wildlife preserves in the country. The Royal Society for the Protection of Nature (RSPN)’s Crane Observation & Education Centre was established in the Phobjikha Valley in 1996 by Bhutan’s Government, with assistance from the World Wildlife Fund. The Centre studies the conservation needs of the valley and holds workshops for farmers and students. Here you can use the Centre’s powerful binoculars to observe the cranes in the valley and also get information about the cranes. The rare and endangered black-necked crane occupies a special place in Bhutanese hearts and folklore. Its arrival every autumn from Tibet inspires songs and dances- it usually heralds the end of the harvesting season and signals the villagers that the time has come to pack up and go to the warmer lower valleys since Phobjikha valley is snowed-in during the winter months. The world’s entire population of about 5000 Black-Necked Cranes breed in Tibet and Ladakh. The majority of them winter in Bhutan.

Day 07 / Phobjikha / Punakha

Morning sightseeing around the Phobjikha valley. Visit the Carpet Weaving Centre, the Royal Society for the Protection of Nature (RSPN)’s Crane Observation & Education Centre and visit the Gangtey Goenba monastery. We continue our drive to the Punakha Valley. Enroute stop at Wangduephodrang. The beautiful Wangduephodrang Dzong built in 1638 that was a beautiful example of Bhutanese architecture was razed by fire in 2012 and is awaiting renovation. A half-hour walk through mustard fields brings us to Chimi Lhakhang (Lhakhang means temple), a monastery and fertility temple dedicated to Lama Drukpa Kuenley, a Tibetan Buddhist Saint known popularly as ‘the Divine Madman’ and considered a folk hero in Bhutan for his unconventional ways. Drukpa Kuenley originally built a Chorten on the site in the 14th century. The temple, flanked by nearly 100 tall prayer flags, sits atop a picturesque hill and has long been a pilgrimage site for childless couples. Overnight at Hotel.

About Punakha: Punakha is located in the low sub-tropical valley about 4100 feet and was the capital of Bhutan until 1955. It is still the winter home of the Chief Abbot, the Je Khenpo, today. The warmer climate in Punakha allows for the production of two rice crops each year, along with oranges, mangos, and bananas. In Punakha, we may see people from the remote village of Laya. The Layaps, as they are known, are yak herders who make the three or four-day walk to Punakha from their high-altitude villages in northwest Bhutan. Women of Laya wear conical bamboo hats with a centre spike of bamboo, and Layap men wear black woolen coats.

Day 08 / Khamsum Yuley Namgay Chorten / Punakha Dzong

View from the Khamsum Yuley Namgay Chorten

Morning drive to Nezigang village and hike to Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten (above picture is the view from this Chorten), a shrine built by Her Majesty the Queen Mother, Ashi Tshering Yangdon Wangchuck in 1999. The shrine is perched high on a hill on the opposite bank of the Mo Chhu (female river) offering superb views of the Punakha valley. The hike is a gradual ascent through cultivated rice fields and little hamlets. In the afternoon, we visit the Punakha Dzong (as seen on the main welcome page of this Bhutan Rebirth website), built in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the unifier of Bhutan. It stands majestically at the junction of the two rivers- Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu (the Male and Female rivers). The Punakha Dzong is an architectural wonder and it has played a prominent role in the civil and religious life of the Kingdom. The Dzong had been destroyed four times by fire, earthquake and flood. The Dzong has been now fully restored to its original splendour. The official name of Druk Pungthang Dechen Phodrang translates as “the Palace of Great Happiness”. Overnight at Hotel.

Day 09 / Punakha / Paro

Morning drive to Paro via Dochu La. After a hot cup of coffee at a cafe atop, we continue our drive to Paro. Visit Tag Dzong (left) built in the 17th century as a watch tower for Paro Dzong. This Dzong was later converted into the National Museum in 1967, and is filled with antique thangkha paintings, textiles, weapons and armour. Also visit the Rinpung Dzong, built in the 17th century to defend the valley against Tibetan invaders. It is now used as an administrative centre and home of the monastic community. Kyichu Lhakhang, the oldest monastery in the Kingdom is another place of interest. Overnight at Hotel.

Day 10 / Hike to Taktsang, the“Tigers Lair”

Hike to the famous Taktsang Lhakhang, the 'Tigers Lair'. Clinging to a black rock face 900 metres above the valley floor, nestles Taktsang Lhakhang, one of the holiest and most beautiful sites of Bhutan. Taktsang, the Tiger's Lair, acquires its name from the legend of its foundation, when in the 8th Century Guru Rinpoche, widely revered as the second Buddha, arrived from Tibet flying across the mountains on the back of a tigress. He meditated at the site for three months, from where he used the religious cycle of the Kagye to subjugate the Eight Categories of Evil Spirits, and thus converted the region to Buddhism. The hike to the Monastery is a gradual climb through the quiet approach path winds through lush meadows, oak and rhododendron forest, past quaint hamlets, fluttering prayer flags and rotating prayer wheels. The hike takes you about 4-5 hours from the car park. Mules/horses are available to those who would prefer not to hike. Afternoon leisure/shopping. Overnight at your Hotel.

Day 11 / Depart

Drive to Paro International Airport. See off by our representatives.

Note: For Clients travelling in peak seasons and Festival time, it is necessary to book the Tour at least 2 1/2 months in advance. Festivals held in autumn and spring are peak time for tourists and without early reservation it can be difficult to confirm flights and hotels.

These package cultural tours have been designed based on past experiences of visitors to Bhutan and how they felt about various programs. The tours are such that you can gain the maximum out of this experience without exhausting you. The tours can be taken anytime throughout the year. However, these readymade itineraries may not be convenient for some visitors. That is why we would be very happy to, together with you, design a new itinerary to fit all criteria and interests as desired by you. Please write to us with your special interests and/or requirements at bhutanrebirth@gmail.com.

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