Enchanting Bhutan - 5 nights / 6 days
Day 1 Bangkok-Paro
Depart international airport by our druk-Air (Royal Bhutan Airline). On arrival at Paro international airport, you will be received by our representative and escorted you to hotel. After an early lunch visit the national museum (Ta-dzong).
Once it was the watch tower of Paro valley from 1641 A.D to 1907 and it was converted into the National Museum in 1968. The museum stands on a promontory overlooking the Paro valley. Also visit the Paro Rinpung Dzong (fortress of the heap of Jewels) which is the seat of the district administration as well as the home for the monastic school. The central tower (utse) of the Dzong, with its superb woodwork, is one of the most beautiful in the country. The Dzong was built in 1645 A.D by Shebdrung Nawang Namgyel.
Overnight – Tashi Namgay Resort.
Day 2 Hike to Taksang (Tiger Nest) then in the evening drive to Thimphu
Right after the breakfast drive towards the road point to Taktsang. Taktsang Monastery, the most famous of Bhutan's monasteries. Taktsang means "Tiger's Nest," so named because Guru Rimpoche reportedly flew to the site of the monastery on the back of a flying tiger in the late centuries of the first millennium.
The monastery is perched on a cliff nearly 3,000 ft above the Paro valley floor. This day hike is not only historically and culturally interesting, but also incredibly scenic! It takes about two hours to reach the cafeteria, which gives a breathtaking view of the Tiger's Nest. If you still feel like hiking then you can take another hour to reach the temple. Then return back and drive to Thimphu (about 2 hours drive).
Overnight – Hotel Migmer.
Day 3 Thimphu to Wangdue via Punakha
After breakfast, go to Bhutan National Bank for currency exchange and then you can get an opportunity to purchase exquisite collector Bhutanese stamps. Then drive to Punakha. (The ancient capital of Bhutan) is 3 hours drive from Thimphu across Dochu-La Pass. (Alt. 11,400 ft) snow-capped eastern Himalayan ranges can be seen on a clear day. Prayer flags will flutter you over the pass deeper into the essence of Bhutan.
Once you cross the pass, you wind down intoa warm fertile valley and meander along a gently flowing aquamarine river that leads you to the Punakha valley. After lunch visit the Punakha dzong, the winter residence of the Je khempo (chief abbot). Punakha dzong is the second dzong system built in Bhutan by Shebdrung Nawang Namgyel in the year 1637.
The Dzong is said to be the most beautiful of dzong in Bhutan; it is an outstanding structure with intense artwork. Then visit the Wangduephodrang Dzong, sit majestically on a steep ridge overlooking the highway that forks to the east and south of Bhutan.
Overnight- Kichu Resort
Day 4 Wangdue- Phobjikha
Today drive to Phobjikha valley. Phobjikha is a glacial valley on the periphery of the north western tip of the Black Mountain National Park at the altitude of 9,840 feet. The valley is a wide, beautiful alpine wetland valley and is a conservation area and lies on the northern boundary of the Jowo Durshing range.
The hill side vegetation is mostly pine forest, interspersed with Rhododendron trees. Phobjikha valley is also one of the roosting grounds of the Black-necked cranes that migrate each year in winter from its northern habitats in Tibet and Siberia. These elegant and shy birds can be observed from early November to end of the March. RSPN and Phobjikha community are now working together to protect the habitat of endangered Black Necked Cranes.
You will visit Gangtey Goenpa which is the only Nyingmapa monastery in western Bhutan and is situated on a ridge overlooking the Phobjikha Valley. According to a legend Gangtey Goenpa was founded by the grandson of Pema lingpa, Gyalse Pema Thinley in 1613 and later was expanded by Tenzin Legpau Dhendup. It was renovated by present Gangtey Tulku Kunzang Rinzin Pema Namgyel and was consecrated in October 2008.
Overnight - Hotel Dewachen
Day 5 Gangtey -Thimphu.
Today drive to Thimphu, on the way stop at Dochula Cafeteria for Lunch then enroute visit simtokha Dzong which is built by Shabdrung Ngewang Namgyel in 1629. Then check in Hotel and you can go round the town and can buy small gift to take back home from the handicraft shop.
Overnight – hotel Migmer.
Day 6 Departures
After breakfast in the hotel drive to Paro airport in time to catch up your onward flight. Your escort from Bhutan Discovery will bid you farewell and soon the remote and legendary Dragon Kingdom disappears again behind its guardian mountains.