Excurion Bhutan (11Days)
Bhutan has some of the world's most beautiful valleys and landscapes. The cultural tours with us take you through some of the beautiful valleys of Bhutan. Bhutan is also famous for its festivals, which are celebrated throughout the year. We also organize special interest tours based on festivals. The festival chart is given below as under. If someone is interested in participating in any festival celebrations, please drop us an inquiry, and we can organize a theme-based tour for the clients.
Day 1: Arrival New Delhi
Assistance upon arrival and transfer to your hotel. Evening at leisure and overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 2: New Delhi-Paro (Flight)
After breakfast, transfer to the international airport to board a flight to Paro-Bhutan. Assistance upon arrival at Paro airport and transfer to your hotel.
Day 3: Paro
After breakfast, you go for a full day sightseeing trip. Morning sightseeing includes the Ta Dzong National Museum. This museum has the best natural and historic artifacts. Then, a short drive to the Drukgyel Dzong fortress, a strategic sentry where the Bhutanese forces repelled numerous Tibetan invasions from the north. You can see the majestic Jumolhari or the 'Mountain of the Goddess' in the background. For many, the 2-3 hour hike to Taktsang, the Tiger Nest Monastery, is a memorable spiritual journey. Here the great master Guru Padmasambhava arrived from Tibet to bring Buddhist teachings to Bhutan. Since then, many Buddhist masters have made this an essential retreat in their spiritual quest. The remainder of the day, you can spend shopping or exploring the town.
Day 4: Paro-Thimpu (50 Km|2 Hours Drive)
Thimphu is a short hour and a half drive from one central valley to the next across paddy fields, apple orchards, farmhouses, cattle and cowboys, pine, and hamlets. Check-in at your hotel. When in Thimphu, be prepared for several things. You can see some influence of the British-India colonial times here.
Afternoon sightseeing includes the Tashichho Dzong, the seat of the Royal Government and the central monastic body, which was rebuilt in the early 1960s after a fire destroyed most of the building. Visit the late king's memorial, Chorten, which is well visited by Thimphu residents during festive and religious occasions. In the late afternoon stroll through town. Not far from the market place is the Changlimithang ground, where you will find the game of archery (the national sport of Bhutan) being played. There will be time for shopping and looking around by yourself on the return journey from Bumthang.
Day 5: Thimpu-Gangtey (via Punakha and Wangdi) 130 Km|4 Hours
After breakfast, drive east climbing steadily towards the Dochu La pass at 10,000 ft. A large Chorten and a forest of prayer flags greet you as you face the range of majestic peaks towards the north. Gangar Punsum is one of the highest unclimbed peaks (over 24,000 ft.) in the world. As you descent from the pass, you can see temperate forests, colored with rhododendrons and magnolias. Followed by the semi-tropical zone of orange, banana, and cactuses. Situated near the river on a small plateau is the famous pilgrim site for infertile women wishing to bear children.
The Punakha Dzong built in the 16th century was the winter capital for 300 years. Today, it is the winter home to the Je Khenpo district. Downstream from the Punakha valley is the Wangidphodrang Dzong strategically located on a ridge (at 4,430 ft.) overlooking the old trade routes that ran east to west and north to south. The Punakha and Wangdi valleys are also the winter home for many high-altitude farmers who migrate with their cattle to the warm climate in the valley.
The numerous paddy fields indicate the ideal conditions for agriculture. Farmers here often grow 2 to 3 crops a year, rice and chilly being important cash crops for the farmers.
GANTEY: After lunch, about 3 hours’ drive to one of the most beautiful open valleys in Bhutan. Gantey is the winter home to the rare and endangered black-necked cranes (Grus nigricollis) migrating to Bhutan around mid-November from Tibet and China. Cranes for centuries have captured the human imagination with their intelligence, poise, sociality, beauty, and freedom. Several myths, legends, folktales, and songs are based on these cranes. The Bhutanese have their songs of the crane popular among village folks. By mid-February, the cranes fly back across the Himalayas to their summer home towards Tibet and China. The yellow-roofed Gangtey monastery dominates the small village, said to be the only Nyingmapa monastery in Bhutan headed by the Gantey Tulku (ninth reincarnation to bear the name). Overnight stop at Gantey in the vicinity of the monastery.
Day 6: Gantey-Jakar (via Tongsa) 6 Hours
For the bird enthusiasts, an early morning excursion to view the cranes can be arranged. After breakfast, continue the journey towards the Pela la pass crossing the black mountains, which divide western and central Bhutan. It takes about 4-5 hours. Magnolias and rhododendron among grazing yaks are memorable sights along the pass. On clear days, the Jumolhari can be seen at 23,685 ft, towards the west. After passing through the domain of yak, sheep, and short bamboo brush, past the Nikkarchu Bridge, is the Tongsa district. The great whitewashed stone Chorten, built in the Nepalese style in the 18th century, lies on a bend below the road. The temple was founded by the Lama Shida, who subdued a demon that was a menace to the valley.
TONGSA: As you approach Tongsa, you cannot miss viewing the Trongsa Dzong. Stop for lunch at the Tongsa Lodge or one of the comfortable wayside inns run by Tibet residents. Commanding the Magda river valley at an altitude of (2,200 mts) (7220 ft), Tongas Dzong is the most impressive Dzong of Bhutan.
It used to be the old gateway between the east and west. The Dzong built in 1647 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal is a masterpiece in architecture. It includes countless courtyards, passageways, corridors, and the 23 temples inside the Dzong. After lunch is a short 2-3 hours’ drive to Bumthang, overnight halt at Bumthang.
Day 6 & 7: Bumthang
Different from all the valley, Bumthang is the spacious and open valley in Bhutan. It ranges in altitude from 2,600 meters (8530 ft) to 4000 meters (13125 feet) Bumthang is a heaven for trekkers and hikers, not to mention the numerous beautiful and famous Buddhist monasteries and pilgrimage sites making it the culture and historic center of Bhutan. One could spend a month exploring this fascinating valley. Visit the late king's memorial that is frequently visited by the residents of Thimphu during festive and religious occasions. In the late afternoon, stroll through the town. Not far from the market place is the Changlimithang ground, where you will always find the game of archery (the national sport of Bhutan) being played. There will be time for shopping and looking around by yourself on the return journey from Bumthang.
Day 8: Bumthang-Thimpu (275 Km|8 Hours)
After breakfast, checkout from your hotel and drive to Thimpu. On the way, we will make several photos stops, including a stop for lunch in a local restaurant that serves Bhutanese cuisine. Continue your drive to Thimpu. On arrival, transfer to your hotel. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 9: Thimpu – Paro (50 Kms | 2 Hours)
After breakfast checkout and drive to Paro. Today, we give you time to visit the local market and shop for souvenirs to take back home. Our guide catches you at the market for lunch and takes you to the local restaurant to enjoy the Bhutanese cuisine. Evening at leisure and overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 10: Paro-Delhi
After breakfast, transfer to the airport to board a flight to New Delhi. Assistance upon arrival and transfer to the hotel. Afternoon a half-day city tour of New Delhi. (Or one has an option to make a one day trip to Agra). Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 11: Transfer to Delhi airport
Early morning transfer to international airport to board flight back home.