Bumthang Cultural Trek

Day 01: Arrival in Paro.

Depart Bangkok at 6:50 AM on flight KB 127 and arrive Paro at 11.10 am. You are welcomed by your guide and transferred to hotel. Take some rest after lunch and later you will have a briefing about the schedules.

Day 02: Full day tour of Paro Valley

Today, you will explore the beautiful Paro Valley. Visit 200 year old Watch Tower (Ta Dzong), the ruins of historical Drugyel Dzong, Drugyel High School and Kychu Lhakhang, the oldest monastery in the valley built in 7th century. After lunch we drive up-to Chelila Pass (Alt. 12,402 ft.) to view the spectacular scenery of Mt. Jumolhari as well as Haa and Paro Valley.

Day 03: Drive to Thimpu

The drive from Paro to Thimphu is spectacularly scenic. Check in hotel and after refreshment, visit the King Jigme Memorial Chorten.

Day 04: At Thimpu

Explore the fascinatingly colorful town of Thimphu and visits its highlights that includes, the Arts and Crafts school, the Traditional Medicine Institute,  the traditional paper factory, the Botanical Garden (Zoo).

Day 05: Thimphu to Punakha and Wangdue

Drive to the valley of Punakha and Wangdue Phodrang, motoring over Dochula Pass (10,500 feet). Check in hotel and later visit Punakha. After lunch in Punakha, drive to the village near the junction road between Punakha and Wangdue and make a 20 minutes easy, pleasant hike to Chimi Lhakhang temple, dedicated to the Saint Drukpa Kuenley (1455-1529), also known a the “divine madman”. Evening is free to walk around the hotel and visit nearby villages.

Day 06: Punakha to Bumthang

After early breakfast, set off on the road to Jakar, driving over Pele la pass (3420m). Take lunch at Trongsa and take a peek inside Trongsa Dzong- one of the largest and certainly the most impressive of all Dzongs in Bhutan. From Trongsa, it is another 68km/ 2 ½ hours drive to Jakar across Youtongla pass (3425m). After the pass, descend into Chume, the first of the four Bumthang valleys.

Day 07: Bumthang Trek begins

Drive to the trail head and embark on our wonderful trek to Nganglhakhang. Today we will hike for approximate five hours passing though villages, fields and forests and also crossing over suspension bridges. Overnight camp 9,500 ft (2,800 m).

Day 08: Today a gradual climb to Phephela Pass brings us to the highest point of our trek. 12,000 ft (3,353 m). The trail to the pass leads through one of the most beautiful forested areas of this region, with mini bamboo pasture, and forests of rhododendrons and Mixed Conifer. Total walking 7 hours. Camp by Ta Houng village in Tang valley.

Day 09: Today we pass Ugyenchholing in Tang Valley

You will visit the Ugyenchholing Palace, now housing the Family Museum. You will view permanent exhibits recreated to capture the ambience of the lifestyle of the Trongsa Penelop (Governor) Tshokey Dorji and his household. Continuing from Ugyenchholing, we reach the Rimochen Lhakhang, a temple dedicated to Guru Rimpoche, the Patron Saint of Bhutan. The trek finishes here and we drive on through Pangshing village to Jakar, Bumthang, stopping to visit farmhouse on the way.

Day 10: To Trongsa

Meet the vehicle and drive towards Trongsa via Phobjika. En route, we will visit the Yartha Textile Weaving Center in Chumy Valley. On arrival in Trongsa visit the architectural wonder of Trongsa Dzong (1648), the ancestral home of the present Wangchuck Dynasty.

Day 11: To Thimpu

Trongsa to Thimpu is 7 hours long drive. Check in hotel and take rest for the day.

Day 12: To Paro

Retrace drive to Paro. Check in hotel and take a free afternoon to browse the town on your own.

Day 13: Departure

Transfer to airport for your next destination.