Essence of Western Bhutan

Day 01: Flight to Paro

Flight to Paro. You are met and greeted at the airport and transferred to hotel. After some rest, in the evening your guide will take you to a tiny Paro town for orientation with the place and people.

Day 02: Hike Taktsang Monastery and Tour the Paro Valley

The legendary Taktsang Monastery, which is also called Tiger's nest, perched some 2,000ft/600m up on a sheer cliff overlooking the valley, is a popular hiking destination. The return trek to the road head is downhill and takes about a little more the time it has taken you to come up. On the way back, visit a typical Bhutanese village home to have an insight on living style of Bhutanese villagers. Drive back to your hotel in the evening.

Day 03: Chele La Hike

Take a scenic drive of 1 & ½ hr to Chele La pass at an altitude of approximately 3900m/13000ft with views of Paro Valley on one side and Haa Valley on the other side. Hike up to clustered shelters built on sheer cliffs, under the rock cave and a temple that house some 50 or so nuns. 

Walk back to meet the transport and drive to Paro and visit Bhutan's national museum, a fascinating place housed in an old watchtower above the huge Paro Dzong. You will also visit Rinphung Dzong.

Day 04 Drive to Thimphu

After breakfast, we drive to Thimphu, 2 ½ hrs, the least visited of all the Himalayan capitals. Check in hotel and after some rest; embark on the tour of Thimpu, beginning from a Nunnery on the outskirts of Thimphu. You will then visit the School of Arts and Crafts, Textile Museum, the Heritage Museum, Changgangkha Lhakhang (temple), National Library, Traditional Hospital and traditional paper factory. At the end of the day, we may also pay a visit to the great Tashichho Dzong, seat of Bhutan's administrative and religious centre.

Day 05: Tour the Thimphu Valley and hike Cheri Gompa.

Early in the morning, visit the Memorial Chorten, a shrine built in the memory of the late king, Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, where people gather to pray and pay homage. Today, we hike to Cheri Gompa Monastery.

This is a pleasant rural walk, gently up a valley through paddy fields and woodland via a Tibetan village. You can enter the courtyard of the Gompa but entrance to the main shrine is not permitted for Non Buddhists. Descend to the bottom of the hill, meet your transport and drive back to Thimpu.

Day 06: Hike to Chokortse Monastery

This morning, we hike to Chokortse monastery which is situated on a saddle. The walk is all the way uphill 40-50 minutes and passes through blue pine, spruce and rhododendrons. From here, the view of Thimphu valley below is breathtaking. It takes 2 hrs, for the out and back trip. In the afternoon, browse the markets of Thimphu and later drive to Paro for overnight.

Day 07: Drive to Punakha

After breakfast, drive to Punakha, the old winter capital of Bhutan with a Stop at Dhochu La Pass, (10,000ft/3,048m) and appreciate the spectacular views of eastern Himalayas. Check in hotel and in the afternoon, you will make a short trek to visit the Crown Prince's chorten and nearby villages. You return on a different route through the village to Sonagasa (the King’s winter residence) and through to Punakha Dzong, following the Mo chu river. You will meet the vehicle and visit huge impressive Punakha Dzong.

Day 08: Chimi Lakhang Hike and explorations of Wangduephodrang Town and Dzong.

After breakfast, hike the legendary Chimi Lakhang, also known as the ‘temple of fertility’. It’s a 20-minute walk leading across rice fields to the tiny settlement of Pana. There are very few monks at the temple, which is surrounded by a row of prayer wheels and some very beautiful slate carvings.

Drive 13 km to the town of Wangdue Phodrang. Walk through the clean streets of the town of slate roofed houses and visit the Dzong, the district headquarter. Return to Punakha for overnight.

Day 09: Retrace drive to Paro.

After breakfast, retrace drive the way via Dhochu La where you will stop for a while for the views and refreshment drinks. We will have lunch in Thimphu and drive further 2 hrs to Paro.

Day 10: Depart Paro

Transfer to airport for your flight to next destination.