BHUTAN – A JOURNEY THROUGH THE HIDDEN HIMALAYAN TRAILS

Arrive at Kathmandu Airport. Upon arrival, met by representative and transferred to the hotel.

18:00 Hrs: A short briefing about the tour will be carried out at the hotel lobby. Later board the waiting vehicle and proceed for a welcome dinner at typical Nepali Restaurant. After Dinner, Drive back to Hotel.

Overnight at the Hotel

Meals included: Welcome Dinner

Early Morning, Drive to international airport for the Flight to Paro. Upon arrival at Paro, Meet & greet at Paro International Airport and Transferred to Hotel.

PM: Visit the National Museum (Ta Dzong):

In the afternoon, visit Ta Dzong Museum housing many religious relics, works of art and handicrafts offering a great orientation into Bhutan’s historical, cultural, and religious past. The National Museum is housed in an ancient watchtower, which has a fine collection of ancient Thangka painting, textiles, weapons and artifacts.

Later walk down to Paro Rinpung Dzong.

This massive fortress is approached by a gently sloping flagstone road and a beautiful wooden bridge roofed with shingles and abutted by two guard houses. These days, The Dzong is the administrative seat of the district of Paro and it also contains a state monastic community of about 200 monks. The central tower (Utse) of the Dzong is one of the most beautiful in Bhutan with its superb woodwork. The Dzong was built in 1645 A.D. This Dzong also host the Paro Tshechu festival.

Altitude: 2,250m

Overnight: Paro

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

After breakfast proceed for the sightseeing tour of Kyichu Lhakhang, one of Bhutan's oldest and most beautiful temples. The temple is popularly believed to have been built in 659 by King Songtsen Gampo of Tibet, to pin down the left foot of a giant ogress who was thwarting the establishment of Buddhism in Tibet. As one enters the intimate inner courtyard, there is a mural to the right of the doorway of King Gesar of Ling, the popular Tibetan warrior-king, whose epic poem is said to be the world’s longest. Ashi Kesang Wangchuck the third King’s wife, sponsored the construction of the Guru Lhakhang in 1968. It contains a 5m-high statue of Guru Rinpoche and another of Kurukulla (Red Tara), holding a bow and arrow made of flowers. The inner hall of the main Jowo Lhakhang houses an original 7th-century statue of Jowo Sakyamuni, said to have been cast at the same time as the famous statue in Lhasa.

Enjoy a leisurely walk through Paro's charming town center, lined with traditional Bhutanese buildings, handicraft shops, cafés, and local markets. This is an excellent opportunity to experience the relaxed lifestyle of Bhutan while shopping for authentic souvenirs, textiles, and handicrafts.

Overnight: Paro

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

After Breakfast, drive through the spectacular Chelela Pass (3,988m), Bhutan’s highest motorable mountain pass, offering breathtaking Himalayan panoramas, colorful prayer flags, and stunning views of Mt. Jomolhari on clear days before descending into the beautiful Haa Valley, one of Bhutan’s most peaceful and culturally preserved regions.

Visit Haa Valley for a deeper cultural immersion and further exploration of the vibrant Haa valley by visiting to the sacred Lhakhang Karpo (White Temple) and Lhakhang Nagpo (Black Temple), two ancient and spiritually significant temples believed to date back to the 7th century and deeply woven into Bhutan’s cultural and religious history.

Driving Distance: 67kms

Driving Time: 3hrs

Altitude: 2,700m

Overnight: Haa

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Separate yourself with the Cultural Tour Group and begins with a gentle climb up the Talela Pass at 3780m through a thick forest of rhododendron and conifer trees. You will continue ascending gradually to a yak herders’ camp at Tshojo. Climb up further to Gochula pass, which is at 4200m. After this pass, walk through the trail following a ridge and then descend gradually to our camp at Womji.

Trek Distance: 14kms

Trek Time: 5-6 hours

Altitude: 2,870m (Womji)

Overnight: Camp

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Start your trek by climbing steeply through juniper and rhododendron forest to the Gochhila pass at 4350m, providing spectacular views of the whole Tshejala range. You will continue walking to Tshejalum passing through several yak herders’ camps and in spring the trail will be carpeted with wild flowers. You will then walk towards Tshejala pass crossing the ancient trade route from Haa to Tibet.

Trek Distance: 22kms

TrekTime: 7-8 hours

Altitude: 3,750m

Overnight: Camp

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

You will spend the day exploring the area around this sacred lake, visiting the yak herders camp and seeing golden trout or exploring the surrounding hillsides.

Altitude: 3,750m

Overnight: Camp

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

You will retrace as far as the Gochhila Pass. From the pass take a different route over a ridge to Lake Tsojo at 3780m. Before the lake, take a detour from the main route for about half an hour to lakes – Ngatsho or a Drum Lake and Dungkar Lake where you will have a picnic lunch. After lunch, you will descend to the camp in a yak meadow at Tsojo.

Trek Distance: 19kms

Trek Time: 6-7 hours

Altitude: 4,605m

Overnight: Camp

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

The last day’s trail descends gradually through juniper and rhododendron forest until you reach the Talila Pass. Crossing the pass, you will re-enter the Haa Valley. Your trek ends here and your transport will be waiting here to take you to Thimphu via Chelela Pass or the lower route through Chuzom depending on weather.

Arrive in Thimphu & Light Sightseeing tour of Thimpu.

PM: VISIT MEMORIAL CHORTEN + FLOK HERITAGE MUSEUM

National Memorial Chorten also known as Dodrul Chorten. This iconic landmark was envisaged by the third king, His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, as a monument to world peace and prosperity.

Completed in 1974 after his untimely death, it is both a memorial to the Late King ("the father of modern Bhutan") and a monument to world peace. The paintings and statues inside the monument provide a deep insight into Buddhist philosophy.

Continue on to the Folk Heritage and National Textile Museums: These museums, both of which opened in 2001 provide fascinating insights into Bhutanese material culture and their way of life. Also visit the Handicrafts Emporium: This government-run enterprise displays a wide range of beautifully hand-woven textiles and craft products. It also carries a small collection of books on Bhutan, Buddhism and Himalayan culture.

Later return to Hotel.

Trek Distance: 10kms

Trek Time: 3-4 hours

Drive Distance: 106kms

Driving Time: 3hrs

Altitude: 2,350m

Overnight in Thimphu

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

AM: Visit Dordema Stupa

Bhutan has the largest and tallest statue of Lord Buddha and will perhaps become the eighth wonder of the world. The 169ft (51m) bronze Buddha Dorderma, symbolizing indestructibility, is erected at Changi Kunsel Phodrang overlooking the capital city, Thimphu. This project is initiated by His Eminence Trizin Tsering Rinpoche.

The statue accommodates 100,000 statues of eight-inch and 25,000 statues of twelve-inch Buddha Dordenma, made of copper and glided in gold. It is placed in a multi-layered grid boxes. The names of sponsors are inscribed separately on copper plates and displayed in the meditation hall. The well- being of future generations is dependent on the kindness and compassion of the present sponsors and Buddha makers. This project is expected to benefit self and all sentient beings. From here one can see the mountains (weather permitting) and the valley of Thimpu spread out below. Later return to the hotel.

PM: Visit the Motithang mini Sanctury to see the rare "Takin", national animal of Bhutan. It is also called Gnu Goat OR Cattle Chamois and found in the eastern Himalayas in forested valleys to rocky, grass-covered alpine zones, at altitudes between 1,000 and 4,500 m above sea level.

Takin feed in the early morning and late afternoon, grazing on a variety of leaves and grasses, as well as bamboo shoots and flowers. They have been observed standing on their hind legs to feed on leaves over 3.1 m (10 ft) high. Salt is also an important part of their diets.

EVE: Bhutan Cultural Show

Experience an evening of Bhutanese culture through a traditional Bhutan Cultural Show, featuring colorful folk dances, traditional music, and performances that showcase the country’s rich heritage and unique way of life. Dancers dressed in vibrant traditional attire perform regional dances accompanied by traditional Bhutanese musical instruments, creating an engaging and authentic cultural experience. The program may also include demonstrations of traditional customs and local traditions, offering visitors a glimpse into Bhutan’s distinctive cultural identity

Overnight: ThimphuMeals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

After breakfast, drive from Thimphu to Paro, a scenic journey of approximately 50 km taking around 1 hour. The route follows the picturesque Pa Chhu River valley, passing through traditional Bhutanese villages, terraced fields, pine forests, and beautiful mountain landscapes.

Upon reaching Paro, drive to Satsam Chorten (10 Kms) for a short trek to Taktsang Monastery. The Taktsang also known as “the Tiger’s Nest” was named after Guru Rimpoche miraculously flew to the cave on the back of a tigress from Khempajong in the region of Kurtoe. From Satsam, start a steady climb of about 2 hours on a well-defined trail through wooded alpine forests to the Taktsang Monastery.

According to the legend, the tigress was a form taken by a consort for the occasion. Guru Rimpoche meditated for three months in a cave in Taktsang and converted the Paro valley to Buddhism. Later, Longchen Pelki Singye, a student of Guru Rimpoche also meditated here in a cave which came to be known as Pelphug or “Pelki’s Cave.

Taktsang is one of the holiest pilgrim sites in the Himalayas. There are 13 holy places in the complex. His Holiness, the 69th Je Khenpo Late Gayshe Gaden Rinchen was born in a cave on the way to the last viewpoint of Taktsang.

After the visit, walk down to the Restaurant for a much deserved lunch break. Then descend to the valley floor to meet up with waiting vehicle and drive to Paro town.

EVE: Traditional Hot stone bath and Dinner at the farm House

Overnight at the Hotel

Meals included: Lunch, Dinner and Breakfast

After breakfast board the waiting vehicle and drive to the airport to catch the flight to Kathmandu.

Upon arrival at Kathmandu International airport met by the representative and board the waiting vehicle and drive to Hotel.

EVE: FAREWELL DINNER

Overnight at the Hotel

Meals included: Dinner

After breakfast, met by representative and transferred to the airport for the onward flight home. (Reporting time is at least 3hrs before flight time)