Bhutan. Custom-made holiday packages to Bhutan- Dharma Adventures

A Magical Journey to Bhutan 8 Days

Tiger's Nest Hike

A Bhutanese Lady on the way to Tiger's Nest Monastery

Paro Airport

Paro Airport is the sole international airport of the four airports in the Kingdom of Bhutan. It is 6 km from Paro in a deep valley on the bank of the river Paro Chhu.

Tashichoe Dzong, Thimphu

This dzong is an impressive building also known as ‘the fortress of the Dharma Raja’. It has traditionally been the seat of the Druk Desi, the head of the Bhutan’s civil government.

Memorial Chorten

The Memorial Chorten, also known as the Thimphu Chorten is a large Tibetan-style Buddhist Monastery with golden spires and bells. It is a popular landmark and one of the most visible religious structures in Thimphu.

National Library of Bhutan

The National Library of Bhutan is a four-storied eight-cornered traditional building, which looks like the central tower temple of a Bhutanese Dzong.

Folk Heritage Museum

The Folk Heritage Museum is set inside a 19th century three-storied traditional building and was established in 2001. The museum houses different tools, materials, objects, equipments and artifacts from rural Bhutanese households and gives a good insight of the traditional Bhutanese lifestyle.

Dochula Pass

On the way to Punakha from Thimphu, the Dochula Pass offers a 360-degree of beautiful panoramic view of the Himalayan mountain range, especially on clear winter days.

Chimi Lhakhang

Chimi Lhakhang flanked with hundreds of prayer flags sits on a round hillock near Punakha. The monastery, built in 1499 is dedicated to Lama Drukpa Kinley, also known as ‘the Divine Madman’ or the ‘Mad Saint”. He is also the saint who advocated the use of phallus symbols as paintings on walls and carved wooden phalluses on house tops.

Punakha

The majestic Punakha Dzong, also known as ‘the palace of great happiness or bliss’ is the second largest dzong in Bhutan. Constructed on the 8th day and 8th month of the Fire ox year in 1673, the Punakha dzong was the administrative center and the seat of the Government of Bhutan until 1955, when the capital was moved to Thimphu.

Paro Dzong

Paro Dzong, also known as Ringpung Dzong means ‘Fortress on a heap of jewels’. This impressive dzong is the finest example of Bhutanese architecture and is one of the most popular and well known dzongs in Bhutan.

Ta-Dzong - National Musuem of Bhutan

The National Museum of Bhutan is a unique circular building also known as Ta-dzong which is an ancient watchtower above the Paro Dzong.

Taktsang Monastery

Today we will hike to Taktsang Monastery and later visit Kyichu Lakhang.
Taktsang Monastery: Perched on the side of a vertical cliff at 3000 m altitude north of Paro, the beautiful Taktsang Monastery also known as the ‘Tiger’s Nest’ is the most famous and an unofficial symbol of Bhutan.

Kichu Lakhang

Kyichu Lhakhang: Located close to the Paro Airport, the Kyichu Lhakhang is an important Himalayan Buddhist Temple. Built in the 7th century, this is one of Bhutan’s oldest religious sites in Bhutan.

Chillies Drying

Perfect chilli weather, sun shines on a little home in a hamlet.

Overview

Culturally programmed, this journey takes you through several magnificent monasteries or rather dzongs of the magical land of Bhutan beginning from Paro to the capital city of Thimphu and to the beautiful Punakha valley en route the Dochula Pass that gives you a panoramic view of the Himalayan mountain range. Also visiting the National Institute of Traditional Medicine in Thimphu gives you an insight into the traditional and customary methods of healing that are practiced here. In these premises you can find a small museum and a gift shop selling the famous Bhutan produced herbal tea-Tsheringma.

Bhutan or the “Land of the Peaceful Dragon” is a country of sprawling forests, venerated monasteries, overpowering fortresses; lush green valley’s fed by bountiful rivers and age-old practices. Cultivated fields surrounded by pitched roof houses with their typical trefoil-shape windows and Dzongs (fortresses) dominate the scenery with their sheer size. Its people are hardworking, vibrantly attired and deeply religious while the land is immaculate. Bhutan’s alpine pastures, peaks, forests, lakes and flowers make it a paradise. Maybe that is why the rare black-necked crane makes its way across the Himalayas to Bhutan every year.

Gallery

Highlights

Visit the many ancient Dzongs, Monasteries, fortresses and chortens, throughout the trip.
Stop by the heritage museum, Traditional carts & crafts school, and the national institute of traditional medicine.
Dochula Pass offers a 360-degree of beautiful panoramic view of the Himalayan mountain range.
At Punakha visit Chimi Lakhang- dedicated to Lama Drukpa Kinley, also known as ‘the Divine Madman’ or the ‘Mad Saint”. and Punakha Dzong- ‘the palace of great happiness or bliss’
The “Tiger’s Nest” Taktsang Monastery:The most famous and an unofficial symbol of Bhutan, perched on the side of a vertical cliff at 3000 m.

Trip Facts

Destination: Bhutan

Trip Duration: 8 Days

Arrival In: Paro

Departure From: Paro

Meals: Full Board basis (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)

Best Season: September – April

Activity: Tour

Grade: N/A

Includes

• All necessary arrival and departure transfers

• 2 nights’ hotel accommodation in Thimphu – in a twin sharing room on full board basis

• 2 nights’ hotel accommodation in Punakha – in a twin sharing room on full board basis

• 3 nights’ hotel accommodation in Paro – in a twin sharing room on full board basis

• All the sightseeing tour and transfers as per the itinerary with English speaking guide by private vehicle

• Bhutan Visa Fees

• Tourism development fee & Entrance fee in Bhutan

• Lunch and dinner will be served at selected restaurants as per the program

Excludes

• International airfare

• International airport tax

• Insurance and rescue of any form

• Items of personal nature such as bar bills, alcoholic beverages, laundry, telephone calls, extra mileage, personal gratuities as tips to guide, porters, drivers etc

• Personal insurance policy – suggested a comprehensive travel insurance covering tour and flight cancellations, loss of valuables, thefts, illness, accidents and hospitalization

• Excess baggage

• Gratuities, tipping to guides and drivers

• Expenses incurred by re-routing, inclement weather, floods, famine, political disruptions, strikes, riots and other disturbances

• Any items and services not mentioned on cost inclusions

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrive in Paro and drive to Thimphu

Day 2 - In Thimphu

Day 3 - Drive to Punakha

Day 4 - In Punakha

Day 5 - Drive back to Paro

Day 6 - In Paro

Day 7 - In Paro

Day 8 - Final Departure

Customize this itinerary

Skeleton Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive In Paro

Day 2 Trek to Jele Dzong

Day 3 Trek to Jangchulakha

Day 4 Trek to Jynetsho

Day 5 Trek to Phajoding

Day 6 Trek to Thimphu

Day 7 In Thimphu

Day 8 Drive to Punakha

Day 9 In Punakha & Drive to Paro

Day 10 Final Departure