Day 1: Today after you check in at your departing airport, you will
board your plane for a spectacular flight into Bhutan. Ascending over
the High Himalayan Mountains you view in awe the sacred Mount Chomolhari, "The
Goddess Peak" and Jitchu Drake. Your excitement mounts as your
aircraft begins to decrease altitude over a large mountain ridge, which
will then present incredible vistas views of your first glimpse of
Bhutan! You have arrived at Paro International Airport, Bhutan, altitude
7500ft. Your visa will now be processed, collect your luggage and depart
the terminal to be received by your tour representative. Your driver
and English speaking Bhutanese tour guide will escort you to your hotel
for lunch and check-in. After lunch you board your van to tour visit
the National Museum (Ta-Dzong) once the watchtower for Rinpung Dzong.
It was converted into the National Museum in 1968. The museum stands
on a promontory overlooking the Paro valley in all its glory. (A Dzong
is a fortress)
On the way back visit the Paro Rinpung Dzong. A flagstone path rises
gradually from a beautiful wooden bridge with shingle roofing and abutted
by two guardhouses, to the Dzong. Today the Dzong is the seat of the
district administration as well as home for the monastic school. The
central tower (Utse) of the Dzong, displays superb woodwork. Evening
visit quaint Paro town and enjoy dinner at a cozy local restaurant,
followed by a stroll through town. Go over your itinerary with your
guide. Meet local shop owners as you marvel at Bhutanese handicrafts.
Overnight Paro hotel.
Day 2: Today drive to Thimphu, (2-hour) the Capital of Bhutan. Here
you can exchange money at the bank as well as visit the post office
to purchase collector item Bhutanese stamps, a must for any collector.
We will check into your Thimphu hotel and enjoy Bhutanese lunch cuisine.
After lunch, prepare to depart for an exhilarating afternoon. We will
now drive to our path to embark on a vigorous hike up the mountain
to Tango Goemba Monastery. Tango is one of Bhutanese' most important
Buddhist colleges. Its name, meaning 'horse's head', is derived from
the horse-head shaped rock at the top. It is a beautiful Monastery
built in the 18h century by the 8th Desi, Druk Rabgye. Today Tango
is home to the ten-year-old reincarnate Lama, Gyaltse Tenzin Rabgye.
Meet with senior monks for discussions.
Tonight join Sonam, your Bhutanese host, at a welcome reception dinner
at her home. Overnight Thimphu hotel.
Day 3: Leave Thimphu to begin our drive to Central Bhutan across Dochula
pass (10,500ft) to Wangduephodrang. On a clear day you can enjoy a
spectacular view of the Eastern Himalayan mountain range. Prayer flags
flutter their message of peace and serenity. We stop at the pass and
walk to the many chortens situated on the hilltop; here are many rewarding
photo opportunities; we visit the snack shop for tea and cookies. and
then continue to our resort and check in.
After a leisure lunch we depart for a visit to the beautiful Punakha
Dzong, the former winter capital and present administrative seat of
the district. Punkaha Dzong is as well the winter residence of the
central monastic body and it’s Chief Abbot. The Dzong lies between
two rivers, the Pochu and Mochu, male and female rivers. It was built
in 1637 AD. Most agree Punakha Dzong is the most beautiful of all Dzongs
in Bhutan. Enjoy dinner at your resort; you will enjoy wonderful views
from your balcony room overlooking the river below; the village of
Wangdi and the most impressive Wangdue Dzong in the near distance.
Day 4: After an early breakfast we depart for Bumthang in Central Bhutan.
Now we experience a long drive on a scenic and breathtaking highway,
rewarded by a stop at the Trongsa Dzong, the ancestral home of the
royal family. Winding down the steep mountain road you begin to glimpse
Trongsa Dzong from afar, and you wonder at this architectural wonder.
Built by Chogyel Minjur Tempa, the Third Desi, in 1648 it is presently
the administrative seat of the district and home of the monastic school.
Built at split-levels on a narrow spur, the Dzong is an architectural
wonder. Views from here are extensive creating strategic location of
this Dzong. Over the Dzong is the medieval Watchtower. This ancient
structure gives unobstructed views of the valley and its winding river
and roads below.
We will lunch in Tronsga town and continue to Bumthang. Enjoy Bhutanese
hospitality family style at your overnight at the River Lodge.
Day 5: After breakfast, we hike ( or drive if you are not up to hiking)
to Tamshing temple and see the FESTIVAL. Bhutanese from many different
areas will gather to pay respect and to be blessed at this social gathering.
Locals dressed in their finest clothes and jewelry attends this celebration
of purification and religious blessings. Here we can truly appreciate
the essence of Bhutanese people and a preserved steadfast culture.
Arrays of colorful brocades whirl through the air as the dancers spin
and dance the "thunderbolt step". Masks of glorious demonic
demons and animals arouse your senses as you watch the purification
take place. The intensity goes on. Your spirit will fly, your camera
will snap away, and you will again be transported. We will join the
local people and sit around the temple for picnic lunch. Watch for
the Atsara (clown) this dancer, unique in his own style, mimics dancers
and entertains onlookers. Festival deities are invoked through benediction
and luck is increased and misfortunate gone. Tashi Delek! Overnight
River Lodge
Day 6: In the morning see the last day of the Festival. Later in the
day we will enjoy some Bumthang sightseeing. Bumthang altitude has
an individuality that charms its visitors and separates it from other
regions. Comprised of four smaller valleys, the deeply spiritual region
of Bumthang is shrouded in religious legend. Here tales of Guru Padmasambhava
and his re-incarnation known as Tertons still linger in most nooks
and corners. It is also known for its woolen material (yathra) which
can be seen hung outside of houses for sale. You will have ample opportunity
today to watch expert textile weavers weave magic on their medieval
back and toe strap looms. Bumthang is a noted area to purchase the
intricate textile of Bhutan. Sightseeing - Visit the Jakar Dzong, 7th
century Jambay Lhakhang, Kurjey monastery, Tamshing and Kunchosum monastery.
This sightseeing is most interestingly done on foot. Overnight: River
Lodge.
Day 7: Early breakfast at our family style lodge, say good-bye to
the friends you have made and begin the 27 Km drive to Tang valley.
From the end of the road you will hike for an hour over a suspension
footbridge, through farm fields and cluster villages, up a hill to
the Ugyenchholing Palace, shrouded in mystery. Ugyencholing is a national
treasure privately owned by the same family for hundreds of years.
Visit the Family Museum, a place that will transport you to another
world and time. You will view permanent exhibits recreated to capture
the ambience of the lifestyle of the Trongsa Penelop (Governor) Tshokey
Dorji and his household. Bhutan's history unfolds. Overnight: Ugyenchholing
Guest House
Day 8: After breakfast walk along gradual downhill path for half an
hour to the village of Gamling, down in the valley. This is a small
village of about 20 households of farming and cattle rearing families.
From the village it is a short distance to the motor road where your
vehicle picks you up to drive to Wangdue. You will retrace your journey
over Yotongla Pass and Trongsa and then over the Pelela Pass before
reaching Wangdue. We enjoy photo and rest stops along the way; watch
out for yaks and monkeys. Bhutan has it all! Overnight resort.
Day 9: After breakfast we drive to Thimphu for a visit to the famous
weekend market, a must in Bhutan. The marketplace is alive with fresh
and organic fruits, rice, chilies, wonderful textiles, handicrafts,
art and jewelry and so much fun! One of my very favorites…Bring
the camera, there are many Kodak moments here. Lunch and check into
your Thimphu hotel. Visit the exceptional Textile Museum, featuring
masterpieces from the Royal Family of Bhutan and splendid fabric and
exquisite Thangkas. You will want to visit some local shops in Thimphu
for purchase of crafts, art, textile or unique mask and watch local
archers at play. We visit to the National Library to view ancient manuscripts,
as well as opportunity to visit the House of Paper and House of Incense.
Here you can learn how they make exquisite paper products from the
pulp of the Daphne tree. Visit the Home of Incense; hand made Bhutanese
incense; the finest in the world. Overnight Thimphu Hotel.
Day 10: This morning depart our hotel toward Paro. Along the way we
take an excursion hike or ride a pony, to the famous Taktsang Monastery
(Tiger's Nest). The monastery is perched on a rocky ledge with a sheer
drop of nearly 4,000 feet. It is said that in the second half of the
8th century, Guru Padma Sambhava, the saint who converted Bhutan to
Buddhism, alighted here upon the back of a tigress. Enjoy lunch at
the cafeteria viewpoint. Continue on to Paro hotel, rest and enjoy
dinner at hotel. Optional visit to Paro village in the evening or a
Bhutanese Hot Stone Bath; ask your guide to assist you.
Day 11: Departure from Bhutan.
Tashi Delek!
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