Arrive/Paro/ Thimphu

Welcome to Bhutan, the Land of the Thunder Dragon.Touching down at Paro International Airport,Our Dhey Wang Tours and Treks representative will meet you at Paro airport exit doors following customs formalities. Today, we will take it easy to acclimatise to the altitude. Drive to Thimphu, check in to the hotel and lets have your first taste of Bhutanese cuisine.

Buddha Point at Kuensel Phodrang is also open to tourists . The 169 feet bronze statue of Buddha Dordenma , Vajra Throne Buddha symbolising indestructibility will be completed soon. The Buddha statue itself is competed awaiting paintings, but visitors can drive up to the Buddha point and view the tallest statue of Lord Buddha. The view of Thimphu valley from the Buddha point is spectacular and beautiful, especially at night.

Heritage Museum: Dedicated to connecting people to the Bhutanese rural past though exhibition of artefacts used in rural households.

National Memorial Chorten which was built in honor of the late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk.

Centenary Farmers Market: Every Saturday and Sunday most of the Thimphu population congregate on the banks of the river where the weekend market is held. Here villagers from the valley and other nearby places come to sell their agriculture products.

Thimphu to Punakha

Morning you will drive over the Dochu-La pass (3,150 meters), which on a clear day offers an
incredible view of Himalayan peaks before descending into balmy Punakha valley (about 2 hrs total
driving time). The drive through the countryside affords a glimpse of everyday life in this most
remote of Himalayan kingdom. In the Dochu-La area there are vast Rhododendron forests that grow
to tree size and bloom in late April/early May covering the mountains in a riot of glorious spring
colour.
After lunch, enjoy a walk to Chimi Lhakhang, temple of the Drukpa Kuenly who is also known as the
Divine Madman. He inherited the Divine Madman title since he revolted against the orthodox
Buddhism in his time. He taught the people that religion is an inner feeling and it’s not necessary that
one should be an ordained monk. He is also considered a symbol of fertility and most childless
couples go to his temple for blessing.

Punakha Halt

In the morning drive to Yabesa village and hike to through rice fields and up to Khamsum Yueley
Namgyal Chorten, built by her majesty the queen Ashi Tshering Yangdon Wangchuk. Perched high
on a hill on the bank of the river, the Chorten houses paintings belonging to Nyingmapa
Traditions.Take a picnic lunch on a picturesque riverside after picnic lunch,
Punakha was the ancient capital of Bhutan. On arrival, visit Punakha Dzong, the “Palace of Great
Happiness” built in 1637 by the Shabdrung, the “Unifier of Bhutan”. It is situated at the confluence of
the Mo Chu and Pho Chu (Mother and Father Rivers) and is the winter headquarters of the Je Khenpo
and hundreds of monks who move en masse from Thimphu to this warmer location. The three story
main temple of the Punakha Dzong is a breathtaking example of traditional architecture with four intricately embossed entrance pillars crafted from cypress and decorated in gold and silver. It was here in 1907 that Bhutan’s first king was crowned.

Punakha to Paro

After breakfast drive back to Thimphu- Paro en-route Dochula pass. We will be having second
chances to see the eastern Himalayas. Lunch at Thimphu. Afternoon we will visit the, School for
Arts and Crafts where students are taught the 13 types of Bhutanese art, If there is time, you may
visit the traditional Hand made paper factory and live painting. If there is time, you may visit the
nursing pen for the Takin, the national animal of Bhutan.

Paro Festival.

After breakfast, walk to Paro dzong to attend the Paro festival. You will see locals dressed in their finest clothes who have walked from miles arAfter ound to attend the festivities. They come to watch masked dances, to pray, and to feast. While the underlying purpose of the festival is spiritual, dances are more often like plays, telling stories where good triumphs over evil, or depicting significant historical events, especially surrounding the life of Bhutan’s patron saint, Padmasambhava (also known as Guru Rinpoche). There is inevitably a great deal of socialising as well.

Paro Halt

After breakfast we will drive to Watch tower (now it is national Museum) to start short Zurik
dzong hike,it takes 2 hours and it is very scenic hike. Before that we will stop and visit the
National.Museum, the collection includes ancient Bhutanese Art & Artifacts, Weapons. After
lunch you will visit the Rinpung Dzong situated at commanding height overlooking Paro Valley.
This Dzong is symbolic as the religious & secular center of all affairs of the Paro district.
Overnight at hotel .

Paro Taktsang Hike

After breakfast hike to Taktsang Monastery. The trail is broad and the walk of approximately 2
hours uphill takes you almost a kilometer above the Paro valley floor (for those who cannot hike
we will arrange a horse for transfer up to the viewing point). The view of Taktsang Monastery
built on a sheer cliff face 900 meters above the valley floor is a spectacular sight. The Monastery
is also an important pilgrim site for the Buddhists. The great Guru Rimpoche is said to have
flown here on the back of a tigress when he brought the teachings of the Buddhist Dharma to
Bhutan in the 8th Century. He then mediated in a cave there for three months where the
monastery was later built. On the return visit the 7th Century Kyichu Lhakhang, oldest Temple
in Bhutan and one of 108 temples built by Buddhist Tibetan king.

Airport

Drive to airport in time to check in for your early morning departure.