10 Day Bhutan Sacred sites and Wilderness

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Tour Highlights
  • Visit to the world’s largest Buddha statue
  • Visit the ancient dzongs and temples
  • Enjoys the sacred sites of Guru Rinpoche
  • Visit the longchenpa site at Tharpaling
  • Hike to Tiger’s Nest (Taktsang)
  • Talks about Bhutan sacred sites and history
  • Meditation instruction and practice
  • Hosting wind horse prayer flags and chanting

Tour fact

Duration:10 days 9 nights

Grade: Moderate

Season:March,april,May,

Sep,Oct,Nov.

Places:Paro,Thimphu,Gangtey,

Punakha,Bumthang.

Accommodation

Plan:3 star hotel

Options: 4 or 5 star hotel

Welcome to Bhutan! On arrival at Paro International Airport, your guide will greet you upon exiting the arrival hall. Today, we follow a gentle schedule as we acclimatize to the altitude.  After lunch in Paro, we make the one hour drive to Thimphu, Bhutan’s capital and home to around quarter of our population.

En route we take the opportunity to stretch our legs with an easy 10 minute walk to Tachog Lhakhang (temple) reached by crossing Paro Chhu (river) on one of the few remaining ancient iron chain bridges, both built circa 1420 by the Tibetan master Tangtong Gyelpo (aka the Bridge Builder).

We arrive at Thimphu late afternoon, with ample time to relax and settle into your hotel room before getting together for an informal meet-and-greet over dinner.

Our day begins with a visit to the beautiful sacred site, Buddha Dordenma (Buddha Point) in Kuenselphodrang Nature Park, overlooking Thimphu City. Its’ awesome focal point, one of the largest statues of Buddha Shakyamuni in the world (completed in 2015), was built to emanate an aura of peace and happiness to the entire world.

From here we take a gentle three hour hike along the ridge from Buddha Point to Changangkha Lhakhang through beautiful native forest of blue oaks, rhododendron and pine, with views through the prayer flags to the city below.  After lunch we visit Thimphu’s famous Textile Museum, where both ancient and modern examples of this traditional craft are on view.

From Thimphu we head to Punakha, via Dochula Pass (3100m elevation), the site of 108 stupas built to commemorate Bhutan’s victory, in 2003, over Indian militants and in honor of those who died. On a clear day, the views from here are spectacular, over the forested valley below to the snow-capped Himalayan Mountains.

We then descend to the expansive river valley of Punakha, at 1200m elevation, where we visit the majestic and beautiful Punakha Dzongkhag.  Strategically located at the confluence of the rivers Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu, this stunning example of ancient Bhutanese architecture is the second oldest and second largest of Bhutan’s Dzongs. Completed in 1637, it served as the country’s capital from 1637 to 1907 and continues to serve as the winter residence of Bhutan’s Monastic Body and home to some of the country’s most sacred ancient relics.

In the afternoon we follow the Mo Chhu upstream and hike to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten (stupa), majestically situated on a ridge above Punakha Valley, the 30 meter high stupa, a gift from Bhutan’s third Queen Mother, Ashi Tshering Yangdon Wangchuck, was built to ward off evil and bring peace and harmony for all living beings. Its three vividly painted tiers depict scenes from the annals of Vajrayana Buddhism.

As we leave Punakha for Gangtey, we ascend adjacent to the Wangdue Phodrang Dzong (built 1638), dramatically perched on the spur of a hill, overlooking the confluence of the Puna Tsang Chu and Dang Chu rivers.

Our destination of Gangtey, famous as the winter home of the endangered Black necked crane (Grus Nigricollis), is located in Phobjikha Valley, considered one of Bhutan’s most beautiful wilderness areas, with many nature trails to enjoy. In Gangtey Village, we visit Gangtey Goempa (monastery), founded by Je Kuenga Gyaltshe in 1613, one of the most important sites of the Nyingmapa school and the main seat of the Pema Lingpa tradition.

Afterwards, we take an easy walk beyond Gangtey Goempa, along the Gangtey Nature Trail, overlooking the Phobjikha Valley.

On our return trip to Thimphu, we enjoy lunch at Punakha before ascending to Dochula Pass, where we visit the nearby Druk Wangyel Lhakhang. Then as we get closer to Thimphu, we stop to explore the small but historically significant Simtokha Dzong.  Dating from 1629, this was the first Dzong of its kind to be built by Zhabdrung Rinpoche. Today it houses Bhutan’s School of Buddhist Language Studies and within its walls examples of ancient Buddhist art and statues are on display.  In the evening, we have time to explore Thimphu City.

A short ride up into the hills above Thimphu brings us to the beginning of the path to Dodedrak Monastery.  After around two hours hiking through the forest and hillside, with spectacular views down to the city, the buildings of this ancient monastic community come into view. We then follow the path gently downhill a short way to the monastery entrance. Built by Chief Abbot Yonten Thaye in the 12th Century, Dodedrak Monastery has on display within its two altar rooms, original 900-year-old paintings and ancient statues and beneath the altar rooms, there is a small museum housing hundreds-years-old monastic artifacts.

Under the patronage of the 4th King, a Lobdra (Monastic School) and a Shedra (Buddhist College) were added in the 1980s and today there are three lhakhangs, a stupa and monk rooms accommodating around 154 monks who study and practice Buddhist philosophy. This is a delightful day-long trek there and back, with the destination, Dodedrak Monastery, guaranteed not to disappoint and the chance of seeing the exquisite and rare langur which inhabit the forest around the monastery.

We enjoy a relaxing evening in Thimphu, with time to stroll around the city, visit its cafes, eateries and art and craft shops.

we descend into Paro Valley (2,200 meters), home of many old monasteries, temples and sacred sites.  Through this wide and spacious valley, covered with fertile rice fields, flows the Pa Chhu, fed by the glacial waters of Mount Jomolhari.

In the afternoon we visit Paro Rinpung Dzong (Fortress of Jewels).  Located at the edge of Paro Town, this impressive example of 15th Century Bhutanese architecture now serves as the local government centre of Paro. We then visit nearby Ta Dzong (Watchtower) which was built in 1649 and converted into the National Museum of Bhutan in 1968. Here we can view antiques, art, textiles, weapons and household items offering a glimpse of Bhutan’s fascinating history.

Trek from Sang Choekor Buddhist College (2,800m) to Yak Pasture, below Bumdra Monastery (3,800m). The adventure begins with an early morning drive up to the Sang Choekor to meet our ponies and while they are being loaded we may pay our respects at the College. After a 1–2-hour ascent of a ridge,we arrive at a clearing from where we have spectacular views of both Paro and Do Chhu Valleys.

About 1-2 hours walk from here is the Chhoe Chhoe Tse Lhakhang (temple), which nestles at the side of the mountain. The trail continues and when we reach the last steep elevation, we will see a temple which overlooksParo Airport and the snow-capped Himalayas. Continuing from here, we climb for another 20 minutes, past ruins and fluttering prayer flags, thenhike through ancient forest for about 40 minutes to reach Yak Pasture, a wide meadow with sacred chortens and prayer flags and awesome views of the Himalayas. Here, we can camp for the night, just below Bumdra Monastery (the Cave of One thousand Dakinis Footprints).

After lunch we can head up to visit Bumdra Monastery (if it is unoccupied) before climbingfurther (1-2 hours) to reach the north of the peak (about 4000m) from where the view over the Himalayas iseven more spectacular.

We enjoy breakfast while taking in the wonderful views from our camp at Yak Pasture, before heading back down the valleytowards Tiger’s Nest. Following the monks’ zig zagging trail through the ancient pine and rhododendron forest, after 1-2 hours of descent, the golden roofs of the temples of Taktsang Monastery below come into view.

Our path continues to wind across the mountainside between monasteries and temples before reaching the Gardens of Zangtopelri (Copper-Coloured Mountain).  From here the breath-taking view over edge, looks directly down onto the golden roofs of Taktsang, nestled in the cliffs below. After one hour, we reach the gates of Taktsang, from where we make a steep descent by steps, past a waterfall cascading down from Lady Tsogyal’s Cave, before climbing by steps up to the Taktsang Monastery.

The Tiger’s Nest (Taktsang), the most iconic landmark and holy site in the Kingdom, clings impossibly to a sheer cliff face 900 meters above the Paro Valley. It was first built in 1692 at a cave where Guru Rinpoche meditated in the seventh century.  Legend says that Guru Rinpoche flew there on a tigress and meditated in the cave for three years in order to subdue evil demons residing within it. The cave has been considered a sacred site ever since and many famous saints have made pilgrimage there. Located approximately 10 km north of Paro town at 3,100 meters altitude,  Taktsang is reached after an approximately two and a half hour hike through beautiful, shady pine forests.

In the evening there is time for shopping in Paro and we gather for our farewell dinner.

Boarding a morning flight from Paro International Airport, we bid a fond farewell to this beautiful Himalayan country, taking with us cherished memories of Bhutan! We wish you a safe and happy journey and look forward to meeting again in Druk Yul – a land of endless Enchantments! Tashi Delek!

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PRICE INCLUDES:

  • Government SDF fee,
  • Bhutan Visa fee
  • Licensed English-speaking guide
  • 3-star hotel under twin/dbl bed sharing basis
  • Daily meals (B/L/D)
  • Entrance fees for Museums and Monuments
  • Bottled mineral water
  • Air-conditioned tour vehicle
  • Experienced driver

PRICE EXCLUDES:

  • Single room supplement charges
  • Personal expense and Travel Insurance
  • Flight Tickets to Bhutan and In-Country Flights
  • Meals at 4-5 star restaurants
  • Hotel stay outside of Bhutan
  • Tips for the guide and driver
  • Alcoholic drinks
  • The horse ride fee to Tiger’s Nest.

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FAQS

You have two main options for traveling to Bhutan: by air or by land. The national carrier, Royal Bhutan Airlines (Drukair) and Bhutan Airlines, operates direct flights from various Asian cities, including Bangkok, Singapore, Kathmandu, Dhaka, New Delhi, Kolkata, Gaya, Bagdogra, and Guwahati.

Additionally, you can enter Bhutan through two land gateways in India: Phuntsholing in southern Bhutan or Samdrup Jongkhar in the southeast. Travelers often choose Samdrup Jongkhar if their destination is in the eastern regions of Bhutan, such as Trashigang, Mongar, Lhuentse, and Trashiyangtse.

The level of customisation is entirely at your discretion! You have full control over your itinerary, including arrival and departure dates. Extend your trip as desired, and select any day for arrival or departure. Share your preferences for experiences, and we will provide insights into the diverse opportunities Bhutan offers while helping you plan the most efficient itinerary.

Certainly, it is possible. Our guests have the option to travel in private groups, whether it’s just one person or a larger group of dozens and more.please note that traveling with fewer than three people will incur an additional fee compared to group rates.

The Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) is a daily fee imposed on visitors to contribute to Bhutan’s development. For all non-Indian visitors, the SDF is set at US$100 per person per night. Children between the ages of 6 and 12 at the time of travel receive a 50% concessionary discount on the SDF, while those aged 5 or younger are exempt.

The SDF for Indian nationals (showing a valid Indian passport or Voter ID card) is Nu. 1,200 (or the equivalent amount in Indian rupees) per person, per night. Children aged between 6 years and who have not yet turned 12 are eligible to pay Nu./INR 600 per night. Children who have not yet turned 6 years old do not have to pay any SDF.

Payment of the SDF is a prerequisite during the visa application process, with an additional non-refundable visa application fee of US$40.

Since the country’s opening in 1974, visitors have played a vital role in Bhutan’s growth, with SDF funds allocated to various projects enhancing facilities, services, infrastructure, and supporting free healthcare and education for both Bhutanese nationals and visitors.

Our package fees cover the following items:

  • Government SDF fee,
  • Visas for Bhutan
  • Licensed English-speaking guide
  • Accommodation in 3-star hotel under twin/dbl bed sharing basis
  • Daily meals (B/L/D) at designated restaurants & hotels
  • Entrance fees for Museums and Monuments
  • Bottled mineral water
  • Air-conditioned tour vehicle
  • Experienced driver
  • Full friendly service & assistance before, during & after your visit to Bhutan here to support you!

Our package fees do not cover the following items:

  • Single room supplement charges
  • Personal expense and Travel Insurance
  • Flight Tickets to Bhutan and In-Country Flights
  • Meals at 4-5 star restaurants
  • Hotel stay outside of Bhutan
  • Tips for the guide and driver
  • Alcoholic drinks
  • The horse ride fee to Tiger’s Nest.

Certainly, the package includes accommodations in 3-star hotels. If you prefer, you have the option to upgrade to 4-star or 5-star resorts with luxury amenities such as spas for an additional fee. Just inform us through the form below, and we’ll present the available options to you.

Yes. All visitors must have full, valid travel insurance for the duration of their visit. For all visitors except those from India, Bangladesh and the Maldives, it is required to be in place when you make your visa application.