8 days 7 nights Bhutan Holiday

8 days 7 nights Bhutan Holiday

This is one of the most popular holidays amongst the Bhutan Cultural Tour packages. The Happiness Bhutan Tour will take you through a cultural extravaganza of the valleys of Western Bhutan (Paro, Thimphu, Punakha and Wangdue valleys), Bhutanese cuisine, culture and traditions, stunning landscape and warm and hospitable people.

Itinerary

Day 1: PARO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT – Your first glimpse of Bhutan

Stop At: Rinpung Dzong, Paro Bhutan
Its also called as the Fortress of Heaped Jewels, a fine example of the ostentatious Bhutanese art and architecture. The Dzong is located in the heart of the town and a few minutes’ walk through Nyimazam, one of the few last remaining traditional cantilever bridges in Bhutan. Dzongs serve as a monastic institution and as district administrative office.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: National Museum, Tag-Dzong Rinpung Dzong, Paro 12001 Bhutan
It houses various antiques and artifacts of Bhutan and provides a glimpse into Bhutan’s rich cultural and religious history
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Jangtsa Dumtseg Lhakhang, Paro, Bhutan
It was built in the mid 1430’s by Thangtong Gyelpo, the iron bridge builder, to subdue a demon and the temple is firmly chained to the ground. The three floors of the temple represent hell, heaven and earth and house some of the finest murals in Bhutan
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Lunch
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight stay at Taktsang Boutique Resort & Spa, a 3 star hotel in Paro with a beautiful view of Tiger's Nest Monastery

Day 2: THIMPHU VALLEY EXCURSION – Combination of the Ancient and the Modern

Stop At: Buddha Dordenma, Kuensel Phodrang Viewing Point, Thimphu 11001 Bhutan
Soak in the panoramic view of the Thimphu valley from the site of the gigantic Lord Buddha, a 51 meter bronze Shakyamuni Buddha statue gilded in gold
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Thimphu Chorten (Memorial Chorten), Thimphu Bhutan
The beautiful Memorial Chorten/stupa in town is another favorite with the tourists and a regular sight for congregation of devout Buddhists circumambulating the Chorten from dawn till dusk. The main statue of the Buddha inside the Chorten is said to grant wishes for the earnest and honest hearted!
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Centenary Farmers Market, Main Town, Near the Wangchhu River, Thimphu Bhutan
If you want to mingle with the Bhutanese people and jostle with local farmers amongst the aroma of organic fruits and vegetables, the Centenary Farmers Market is the place to be. Smiling tourists watch in awe as locals bargain with the vendors and you could even stock up on your organic fruits for the coming days.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Simply Bhutan Museum, Genyen Lam, Thimphu Bhutan
Visit the Simply Bhutan Museum which is a living studio showcasing the age old culture and traditional heritage of Bhutan
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Changangkha Lhakhang, Thimphu Bhutan
Walk for a few minutes from the Museum to Changangkha Lhakhang the oldest temple in Thimphu
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Tashichho Dzong, Chhagchhen Lam, Thimphu, Bhutan
In the evening visit the Tashichho Dzong/fortress of the Auspicious Religion and office of the Golden throne of the Dragon King of Bhutan.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Hotel Thimphu Tower, one of the top 3 star hotel in the capital

Day 3: THIMPHU VALLEY - TANGO & CHERI MONASTERIES EXCURSION

Stop At: Cheri Gompa Monastery, Dodeyna, Thimphu Bhutan
After breakfast, drive towards north of Thimphu till you reach the base of Tango and Cheri Monasteries. Built on adjacent hills both the monasteries are about one hour hike along well maintained pathways. You can visit the Tango Monastery which also serves as a university of Buddhist studies.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Tango Buddhist Institute, Thimphu Bhutan
After breakfast, drive towards north of Thimphu till you reach the base of Tango and Cheri Monasteries. Built on adjacent hills both the monasteries are about one hour hike along well maintained pathways. You can visit the Tango Monastery which also serves as a university of Buddhist studies.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Thimphu Handicrafts Market, Nordzin Lam, Thimphu Bhutan
In the evening walk through the main streets and visit the many shops selling local and imported good.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Hotel Thimphu Tower, one of the top 3 star hotels in Thimphu City

Day 4: THIMPHU TO WANGDUE & PUNAKHA VALLEYS – Enjoy the ride through the mountain ranges – 3 hours drive

Stop At: Dochula Pass, Thimphu Bhutan
Enroute stop over at the Dochulaa Pass (3150 meters) and enjoy the spectacular views of the snow capped Himalayan Mountains. The 108 small stupas built over a small hill is also a beautiful sight.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Chimi L'hakhang Temple, Punakha Bhutan
The road from the Pass winds down to the warm and fertile valleys and after a brief rest visits the Fertility Temple / Chime Lhakhang. It is a pleasant 30 minutes walk through mustard and paddy fields. Standing on a picturesque hilltop the Lhakhang is famous for its fertility wish grants to couples. Inside the walls of the Lhakhang are beautiful frescoes depicting the colorful life of Lama Drukpa Kuenley, the Divine Madman regarded for his crazy methods of teaching which included blessing women in the form of copulation!
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Hotel Meriphunsum Hotel, a 3 star hotel and one of the best in service and quality

Day 5: Excursion of Gangtey, Phobjikha and neighboring villages

Stop At: Gangtey nature trail, Unnamed Road, Bhutan
Early morning, your guide will take you for the Gangtey Nature Trail Hike which will take you about one and half hour and get yourselves sync with prestine and least explored nature and enjoy one of the most beautiful landscape of Phobjikha.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Hotel Dewachen, the only 3 star Hotel in the region

Day 6: GANGTEY-PUNAKHA-PARO VALLEY – The old capital of Bhutan to Paro (4 hours drive)

Stop At: Punakha Dzong, Punakha 13001 Bhutan
Punakha valley was the old capital city of Bhutan and the Punakha Dzong meaning the fortress of Great Bliss was built by 1673 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel (the first spiritual & political leader of Bhutan) to commemorate the final victory against numerous Tibetan invasions. Located on a piece of land between two rivers Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu (literally meaning male and female rivers), the Dzong is massive, huge and magnificent in all its architectural grandeur. Although ravaged by flood, fire and earthquake many times, the Dzong was always rebuilt with its original pattern and design. The Dzong has hosted significant events such as the crowning of the first king of Bhutan, The Royal Wedding ceremony of the Fifth King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck to Jetsun Pema on 13th October 2011 was conducted in Punakha Dzong and important religious ceremonies are still held in the Dzong.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten, Punakha Bhutan
Walk for about an hour to Khamsum Yulley Namgyel Chorten stupa. It is a beautiful walk through the pine trees, the stupa is stunning and so is the view from there
Duration: 2 hours

Pass By: Punakha Suspension Bridge, Punakha Dzong, Punakha 13001 Bhutan
Enroute you will also be walking through a suspension bridge over the Puna Tsang Chhu – Punakha River

Stop At: Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup nunnery, Punakha Bhutan
After visiting the Punakha Dzong/Fortress of Great Bliss, drive to the Nunnery and enjoy the spectacular views of Punakha and Wangdue valleys.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Taktsang Boutique Resort & Spa, Paro on the way to Tiger's Nest Monastery

Day 7: TAKTSANG MONASTERY/TIGER’S NEST –The high light of your holiday to Bhutan

Stop At: Paro Taktsang, Taktsang Trail BT, Paro Bhutan
Have a sumptuous breakfast for your hike to Taktsang Monastery / Tiger’s Nest which is about 3 hours uphill and 2 hours down. Riding ponies are also available if you think the hike is a bit daunting. Located around 900 meters above the Paro valley on a precarious almost vertical mountain cliff, Taktsang Monastery is truly a wonderful and spectacular sight in terms of its location, setting and history. In the 8th Century this was one of the major sites where Guru Padmasambhava – the patron saint of Buddhism in Bhutan meditated with his consort Khandro Yeshey Tshogyal. It is believed that Guru flew on a female tigress in pursuit of a demon which he subdued at the current site of the Monastery. It is one of the holiest site in the Buddhist arena and the most important cultural icon in Bhutan.
Duration: 4 hours

Stop At: Kyichu Lhakhang, Lamgong Gewog, Paro 12001 Bhutan
Before you drive back to your hotel visit the Kyichu Lhakhang/temple, one of the oldest temples built in the 7th Century by the Tibetan King Songsten Gyembo.
Duration: 30 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Taktsang Boutique Resort & Spa, Tiger's Nest Trail, Paro