Experience Rural Bhutan Private Tour

Experience Rural Bhutan Private Tour

This extraordinary journey through ancient Bhutan will offer an unusual insight into rural Bhutan while introducing Bhutan's rich cultural and historical heritage.

Stay a night with a local family, experience the rural way of life, learn to prepare local dishes in a traditional earth oven, make local wine (the Ara), pick home grown fruits and vegetables, take part in seasonal farming activities with local farmers, feed domestic animals, milk a cow, hike through the picturesque landscape and rural villages, fetch firewood from a nearby forest, and take a dip in a traditional hot stone bath.

Besides these authentic experiences, you will visit Bhutan's unmissable sights including the Tiger's Nest Monastery, the Rinpung Dzong, the Kyichu Lhakhang which is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Bhutan, the Thimphu Dzong, a living example of the brilliance of Bhutanese architecture. Visit the old capital Punakha and the Puna Dewa Chenpoi Phodrang or the Great Palace of Happiness.

Itinerary

Day 1: Paro - Thimphu

Stop At: Rinpung Dzong, Paro, Bhutan
Witness the glorious Himalayan mountain peaks including the world’s highest, Mount Everest as you cruise towards Paro. Enjoy a soft uphill walk to the Majestic Ringpung Dzong. Drive to a local farmhouse for lunch. Visit the historic temple of Kichu then drive to Thimphu.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at a comfortable hotel in Thimphu.

Day 2: Thimphu

Stop At: Tashichho Dzong (Thimpu Dzong), Chhagchhen Lam, Thimphu Bhutan
Explore the deeply Buddhist spirituality of the country. See the 169 feet statue of lord Buddha, take a short hike and hang prayer flags at a spot of your liking. Meet a local doctor who will brief you about the making of traditional medicines. Have lunch at a farmhouse then take a soft hike before visiting a local market. Witness an archery tournament, then explore the glorious Thimphu Dzong and interact with Buddhist monks. Explore the main street of Thimphu on foot and observe the evening sights and sound of the capital city.
Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at a comfortable hotel in Thimphu.


Day 3: Thimphu - Phobjikha

Stop At: Dochula Pass, Thimphu Bhutan
Depart to Phobjikha, the valley famed for its breathtaking scenery and well-preserved ancientness of Medieval Bhutan, the roosting place of endangered migratory birds, the black neck cranes. Enjoy your day long drive through the sub-alpine zone of the inner Himalayas. Arrive at the breathtaking mountain pass of Dochula, festooned by 108 chortens and colourful prayer flags. Enjoy a 30 minutes hike through clustered villages and terraced rice fields leading all the way to Chimi Lhakhang, a small community temple perched on a hilltop at the backyard of village. You will be treated a gourmet lunch in a local restaurant. After settling in the farmhouse, stroll across the valley soaking up the beauty of your surroundings.
Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at a farm house.



Day 4: Phobjikha

Stop At: Gangtey Monastery, Gangtey Bhutan
Embark on a fascinating hike, sneak into the amazing Gantay temple located on a stunning ridge overlooking the valley. Explore other parts of the Phobjikha valley on a mountain bike. Pass a small temple with prayer flags. Engage in traditional archery with the locals. In the evening settle in the farmhouse and get your hands on local cuisine. Meanwhile, your hot stone bath will get set nearby. Enjoy your evening sitting by the bonfire with a warm cup of traditional wine. Engage in conversation with the local family and get to know their true story about life in the countryside.
Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at a farm house.

Day 5: Phobjikha - Shengana Homestay

Stop At: Wangdue Dzong, Wangdue Bhutan
Visit the construction site of the historical Wangdue Dzong gutted by fire in 2012. You will be treated with hot picnic lunch in the middle of terraced rice fields. Experience a homestay with farmers, a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience the typical Bhutanese rural culture and traditions. Accompany your host family to tie up oxen and cows in the shed. Experience feeding domestic animal and milking a cow. Afterwards pick your vegetables in the garden and join the family in cooking dinner. Enjoy a local family dinner according to family traditions of Bhutanese people.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at a homestay

Day 6: Shengana Homestay - Join the farmers on the farmland

Stop At: Shengana LSS, Punakha, Bhutan
This morning you will experience the making of Bhutanese tea called Suja prepared from hot water, tealeaves, fresh butter and salt. Join the farmers in the farmland, engage in rice plantation, tilling the land with oxen, digging using spades, cutting grass with sickles and a lot more. Have lunch in the farmland with the farmers.

In the afternoon, you will venture on a fascinating hike across rural settlements, terraced rice fields and en route interact with local people. Then take a brief rest sipping evening tea followed by a hot stone bath by the riverside.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at a homestay

Day 7: Shengana - Punakha - Paro

Stop At: Punakha Dzong, Punakha 13001 Bhutan
Visit the magnificent Punakha Dzong built in 1637. Venture into a fascinating village hike. You will be served locally cooked hot lunch by the riverside in Hebesa village. After the lunch drive back to Paro for overnight.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at a comfortable hotel in Paro

Day 8: Haa Valley

Stop At: Chele La Pass, Paro Bhutan
After about an hours’ drive from Paro district you will reach the Chelela pass at 3720m, a chilly mountain pass clothed by multicoloured prayer flags. After brief exploration at the pass, your drive will descend to the remote Haa valley.

The main highlights in Haa are two prominent temples built prior to the introduction of Buddhism in the country, namely Lhakhang Karpo and Nagpo. After visiting the temples continue further south, to the historic Dobji Dzong built in 1531.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at a comfortable hotel in Paro


Day 9: Paro - Taktsang hike

Stop At: Paro Taktsang, Taktsang Trail BT, Paro Bhutan
After breakfast you will embark on one of the most amazing excursions of your stay in Bhutan to the iconic Tiger’s Nest or Taktshang Monastery as it is locally known, by far one of the most spiritually significant sites in Bhutan.
The Tiger’s Nest is a three hours’ hike from the base along a trail that steadily rises cutting through pine forests. In the evening, you will stay at a farmhouse, soak in a hot stone bath to relax your fatigued sinews. Dinner will be served in a traditional manner accompanied by a cultural program of songs and dances.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at a comfortable hotel in Paro


Day 10: Departure

Stop At: Paro International Airport, Airport Road Paro, Paro 12001, Bhutan
Your guide will take you to the airport according to your flight schedule and will bid you farewell and a safe journey home.

Service Charter
Many local companies promise a high level of service, but not all are able to reach this goal. We are genuinely committed to delivering the highest level of service during all stages of your trip, including the planning. Should our standards drop below your expectations at any stage during the booking procedure, then please contact us immediately.

Price Promise
We don't claim to offer the cheapest trips, as many of the cheap tours cut corners. We don't believe in cutting corners and strive to deliver the best experiences on offer during your trip. We do claim to offer value for money and strongly believe that our original trips are an excellent deal. However, we are aware that we operate in a competitive environment, so please do contact us if you find a significantly better price elsewhere. There may be a reason for the discrepancy in the detail, but we will take it upon ourselves to review your quote and see if we can offer a better price.

Extra Touches
We pride ourselves on really looking after our guests. Travel with a personal touch isn't just an empty slogan, but a philosophy that has guided our company since the beginning. Our team is always on hand to ensure you have a most memorable time on your holiday. Your satisfaction is our satisfaction. Rely on our experience to better your experience and enjoy an authentic journey.

Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.