Journey 2 Shangrila – 11 Nights / 12 days

This, 11 days leisurely paced cultural trip is designed to give you most of what Bhutan has to offer in terms of our living culture, tradition, history, nature with people, walking through some of virgin forest, interaction with the local people and our well known hospitality.

Our natural sense of hospitality is not only renowned but ticked as good reason to visit Bhutan. Every new place in this trip you come across is a spot for tourism – be it an exquisite ancient fortress or the breathtaking scenery from the Tiger’s Nest, Paro’s golden paddy fields to Bumthang’s local delicacies – this trip is one of the favorites with our guests in terms of sale numbers.

Day 1

 Arrive Paro and Drive to Thimphu, (60 km, 1 hour)

The flight to Bhutan provides with stunning view of snow covered high Himalayan Peaks like Mt. Everest, Kanchanjunga and once in Bhutan, mt.Jhomolhari and mt.Jichu drake.

Once you land at Paro Airport, you’ll be received and greeted by your private guide and driver with a traditional welcome khadar. You will be escorted to your car and will drive you towards the capital city, Thimphu.  You will have your first lunch in Thimphu local restaurant and your guide will take you to visit places.

Trashichhodzong was initially built as fortress. It is now summer residence for monk body and  also functions as government administrative office. The present King of Bhutan has throne room inside the fortress. Your guide will escort you inside this  fortress for visit.

Dinner and overnight at Hotel in Thimphu.

Day 2

Thimphu Sightseeing

Breakfast / accompanied by your guide visit Memorial Chorten, where senior citizens and bhutanese youths visit for prayers.  Inside it contains different statues of esoteric vajrayana dieties.

Drive up to scenic KuenselPhodrng, where enormous statue of Buddha sits, overlooking Thimphu city below.  Takin is National animal and can be seen grazing inside the premises of Takin Preservation center.  Textile museum is worth visiting to understand traditional weaving culture of Bhutan.

Zorig Chusum, school of  13 traditional arts and crafts, is open for visitors and you will find students learning in their respective classes. Below the school lies Folk heritage Museum for visitors.  As you  enter inside it, your guide will explain how Bhutanese traditional house in Himalayas in past and present functioned.

Centennial vegetable market displays organic vegetables grown in Bhutan and Archery match, national sport, is played around in Thimphu.  Your guide will take you to both of those, if you are interested.

Dinner in Local restaurant and overnight at Hotel.

Day 3

Drive to Punakha (77 km, approximately 4 hours drive)

On day three, we will drive to Punakha, which is approximately four hours drive from Thimphu. Besides visiting local tourist sites, trip to Punakha is never complete without visiting the Dzong (fortress). The historical Dzong is also known as Pungtang Dechen Phodrang Dzong (meaning very awesome dzong “the palace of great happiness or bliss”). It is listed as a tentative site in Bhutan’s Tentative List for UNESCO inclusion.

Punakha Dzong served as the capital of the Country from 1637 to 1907 and the first National Assembly was held in 1953. The significance of the Dzong stepped up in 2011, when His Majesty the King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk married Gyeltseun Her Majesty Jetsun Pema on October 13^th at Punakha Dzong. One of the beautiful aspect of Punakha Dzong is its location, the Dzong is located at the confluence of the Pho Chhu (father) and Mo Chhu (mother) rivers in the Punakha–Wangdue valley.

While travelling to Punakha, you will cross Dochula Pass at 3140 m and experience a beautiful view of the mountains, hills and forest. On the pass you will also see the Druk Wangyal Chortens, a collection of 108 chortens (stupas) mainly built to illustrate the achievements of the Fourth King. While crossing Lobesa (small satellite town) on the way to Punakha, do not forget to visit the Chhimi Lhakhang, the fertility monastery. If weather permits, you could also set up camp next to the river (superb camping grounds) with a bonfire and have a wonderful stay.

Day 4

Drive to Trongsa (120 km approximately, 4 hours drive)

Breakfast in Morning and  you will travel from Punakha to Trongsa Dzongkhag (District), which has a historical significance. It is about 120 km drive and takes approximately four hours to reach. On the way, you will go through Wangduephodrang Dzongkhag and a visit to the Dzong and see the ongoing reconstruction works.

The Dzong was burnt down in 2012 and every effort is made to bring back to its old glory. The Dzongkhag is well known for Phobjikha Valley, Gangtey Goenpa and endangered Black necked crane.

On the way you will also cross one of the highest passes, popularly known as Pelela pass, where you can (take a break) possibly see local yaks, up close.

In Trongsa check in to your room.

Dinner and overnight at Hotel

Day 5

Drive to Bumthang (68 km. approximately, 2 hours drive)

After Breakfast visit Trongsa Dzong.

Trongsa Dzongkhag holds an important chapter in the history of the Country, as every Monarch prior to ascending the Throne, holds the post of Trongsa Penlop (Governor). During your stay at Trongsa, you should visit the Tower of Trongsa, which had served as a watchtower now developed into a museum that houses some of Bhutan’s most prized possessions including the ‘Raven Crown’ used by the first two Kings. After that, don’t forget to visit, Trongsa Dzong which holds monumental political importance that was central to unification of the country under one central administration and eventually led to the introduction of Monarchy in Bhutan.

With the visit of His Majesty the Druk Gyalpo, Fourth Druk Gyalpo and the Gyalsey to Trongsa during the 109th National Day celebration, the importance of Trongsa Dzongkhag has scaled further.

After these visits, have lunch at Trongsa and proceed towards Bumthang. In Bumthang, please advise your Guide (if you desire), you would like to taste some local delicacies combined with fresh trout (fish) from the local river.

If you are also interested to make your evening in Bumthang little more adventurous, you could top up your dinner with some ara (home brewed local wine) that would fit perfectly with the Bumthang culinary.

Dinner and overnight in Bumthang Hotel.

Day 6

Bumthang Sightseeing

Many visitors has tipped, that your visit to Bhutan is not complete without a visit to Bumthang. On your approach to this Dzongkhag, you will be welcomed by a huge valley that stretches deep into the hills. Bhutan being a religious Country, locally we believe, visiting the religious sites would wash away your sins and pave your way for a better after life.

The valley is dotted with some of Bhutan’s most important and sacred pilgrimage sites and you’ll be made witness to all the amazing stories that go with it. Visit Kurje lhakhang (temple) that is house to one of Bhutan’s biggest statue of Guru Rinpoche and more importantly the stone imprints of Guru’s body in a cave. Followed by Jambay Lhakhang, most probably the oldest temple that is believed to be one of the two in Bhutan, out of 108 temples that King Songtsen Gembo of Tibet built across the entire Himalayan region in the 6th century.

Finally to Tamzhing monastery was built by Terton Pema Lingpa. We can also arrange a visit to the local cheese factory, the beer factory and the bee keeping farmers if any of these may interests you. Now with a local airport, travel to Bumthang has become more easier and short.

Dinner and overnight in Bumthang Hotel.

Day 7

 Drive to Phobjikha (105 km, circa 5 hours drive)

Morning Breakfast and drive to Phobjikha.

As you cross Pelela Pass, 3,390 meters and reach Gangtey, the glacial valley of Phobjikga opens up.

The scenic valley is host to the endangered ‘Black necked cranes’ (Grus Nicorocolis) in the winter who migrate from Tibetan plateau  and parts of China. The government has given much importance towards the preservation of the bird, and its part time migratory habitat by designating its roosting place as restricted areas.

Development of industry and electrification in the valley has been stalled lest affecting the birds, and the locals are unperturbed as the valley is gifted with extensive land area which makes it ideal for potato farming.

Before you reach your hotel, we recommend you to take a walk through the village to get a feel of the rural life. If the weather is good, you also have the option to camp next to the river with a bonfire as many of our guests likes combining their cultural holiday with camping.

Dinner and overnight at Phobjikha Hotel

Day 8

Phobjikha Sightseeing

 After breakfast, you will visit the black-necked crane Observatory for some information on the endangered Black Necked Cranes and if you are here towards late Fall and winter, you can have a close-up on the birds aided by a telescope.

Lunch will entail a pleasant 4 km hike around the periphery of the roosting area which eloquently ends into the entrance of the Gangtey Gompa monastery sitting atop a hill overlooking the whole valley. After visiting this special temple that has been renovated recently with fine examples of Bhutanese architecture, you will be picked up by your driver and driven back to your hotel or your camp.

The hike is a recommended activity as we ourselves enjoy it every single time we are there as the weather is usually superb for a photographers and the object to be captured is an underlying valley that probably prompted the early visitors to Bhutan to compare the country with Switzerland.

We can also augment this day with mountain biking and motorcycles as they valley offers some good collection of dirt roads.

Dinner and overnight at hotel

Day 9

Drive to Thimphu (100 km, circa 4 hours)

Morning breakfast and drive to Thimphu.

Upon arrival at Thimphu, you could visit the local market and do shopping for your family. In this matter you could avail advice from our guide. If you are in mood to delve into a social evening and unwind yourself, you could do so by paying a visit to some of the most interesting bars and drayangs for drink, music, dancing and conversation, we still advise you to tag our guide with you.

This could be also a time, to share your observations and the experiences with our guide and advise us, how to improve our service further.

Dinner and overnight at Thimphu Hotel

Day 10

Hiking in Thimphu and Drive to Paro (50 km, 1 hour)

On day 10, we’ll take a short drive to Begana, a small village in north Thimphu. Then hike to Tango monastery, a temple which was build in 1659 and continue hiking to Cheri Gompa, another half an hour hike to the first monastic school built by Zhabdrung Nawang Namgyal, the founder of Bhutan in 1620.

Here we might see, wild gorals and deer along the way, as these animals unwittingly have found shelter around the temple that offers visitors a safari experience. Visit Bhutan Post Office, to see the famous stamps of Bhutan and to post some cards to your loved ones. Continue to the Traditional Paper Factory to see how traditional paper is made from Himalayan shrubs- Daphne and Edgeworthia.

Visit the Handicrafts Emporium  and market for a rich collection of handicrafts and can buy some souvenirs to take home. After a tea in the evening, you will be driven to Paro.

Dinner and overnight in Paro Hotel.

Day 11

Paro – Hike to Taktsang Monastery ( Tigers Nest )

Early morning breakfast.

On day 11 at Paro, we’ll visit the world known Taktshang monastery (translated Tiger’s nest) and complete our visit to Bhutan with an unforgettable experience. It is a two hours hike that would prove its worth, just by a look of the temple hanging on a 1000 feet craggy cliff.

The view of the temple as our clients have been saying is “nothing short of spectacular”. The temple was built in 1692 by Gyaltse Tenzin Rabgye and in this matter, the guide will complement the visit with its history.

In the afternoon, we will visit National Museum and enrich your Bhutan experience and knowledge further by witnessing some of the most treasured collections of arts, artefacts, textiles, stamps, statues etc.

In the evening, with a local theatre company, we will organize a cultural evening at the hotel which will showcase some of our traditional music and dances, mask dances and folklore at the hotel.

After dinner, a dip in the traditional hot-stone bath may help you unwind and reflect about your journey before departing.

Dinner and overnight at Paro valley Hotel.

Day 12

Farewell

After breakfast you and group will be drive to Paro international Airport where you will fly/depart for your designated places.

Being with you for last 11 days, saying farewell is usually not mechanical. However, with a hope that this trip to Bhutan has build up a friendship which is more valuable than anything else and the service has been more than satisfactory, we will say goodbye with a promise of meeting each other very soon.

Additional Activities that can be included: Mountain biking, Motorcycling, Swimming, Fly Fishing, Cultural Performances, Cooking Classes, Art Classes, Attending rituals in private homes, Meditation Sessions with reputed lamas, Yoga sessions, Buddhism talks, Volunteerism like being part of a house construction, fruit-picking; Sports like Tennis, Golf, Basketball and even a Football match; Music Jam-up sessions with local musicians.  If you have a burning desire to share your story with the locals, we can also have some FM radio stations or local newspapers to talk to you – you name it and we will make it possible!!

What’s Included

• Bhutan Royalty ($65 per person per day).
• All necessary permit fees.
• All transfers and sightseeing with entrance fees.
• All meals including evening tea.
• All accommodation in our partner hotels, which are some of the best in the country on twin sharing basis.
• All trekking equipments and logistics including cooks, camp personnel, horsemen and ponies.
• English-speaking tour leader, guide and driver.
• Cultural Performance (our value-added service).

What’s Not Included

• • Airfare for flights into and out of Bhutan.

• • All personal expenses like laundry, telephone, tips, shopping expenses.

• • Meals and Beverages other than the ones mentioned above (see inclusions).

• • Spa Charges.

• Travel and Medical insurance.