White-Castle Central Bhutan Tour (Paro to Bumthang)

On arrival at Paro International Airport, the representative from Somify Destination Tours – Gateway to your Unforgettable Bhutan Experience; Will warmly welcome & greet you. Then, you will drive to Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan, hearing the sound of the peaceful river flowing of Paa-chu and Thim-chu. The drive will take 1 hour and 30 minutes along a river valley, past small villages and traditional farmhouses. It`s a small & charming capital city located in the heart of the Himalayas. On reaching Thimphu, we can have lunch in one of the restaurants. After lunch, visit Memorial Chorten, built in 1974 in memory of the third late king, Jigme Dorji Wangchuk. The temple inside gives good examples of tantric Buddhism and its philosophy. Big Buddha Point is a gigantic Shakyamuni Buddha statue overlooking the Thimphu Valley. The Buddha Dordenma is situated amidst the ruins of Kuensel Phodrang, the palace of Sherab Wangchuk, the 13th Druk Desi. Now, this is considered one of the biggest  Buddha statues in Bhutan, at a height of 169 feet (51.5 meters). Mothithang mini-zoo, to see the National Animal of Bhutan Takin (Budorcas Taxicolor). The Takin is a National Animal of Bhutan and is attributed to a legend of the animal’s creation in Bhutan in the 15th century by Lama Drukpa Kunley. Zulikha Nunnery, the Thangtong Dewachen Nunnery was founded in 1976 by Rikey Jadrel and today, it houses the sixty nuns engaged in Buddhist study and practices. Evening, stroll around Thimphu city, then visit Tashichho Dzong, the seat of the National Government and the Central Monastic Body, including the summer residence of the Je Khenpo (Chief Abbot of Bhutan). Dinner & Overnight stay in Hotel, Thimphu.

After breakfast, we will drive to Punakha/Wangdi via Dochula Pass (3150m). Here you will have a breathtaking panoramic view of the Eastern Himalayan Mountain ranges. The pass is adorned with 108 small Chorten and many prayer flags. The road climbs steeply through forests of blue pine, spruce and rhododendrons up to Dochula and then the road descends through lush forests to the fertile valley of Punakha & Wangdi Phodrang. The drive will take around 3 hours. Lunch will be served on the way to Punaka/Wangi. On reaching Lobesa, visit Chhimi Lhakhang, located on a hilltop. The temple is known as ‘the temple of fertility’. This place was founded by divine madman Lama Drukpa Kunley in the 15th century. Later, this temple was built by his cousin Lama Ngawang Chogyel. At Punakha, visit the most beautiful dzong in Bhutan, Punakha Dzong. The winter resident for Central Monastic Body and head of the administrative purposes, even this is the best venue for the coronation of our kings in Bhutan. Dinner and Overnight stay in Hotel, Punakha/Wangdi.

After breakfast, drive to Phobjikha Valley over Lawala Pass (3280m). Here you see a Yak grazing along the roadside. The road will ascend through semi-tropical vegetation and an alpine environment, with rhododendron trees and dark green dwarf bamboo till you reach at Lawala pass and then descend till we reach Gantey. The drive will take 2 hours and 30 minutes. On reaching Gantey, visit Gangtey Goenpa/Monastery, an important monastery of the Nyingmapa school of Buddhism, the main seat of the great treasure Pema Lingpa. Then, we will hike to Gangtey Natural Trail Hike, the most beautiful and shortest of the existing nature trails in Bhutan. We can see the valley so panoramically. The hike will take 1 hour and 30 to 50 minutes. Lunch　will be on the way to Phobjikha Valley in one of the restaurants. Dinner and Overnight stay in Hotel.

After breakfast in the hotel, we will drive to Bumthang via Pelela pass and Yotongla pass through Trongsa, the ancestral home of the Royal Family. The drive will take 6 hours and 30 minutes through an alpine environment and semi-tropical vegetation with rhododendron trees and dark green dwarf bamboo. You will stop by Chendebji Chhorten, the chorten is patterned after Swayambhunath in Kathmandu and was built in the 19th century to cover the remains of an evil spirit that was killed at this spot. As you enter Trongsa valley, the huge fortress of Trongsa Dzong, the most impressive dzong in Bhutan appears on the far side of a deep valley and visit this Dzong on arrival. Then we will visit the Tower of Trongsa-Religion and Power in Bhutan. The Tower of Trongsa is a museum in which aspects of Bhutanese culture and history are explained by beautiful objects, while for others it is a sacred place of encounter with the gods. Lunch will be served at Trongsa. Then we will continue our drive to Bumthang through the hairpin bends with the dense forest of rhododendrons, conifers, alder and oak crossing Yotong La, 3425m. The road then comes out into a wide-open cultivated valley – which is the Chumey Valley, the first of Bumthnag’s four valleys. From here the road goes straight until we see Jakar Dzong and then drops into bends before straightening out again in the main valley at Chamkhar. It was the winter palace of our second King Jigme Wangchuck. The palace is an impressive building with superb woodwork and decorations. Dinner and Overnight stay in Hotel, Trongsa.

Today, visit Jambay Lhakhang, one of the oldest temples in Bhutan, built in the 7th century. Kurjey Lhakhang is named after the body print of Guru Rinpoche which is preserved in a cave inside the oldest of the three buildings. Tamshing Lhakhang – which was established by Terton Pema Lingpa in 1501 and is the most important Nyingma Goenba in the country. Lunch will be at one of the restaurants/hotels in Bumthang. After lunch, we will visit Mebertsho (Burning Lake) – a sacred lake for Bhutanese people. Terton Pema Lingpa discovered several of Guru Rinpoche’s hidden religious treasures from this lake. Evening we will visit Farmer’s House for Bhutanese tea, alcohol and a hot stone bath (Dhotsho). We can also organize an overnight stay in the farmers house. Dinner and Overnight stay in Hotel/Farmers house, Bumthang.

After breakfast, we will drive back to Punakha via Yotongla Pass (3425m) and Pelela pass (3420m) through Trongsa Valley. Today`s, drive will take almost 8 hours to reach Punakha, the oldest capital of Bhutan. Today, the road will have many ups and downs, sharp hairpin bends through different river valleys and temperatures. The lunch will be on the way to Punakha. Dinner and Overnight stay in Hotel, Punakha/Wangdi Phodrang.

After breakfast, we will drive back to Paro. The road ascends to the Dochula Pass (3150m) and descends to Semtokha. Today, the drive will take almost 5 hours and lunch will be on the way to Paro. On reaching Paro, visit Paro Rimpung Dzong, the centre of civil and religious authority in this region and drive to the village of Drukgyel and visit the ruins of Drukgyel Dzong, built in 1649 to commemorate the victory over Tibetan invasion. Dinner and Overnight stay in Hotel, Paro.

Today, we will drive to Haa for the day excursion via Chelela Pass, which is 3988m above sea level. This pass is one of the highest passes in Bhutan, while we are travelling by motorable road. The drive will take 2 hours and 30 minutes, through a beautiful valley and forest of blue pine, silver fir, hemlock, spruce and large trees. Today, up to Chelela pass, we will ascend and descend till Haa. Lunch will be at one of the restaurants in Haa town. After lunch, visit Lhakhang Karpo (white temple) and Lhakhang Nakpo (black temple). These temples were built in the 7th century, by the Tibetan 33 Dharma King Songtsen Gampo, along the time Kyichu temple was built. Then, we will drive back to Paro, on the same road. Dinner and Overnight stay in Hotel, Paro.

Today after having breakfast, we will make a hike to Paro Taktshang Monastery, the most famous and sacred monastery in Bhutan. Taktshang means “Tiger`s Nest” named after Guru Rinpoche reportedly flew to this site riding on the back of a flying tigress in the 8th century. We have to walk about 2 hours and 30 minutes up steep from the road end. The trail climbs through a beautiful pine forest, many trees festooned with Spanish moss, and an occasional grove of fluttering prayer flags. Lunch will be served at the Taktshang cafeteria. While coming back, visit Kyichu Lhakhang, it is one of the two most sacred and the oldest temples in Bhutan, built in the 7th century by the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo (the 33rd Tibetan king, who is also the manifestation of Avoloketeshivara, commonly known to Bhutanese as Chenrize). Evening at leisure, dinner and overnight stay at Paro Hotel.

After breakfast, we will drive to Paro International Airport for your onward flight. Our guide and driver will bid you farewell here at the airport. We wish you a very safe and pleasant flight for your onward destinations.