Day 01 Flight to Paro, Bhutan

The only Paro International Airport of Bhutan is connected by air with Bangkok, Delhi, Kolkatta and Kathmandu. Please, allow at least an overnight in the gateway city before and also after the trip for a safe connection. We meet our Bhutanese Guide and driver outside the terminal building and then we proceed to our hotel.

We begin from the legendary Dungtsey Temple that is built on a turtle head shaped hillock-believed to be an evil blocking the way of fortune into Paro Valley! Our next stop will be at National Museum housed at Ta Dzong-the former watch tower for Paro Ringpung Dzong. The museum’s collection range from holy scriptures, paintings, textiles, crafts, arms, utensils, stuffed animals, insects and gallery of philatelic collection.

From here, we descend to the impressive Rinpung Dzong which is believed to have been built on the heap of jewels. This is the district headquarter and the seat of the monk body.Later, we stroll in the tranquil township of Paro.

Accommodation in Tashi Namgay Hotel or Tenzinling Resort

Meals: Lunch and dinner.

Day 02 Morning hike Takstang Monastery and afternoon visit Drugyel Dzong, Kichu Lakhang Temple and a typical Farm House.

This morning, we hike the legendary Takstang Monastery-also known as Tiger's Nest. Takstang Monastery, precariously perched on the edge of a 4000 ft high cliff above the valley floor, creates an impressive sight, and is the unofficial symbol of Bhutan. ! A 90 minutes steep uphill hiking brings us to a cafeteria located on ridge across from the Taktsang that provides us the first welcome view of the monastery and an opportunity to take a rest and purchase refreshments and snacks. We can take pony ride up to this point ( with prior arrangement) but for the rest of the hike (further 45 minutes) and return trip down, we need to be on our own limbs.

Depending on your interest, there is an opportunity to go off the beaten track further up to the Zangtopelri temple ( Paradise Monastery) that are on the hilltop above Tiger's Nest which is about 1 hour steep hike from the Taktsang. To go down, we are following a different path that takes us through the pristine thick forest of oaks and rhododendrons festooned with Spanish mosses and joins the main trail near Takstang Cafeteria.

We descend and meet our transport and continue on our tour of the day. We will visit the historic Drukgyel Dzong which was built in the 16th century to mark the Bhutanese victory over the Tibetan invaders. Our next stop will be at the ancient Kyichu Temple which is one of the 108 temples that Tibetan King Songtsen Gambo is believed to have miraculously built over a single night in order to subdue the demoness!

We will also stop in a typical Bhutanese farm house. Bhutanese Farm Houses are colorful, attractive and built in traditional architectural style without the use of any nail. All houses follow more or less the same architectural plan. While the houses are picturesque, the locals are friendly and hospitable. We will have opportunity to poke into the house, meet the dwellers and learn about their lifestyle.

Overnight in Tashi Namgay or Tenzinling Resort
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 03 Over Chele La pass to Haa Valley and Thimphu

6 hrs

Today, we advance on to Thimphu with a side trip of Cheli-la pass and lesser known Haa Valley-a pristine area visited by very few foreign travelers.Before we leave the main highway at Bondey, we stop to visit a family-run Tshenden Incense Factory where we can see the boiling, dyeing and drying processes of traditional incense making.

A little more than 20 miles drive from the Highway brings us to Chelila pass  at 3810m (12, 497 ft.) that offers panoramic views of the snow capped mountains including Mount Jhomolhari and serene Haa Valley down the hill. From the pass, the road drops sharply with frequent switchbacks and soon we are greeted by the shiny golden roof of Haa Dzong fortress (17 miles from the pass). We explore the pristine areas of Haa Valley, hike the hamlets and visit the ancient monasteries. After lunch in a farmhouse, we are back on the road and retrace drive to the mainroad and continue to Thimphu. We will arrive at Thimphu late afternoon. We will take rest or stroll in the township to familiarize yourself.

Overnight in Migmar Resort or similar property.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 04: Exlplore Thimphu

Following breakfast, we  embark on the tour of  the Himalayan capital. If we happen to be in Thimphu during the week-end, we will take the opportunity to visit the colorful week-end market - where the farmers from the villages come to sell their fresh produce as well as dried fish and herbs, yak butter, fermented cheese and arts and crafts that includes fabrics and wooden bowls. Usually, there will be archery matches in the neighboring ground as well that we don't want to miss. Archery which is the national sport of Bhutan is played by Bhutanese men with pride and glory.

From here, we proceed to visit the Jungshi Handmade Paper Factory where we will witness the traditional paper making method. Our next stop will be Gagyel Lhundrup Weaving Center- that produces traditional hand-woven textiles on site and has a selection of cloth and ready-made garments for sale. During the week-days, we can visit the National Institute for Zorig Chusum that provides 6 years course on Bhutan's 13 traditional arts and crafts that includes painting, wood carving, embroidery and statue making.

Other attractions of Thimphu are Folk Heritage Museum-a three-storied rammed mud and timber building which is a replica of a century old traditional farmhouse,National Institute of Traditional Medicine, that prepares and dispenses traditional herbal and other medicines,Zilukha Nunnery in Drubthob Goemba-a residence of 40-65 nuns, National Memorial Chorten-a memorial to the third king of Bhutan-Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, National Library with a large collection of Bhutan's traditional books and manuscripts,Textile Museum where we can learn a bit more about Bhutan's living national art of weaving, Motithang Takin Preserve where Takin-the national animals are kept! Depending on your interest and available time, we may visit all or some of the sights only.

For the hiking enthusiasts, Thimphu has a number of short hiking destinations. The one we would like to recommend is Tango Goemba Monastery, which is a 45 minutes to an hour long easy hike. The monastery functions as the college for 280 monks and is the residence of Gyalse.

Rinpoche-an important reincarnated Lama! At the monastery, we will have a session with the monks with hot cup of tea. We learn about their monastic life and Buddhist religion, teach them some English and in turn, learn some Bhutanese phrases. On the way back, we stop to visit the impressive Trasichoe Dzong-The fortress of the Glorious Religion-which is the administrative and religious center of Bhutan. The fortress houses the Royal Throne and Bhutan's National Assembly also but we will have access to the religious section only. This is also the venue for Thimphu's Tsechu that falls in September or October.

Tonight you may experience Bhutan's traditional Hot Stone Bath (Cost $25-30 and an advance booking is required) that is believed to cure skin ailments, joint pains, hypertension, stomach disorder, arthritis and many other minor diseases.

Overnight in Migmar Resort or similar property.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 05 Simtokha Dzong, Over Dhochula pass to Punakha

(77km/48 miles, 3 hrs)

Near the junction of the roads to Paro and Punakha, we stop to visit the visit the Simtokha Dzong-which is believed to be the oldest monastery in Bhutan. The monastery now serves as the Institute for Language and Culture Studies; the students being both monks and lay people. As we continue on, the road climbs through apple orchards and blue pine forests and past a small village to Dochula pass (Alt. 3010m/9,872 ft)-marked by a large array of prayer flags and an impressive group of 108 chortens. On a clear weather day (Between October and February), the pass offers a panoramic view of the snow-capped mountains. From the pass, the road drops gradually with changing vegetation to the subtropical Punakha and Wangdue Valleys.

After lunch, the tour begins with a drive through the town of Khuruthang and continues along the banks of the Mo Chu River, passing the Punthsho Pelri Palace and several other winter homes of the royal family. At the upper end of the valley, a 45 minutes pleasant hike across a footbridge through terraces of rice, chilies and cabbage, leads us to the Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten, a monument recently built by the Queen Mother, while the present King was still a crown prince and so the temple was previously also known as Crown Prince Chorten.

We descend and drive to visit Punakha Dzong which is among the most impressive fort architectures of Bhutan. All Bhutan monarchs are crowned in this Dzong first before they ascend the throne in Thimphu.

For travelers interested in arts and crafts, it's worth stopping at Bhutan Souvenir Production Training Center that provides one year course to train a dozen disadvantaged girls to produce handicrafts that includes hand-woven bags, slippers, embroidered purses, tablemats etc, prayer flags etc.

Time permitting, we will also take a 20 minute long pleasant hike to Chimi Lhakhang-also known as the fertility temple, dedicated to Saint Drukpa Kunley-known as the Divine Madman for his humors and sexual approach to his teachings!

Punatsangchu Cottages or Dragon's Nest or Meri Puensum Resort
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 06 Via Wangdue Phodrang and Rinchengang Village to Phobjika Valley (B/L/D)

(78 km/48 miles,2.5-3 hrs)

Soon we are on the road heading east, the impressive Wangdue Phodrang Dzong comes in view. We stop to visit the historic Dzong (fortress) that served as the second capital of Bhutan. On the hillside opposite to the Wangdue Phodrang  town is Rinchengang Village, which is a 20 minute hike from the road.  It's an interesting village of about 45 compact mud houses and one of the oldest villages of Bhutan.

We descend and drive up a winding mountain road through oak and rhododendron forests, and over Lowa-la pass (3,360 m) down into the picturesque Phobjikha Valley. After wash and change, we visit the Gangtey Gompa, the only Nyingmapa monastery in this region. The beautiful glacial valley bowl below the monastery is interspersed with villages, potato fields, temples, hiking trails and if you time your visit during Winter ( November to February), nesting pairs of black-necked cranes.

We will explore the villages, stop by the Black-Necked Crane Information Center and for travelers interested in crafts, drive about a mile to visit a small Hand-Woven Carpet Factory run by a local woman that employs 4 women and produces around 30 rugs a year. For hiking enthusiasts, there are a number of short hiking trails in Phobjika Valley that you can consult with your guide and choose one, depending on available time and your interests.

Dewachen or Valley View Hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 07 Over Pelela pass to Central Bhutan (B/L/D)

(188 km/118 miles, 5-6 hrs)

We backtrack to rejoin the main highway and cross the Pelela pass (3420m/11, 218 ft) which is marked by a chorten and array of prayer flags. The pass divides the Western Bhutan with the rest of the country. The road drops through hillsides with bamboo bushes, later follows the river and then through rhododendron, blue pines, spruces, oaks and dwarf bamboos to the village of Chendebji. Not so far  from the village, we stop to visit  Chendebji chorten -a large white chorten patterned after Swayambhunath Stupa in Kathmandu.

Above the Chendebji Chorten, the valley widens and the road enters to the broad Mangde Chhu Valley. We will have stops in Potala Lakhang at Tashiling and at a view point about a 10 miles before Trongsa. Trongsa is a sleepy and pleasant town, lined with whitewashed shops decorated with pot plants and boasts the impressive Dzong- the ancestral home the Royal Family of Bhutan.

The road now winds up Youtongla pass (3425m/11,234 ft) and then descends through blue pine, firs and bamboo to Chumey-the first of the four Bumthang valleys. We stop at the roadside village of Zugney to see the weaving of Yathra (deep colored wool textile, a pattern typical to these parts of the country). Few miles before Jakar town, we can go for a 10 minute hike to Prakhar Goemba and even further 20 minutes steep hike to Nimalung Goemba.

Upon arrival at Jakar town, we check in our lodge. Jakar is a bustling one-street town with goldsmith, tailors, butchers, cafes, restaurants and handicraft stores. Its worth taking stroll in the evening.

Gongkhar Guest House or Yu-Gharling Resort or Mountain Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 08 Explore the wonders of Bumthang Valley.(B/L/D)

We spend all day in Bumthang-the cultural hub of Bhutan. We start from Jambay Lhakhang- the first Buddhist temple built by the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo in the 7th century-even before the arrival of Guru Padmasambhava. A little further is an interesting Chakar temple (iron castle) at the site of the palace of the Indian King-Sindhu Raja who first invited Guru Rinpoche to Bumthang.Next, we visit Kurjey Lhakhang that is  built around the cave where Guru Rinpoche meditated and left the imprint of his body on a rock. Kurjey is among the holiest places in Bhutan.

After visiting Kurjey, we start a gentle leveled walk across the suspension bridge over the Chamkhar Chu River to Tamshing Lhakang-one of the most important Nyingma Goemba- a treasure house of interesting religious Buddhist paintings. Just 400m below Tamshing is a small but rural looking temple- Kunchoksum temple with some interesting stories. We continue walking through the farmland to Swiss Cheese farm area where we meet our transport and transfer to hotel for lunch. In the afternoon, we visit the new monastery of Namhai Nyingpo, the traditional hospital, Jakar Dzong, Lamay Gompa and other sights as per available time.

Gongkhar Guest House or Yu-Gharling Resort or Mountain Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 09 Via Membartso Lake and Ura Village to Mongar.(B/L/D).

(198km/124 miles, 7 hrs).

It's going to be a long day drive today and so we need to start early. Not so far from Jakar, we take a short detour of Membar Tsho-the burning lake in Tang Valley-where some of Guru Rimpoche’s treasures were found in the 15th century by famous Pema Lingpa. On the way, we will enjoy the scenery, the beauty of snowccapped mountains, flowers, grazing yaks and the dense forest. We will make a stop in Ura valley to visit the village and its temple. Ura Village has a medieval look with compact houses lined up alongside the cobblestone streets and is known for women's typical sheepskin shawl.

As we leave Ura Village behind, we climb to Trumshing La pass (3750m/12,300 ft.) that officially divides Central Bhutan with the Eastern Bhutan. We gradually descend to Sengor watching cascading waterfalls along the way. Once we cross the bridge over the Kurichu, then the trail begins to climb again and goes through pines,  maize fields and eastern hamlets to Mongar town. Arriving at Mongar marks the beginning of our eastern Bhutan experience. Mongar is the first town built on a mountainside instead of in a valley. Enjoy and evening strolls through quaint Mongar village.

Wangchuk Hotel or similar

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 10 Drive and hikes to weaver's villages (B/L/D)

76 km/48 miles,3 hrs drive and 2 hours hike

Following breakfast, we set out on a mountainous road along side cliffs above river valley to Lhuentse, the very original home of Bhutan’s royal family in the remote and ancient region of Kurtoe. We stop briefly to visit the Lhuentse Dzong built in 1600’s and continue further on to Khurbazam Village from where we begin hike to Khoma Village. Almost all 30 houses in the village have blackstrap looms for “kushutara” or brocaded dress. Motifs are created by four supplementary wefts interworked around the warp elements so that they appear to ride the surface of the cloth like embroidery.

Accommodation in a basic fam hourse for the experience local Bhutanese hospitality.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 11 Gomphu Kora, Duksum Village, Tashiyangtse and Chorten Kora

105 miles, 6 hrs.

We hike back to Lhuentse and set out on a long ride to Tashiyangtse town. The road crosses Korila pass (2,450m/8036 ft.) and follows a river valley and then climbs to Trashigang town (4 hrs). About 6 miles before Trashigang, we take the road up north that leads us to Trashiyangtse. We stop to visit Gomphu Kora, an extraordinarily picturesque temple, surrounded by terraced rice fields, where the Guru Rinpoche meditated and left a body impression on the rock. A few miles past Gomphu Kora is Duksum- a small weaver's town where we can find a fair amount of weavers producing some very nice work. At Trashiyangtse, we visit the Dzong and Chorten Kora-a large white stupa patterned after Boudhanath Stupa of Kathmandu.

If you were not able to visit the National Institute for Zorig Chusum in Thimphu, you have an opportunity to visit its branch in Trashiyangtse.

Karmaling Hotel or simialr

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 12 Trashigang, Rangjung and Radi Villages

We backtrack about 30 miles down to Trashigang town and check in our hotel. Soon, we set out for far eastern Bhutan. We stop at Rangjung Village where visit Yeozerchholing -a large Nyingma Monastery. We continue further east on a gravel road and dirt track, absorbing the rich culture of eastern Bhutan, to Radi village which is famous for producing beautiful supplementary warp patterned fabrics or aikapur and raw silk bura the most popular, prestigious textiles made in eastern Bhutan. Woven of cotton, wild silk or cultivated silk in five color combinations these textiles are so admired weavers who knew this technique where once retained by noble households. Prized for generations aikapur cloth has been saved for special occasions. We will have opportunity to experiment with vegetable dyes with the help of weavers.

Afternoon, we drive back to our hotel in Trashigang. After wash and change, we take leisurely stroll in the town and visit its Dzong.

Druk Deothjung Resort.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 13 Via Khaling to Samdrup Jongkhar via Khaling

( 180km/113 miles, 6 hrs).

The road winds down to the Samdrup Jongkhar-the southeastern border town with India. At Kanglung (13 miles from Trashigang, 45 minutes), you may want to stop to visit the Sherubtse College-the only college of Bhutan in the 70s.  The road then climbs through fields of corn, potatoes, crosses Yongphula pass (2190m/7184ft.) offering the last glimpse of the Himalayas and enters the large valley of Khaling where we stop to visit the National Institute for Disabled. Further 2 miles down is National Handloom Development Project -one of several royal government initiatives to stimulate weaving as a national art and a source of livelihood for women. Wild silk yarn imported from Assam is dyed with vegetable colors and synthetic dyes. Khaling silk is sought after by Thimphu women for their own weavings.  From here, its further 3-4 hrs drive and there are a few small temples and villages but not so significant!

Upon arrival in the town, we check in hotel and take rest for the day. Samdrup Jongkhar is largely a frontier town and has very little of cultural importance.

TLT Guesthouse.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 14 Guwahati drop

Following breakfast, we bid farewell to the Bhutanese Driver as we do this portion of the ride by Indian taxi. It takes almost two hours to make to the airport. From Guwahati, we can fly to Kolkatta or New Delhi. You may need a night stay in these cities to connect with your flight back to Bangkok. If you are extending your trip to Sikkim and Darjeeling, then you will catch flight to Bagdogra Airport. Make sure you have a valid Indian visa in advance!