Sat, 14 Sep 2013~ Flight to Paro, Bhutan

You can fly into Paro-only airport of Bhutan from Bangkok (Thailand) or Delhi or Kolkatta (India) and Kathmandu (Nepal).You should allow minimum a night stop in the gateway cities before or after the trip for safe connection to your international flight. Upon arrival at Paro airport, you will be received and transferred to your hotel by Highland Asia representative. Your internal airfare and Bhutan visa will be taken care of by us.

This afternoon, we visit the national museum-housed in Ta Dzong-the former watch tower established to guard the Paro Rinpung Dzong. The museum’s collection range from holy scriptures, Bhutanese garments, ancient paintings, crafts, traditional weapons, utensils, gallery of philatelic collection , stuffed animals etc. The museum also enshrines a tree with four facades representing the sects of Mahayana Buddhism-Sakyapa, Gelugpa, Nyingmapa and Kagyupa . From Ta Dzong, we will descend to the magnificent Rinpung Dzong which is the administrative headquarter and monk body of the district. The Dzong is believed to have been built on the “heap of jewels”. In the evening, we will take relaxing stroll in the township of Paro.

Overnight in Tashi Namgay Resort or Tenzinling Reosrt or similar
Meals: Lunch and dinner

Sun, 15 Sep 2013~ Paro- Cheli La- Haa Valley-Thimphu

Today, we drive to Thimphu with side trip of Cheli-la pass and Haa Valley-a pristine areas visited by very few travelers. We leave the main Paro-Thimphu highway at Bondey (3 miles from Paro) and head towards Cheli-la (35km/22 miles). The pass at 3810m (12, 497 ft.) from sea level offers beautiful panoramic views of the snowcapped mountains include Mount Jhomolhari and serene Haa Valley down the hill. We descend and drive 26km/17 miles to arrive the valley floor of Haa.

We explore the pristine areas of Haa Valley, hike the hamlets and visit the ancient monasteries. Haa valley, surrounded by forested hilly slopes has checkered fields of millet, barley and potato and beautiful farmhouses with intricately colored wooden cornices and ornately carved windows. We bactrack to rejoin the main highway and continue to Thimphu. Upon arrival, check in hotel and take rest for the balance of the day. If time permits, you can take leisurely stroll in the town and the week-end markets.

Overnight Migmar Hotel or Peaceful Resort
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Mon-Tue, 16-17 Sep 2013~ Attend the Thimphu Tsechu Festival

After breakfast, we rush to the festival ground at Tasicho Dzong. We will notice that the town and roads are all deserted because the whole population swarms in to the festival location. Series of mask dances are performed by monks and lay people. We will be amazed to see people in colorful dresses jostling in the crowd. There will be fair style stalls selling food, clothes and handicrafts and we can also see people singing folk songs and dancing or picnicking out with delicious food and drinks

In order to avoid monotonousness, we can break the day into two halves-the first half of the day, we attend the festival and in the second half, we visit the local attractions or take some hiking excursions. Textile museums, handicraft museums, traditional paper factory, memorial chorten, Simtokha Dzong, Takin Zoo etc are the major attractions of Thimphu. For hiking, we have some fine destinations such as Cheri Gompa or Phajoding which can be done in 2-3 hours at our pace . We can also visit Dechen Chholing, (about 30 minutes drive from Thimphu) to view the palace of the Queen Mother from a hill top.

Overnight Migmar Hotel or Peaceful Resort
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Wed, 18 Sep 2013~ Across Dhochula pass and Wangdue Valley to Phobjika

(155km/ 97 miles, 5-6 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. As we continue 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. 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.

Overnight in Dewachen Hotel or Valley View  or similar 3 star standard hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Thu, 19 Sep 2013~ Via Trongsa to Jakar (Bumthang)

(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 pattered after Swayambhunath Stupa in Kathmandu. i style architecture.

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.

Overnight in Wangdi Choling or Mountain Lodge or Gongkhar Guesthouse
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Fri, 20 Sep 2013~Explore more of Bumthang Valleys

We collect our lunch pack and set off on the road for 1 and ½ hr long drive to the beautiful town of Ura. The town has medieval look with around 50 closely packed houses along the cobblestone streets. We visit the Gyeden Lhakhang (Temple) that dominates the town. We will notice Ura women wear typical sheepskin shawl that serves as blanket as well as a cushion. After lunch, we will retrace drive to Jakar and visit the new monastery of Namhai Nyingpo, the traditional hospital, Jakar Dzong, Lamay Gompa and other sights as per available time.

Overnight in Wangdicholing or Mountain Lodge or Gongkhar Guesthouse
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Sat 21 Sep 2013~ Retrace drive to Punakha.

Another long day of drive (6 hrs) brings us back to Punakha Valley. We will stop in the Trongsa and other sites that we might have missed earlier on the way up to Bumthang. This is another opportunity to enjoy the panoramic views of the snowcapped mountains from Yotongla and Pelela passes.

Overnight in Punatsangchu Cottages or Meri Puensum Resort or similar
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Sun 22 Sep 2014~Drive to Paro.

After breakfast, we check out hotel and hike Chimi Lakhang and visit Punakha Dzong before we head towards Thimphu and Paro. Chimi Lakhang Temple-known as the “temple of fertility” is 20 minutes soft hike through paddy fields and villages. The temple is dedicated to the Saint Drukpa Kuenley (1455-1529), also known as the “divine madman” because of his humorous sexual approach in his teachings.

Punakha Dzong lies in the confluence of two rivers-Phochu and Mochu and is the former winter capital of Bhutan. This is among the largest and the most impressive Dzongs of Bhutan and has fabulous murals on the inner walls, depicting the biography of Lord Buddha. Leaving Punakha behind, the road climbs to Dhochula pass-another opportunity to enjoy the views of the Himalayas. We stop in Thimphu for lunch drive another one hour to Paro.

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

Mon, 23 Sep 2013~ Takstang Monastery Hike.

Taktsang Monastery, also popularly known as Tiger's nest clings on a sheer cliff at 2,000ft/600m overlooking the valley. As the legend goes, Guru Padmasambhava flew from Tibet on the back of a tigress to this site and defeated five evils, who were opposing the spread of Buddhism in Bhutan. The first two hours of hiking that brings us at a cafeteria, is a steep uphill, which can be done on a pony as well but the trip onward and for return, the trails are not suitable for pony ride. We will stop in the cafeteria and enjoy the refreshment drinks and snacks with fabulous views of the monastery.

We can opt to either hike further 45 minutes to get a closer look at Taktsang and the surrounding temples or just remain at the Tea house and enjoy the views and return. The return trip is all downhill and takes about half the time of what it takes way up.We meet our transport and drive to visit the ruins of Drugyel Dzong. We will also visit Kyichu temple and some typical farm houses.

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

Tue, 24 Sep 2013~Departure

After breakfast, we are transferred to the airport. We bid farewell to our Bhutanese Guide and driver and board on flight to our next destination.