Day 01 Flight to Paro (L/D)

Upon arrival at Paro airport, we are met by our Bhutanese Guide and driver and then we are transferred to our hotel. After some rest, we will take lunch in the hotel and then we take walking tour of the tiny town of the Paro for an orientation of the place and the people. Time permitting, we may also visit the National Museum, housed in the historic Ta Dzong building that overlooks the town. Overnight in Ugyen Phendyeling or similar A class hotel.

Day 02 Hike Taktsang Monastery and Tour the Paro Valley (B/L/D)

The legendary Taktsang Monastery, which is also called Tiger's nest, perched some 2,000ft/600m up on a sheer cliff overlooking the valley, is a popular hiking destination. This is a holy site where the legendary Guru Padmasambhava is believed to have flown from Tibet on the back of a tigress to defeat five demons, who were opposing the spread of Buddhism in Bhutan!! The hike is about 2 hrs to the Takstang Cafeteria where we stop for tea and snacks and take some beautiful shots of the monastery. From here, we may either opt to hike further uphill for about 45minutes to one hour for a closer look at monastery or we retrace down.

The return trek to the road head is all downhill and takes about half the time. On the way back, visit a typical Bhutanese village home to have an insight on living style of Bhutanese villagers. The trip also can be done pony back. Before we return to our hotel, we visit the ruins of historic Drugyal Dzong that fought battle against the Tibetan invaders and we visit other religious shrines such as Kyichu Temple, Dungtse etc. We will also visit a typical farm house to get an insight into the lives of Bhutanese people.

If you are keen on photography, you are recommended take the monastery hike in the afternoon as the sunlight is blocked by the hill in the morning. Overnight in Ugyen Phendyeling or similar A class hotel.

Day 03 Chele La Hike (B/L/D)

After one and half hour of scenic drive from Paro, we reach to the beautiful Chele la pass that lies at an altitude of approximately 3900m/13000ft. At the pass, we enjoy the views of Paro Valley on one side and Haa Valley on the other side. From the pass, we leave the vehicle behind and hike to the clustered shelters built on sheer cliffs, under the rock cave and a temple. The temple houses about 50 nuns. We walk back to meet our transport and return to Paro. This afternoon, we will visit the Paro Rinphung Dzong. Overnight in Ugyen Phendyeling or similar A class hotel.

Day 04 Drive from Paro to Thimphu (B/L/D)

After breakfast, we drive to Thimphu, 2 ½ hrs, the least visited of all the Himalayan capitals. Check in hotel and after some rest; embark on the tour of Thimpu, beginning from a Nunnery on the outskirts of Thimphu. You will then visit the School of Arts and Crafts, Textile Museum, the Heritage Museum, Changgangkha Lhakhang (temple), National Library, Traditional Hospital and traditional paper factory. At the end of the day, we may also pay a visit to the great Tashichho Dzong, seat of Bhutan's administrative and religious centre.

Accommodation in River View or Jhumolhari Hotel or similar A class.

Day 05 Cheri Goenba Hike (B/L/D)

After breakfast in the hotel, we find ourselves on the trail to Cheri Goenba (Monastery). This is a pleasant rural walk, gently up a valley through paddy fields and woodland via a Tibetan village to the goemba built in 1620 by Shabdrung Namgyal-the father of the nation. We can enter the courtyard of the Gompa but entrance to the main sanctum is reserved for Buddhist practitioners only. After spending some time in the monastery, we retrace down to the trail head and drive back to our hotel. Later, time permitting and we will cover those sights that we might have missed on the previous day. Overnight Jhumolhari or River View Hotel or similar A class hotel.

Day 06 Hike to Chokortse Monastery (B/L/D)

This morning, we hike to Chokortse monastery which is situated on a saddle. The walk is all the way uphill 40-50 minutes and passes through blue pine, spruce and rhododendrons. From here, the view of Thimphu valley below is breathtaking. It takes 2 hrs total for an out and back trip. In the afternoon, browse the markets of Thimphu. Overnight Jhumolhari or River View Hotel or similar A class hotel.

Day 07 Drive from Thimphu to Punakha (B/L/D)

After breakfast, we drive to Punakha, the old winter capital of Bhutan. As the we Thimphu behind, the road gradually gains altitude and in an hour and half, we arrive at Dhochu La Pass, (10,000ft/3,048m) where we stop to appreciate the spectacular views of eastern Himalayas. Other striking feature of the pass are also the group of colorful chortens (pagoda or stupas) . After the pass, the road drops through changing vegetation into semitropical lowland Punakha and Wangdi valley at around mid afternoon. We check in hotel in hotel and after lunch, we will make a short trek to visit the Crown Prince's chorten and nearby villages. We return on a different route through the village to Sonagasa (the King’s winter residence) and through to Punakha Dzong, following the Mo chu river. Punakha Dzong is located in the confluence of Mo Chu and Pho Chu River is probably the most beautiful of the Dzongs in Bhutan. One can spend hours in side the Dzong studying its murals in the walls.

We meet our transport here and drive back to our hotel. Overnight in Punatsangchu Resort

Day 08 Chimi Lakhang Hike and explorations of Wangduephodrang Town and Dzong and drive to Phobjika Valley (B/L/D)

After breakfast, we check out hotel. Before we continue head east to Phobjika Valley, we hike the legendary Chimi Lakhang Temple, also known as the “temple of fertility”. The temple is dedicated to the Saint Drukpa Kuenley (1455-1529), also known as the “divine madman”. He is very popular, as he taught Buddhist teachings in the way that is unlike the stiffness of clergy and society of the time; he dramatized the teachings using songs and sexual humor. It’s a 20-minute walk leading across rice fields to the tiny settlement of Pana. There are very few monks at the temple, which is surrounded by a row of prayer wheels and some very beautiful slate carvings.

We retrace back to the Highway, meet our transport and continue on journey. We stop to visit the majestic Wangduephodrang Dzong and interesting local market. Further ahead, we pass through dense forests and oak, rhododendron tress, before we reach at Gangtey (Phobjikha). Evening, we take a walk around Gangtey village and visit Gangtey Gompa, the only Nyingmapa monastery in this region. Accommodation in Dewachen Hotel or similar.

Day 09 Return drive to Thimphu (B/L/D)

After breakfast, we retrace drive to Thimphu via Punakha and Dochu La pass. Again, we will have opportunity to stop briefly in Dhochul and enjoy the panoramic views of the valleys and the mountains.Later in the evening, experience the traditional hot stone bath (requires an advance notice). Accommodation in River View or Zhumolhari Hotel or similar A class property.

Day 10 Attend a prayer ceremony of monks (B/L/D)

We have a leisurely morning breakfast.Afternoon, we will participate in a special private prayer ceremony with Buddhist monks. There will be an opportunity to meet and receive some teachings from a Lama or a senior Buddhist monk. Late afternoon, we drive back to Paro. Overnight hotel in Paro.

Day 11 Depart Paro (B)

After breakfast, transfer to airport for your flight to next destination.