Bhutan Cultural and Highlights Tour
14 Days
$3,850
Per Person
Overview
Cultural and Highlights Tour of Bhutan covers main highlights of Bhutan as we will be wrapping some major cities like Thimpu, Punakha, Bhumthang, Wangdue and Phobjikha valley (habitat of black-necked canes). Inside this town and valleys, we will be sightseeing the historical, religious and cultural landmarks of Bhutan and explore the stunning ancient monasteries and stupas dating back to as early as the 10th century AD. We also explore Bhutanese culture and tradition and get fascinated by the country natural exquisiteness.
Our airstrip to Paro is an outstanding flight as we will fly above Mount Chomolhari and Jichu Drake and several other peaks and into the green lavish vale of Paro. Then we begin sightseeing Paro by visiting Rinpung Dzong, oldest temple - Kichulhangkhang and visit the Drugyal Dzong (one of Bhutan’s triumph fortress).
From here, we get to see the second highest mountain of Bhutan i.e. Mount Chomolhari. We then drive to Punakha and be visiting the second largest and oldest Punakha Dzong. On the way to Punakha, we will visit Chimilhankhang (temple) and from there drive to Trongsa, then to Bhumthang heading through the lush valley and hilly forests and the next day, we hike to Nganglhangkhang temple.
Our next day’s hike would be another temple - Petseling monastery. Again the following day, we head to Phobjikha valley (one of the beautiful place of Bhutan) having several villages where we get to explore their culture and lifestyles. From here, we head to the big village - Wangdiphodrang and visit Wangdiphodrang Dzong. Next, we drive to Thimpu and explore Thimpu by visiting several landmarks. Finally, we end our tour by hiking to the Takshang monastery (also known as Tiger Nest Monastery) located at the vertical cliff. Subsequently, we fly back to our destination.
Spring (March to April) and fall (September to October) are a flawless period for Bhutan as during spring - festivals are celebrated. So you even get to observe the festival. For further detail about this tour, please be free to contact or email us. We will be very pleased to organize this tour for you.
Below we list our detailed itinerary for Cultural and Highlights Tour of Bhutan:
Detail Itinerary
Day 01: Arrival and sightseeing in Paro (2,250m / 7,382ft)
Highlights of Bhutan - 14 Days
Day 01: Arrival and sightseeing in Paro (2,250m / 7,382ft)
As your flights near Bhutan you will get to enjoy by the picturesque view of Himalayas plus with the sacred peak Jomolhari and Jichu Drake peak and when you land at the airport our representative of the Accent Himalaya will welcome you and transferred to the hotel. Having lunch at the hotel we will began our tour by visiting Ringpung Dzong, Kichu Lhangkhang- temple and Drugyal Dzong and from the Dzong if the climate is clear we will get stunning view of Mt. chomolhari second highest peak of Bhutan. We will spend our night in Paro.
Day 02: Paro to Punakha (1300m / 4265 ft.) via Dochu La pass (3,100m): 4 hours
Today on the second day we take a drive to Paro meeting Paro and Thimphu River with three unique chorten. Continuing our drive to Punkha through Dochu la pass and if the climate is clear we will get the astonishing view of Himalayas. After that we drive via lush forests of rhododendron, fir and hemlock. During our drive to Punakha we will stop on a way to visit Chimi Lhangkhang – temple. We will spend our night in Punakha.
Day 03: Explore Punakha
Today after breakfast we will visit Punkha Dzong which was constructed in 1637- 38 and this Dzong is the Bhutan second largest and oldest Dzong. After that we will visit Khamsum Yulley Namgyal chorten which is situated on an attractive small hill named Ngezergang having elegant paintings devoted to the ancient group of Buddhism. After that we will visit Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup monastery where we will get remarkable sights of the adjacent gorges. However at here we can appreciate the vast Nepali pagoda style stupa. We will spend our night In Punakha.
Day 04: Punakha to Trongsa (2,180m/7,150ft): 146km, 4-5 hours
Today morning we will leave Punakha and head to Trongsa passing via Wangdi state and here we will be visiting Wangdi Dzong- fort which is the only Dzong having innovative roof. After that continuing our drive crossing the Pele la pass which is at 3300 meter. After a few hour drive we will take some rest and hike to the beautiful small village named Rujubji. And continue our drive to Trongsa.
Day 02: Paro to Punakha (1300m / 4265 ft.) via Dochu La pass (3,100m): 4 hours
Day 03: Explore Punakha
Day 04: Punakha to Trongsa (2,180m/7,150ft): 146km, 4-5 hours
Day 05: Trongsa to Bumthang (2,800m / 9,185ft): 68km, 2-3 hours
Morning we carry on our drive to cultural heartlands of Bhutan called Bhumthang via dense hilly forests. On the way we will stop at textile factory at Yathra where you can observe the unique textiles and weavers designing extra ordinary patterns. We will spend our night in Bhumthang.
- Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 06: Hike to NgangLhakhang: 3 hours
Today after breakfast we will hike to Ngang lhankhang temple. we will be walking up towards the Bhumthang river and then reaching Thngbi gomba we will walk to tiny village named Ngang Yul which is also known as Swan land. This Lhankhang is situated above 100 meter and this temple was built by Lama Namkha samdrup in 15th century. We will spend our night in Bhumthang.
- Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 07: Hike to Petseling Monastery: 3-4 hours
After breakfast we will start our hike to Petseling monastery. Our trails leads ascending for a while with panoramic sights of Bhumthang valley. We will then explore the monastery and then we will cross the ridge to enjoy the attractive view of several mountains of Bhutan. After that we will hike to the town and visit the Tamshing Lhankang temple. We will spend our night in Bhumthang.
- Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 08: Bumthang to Phobjikha Valley (3,000m/9,800 ft.): 129km, 5-6 hours
Today we will be leaving Bhumthang and heading towards the Phojikha valley where you can find lots of Black necked cranes. After reaching the elegant valley we will visit the Gangtey monastery where we will get the mind blowing view of valley. We will spend our night in Phobjikha valley.
- Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 09: Phobjikha Valley exploration
Today we will be exploring the Phobjikha valley and it is the beautiful valley of Bhutan. This beautiful valley is also rich and well known in diverse flora and fauna and even this valley is occupied by plenty of Black necked cranes. We will be visiting several villages of this exquisite valley. We will spend our night in Phobjikha valley.
- Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 10: Phobjikha Valley to Wangdiphodrang (1,310m / 4,300ft): 65km, 2 hours
Today we will head to Wangdiphodrang one of the big village of Bhutan and here we will be visiting Wangdiphodrang Dzong. From the Dzong we will get to view the beautiful valley surrounding us. We will be touring some of the villages nearby which is famous for making stone carvings. We will spend our night in Wangduephodrang.
- Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 11: Wangdiphodrang to Thimphu (2,320m/7,424ft)
Today we will be heading to capital of Bhutan named Thimphu and wher we will arrive at Thimpu we will check in into the hotel and relax for a while and then we will visit Changangkha monastery and after that we will explore the Tashi Tscho Dzong and the huge Buddha statue. We will spend our night in Thimpu.
- Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 12: Thimphu sightseeing
Today after breakfast we will be exploring Thimphu by visiting some of the landmarks visiting memorial Chorten which was erected in 1952- 72 next we will visit mini zoo, nunnery temple, traditional medicine institute, traditional painting school, heritage museum and paper factory. Few of the landmarks are usually closed during weekends so if we reach during weekends instead of that we will be strolling around the Thimpu market. We will spend our night in Thimphu.
- Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 13: Drive to Paro and Hike to Tiger’s Nest Monastery
We will be hiking to Taktsang monastery after the breakfast which is the popular monastery of Bhutan and this monastery is located at the high precarious cliff at 318o meter. It is in saying that the Buddhism -spiritual master Guru Rimpoche had flown on the back of the tigress back to mediate into the cave which is now known as Taktsang as well as tiger next monastery. In the halfway up to the mountain there is few restaurants where we will be having our lunch. After that we will hike down to the valley. We will spend our night in Paro.
- Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 14: Final departure
Today our highlights of Bhutan journey finally comes to an end and it is time to depart and after the breakfast our representative from the Accent Himalaya will be dropping you at the airport as we will head to airport in morning as the Druk Air departs in morning to avoid the unfavorable climatic condition.
- Meal: Breakfast
