BHUTAN Experience TOUR 11 days
Day 01: KTM – Paro
Fly onboard Druk Air to Paro, Bhutan. On a clear day the
panoramic views of the Himalaya are sensational, including
Everest, but particularly exciting is the approach through
the Bhutanese foothills and the landing, including a few
steep turns to land at the tiny airstrip of Paro. On arrival,
once you have cleared any airport formalities, you will
be met and transferred to your accommodation.
Afternoon at leisure; visit a typical farmhouse
and stroll around the small town.
Overnight at Hotel Holiday Home.
Day 02: DRIVE TO THIMPHU; SIGHTSEEING
Morning drive to Thimphu. This journey from Paro to Thimphu
will take approximately 2 hours (54kms). En route you will
pass Simtokha village and Dzong, where it is possible to
stop for photos.
Thimphu introduction
The capital of Bhutan is situated on west bank of the river
Thimphu, (Thimphu Chhu) in a wooded valley at an elevation
of 2320m. Prior to 1961 Thimpu was only an insignificant
village, but since the country emerged from isolation its
importance has grown and it has many official buildings.
The Secretariat, King's offices and some ministries are
housed in the Tashichho Dzong, next to which one of the
world's highest golf courses (9 hole) has been made. With
a population of mo more than 60,000, Thimphu is an easy
place to wander around, and will enable the visitor to appreciate
the detail of Bhutanese architecture. A few miles south
of the capital is Simtokha, one of the oldest complete Dzongs
in the country, dating from the early 1600’s, a period
when Shabdrungs, the line of religious rulers originally
from Tibet, ruled the country.
Places to visit:
King's Memorial Chorten - every day many Bhutanese come
to this Tibetan-style chorten to honour the memory of the
third king. Inside there are numerous religious paintings
and statues of different Buddhist deities.
Institute of Traditional Medicine - prepares
and dispenses what is often known as Tibetan medicine. There
is a research and production centre and a clinic where patients
are often treated with cupping, steaming or blood -letting.
Folk Heritage Museum - an outdoor museum
that gives an insight into rural life is centered around
a mud and timber farm house.
National Textile Museum - a brief introductory
video explains the complexities of Bhutanese dress before
entering the exhibition of dress and textiles front around
the country.
Mini -zoo - this large grassy and treed
enclosure holds several takins, the unusual-looking national
animal that normally migrates to high alpine valleys in
summer.
Painting School (the school of fine arts)
where young students learn the traditional arts and crafts
(Zo Rig Chusum – the thirteen crafts).
National Library - established in 1967
the library preserves many ancient Dzongkha and Tibetan
books written on strips of paper and wrapped in cloth.
Semtokha Dzong. This is the oldest fortress
in Bhutan, built in 1629 A.D. by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal.
It also houses the largest monastic school in the country.
Visit the Handicrafts Emporium where one
can buy Bhutanese textiles and other arts and crafts.
Overnight at Hotel.
Day 03: Thimphu exploration
Morning Trek to Cheri Gompa
The name of this monastery is Cheri Dorji Dhen. The Shabdrung,
first ruler of Bhutan built this gompa in 1620 and established
its first order of monks here. it is usually possible to
enter the courtyard but not the temples. It takes almost
two hours to reach the gompa where you will have lunch before
returning to Thimphu. This is a gentle leg-stretching day
that also allows us to see the countryside and villages
of Thimphu Valley.
Afternoon visit the colorful weekend vegetable market and
stroll around the capital town of Thimphu.
Overnight at Hotel.
Day 04: Drive from Thimphu to Punakha
The journey of some 70 km (around 40 miles) takes approximately
3 hours, crossing over the Dochu la (3100m) and Thinlegang.
If the weather is clear there are wonderful Himalayan views
from the pass.
Punakha introduction
Lying low down in the valley in central Bhutan, Punakha
lies at the junction of two major rivers and was built as
a defensive stronghold in the 17th century by the first
Shabdrung. It was the capital of the country until 1955,
partly as a result of the very fertile area it is situated
in, producing a wide variety of fruits and vegetables unavailable
elsewhere in the country. The embalmed body of the Shabdrung
Ngawang Namgyal lies in state in the Marchen temple here
and Punakha is still the winter residence of the Dratsheng
(Central Monk Body). The upper Punakha valley is dotted
with the homes of Bhutan's nobility.
Discovering Punakha Valley
In the afternoon you can walk to Chimi Lhakhang, the temple
of Lama Drukpa Kunley, otherwise known as the divine mad
monk who is one of Bhutan's favourite saints. It is a beautiful
walk across rice paddies and through a small village. The
temple can be visited and there is a tree outside which
is said to have sprouted up after Drukpa Kunley sent a thunderbolt
from an adjoining valley to kill some evil spirits who had
gathered at the site.
You may also be able to visit Punakha Dzong, depending
whether or not the monks are in residence, and if they permit
you to enter their monastery. Situated at the confluence
of the Mo (Female) and Pho (Male) rivers, the large fortress
with its temples, courtyards, hall and towers overlooks
the town and provides excellent views. Built in 1637 it
served as the seat of the government until the mid 20th
century. Over the centuries it has suffered damage from
several fires and flooding but still remains one of the
most impressive dzongs in Bhutan. Permission to enter the
dzong is not usually granted to tourist when the monk body
moves here from Thimpu in winter, but it is still worth
viewing from the outside.
Overnight at Hotel.
Day 04: Drive from Punakha to Bumthang
This is a drive of around 6-7 hours due to the high passes
and winding roads. After leaving Punakha, the road runs
alongside the Punakha river and there are great views of
the 17th century Wangdue Phodrang dzong perched on a ridge
on the opposite bank. After crossing the river the road
ascends the Black Mountains to the Pele La (3420m). Cut
out of the sheer rock face in places, the road continues
through areas of broadleaf and coniferous forests, passing
Chendebji Chorten, to Trongsa, the ancestral home of the
royal family.
Sight seeing in around Trongsa
Visits in Trongsa include the Trongsa Dzong, Ta Dzong (watch
tower) and the small town.
From Trongsa, you will drive to Jakar. Leaving Trongsa
you will continue, after a mere 29km (18 miles) over the
Yutongla pass at 3400m (11,635ft). Here the heavily forested
landscape shows how much of the Himalayan region must have
looked before the predations of human occupation. Your day’s
journey will cover some 68km, (barely 45 miles) and yet
will take around 3 hours of driving so early starts are
always worth the dramatic rewards of the morning light.
You will be stopping for at Yutong La (3,400m/11,635ft),
where, if clear, are spectacular views of the Himalayas.
Overnight at Hotel.
Day 06: Bumthang Valley
Bumthang Valley introduction
Bumthang is the name for a region of four valleys in the
East of Bhutan centred on the town of Jakar, which is the
largest between Thimphu and Tashigang in the East. The area
is of great spiritual significance in Bhutan, being strongly
associated with myth and legend as well as more corporeal
manifestations, such as the great Buddhist preacher, Pema
Lingpa, to whose descendants the present dynasty traces
its ancestry. The town of Jakar, a great base for easy day
trekking to nearby monasteries, is famous for the production
of honey, as well as cheese apples and apricots. The Easternmost
valley, Ura, is still extremely mediaeval, with cobbled
walkways leading to remote temples and many of the older
population still wearing sheepskins on their backs, which
are used at night to sleep on.
Sight seeing around Bumthang Valley
A full day in Bumthang to explore the valley. You will take
a short drive and then take a 20 minute stroll across the
fields to visit Thangbi Mani Lhakhang. Later you will visit
Kurjey Lhahkang and take a short walk to Tamshing, crossing
the bridge to the opposite side of the river to visit Tamshing
temple – the most important Nyingma Buddhist temple.
It may also be possible to take some of the local village
walks- a visit to the homeopathic hospital, the cheese factory,
the castle of the 'White Bird' (Jakar dzong), Wangdichholing
Old Palace, one or two local temples and a walk around Jakar
township.
Overnight at Hotel.
Day 07: Bumthang Valley
Excursion to Ur valley
This morning we drive through pine forests and across the
Shertang La Pass to Ura, the highest of Bumthang's four
major valleys. As we wander through the main village with
its cobbled paths and old houses you will notice an almost
medieval ambience. After walks in the area and a visit to
Ura Lhakhang, we return to Jakar for the evening.
Overnight at Hotel.
Day 08: Drive from Bumthang to Thimphu
A long drive of around 10-12 hours. Leaving Jakar, you will
return west, stopping for lunch at the Chendebje Chorten,
a large white monument said to conceal the remnants of an
evil spirit vanquished here. Continuing across the Yotung
La, Pele La and Dochu La Passes, you finally descend to
Thimphu.
Overnight at Hotel.
Day 09: Drive from Thimphu to Paro
The journey of some 54 km (around 30 miles) takes approximately
2 hours, passing the scenic Simtokha Dzong.
Half day tour of Paro
A half day tour of Paro will allow you to see the principal
sites of the Paro Valley - Ta Dzong, Paro Rinpung dzong,
and the ruined fort of Drukgyel Dzong.
The National Museum is housed in Ta Dzong, a circular building
from the same period as the fort, and was originally a fort
overseeing Paro itself. The building was renovated in 1967
to house the country’s national museum, which comprises
a host of religious and cultural artifacts, thangkas, carvings,
weapons and other equipment captured from invading Tibetan
armies.
Paro Rinpung Dzong. A flagstone path rises gradually from
a beautiful wooden bridge with shingle roofing and abutted
by two guardhouses, to the Dzong. Today, the Dzong is the
seat of the district administration as well as the home
for the monastic school. The central tower (Utse) of the
Dzong, with its superb woodwork, is one of the most beautiful
in the nation. The Dzong was built in 1645 A.D.
Drukgyel Dzong is situated some 15 km, (10 miles) North
of Paro (beyond the side valley where the Tigers Nest monastery
is located). It was built in 1649 to protect the country
against threatening Tibetans. One feature of the fort is
a false entry to lure invaders into an enclosed courtyard,
which, along with other tactics helped the Bhutanese protect
their country successfully through the 17th century. Below
the Dzong, the village of Drukgyel is home to a farming
community and you may be able to visit one to see how the
Bhutanese retain many of their traditional practices.
Overnight at Hotel.
Day 10: PARO - HIKE TO TAKTSANG
Day hike to Taktsang Monastery. Taktsang meaning
"Tiger's Nest”, is built around a cave in which
Guru Rimpoche (also known as Guru Padmasambhava) meditated.
The eighth century monastery is perched on a rock overlooking
a sheer drop and clings seemingly impossibly to a cliff
of rock at 9678 feet above the valley floor.
For the local people it is a place of pilgrimage, but for
a tourist, a hike up to the viewpoint opposite the monastery
is exhausting, thrilling and mystical. It takes almost 2
hours to walk up at an average pace. The legend has it that
Guru Rimpoche is said to have flown to the site of the monastery
on the back of a tigress from Tibet and meditated in the
cave there for three months. Although the main building
of the temple was destroyed by fire on April 1998, the hike
up to the viewpoint is worthwhile and fulfilling. The reconstruction
works have already been completed and the structure restored
in its original splendor. Return to Paro after lunch at
the cafeteria.
Overnight at Hotel.
Day 11: Paro – Kathmandu
You will be collected from your hotel and taken by private
transfer to the airport in plenty of time for your onward
flight to Kathmandu.
For
More Information: info@ecotrek.com.np
|