The land locked Kingdom of Bhutan comprises mountains, forests and rivers and offers all that the Himalayas has to offer. For centuries the Bhutanese have traveled through their country on foot and the trails they used then have today been developed as trekking trails. However, modern development and the building of roads to access the remote regions has led to the disappearance of numerous old routes, leaving only a few intact as they eons ago. Bhutan had been closed to the outside world (with a very few exceptions), until the first paying tourist group visited this hidden paradise in 1974. Adventure travelers make up for only 10 to 15% of the total number of tourist arrivals a year (17000 + in 2006). Therefore travelling in Bhutan is truly a once in a lifetime experience. Bhutan boasts a forest cover of approx 70 % and provides an enormously rich flora and fauna.
ITINERARY
Day 01 :
Arrival at Paro. Fly to Paro, Bhutan, on Druk Air, the national airline of Bhutan. If you get a seat on the left side of the plane and the weather cooperates, you might have spectacular views of the high peaks of the eastern Himalayas, including peaks in Bhutan such as Chomolhari, Jichu Drake, and Tsering Kang. After visa formalities at the Paro airport, we drive to our hotel overlooking the beautiful Paro Valley. We'll have a late afternoon visit to the National Museum, housed in an old watchtower above Paro Dzong (a dzong is a fortress-monastery). The museum’s collections include displays of spectacular thankas (religious scroll paintings), bronze statues, Bhutan’s beautiful stamps, and the Tshogshing Lhakhang (Temple of the Tree of Wisdom), with its carvings depicting the history of Buddhism.
Night at hotel (Namsey Chholing Resort/Tenzinling Resort/Gangtey Palace Resort) in Paro
Day 02 :
Drive above 9 miles north of Paro town to the trailhead where you start a 1 ½ hr hike to the viewpoint of Taktsang Monastery (aka “Tiger’s Nest) perched on a cliff 2700 feet above the valley floor. Legend has it that Guru Rimpoche arrived here on the back of one of is consorts who was in the guise of a flying Tigress sometime in the 7th century. Hence the name “Taktsang” (Tiger’s Nest). After a short tea break, the options are to sit back and read a book for a while or if you feel energetic enough, to continue another 45 minutes up to the monastery. After the day trip up to Taktsang drive on to Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan
Overnight at Hotel (Dragon Roots, Wangchuk Hotel, Hotel Pedling, Chomolhari/ Hotel Riverview) in Thimpu.
Day 03 :
Thimpu - Punakha :Morning Thimpu sightseeing, visit Memorial Chorten, Painting School, National Library, Bhutanese Hand Made Paper factory. After lunch 2 ½ drive to Punakha across the Dochula Pass (Alt. 3050 m) where one can see the beautiful views of Eastern Himalayan Ranges. The Punakha valley till today serves as the winter seat for central monastic body of Bhutan headed by HH the Je Khenpo. The drive to Punakha takes about 2 ½ to 3 hrs. Weather permitting, one get a picturesque view of the eastern Himalayan range from the top of the Dochu La pas (10000 ft). Enroute visit the Chhimi Lhakang :The Temple consecrated in honor of Lam Drukpa Kuenley aka “The Divine Madman.. by Keith Dowman” It is here that couples wishing to have children go to for blessings…. And believe it or not… it works.. the blessings are given by the caretaker with a wooden phallus. The short 15 minute hike to Chhimi Lhakang goes through a serene village and paddy fields.
Overnight at Hotel (Meri Phuensum/ Zangtopelri/Damchen Resort) in Punakha or camp
Day 04 :
In the morning visit the Punakha Dzong. After an early lunch drive and then hike to the put in of the Pho Chhu. The hike takes about 2 ½ hrs after about 40 minutes of driving on farm road. Camp for the night at the put in of the Pho Chhu.
Day 05:
After a leisurely morning put in to raft the upper section of the Pho Chhu Class III and some class IV. Overnight camp along the banks of the Pho Chhu for the night
Day 06 :
Raft the lower section (class II/III) section of the Pho Chhu and take out past the Punakha Dzong. After lunch drive back over the Dochula Pass to Thimphu. Overnight in Thimphu.. night out in Thimphu
Day 07 :
Day of leisure at Thimphu. Or Optional day trip to Tango Monastery. A day trip/hike to the temple of Tango Cheri which is about a half hr drive up valley and then about an hour hike to the monastery. The monastery was built in the 12th century by Gyalwa Lhanampa and it serves as the moastic school for the study of Buddhist philosophy, metaphysics, mathematics, poets and other Buddhism related studiesLate afternoon drive back to Paro. Overnight hotel in Paro.
Day 08 :
Departure
