General Information

Duration:

7 Days

Location Start:

Paro

Location Finish:

Paro

Phone:

00975-17602279

Fax:

00975-337388

Payment Types:

• Cash
• Credit Card
• Cheque
• Travellers cheque
• Paypal
• Wire Transfer

We Speak:

English

Last updated: 02/01/2009

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive at Paro international Airport and sightseeing

Day 2

Hike to Taksang(Tiger nest) Monastry

Day 3

Drive to Thimphu and sightseeing

Day 4

Thimphu to Punakha via Wangdue and sight seeing

Day 5

continue sight seeing and drive back to Thimphu

Day 6

Thimphu to Paro and shopping

Day 7

Departure

Extra Information

Extras -

Tour packages includes meals,room,transport,guide fees,mineral water and other fees but we excludes air tickets,luandries,bar bills and tipping 7DAYS THE BEST OF BHUTAN Paro/Thimphu/Punakha Tour Code : BU007 TOUR HIGHLIGHTS: Meals Plan 6 Breakfasts 6 Lunches 6 Dinners PARO - Kyichu Temple - Ta Dzong ( The National Museum) - Rimpong Dzong - Hike toTaktsang Monastery THIMPHU - 3 Stone Monument - School for arts and crafts - Post Office - The National Library - The Folk Heritage Museum - The Traditional Paper Factory - Memorial Chorten - Changangkha Monastery - Handicraft Emporium - Tashicho Dzong - The Old Dechencholing Palace ( view only) PUNAKHA - Punakha Dzong - Chimi Lhakhang-Temple - Khamsum Yuelliny Namgyal Temple - weekend market - Farm House Visit DAY 01: ARRIVE AT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT- PARO Welcome to a unique experience.Paro is the only city in Bhutan with air link with others countries. The flight to Paro is one of the most spectacular of all mountain flights, with constantly changing panorama of some of the highest mountains on earth. Paro is at an altitude of 2300m above sea level and this valley serves as an ideal spot for rice growing. The special red rice from this valley has found its place in some of the restaurants in America too. This valley is famous for strawberry, apples, pears, plums and peaches. The afternoon tour will drive to the Ta - Dzong (the museum). This museum offers a great orientation in Bhutan’s history, cultural, religious, natural and economic life. Next, visit the Rimpong Dzong specially to see the painting of the great saint - Milarelpa is considered as the master of meditation by the Bhutanese and is believed to have attained enlightenment in a lifetime. We will walk to the bridge and see the Cantilever Wooden Bridge still in use.（Lunch/dinner）. DAY 02: PARO – THIMPHU We take 1 hour drive to Thimphu - the capital city of Bhutan, situated at 2400 metres above sea level. Visit the three styled Stone Monument with Tibetan, Nepalese and Bhutanese style. These kinds of monuments are built to ward off evil spirits believed to be haunting the places where rivers and spurs meet. These kinds of monuments are also used as trail markers. Most of these monuments are built by high monks or by laymen who dedicate the monuments to the deceased relatives. In modern times people with evil intentions have been ransacking these monuments. You will see many of these monuments desecrated for want of jewelleries and other precious items. We will visit the school for arts and crafts (which will be closed from Dec1st 2008 till March 5th 2009 for annual and winter vacation) where the children were taught to master in the 13 types of arts and crafts of Bhutan, Post Office that has Bhutan's beautiful stamps .The National Library is another sight to see the collection of Bhutanese scriptures some dating back from the 8th century. Time permitting we will visit The Folk Heritage Museum is replica of medieval farmhouse and is patronized by HM the Queen Sangay Choden Wangchuck to protect the textile heritage of Bhutan. There are some old collections along with the display of vegetable dyes and materials used for Bhutanese textiles. The Traditional Paper Factory displays the Bhutanese paper making in process. （Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner）. DAY 03: THIMPHU Today we will visit the Memorial Chorten which depicts the Buddhist faith in form of paintings and statues. This temple was first initiated by the Third King as a protection from the negative elements of modernization. The temple has one door at four directions. The Royal Queen Mother completed it as a Memorial Stupa for the third King who passed away in the year 1972. Next visit Changangkha Temple, which was built in the 12th century on a site chosen by Lam Phajo Drukgom Shingpo, who came from Ralung in Tibet. We also visit Drubthob Monastery, which houses the Zilukha nunnery. We visit Tashicho Dzong the centre of both the administration of the religion. This represents the dual system incorporated in the 17th century where religion and political system is separated. The chief abbot called Je-khenpo heads the religion. The political side is head by Desi till 1907, by the King till 1997 and then by the Prime Minister (one year term) since 1998. Time permitting we will go to the view point TV Tower to see the view of Thimphu town and on the way take a visit at the Takin Santuary for the national animal of Bhutan. The Old Dechencholing Palace (for view only and no entry) where the present King was born in the year 1955 can be seen, the farming villages of Begana and Kabjisa and the temples on the hill-slopes. （Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner）. DAY 04: THIMPHU - PUNAKHA After breakfast, take a 3 hours drive to Punakha and crossing the Dochula pass-(3050 metres) which offers a great view of Bhutan's high peaks on clear weather. Punakha is at around 1300meters of altitude tropical valley. After lunch, take a walk to Chimi Lhakhang-Temple of the Divine Madman who is popularly known as Drukpa Kuenly. He inherited the Divine Madman title since he revolted against the orthodox Buddhism in his time. Sited on the top of a gently rolling hill. The Lhahang is approached by taking a charming walk through a small village,a cross the neatly terraced rice fields and then up onto the expansive hilltop. Couples who wish to receive a fertility blessing visit this temple without fail.Keith Down- Drukpa Kuenly-The Divine Madman does the translation of the life of Drukpa Kuenly. Next visit the Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Temple built by the crown prince's mother Ashi Tshering Yangdon Wangchuck for universal peace and protection under take exclusive visit to one of very old village home, and experiencing their hospitality, and drink a local alcohol called Ara （Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner）. DAY 05: PUNAKHA - THIMPHU - PARO we will do any left over sights we haven't finished yesterday. Have lunch in Punakha before we drive to Paro via Thimphu to visit weekend market (only from Friday till Sunday evening). We see local people around Thimphu gathered here to sell vegetables, grains and other cottage industry products. Then a leisure drive back to Paro for the overnight （Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner）. DAY 06: PARO After breakfast hike to Taktsang is an opportunity that should not be missed. However, since it requires a certain degree of physical fitness, The trail is broad and the walk uphill takes you a little more than a 1000ft above the Paro valley. The view of Taktsang Monastery built on the cliff is a spectacular sight. It is also a great pilgrim site for the Buddhists. For those groups who are not interested in hiking, an excursion to Ha Valley can be done instead of visiting Taktshang. Then the tour will drive to the old temple of Kyichu. Kyichu is one of the few temples left from 108 temples built in the 8th century. If there is enough time on return we will take a drive to the ruins of the Drukgyel Dzong, which was once a historic monument built as a symbol of victory for the Bhutanese against the northern invaders. Now it stands in ruins. In 1914 issue of National Geographic magazine Drukgyel Dzong was shown in its glory. This was the first time Bhutan appeared in western news, which probably gave rise to the idea of having the University of Texas EI Paso buildings constructed in Bhutanese Dzongs' style. Restoration works have begun at this place after many years abandonment. （Breakfast/Lunch/dinner). DAY 07: DEPARTURE Depending on the time of the flight the morning is free for you to do last minutes shopping before bit farewell to Bhutan.Hope you have had an enjoyable vacation with Tashi Gongphel Tours and we look forward to bring you with us to your next holiday destination!