| Day 1 - New Delhi
Around midnight arrival in New Delhi. The cosmopolitan city and capital Delhi is the main gateway for travellers. Upon arrival, you will be met by an Indo Vacations representative and transferred to the hotel. |
| Day 2 - New Delhi - Paro (by air)
In the morning we drive to the airport for the flight to Paro. This beautiful valley with its rich terraced farmland, is home to some of the Bhutan's oldest temples and monasteries. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to the hotel in Paro. In the afternoon we will visit the Rinpung Dzong. It was built in 1646 by Shabdrung Ngwang Namgyal, the first spiritual and temporal ruler of Bhutan. Rinpung Dzong means the fortress on a heap of jewels. This fortress now houses the Paro monastic school and the office of the civil administration. Then we visit the National Museum. After the visit of the National museum we go for an excursion to Taktstang monastery. In April 1998 a fire destroyed the main structure of Taktstang Monastery, perched on the side of a cliff 900 m above the valley floor. It is also known as "tiger's den" because Guru Rinpoche is said to have flown to the site on the back of a tigress in the eighth century. |
| Day 3 - Paro - Thimphu (about 65 km)
After breakfast drive to Thimphu. Thimphu is the modern capital of Bhutan. It lies at an elevation of 2300 m in a valley traversed by the Wang Chu river. This city maintains a strong national character in its architectural style. It is a home to civil servants, expatriates and the central monk body. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to the hotel in Thimphu. In the afternoon set out on sightseeing tour of Thimphu. First of all we visit the Tashichho Dzong on the bank of the river. It is the main Secretariat building which houses the throne room of His Majesty, the King of Bhutan and is also the summer residence of the central monk body. After visiting the Secretariat building we visit the national library to see the rare and precious collection of Buddhism. In the evening we visit the Memorial Chorten. Memorial Chorten is a stupa and was built in 1974 in the memory of the late third king Jigme Dorji Wangchuk. The paintings and images inside the monument provide a rare sight into the Buddhist philosophy.
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| Day 4 - Thimphu
In the morning we visit the 17th century Simtokha Dzong. It is the oldest Dzong in the country which stands on a lofty ridge at the end of the valley. It was built in the year 1627 and now houses the school for Buddhist studies. Today we also visit a painting school. In this painting school the young children learn the ancient art of paintings. After visiting the painting school we visit the centre of traditional medicines. Bhutan has its own brand of Himalayan herbal medicines. |
| Day 5 - Thimphu - Punakha (about 75 km)
In the morning we drive to Punakha. Punakha was built between two rivers in the 17th century by Shabdrung and served as the winter residence of the central monk body. Punakha's climate and warmer temperatures make its valley one of the most fertile in Bhutan. Punakha served as the capital of Bhutan until 1955. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to the hotel in Punakha. In the evening visit the Punakha town. |
| Day 6 - Punakha - Wangdiphodrang - Trongsa (about 147 km)
In the morning we will drive to Wangdiphodrang. It is the last town on the central highway before entering central Bhutan. Wangdiphodrang Dzong was built during the 17th century. It played a critical role in unifying the western, central and southern Bhutanese districts. After visiting the Wangdiphodrang Dzong and having lunch there we drive to Trongsa. Trongsa is situated at an altitude of 2200 m. and forms the central hub of the nation. It is historically the place from where attempts at unifying the country were launched. In the evening arrive in Trongsa. |
| Day 7 - Trongsa
After breakfast visit the Trongsa Dzong. Trongsa Dzong was built in 1648 as an impregnable fortress. The massive structure is built on many levels into the side of the hill that includes various courtyards, passage ways and temples. Above the Trongsa Dzong is the Ta Dzong (Watchtower). It was built to watch out for invaders and travellers. Then we drive to the Phobjikha valley. This place is home to the endangered black necked cranes, which migrate from Tibetan plateau in the winter. |
| Day 8 - Trongsa - Punakha - Paro
In the morning we drive to Punakha Valley. There we visit the Punakha Dzong. This dzong houses sacred artifacts and embalmed body of Shabdrung. In the evening drive to Paro. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to the hotel in Paro.
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| Day 9 - Paro
In the morning we will visit the Rinpung Dzong. It was built in 1646 by Shabdrung Ngwang Namgyal, the first spiritual and temporal ruler of Bhutan. Rinpung Dzong means the fortress on a heap of jewels. This fortress now houses the Paro monastic school and the office of the civil administration. We also visit the Ta Dzong. Looking down upon the Rinpung Dzong is the Ta Dzong which was built in 1651 as a watch tower. This dzong is round more like parts of an European castle. In the evening we visit the Drugyal Dzong. It means the victorious fortress which was built in 1647 by Shabdrung to celebrate his victory over the Tibetan invaders. Strategically built over the only passage into the Paro valley, the dzong helped to rebel various invasions through the course of Bhutanese history.
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| Day 10 - Paro - New Delhi (by air)
In the morning we drive to the airport for the flight to New Delhi. In the afternoon arrive in New Delhi. Rooms are available to get refresh before departing for the airport. The rest of the day at leisure. After dinner we leave the hotel for the airport.
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| Day 11 - New Delhi
Around midnight flight to home destination.
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