Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arrive in Paro

   • Meet your tour guide at the airport and transfer to the hotel in Thimphu.

2. Day 2: Sightseeing in Thimphu

   • Visit Trashichhoedzong, a beautiful medieval fortress/monastery that houses most of the Government’s office and King’s Throne room. It is also the summer residence of Je Khenpo, the Chief Abbot. 

   • See the National Library, which has a vast collection of ancient Buddhist texts and manuscripts. 

   • Drive to Arts and Crafts School, which is famous for traditional thangka paintings. See the students at work producing the intricate design on cloth. 

   • Have lunch and visit Handicrafts Emporium, which displays a wide assortment of beautifully hand-woven and crafted products. 

   • Drive to Memorial Chorten- the stupa built-in memory of Bhutan’s Third King, who is popularly regarded as the Father of modern Bhutan.

   Stay overnight at the hotel in Thimphu.

3. Day 3: Thimphu to Punakha

   • Drive to Punakha with a short stop at Dochula pass (3,080 m). Admire the chortens, mani wall and prayer flags, which decorate the highest point on the road. 

   • See numerous peaks from this pass (left to right): Masagang (7,158 m), Tsendagang (6,960 m), Terigang (7,060 m), Jejegangphugang (7,158 m), Kangphugang (7,170 m), Zongphugang (7,060 m), a table mountain that dominates the isolated region of Lunana.

   • Visit Punakha Dzong, built strategically at the junction of Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal to serve as the religious and administrative centre of the region.

   • Drive to Wangduephodrang and visit Dzong and the local market. The district of Wangduephodrang is also famous for its bamboo products, slate and stone carvings.

   Stay overnight at the hotel in Punakha.

4. Day 4: Punakha to Paro

   • Have breakfast and drive to Paro. Visit Simtokha Dzong on the way. It is the oldest fortress of the Kingdom built in 1627 and now houses the School for religious studies. Proceed to see Ta Dzong- the National Museum of the Kingdom.

   • Walk down a hillside trail to visit Rinpung Dzong. The Dzong houses the monastic body of Paro, the office of the Dzongda (district administrative head) and Thrimpon (judge) of Paro district. 

   Stay overnight at the hotel in Paro.

5. Day 5: Sightseeing in Paro

   • Have breakfast and drive north of Paro valley to the ruins of Drukgyel Dzong. 

   • Visit traditional Bhutanese Farm House, which offers good insight into the lifestyle of local people. 

   • Take an excursion to Taktsang Monastery, which is the most famous of Bhutanese monasteries. It is said that Guru Rinpoche arrived here on the back of a tigress and meditated at this monastery. Hence it is also called 'Tiger’s Nest'. 

   • Return to Paro town and visit Kyichu Lhakhang on the way. It is one of the oldest and most sacred shrines of the Kingdom. 

   Stay overnight at the hotel in Paro.

6. Day 6: Departure from Paro

   • Have breakfast and drive to the airport.