Itinerary

1. Day 1- Explore the Art and Cuture of Thimphu

   • Meet your guide at the Paro airport and head for the modern capital town of Bhutan- Thimphu (7,600 feet).

   • Have lunch and visit the National Library of Bhutan to see a vast collection of ancient Buddhist manuscripts and the world's largest book. 

   • Explore the magnificent art at the Arts and Crafts School, also known as "Zorig Chusum"- a traditional school of 13 arts and crafts.

   • Stroll around the town in the evening and see Bhutanese textiles displayed in almost every shop.

   Stay for the night at Thimphu.

2. Day 2- Visit the Fertile Valley of Punakha

   • Have breakfast and head for Dochula Pass (10,000 ft.) to witness one of Bhutan's most enchanting views. On a clear day, you can see the craggy peaks of Bhutan's northern Himalayan border.

   • Continue for Punakha, a fertile valley drained by the Phochu and Mochu rivers and blessed with a temperate climate. Before Thimphu was made the capital of Bhutan, Punakha held the title of the winter capital of Bhutan because of its more temperate climate. Today, it is the winter seat of the Je- Khenpo (the Chief Abbot) and the Central Monk Body.

   • Visit the Punakha Dzong (Palace of Great Happiness), built at the junction of the Phochu and Mochu rivers in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. In the past, this majestic Dzong served as Bhutan's religious and administrative center. It measures 600 by 240 feet and has a six-story, gold-domed tower. Inside are courtyards and religious statuary, hinting at a depth of history and spiritual tradition embodied here. 

   Spend the night at Punakha. 

3. Day 3- Learn about the Unique Weaving Techniques at Chumey Valley

   • Travel to Bumthang valley, witness the terraced farmlands and deep river valleys and stop at the Trongsa Dzong- ancestral home to Bhutan’s monarch.

   • Visit the valleys of Chumey, the heart of the famous Bumthangyathra-weaving region, to see the Center of Yathra Weaving. Yathra is the name for the locally produced hand-woven woollen cloth. Distinctive patterns and bright, earthy colours make it the most sought-after fabric throughout Bhutan. See the vegetable dye techniques on wool.

   • Continue to drive to Jakar, about 20 km from Chumey Valley.

   Stay for the night at Bumthang.

4. Day 4- Enagage in Cultural Exchanges at Khoma Village

   • Start early and head to the Ura valley, enjoying the scenery and beauty of snow-capped mountains, flowers, grazing yaks and the dense forest. Ura Village has a medieval look with compact houses alongside the cobblestone streets and is known for women's typical sheepskin shawls.

   • Proceed to the Thrumshing La pass (3,750 m/12,300 ft.) that officially divides Central Bhutan from Eastern Bhutan and see beautiful waterfalls along the way. 

   • Cross the bridge over the Kurichu, passing cliffs and river valleys to reach Lhuentse- the original home of Bhutan's royal family in the remote and ancient region of Kurtoe.

   • Stop at Lhuentse Dzong, built in the 1600s and then continue to the Khurbazam Village, which is a 10-15 mins drive from Khoma Village. Almost all 30 houses in the village have blackstrap looms for "kishuthara" or brocaded dress. Four supplementary wefts are interworked around the warp elements so that they appear to ride the surface of the cloth like embroidery.

   • Spend your evening in cultural exchanges with locals and enjoy the locally brewed alcohol called "Ara".

   Go to your farmhouse in the Khoma village for the night.

5. Day 5- Marvel at the Beauty of Lhuentse

   • Head to the originating place of the weaving art of Kishuthara to learn and try the weaving process. It is a fabric made of silk with intricate hand-laced patterns, and it is the most expensive hand-woven Bhutanese textile in Bhutan. It is also the primary source of income for the people here. 

   • Drive to Lhuentse, one of Bhutan's most rural and isolated districts with a spectacular landscape of stark cliffs, gorges, beautiful conifer and pine forests and remote villages with rice, millet, and cornfields. 

   • Proceed to Menji village and hike to see the statue of Padmasambhava (148 feet, 30-foot high lion throne and 17-foot high lotus seat in the form of Guru Nangsi Zilnoen), which was built in Lhuntse to bring peace and harmony to the world as prophesied by Lord Buddha. It is the world's largest statue of Guru Padmasambhava.

   • Stroll freely in the village in the evening.

   Stay in the farmhouse for the night.

6. Day 6- Discover the Art Of Shangzo

   • Have breakfast and drive for 10 mins to check out Shagzo- the traditional art of woodturning- to create a variety of exquisite functional and decorative products like turned wooden bowls, cups, plates, and various shapes, sizes and colours unique to Bhutan. 

   Head to Minjeyi for the night's stay.

7. Day 7- Visit Bumthang

   • Have breakfast and head for an 8-hour drive to Bumthang for a picnic lunch. 

   Eat your dinner and stay for the night at Bumthang.

8. Day 8- Explore the Valley of Phobjikha

   • Have breakfast and drive east of Wangdue mountains, where the beautiful Phobjikha valley lies. It is a quiet, remote valley, home of black-necked cranes, which migrate from the arid plains of Tibet in the north to pass the winter months in a milder climate. The village of Phobjikha lies a few km from the monastery on the valley floor.

   • Visit the great monastery of Gangtey (and the Gangtey village), constructed in the 17th century. 

   Have dinner and stay for the night at Gangtey.

9. Day 9- Stroll through the lanes of Paro

   • Drive back to Paro and have lunch. 

   • Walk to Paro Dzong Fortress through the oldest wooden bridge and stroll around the old Paro town to get a glimpse of the local handicrafts stores. Get an opportunity to see a traditional match of Archery.

10. Day 10- Hike to the Tiger's Nest Monastery

    • Hike the trail to the legendary Taktsang Monastery (Tiger's Nest) to witness Bhutan's most iconic site. You can also visit several other monasteries, including Zangthopelri and Ugyen Tshemo, which await further up the hill with fewer tourists and more views. 

    • Head down to the Paro Valley for a stop at Bhutan's oldest temple: Kyichu Lhakhang.

    • Return to Paro for a farewell dinner with your guide. Taste traditional Bhutanese dishes, including Ema Datshi (chilli and cheese), Jasha Maroo or Maru (spicy chicken) and Phaksha Paa (pork with red chillies).

11. Day 11- Departure

    • Enjoy a hearty breakfast and head to the airport to catch your flight to the next destination.