14 Days
13 Nights
Detailed Itinerary
DAY 01: 30/Apr-Sunday Singapore -Paro -Thimphu (L/D)
Upon arrival in Paro, clear customs and immigration. Keep your copy of the visa handy. Meet your Guide and driver outside the terminal building and transfer to Thimphu. Stroll around the city in the evening, Overnight at hotel in Thimphu.
Distance and time: 60Km and more than 1Hour (Approx)
Thimphu: (2,300m) was a wooded farming valley until 1961, when it became Bhutan’s official national capital. Even today, it still only has a few streets and no traffic lights with estimated population of 170,000 people.
DAY 02: 01/May. Thimphu (B/L/D)
Full day sightseeing in Thimphu. Visit Memorial Chorten, ChangGangkha Lhakhang, School of arts & crafts. After lunch visit Buddha Point, Handicraft Emporium and Tashicho Dzong after 5pm. Upon available time, you can also visit Bhutanese Paper making factory/similar. Overnight at hotel in Thimphu.
Memorial Chorten: This landmark of Thimphu was built in 1974 in the memory of third King, His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, It serves as an important place of worship for Thimphu residents, as well as from other parts of the country.
ChangGangkha Lhakhang: Perched on a ridge above Thimphu valley and established during 12th century by Phajo Drukgom Shigpo. There are enormous prayers wheels to spin around the Lhakhang and also enjoy the view from the entry courtyard.
School of Arts & Crafts: Commonly known as ‘the painting school’ is a national institute where children attend six-year course that provides instruction in Bhutan’s traditional arts and crafts called Zorig Chuksum – meaning 13 crafts.
Buddha Point: Or Buddha Dordenma, largest and the tallest statue of Lord Buddha, perhaps will become the 8th (eight) wonder of the World. Enjoy the scenic view of the Capital city from here.
Handicraft Emporium: Visit the Handicraft Emporium to bring back a souvenir back home from the kingdom of Happiness.
Tashichhodzong: This fortress serves as the office of the King, ministers and various government organisations. It is also the summer residence for HH the Je Khenpo (the Chief Abbot) and the monastic body.
DAY 03: 02/May. Thimphu – Punakha/Wangdue (B/L/D)
Morning, drive to Punakha, en-route stop at Dochula Pass(3050m) where you may view the eastern Himalayas, including Bhutan’s highest mountain if the weather is Good. Visit Punakha Dzong and take a nice and easy hike to Chimi Lhakhang. Overnight at hotel in Punakha/Wangdue.
Distance and time: 75Km and 2 and half hours (Approx)
Punakha and Wangdue: although two separate districts, are located in one valley (20km or ½ hr drive apart).
Punakha Dzong: or Pungthang Dechen Phodrang “Palace of Great Happiness” is located on the confluence of two rivers, the Pho and Mochu. Punakha Dzong is also the winter Residence for the Chief abbot of Bhutan.
Chimi Lhakhang: A Monastery and fertility temple dedicated to Lama Drukpa Kuenley, a Tibetan Buddhist saint known popularly as “the divine madman” and considered a folk hero in Bhutan for his unconventional ways of preaching religion. This easy walk takes about ½ hour each way.
DAY 04: 03/May. Punakha/Wangdue – Trongsa (B/L/D)
Morning, drive to Trongsa at leisure via Pele La pass at (3400m). En-route visit ChendebJi Chorten. Overnight at hotel in Trongsa.
Distance and time: 125Km and 5 hours (Approx)
ChendebJi Chorten: Built during 19th century, in-order to cover the remain of the evil spirit that was subdued/killed here, it stands on beautiful spot by a river confluence, the large and white Chorten is patterned after Swayambunath in Nepoal. There is also a Bhutanese style Chorten nearby that was built during 1982.
DAY 05: 04/May. Trongsa – Bumthang (B/L/D)
After b/fast, visit Trongsa Dzong and The Trongsa Museum. After lunch drive to Bumthans at leisure. Overnight at Hotel in Bumthang.
Distance and time: 67Km and 3 hours (Approx)
Trongsa Dzong: Is the largest and most impressively situated dzong in Bhutan, perched high on a cliff above the deep Mangdechu river gorge. First and second King ruled the country from this fort and all successive Kings have held the post of Trongsa Penlop, (Governor) prior to being crowned as the King.
Trongsa Museum: Originally, a Watch tower to guard the Trongsa Dzong, It is now a Museum that display the Buddhist Art and history of Bhutanese monarchy.
DAY 06: 05/May. Bumthang (B/L/D)
After breakfast, do the sightseeing of Bumthang at leisure, also kwon as the second Switzerland in Bhutan. Visit Jambay Lhakhang, Kurjey Lhakhang and Kenchogsum Lhakahng and Tamshing Goenpa. Overnight at hotel in Bumthang.
Jambay Lhakhang: is another one of the geomantic temples (like Kichu in Paro) founded in 7th century by a Tibetan King Songtsen Gompo,
Kurjey Lhakhang: Kurjey is named after the sacred power place where Guru Rinpoche left the imprint of his body on the solid rocks, which can be seen from inside the shrine. There are three large temples within the complex surrounded by a perimeter comprising of 108 stupas.
Kenchogsum Lhakhang: Located below Tamshing Goenpa, the lhakhag looks quite new and it is because of the renovation they did during the year 1995 but it is intact considered as old as dating back to 6-7th century.
Tamshing Genpa: Located opposite Kurjey Lhakhang, this temple was founded by Bhutan’s own religious treasure discoverer, Terton Pema Lingpa. The original murals on the walls still survive, which are considered to be the oldest painting in Bhutan.
DAY 07: 06/May. Bumthang -Ura -Bumthang(B/L/D)
After b/fast drive to Ura Vally and back or discuss with your guide and maybe you can do one of the few hikes within Bumthang. Overnight at hotel in Bumthang.
Distance and time: 48 Km and 1 and Half hours(Approx) each way.
Ura Valley: Situated, southeast of Bumthang, Ura is the highest of Bumthang’s valley and is believed by some that it is the home of Bhutan’s earliest inhabitants. It is also one of the the most interesting Villages in the country.
DAY 08: 07/May. Bumthang -Phubjikha (B/L/D)
Morning, drive to Phubjikha from Bumthang via Trongsa. Overnight at Hotel/Farm House in Phubjikha.
Distance and time: 150Km and 5 and half hours (Approx)
Phobjikha Valley: Phobjikha (3000m) is a wide-glacial and beautiful valley, designated as conservation zone within the Black Mountains National Park, a natural habitat for wildlife, including nesting black-necked cranes from Central Asia.
DAY 09: 08/May. Pbhujikha.(B/L/D)
After breakfast, visit Gantey Goemba and take short Gantey Nature Trail walk. After lunch, visit Black necked Crane center. Overnight at Hotel/Farm House in Phubjikha.
Gangtey Goemba: Gantey Goemba monastery sits atop a hillock that overlooks the Phobjikha valley. It is headed by the ninth Gangtey Trulku and is the largest Nyingma monastery in western Bhutan. It was founded in 1613 by Gyalse Pema Thinlay.
Gantey Nature Trail: It is 1 and half hours (Approx) walk. You start your walk from the Mani stone wall just north of Gantey Goemba. The trail descends to a Village and reach to Square Chorten and a Lhakhang. From here crossed the bridge to the local School and later your vehicle will drive you to hotel for Lunch.
Black-necked Crane: ‘Thrung Trung Karmo’ as this bird is passionately called in Bhutan is subject of many Bhutanese songs and folklore. These endangered species of cranes migrate from Tibet.
DAY 10: 09/May. Pbhujikha -Punakha/Wangdue.(B/L/D)
After b/fast drive to Punakha/Wangdue at leisure. Catch on the with the sceneries you missed during your onward journey. Overnight at hotel in Punakha/Wangdue.
Upon arrival and if you are not tired, visit Rinchen-Gang Village in Wangdue, one of the oldest village in Bhutan.
Distance and time: 70 Km and more than 2 hours (Approx)
DAY 11: 10/May. Punakha/Wangdue -Thimphu.(B/L/D)
Morning, hike to Khamsum Yuelley Monastery and after lunch drive to Thimphu at leisure. Overnight at hotel in Thimphu.
Distance and time: 75 Km and 2 and half hours (Approx)
Khamsum Yuelley: Drive to the idyllic countryside north of Punakha to the village of Nezigang, starting point for our gradual hiking ascent through cultivated fields and little hamlets to the Khamsum Yuley Namgay Chorten, a shrine recently built by the royal Queen mother.
Once again, you will be driving via Dochula Pass and this is your second opportunity to see the breathtaking views of the Himalayas over a cup of tea/coffee.
DAY 12: 11/MAY. Thimphu –Paro (B/L/D)
After breakfast, drive to Paro and visit National Museum, Rinpung Dzong, Kyichu Lhakhang and Traditional Bhutanese Farm House. Overnight at Hotel in Paro.
Distance and time: 60Km and more than 1Hour (Approx)
National Museum: Established in 1967, the museum is housed inside a circular Ta Dzong, an ancient Watch Tower. It holds fascinating collection of arts, relics, religious thangkha paintings, households stuffs, arms, handicrafts, stuffed animals and Bhutan’s famous Stamps among others.
Rinpung Dzong: meaning “fortress of the heap of jewels”. Built in mid 17th century, it now serves as the administrative and judicial seat of Paro district and residence for the 200 monks of Paro. Several years ago, the colourful movie Little Buddha was filmed here.
Kyichu Lhakhang: Tibetan King Songtsen Gompo in the 7th century miraculously built 108 temples, along with Jorkhang in Lhasa. Kyichu is considered to be one of them and is one of the oldest temples in Bhutan.
Farm House or Village Home: Bhutanese farmhouses are colorful, decorative and traditionally built without any nails. Majority of the houses are with three story, first floor is utilised for sheltering cattle, second floor for the family to live in and the top for storing and drying of foods and fodder for animal. A visit to farmhouse is interesting and provides you with an experience to the daily life of average Bhutanese.
DAY 13: 12/May. Paro -Taktshang Monastery Hike -Paro (B/L/D)
Morning, hike to Tiger’s Nest Monastery also known as Taktsang and Traditional Bhutanese Farm house and enjoy your last meal with a Bhutanese cuisine. Overnight at hotel in Paro.
Hike to Taktsang: Taktsang monastery is located on the face of a 1,000m seemingly impossible sheer, vertical cliff, above Paro valley. The trail be
gins near the Satsam (2650m) and climbs uphill to the Cafeteria (2,940m), an area of exposed ridge with panoramic view of Takstang.
You can get a good view from the Cafeteria or hike further uphill for another hour or so to the temple itself.
“Traditional Hot Stone bath can be arranged in Paro with prior notice of a day in advance with minimum additional charge of USD.25 per person”
DAY 14: 13/May-Saturday. Paro –Depart -Singapore (B)
Morning, transfer to the airport in time for your departure flight to onward destination, where your guide will bid you goodbye and wish you a safe journey.
Tashi Delek !
Important Notes:-
- The Places of Interest sometime are closed without prior notice but will be substituted with another place of interest.
- Itineraries are for reference and may be subject to Change
- Because of the Road widening work taking place on the Thimphu/Punakha/Trongsa/Bumthang highway, drive maybe bit tiring but its Scenic and adventurous.
- In the event that accommodation as mentioned are not available an alternative accommodation of similar standard will be provided or a home stay will be arranged for an experience.