Bhutan: The Last Shangri-La Tour

As your flight nears Bhutan, you can enjoy amazing views of the Himalayas including the sacred Chomolhari and Jichu Drake peaks. At the airport, you will be greeted by a representative from Himalayan Glacier who will take you to your hotel in Thimphu for a good night's sleep.

Depending on your arrival time, you might want to visit a few places in Thimphu as well. This can be arranged as well.

In the morning, we visit Memorial Chorten, a nunnery temple and a mini-zoo to see takin, the national animal of Bhutan. We will also visit other landmarks of Thimphu including the National Institute of Traditional Medicine, Bhutanese traditional painting school, folk heritage museum, the majestic Tashichho Dzong and a traditional paper factory.

However, some of the landmarks are closed in the weekends (Saturdays and Sundays). Therefore, if we are in Thimphu during the weekends, we can explore the Weekend Market instead.

After breakfast, we drive to Punakha via Dochu La Pass (3,100 m), where on a clear day we get spectacular views of the Himalayas. Next, we drive downhill through rhododendron, fir and hemlock forests.

On the way, we visit Chimi Lhakhang, a fertility temple dedicated to the Divine Madman or Lama Drukpa Kuenley. After reaching Punakha, we will also visit Punakha Dzong, which was built between 1637-1638 and is the second oldest and the second largest dzong in Bhutan. Overnight in Punakha.

In the morning, we explore Wangdue Phodrang. The nearby villages are known for their slate and stone carvings. We then drive through dense oak and rhododendron forests to Gangtey, a beautiful village surrounded by amazing snow-capped mountains.

From here, we can enjoy views of the picturesque Black Mountain ranges as well as the beautiful Phobjikha valley, the winter habitat of the black-necked cranes. We’ll also reach the Gangtey Monastery, perched atop a small hill. We will explore Phobjikha villages before driving back to Punakha for an overnight stay.

After breakfast, we begin our drive to the Paro valley. In Paro, we will visit Rinpung Dzong, which means “fortress made from a heap of jewels”. We will also visit Kichu Lhakhang, the oldest temple in the country, and Drugyal Dzong, built in 1646 to commemorate Bhutan's victory over Tibetan invaders.

After breakfast, we hike for 4 to 5 hours to Taktsang (Tiger's Nest) Monastery, which is Bhutan's most famous monastery situated at 3,180 meters. Guru Rinpoche (spiritual master) is said to have flown on the back of a tigress to meditate in a cave where the Taktsang Monastery now stands.

Lunch will be served in the Cafeteria Restaurant, located about halfway up the mountain. After having explored the monastery, we hike down to the valley floor.

Today we bid farewell to the tiny Himalayan Kingdom and her friendly people. Druk Air generally departs in the early morning to avoid adverse weather conditions. Therefore, after breakfast, we will be taken to the airport for your flight back home.