Trip Name: Best of Bhutan Tour
Trip Activities: Sightseeing and Hiking
Trip Grade: Easy
Best Season: All the round the year (October – November are the best)
Our Best of Bhutan Tour is the perfect introduction to this Himalayan kingdom where you get to explore the fascinating site of Paro, Thimpu and Punakha.
Bhutan is the last remaining intact Himalayan kingdom filled with mystery and magic where ancient Buddhist culture gracefully embraces the global development.
Bhutan (Druk Yul) also known the “Land of the Thunder Dragon” is the country where the sale of tobacco is restricted, plastic bags are outlawed and no traffic lights are there on streets. A trip to Bhutan is like travelling into the past era.
But you will find houses with satellite dishes, monks using smart phones and student can debate with you in perfect, pukka English. Bhutan has able to create a perfect boundary between development and ancient traditional culture. It is the only country where Gross National Happiness takes major account rather than Gross National Product.
Best of Bhutan tour takes you to visit highly revered historical sites of Thimpu, Paro and Punakha while soaking up in best natural scenery.
4 nights 5 days Best of Bhutan trip combines famous landmarks – Tiger Nest Monastery (Taktsang), Dzongs, monasteries and temples scattered throughout the kingdom. We get opportunity to hike on stunning landscapes up to the ridge nearby Paro Valley. It is the best Bhutan tour package designed in such a way that though them, you can get the real taste and treat of Bhutan.
All our Bhutan trip is operated by the team of professional guides certified by the Tourism Council of Bhutan. These guides acquires all the necessary skills, attitude, aptitude and knowledge.
Dream Bhutan offers a professional tour services – arranging all your travel needs from booking of flight to processing of Bhutan travel visa both for individual as well as larger groups and food and accommodation while your stay in Bhutan.
Day01: Arrival at Paro via Airway and transfer to Thimpu (55km/1.5 hours approx...)
The flight to Paro is one of the most exciting trans-Himalayan flight in the world. Whether you are flying along the Himalayan chain from Kathmandu or over the foothills form Kokatta, the air trip offers tantalizing views. As soon as you step out of your plane, you will quickly notice the clean fresh mountain air. After all the visa formalities and immigration procedures, the Dream Bhutan airport representative will meet you out the terminal hall and transfer you to the Thimpu, the capital city of Kingdom. On the way, we stop at Chuzom - the juncture of Thimpu and Paro rivers. Here you will witness three different types of stupa – Tibetan, Nepalese and Bhutanese.
On arrival Thimpu, you check-into the hotel and take well-deserved rest. Enjoy the evening time with an exploratory walk around the city.
Overnight in Thimpu
Day02: Sightseeing of Thimpu
After breakfast, we drive to explore the Memorial Chorten which was built in 1974 to honor the legendary Third King Jigme Dorje Wangchuk, also known as the father of modern Bhutan.
Then we proceed towards Buddha Point (Kuensel Phodrang). Here we explore the largest Buddha’s statue in the country towering 169 feet (51.5m), made of bronze and gilded in gold. You can also get the fascinating view of Thimpu valley from this point.
Then we visit Changangkha Lhakhang. The temple was built in 12th century by Lama Phajo Drukgom Shigpo and is ideally located above the central Thimpu. Local visits this religious sites to get auspicious names for their newborns or blessing from the protector deity “Tamdrin”.
Next we drive to upper Motithang to explore the Takin Sanctuary. The Takin is the national animal of Bhutan. Local believes that the animal was formed by the Buddhist Yogi, Drukpa Kuenley and is found only in Bhutan and nearby areas.
After lunch, we will proceed to visit the National Library that protect the collection of priceless Buddhist manuscripts, the Institute for Zorig Chusum (commonly known as the painting school) where students takes 6 years training of 13 traditional arts and crafts, Textile Museum which offer close peek to distinct art form, Folk Heritage Museum that displays Bhutanese tradition and rural history.
We conclude our day with a visit of Trashichhoe Dzoong, also referred as the fortress of the glorious region. It is one of auspicious Dzong located at the right side of Thimpu River and built in 1641 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel who unified Bhutan. It was reconstructed by the third King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk in 1962. This building serves as Secretariat building, the throne room of His Majesty, the King and various government offices.
In the evening, explore the local crafts Bazaar to discover the Bhutan’s fine arts and architecture.
Overnight in Thimpu
Day03: Thimpu – Dochula Pass – Paro (95km approx. 2- 3 hours drive)
After breakfast, we drive to Dochu-La Pass located at 3,088m/10,130ft to enjoy the magnificent Druk Wangyal Chortens with colorful prayer flags surrounding the area. The Chortens were built to honor His Majesty the 4th Druk Gyalpo and his people for their victory in the war fought in the southern region of Bhutan in 2003. In clear weather, you can get the beautiful sight of Masgang (7,158m), Tsendagang (6,960m), Terigang (7,060m), Jejegangphugang (7,158m), Kangphugang (7,170m), Zongphugang (7,060m) (a table mountain that dominates the isolated Lunana region) and Gangkar Puensum, the highest mountain in Bhutan at 7,497m.
Then we drive back to Paro via the wonderful Wang Chhu and Paro Chhu River. On the way we visit Simtokha Dzong, the oldest fortress of the Kingdom built in 1629 by Ngawang Namgyel. Simtokha means “atop a Demon”. Legend has it that the Dzong’s were constructed to subdue an evil spirit that was harming the travelers in the region.
Then we check-into the hotel in Paro and move for the exploration of Ta Dzong. It was originally built as the Watchtower which is now converted to National Museum. Here we will explore the numbers of Thangkha Paintings, textiles, weapons & armors, household objects and historical artifacts.
Next we walk down to visit Ringpung Dzong; meaning the “Fortress of the heap of Jewels”. Here you find amazing wall paintings demonstrating the Buddhist lore – four friends, the old man of long life, the wheel of life, scenes from the life of Milerapa, Mount. Sumeru and other cosmic Mandala.
In the evening, wander around the city of Paro.
Overnight in Paro
Day04: Paro – Taktshang Monastery (5 hours round trip)
Taktshang Monastery (the tiger nest) is one of the most venerated Bhutan’s monasteries, perched majestically on the rock cliff above the Paro valley floor. Legend has it that the Guru Rinpoche flew here on the back of Tigress and meditated at this monastery.
In the afternoon, we drive to Drukgyel Dong, a ruined fortress where Bhutanese warriors fought with Tibetan invaders centuries ago.
On the way to hotel, we visit the Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the 108 temples, built in 7th century.
Overnight in Paro
Day05: Final Departure
Today we bid farewell to this tiny Himalayan Kingdom. The representative from Dream Bhutan will drive you to the Paro International Airport on scheduled time for your final departure.
