Bhutan tour itinerary for 10 days including Paro Tsechu Festival 2009
April 07, 2009 ( Tuesday)
Day -1- Arrive Paro from Bangkok. On your arrival at the Paro International airport, you will be received by your tour guide from Sakten Tours and Treks and escorted to your hotel. After some refreshment at the hotel visit the Paro Ta-dzong, the National Museum of Bhutan, Drugyal dzong, a ruined fortress and the Kichu Monastery.O/n hotel Janka resort/Olathang hotel.
April 08, 2009
Day -2 – Full day at the Paro Tsechu festival. O/n hotel
April 09, 2009
Day -3 - Early morning, witness the unfurling of the Giant Thanka (Thongdrel) which is unfurled for public viewing only once a year on the last day of the Paro festival. After seeing the Giant Thankha come back to the hotel for breakfast and drive to Thimphu ( 59 kms and drive takes 1 hour). At Thimphu, visit the Memorial Chorten, a huge stupa built in memory of the late King of Bhutan, the Folk heritage Museum, the Institute of Arts and Crafts, the Institute of traditional medicine, the National Textile Museum, the Handicrafts emporium, the Changankha Monastery. Afternoon, drive to Sangye gang view point from where you can see the entire Thimphu valley beautifully. On the way back, visit the Takin zoo ( Takin is the national animal of Bhutan). O/n hotel.
April 10, 2009
Day - 4 - After an early breakfast, drive to Punakha via Dochula pass ( 3120m). It is 77 kms way and the drive takes about 3 hours. On the way stop at the Dochula pass to visit the 108 beautiful Stupas built in the middle of the pass and also to view the snowcapped mountain ranges. If the weather is clear, you can view the entire Eastern Himalayan Mountain ranges from here. At Punakha, visit the Punakha dzong and the beautiful Khamsum Yule Namgyel Monastery. O/n hotel
April 11, 2009
Day-5 – After an early breakfast, drive to Bumthang ( 210 km and the drive takes about 8-9 hours). On the way visit the Wangdi Phodrang Dzong.O/n Hotel in Bumthang.
April 12, 2009
Day - 6 - Full day Bumthang sightseeing. Visit the historical Jakar dzong, the famous Jambay Lhakhang and Kurjey Lhakhang temples. The Tamshing Lhakhang, the Kencho sum Lhakhang and Padma Sambhava temple. Drive to Tang and visit the Mebar tso known as the Flaming Lake , this is one of the most holy Buddhist pilgrimage spots in Bhutan. On the way back, visit the Bumthang sheep farm. O/n Hotel Riverlodge.
April 13, 2009
Day -7 – Morning – Drive to Wangdi ( 197 kms and the drive takes about 7 hours). On the way stop at Trongsa and visit the Trongsa dzong and its ancient Watch Tower and then drive to Wangdi Phodrang . O/n hotel
April 14, 2009
Day – 8 - Drive to Paro ( 245 km and the drive takes about 56 hours). On the way, visit the Semtokha dzong. Semtokha dzong is the oldest Dzong in Bhutan built in 1629. Today this Dzong houses the Institute for Arts and Crafts and the school and living quarter for the monks. O/n hotel in Paro.
April 15, 2009
Day - 9 - Taktsang Monastery dayhike Hike to Taktsang Monastery. The word Taktsang means Tigers Nest. It is said that during the early 7th century, the Tibetan saint known as the Guru Rimpoche alighted here riding upon the back of a Tigress and meditated here for over 3 months to subdue the Demons and also to spread the Buddhism in the region. After three months of meditation he then ordered the Taktsang Monastery to be built on the same spot where he had meditated. The Monastery is built on a rocky ledge with a sheer drop of more than 1000m. The round trip hike takes about 4 hours. O/n Hotel
April 16, 2009 ( THURSDAY)
Day -10 - Departure 
