OCT. 25, 2009

Day –1  Arrive in Paro, Bhutan  Arrive Paro airport. You will be received by your tour guide and escorted to hotel .  Check into hotel and lunch either at hotel or at a local restaurant.After lunch visit the National Museum, once the watchtower for theRinpung Dzong,  located high on a promontory overlooking the Paro valley.  This first outing is meant to familiarize you with the cultural and  history of this amazing kingdom in the clouds, and a visit to the National Museum is the very best way to quickly learn the culture since it houses everything that is Bhutanese, in a very different museum style that  will delight you.  First constructed in 1645, the Rinpung Watchtower was converted to the National Museum in 1968.  While photography within the museum is not allowed, there are numerous photo ops of the exterior and the valley below. 
Visit the Rinpung Dzong situated just below the National Museum.  Built n 1645, this massive building now houses the District Administration Office and the Monk Body.
Overnight at hotel

OCT. 26, 2009

Day –2  Full day Paro sightseeing. Visit the  Kichu Monastery, built in early 7th century, this is one of the oldest temple in Bhutan. It was built by the Tibetan King Songtsen Tempo to spread the Buddhist Dharma in this region. Drive further upto Drugyal dzong and visit this ruined fortress. Although in ruins today, it was from this fortress that the Bhutanese people managed to withhold many attempts of invasion by the Tibetan army in the old days. Return back to Paro town and visit the Dungtse temple.                                    
Evening: Drive to Thimphu which is about 1 hour long.  Check into Hotel  
Dinner at a local restaurant.
Walk around Thimphu town and overnight at hotel.

OCT. 27, 2009

Day -3  Thimphu Sightseeing Attend the week end market where the locals come to do their weekly shopping.  This will be one of the highlights of your trip as you observe the Bhutanese people’s culture and life styles.Visit the Memorial Chorten (a large stupa) built in memory of the Third King of Bhutan. Drive to Sangyegang view point where you can get a wonderful bird’s eye view of Thimphu valley. Visit the Takin reserve where the National Animal of Bhutan lives. Visit the Zorig Chuksum, the School of the Thirteen Arts and Crafts.  This  institute was established in 1971 and students from across Bhutan come to learn the traditional arts and crafts. 
Visit the Textile Museum where rare and beautiful textiles can be seen. 
Visit the Handicraft Emporium 
Visit the Tashichhodzong which is the administrative center of Bhutan.The offices of the King, the Abbott and the four ministries are housed in this massive structure.
Dinner and overnight at Hotel

OCT. 28, 2009
           
Day-4 Thimphu -   Punakha Valley Drive to Punakha ( 77 kms and the drive takes about 3 hours). On the way, drive over the spectacular Dochu La to the verdant Punakha valley. The road winds through lush pine forests to the 10,395 ft pass,which, in good weather provides a 180-degree panorama of the             distant Himalayan summits. You can also walk around the 108 recently built stupas.  As you descend from the pass, observe dramatic changes in vegetation.  At the lower elevations, cacti, banana plants, poinsettias, and other semi-tropical plants dominate the exotic landscape.
Check in at Hotel.  After lunch, visit the Punakha Dzong, take a short hike to the beautiful Khamsum Yule Namgyel monastery ( 30minutes hike).  Drive to Lobesa and take a short hike to Chi-med lhagang (“no dogs”) located in the picturesque Lobesa valley ( 1 hour hike ).  This temple was built by the Lama Drukpa Kuenley or the “Divine Madman,” one of Bhutan’s foremost saints.  This temple is also known as the “Fertility Temple” as childless couples come from the world over to invoke the dead saint for a blessing. Overnight at Hotel

OCT. 29, 2009

Day-5  Talo and Nobgang village hike After a hearty breakfast, hike to the villages of Talo and Nobgang.  This hike takes about 4-5 hours but you can drive till the villages and hike around the village for about an hour or so.  It is a rare opportunity to visit these villages which are perched way up on the mountain side. At Nobgang, you can visit the Nobgang temple as well as some farm houses.

OCT. 30, 2009

Day –6  Visit the Wangdi Phodrang dzong & Rinchengang village in Wangdi. Morning, Drive to Wangdi  and visit the wangdi Phodrang dzong. Built in 1638, this massive fortress today houses the office of the district administration and the school and living quarters for the monks. The dzong also has amnay imprtnat temples which can be visited. Drive to the Wangdi bridge and take a short hike to the Richengang village which is about 45 minutes walk from the road side near the Wangdi bridge.
This is a very unique and interesting village with all the houses clustered together like a Tibetan village. Here also, you can visit some village houses to see how the people live here. O/n hotel

Oct. 31, 2009

Day-7  Wangdi to Phobjikha valley( Gangtey ) – 65 kms. After an early breakfast drive to Gangtey which takes about 2 hours drive. Gangtey is a beautiful place situated at an altitude of 3000m. From Gangtey, one can closely view the picturesque black mountain ranges as well as the beautiful Phobjikha valley which is one of the biggest  and the most beautiful valleys in the country. During winters, we can
also see the famous Black Necked Cranes there. At Gangtey, visit the famous Gangtey Monastery, a huge monastery which also has resident of about 140 monks. Also visit the Black Necked Crane centre. Afternoon, Take a 2-3 hour hike around this beautiful valley and visit some farm houses. O/n hotel.

NOV. 01, 2009

Day-8 Gangtey-Bumthang ( 147 kms/5 hours drive) After breakfast, drive to Bumthang via Trongsa.
On the way, stop at Trongsa for some tea/coffee and also visit the Trongsa dzong. The Trongsa Dzong was the ancestral home of the ruling dynasty. It is also the district administration office of the Trongsa district. It was built in 1648 A.D. The landscape around Trongsa is spectacular, and for
miles on end the Dzong seems to tease you so that you wonder if you will ever reach it. Backing on to the mountain and built on several levels, the Dzong fits narrowly on a spur that sticks out into the gorge of the Mangde River and overlooks the routes south and west. The view from the Dzong extends for many kilometers and in former times nothing could escape the vigilance of its watchmen. Furthermore, the Dzong is built in such a way that in the old days, no matter what direction a traveller came from, he was obliged to pass by the Dzong.This helped to augment its importance as it thus had complete control over all east-west traffic. At Bumthang check in hotel.

NOV. 02, 2009

Day - 09 Bumthang sight seeing : Visit the historical Jakar Dzong built by Minjur Tenpa, the third Druk Desi ( Temporal ruler ) in 1646 A.D. It was later repaired and expanded by Gyalse Tenzin Rabgay, the fourth Desi of Bhutan in 1683 A.D. It is probably  one of the biggest Dzongs in Bhutan with the surrounding walls about 1 km in circumference. Take a hike around the Bumthang valley and visit several ancient and important monasteries such as, Jambay Lhakhang, Kurjey Lhakhang, Kencho Sum Lhakhang, Tamshing and Pema Samba Lhakhangs. Also visit the Bumthang Swiss farm and the Member Tso “ The flaming Lake ” which is considered one of the most important pilgrimage spots. O/n hotel

NOV. 03, 2009

Day – 10  Jambay Lhakhang Drup festival in Bumthang
Full day at the Jambay Lhakhang Drup festival.
O/n hotel

NOV. 04, 2009

Day - 11 Bumthang to Thimphu ( 197 kms/7 hours drive) After an early breakfast, drive to Thimphu. O/n hotel

NOV. 05,2009

Day -12  Day Excursion To Haa Valley Drive to Haa valley via Chilela pass. On arrival in the picturesque Haa Valley,  stroll through the quaint  town and begin the hike from Haa valley to the  Katso village (alt. 8840 ft)   This is a fairly easy hike of about one hour walk through this beautiful valley and  village and fields.  Opposite Katso village, one can see the famous Katso Lhakhang (temple) of Guru Rimpoche built against the rocky ledge. Have picnic lunch at the Katso village and explore the village and hike back to the Haa valley.  Evening, drive back to Paro. O/n hotel

NOV. 06,2009