28th Sept., 2009 ( Monday)

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 Rinpung Dzong and the Paro Ta-dzong, the National Museum of Bhutan. Evening drive to Thimphu ( 2 hours drive). O/n hotel

29th Sept.,2009

Day -2 - Full day at the Thimphu Tsechu festival. O/n Thimphu

30th  Sept., 2009

Day -3 - Morning – At the Thimphu Tsechu festival. Afternoon, Visit the Memorial Chorten, a   huge Stupa built in memory of the Late King of Bhutan,  visit the Zilukha Nunnery Monastery, Changangkha Monastery, a 16 century temple overlooking the Thimphu valley, drive to Sangyegang  view point      from where you can view the entire Thimphu valley  beautifully. On the way back, visit the Takin sanctuary, Takin is the National Animal of Bhutan. O/n hotel

1st Oct., 2009

Day - 4 -  After an early breakfast, drive to Punakha via Dochula pass ( 3120m). It is 77 kms way and trhe 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 Khamsum Yule Namgyel Monastery. O/n hotel

2nd  Oct., 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.

3rd  Oct., 2009

Day -6 - Visit the Thangbi Mani festival in Thangbi, Bumthang for the full day. In the evening, after the festival, visit the historical Jakar dzong, the Jambay Lhakhang and the Kurjey Lhakhang. O/n hotel

4th Oct., 2009

Day – 7 - Morning- You have the option to see the festival or do some more Bumthang sightseeing. Afternoon, drive to Trongsa. O/n hotel              

5th Oct., 2009

Day -8 – Morning – Visit the Trongsa dzong and its ancient Watch Tower and then drive to Wangdi Phodrang  129 km and the drive takes about 6 hours). O/n hotel 

6th Oct., 2009

Day – 09 - 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.

7th Oct. , 2009

Day - 10 - 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

8th Oct., 2009 ( Thgursday)

Day -11  - Departure