6 NIGHTS CULTURAL TOUR ITINERARY WITH THIMPHU TSECHU FESTIVAL
Sept. 26 2009
Day -1 - Arrive Paro airport. On your arrival you will be received by your tour guide and escorted to your hotel. After some refreshment at the hotel, do Paro sightseeing. Visit the week-end market in Paro and also visit the Archery ground in Paro( which is next to the week-end market ) to see Archery practsie. Visit the National Museum, The Paro Rinpung Dzong, The Dungtse Lhakhang, Kichu Lhakhang and the Drugyal Dzong. O/n Hotel in Paro
Sept. 27, 2009
Day - 2 - After an early breakfast, drive to Satsam Chorten and do the Taktsang Monastery hike ( Tiger’s Nest). The round trip hike will take about 3-4 hours. Afternoon, drive to Thimphu ( 1 hour drive). On the way, visit the Simtokha Dzong, At Thimphu, visit the Week-end market, the Memorial Chorten, the Sangyegang view point and the Takin sanctuary ( Takin is the National Animal of Bhutan ). O/n hotel in Thimphu
Sept. 28, 2009
Day - 3 - THIMPHU TSECHU FESTIVAL
Full day at the Thimphu tsechu festival. Late afternoon, Visit the National textile Museum and the Folk Heritage museum.
O/n hotel in Thimphu
Sept. 29, 2009
Day – 4 Drive to Phunakha ( 77 kms and the drive takes about 3 hours). On the way, stop at Dochula pass ( 3120 m) to view the most beautiful view of the entire Eastern Himalayan Mountain ranges ( only possible on a clear day). You can also visit 108 beautiful stupas at the pass. On reaching Punakha, check in at hotel. After lunch, visit the Punakha Dzong, take a short hike to the beautiful Khamsum Yule Namgyel monastery. O/n Hotel in Punakha.
Sept. 30, 2009
Day – 5 - Day excursion to Gangtey Gonpa ( 45 kms from Punakha and the drive takes about 3 hours). On the way, stop at Wangdi Phodrang and visit the Wangdi Phodrang dzong. Gangtey is a beautiful place surrounded by snowcapped mountains in the distance with a landscape of rolling hills and green meadows. It is situated at an altitude of 3000m. From Gangtey, one can closely view the picturesque Black Mountain ranges as well as the beautiful Phobjikha valley. Gangtey Gonpa (Gangtey Monastery) is perched atop a small hill that rises from the valley floor. The Monastery is surrounded by a large village inhabited mainly by the families of the 140 Gomchens ( Lay Monks ) who take care of the Monastery. The Gangtey Gonpa is the only Nyingmapa Monastery on the western side of the Black Mountains and is also the biggest Nyingmapa monastery in Bhutan. Gangtey is also the winter home for the famous Black Necked Cranes who migrate here from Tibet during winters. Also visit the Black Necked Crane centre in Gangtey.
Hike around the rustic village of Gangtey and drive back to Punakha in the evening. O/n hotel in Punakha.
Oct. 01, 2009
Day - 6 - Morning, Take a short hike to Chimi lhakhang temple and also a short hike to Rinchengang village in Wangdi Phodrang. Lunch at Wangdi Phodrang and drive back to Paro ( 145 kms and the drive will take about 4 hours). Evening- Free to take a leisurely stroll in the Paro town. O/n hotel in Paro.
Oct. 02, 2009
Day -7 Departure to Bangkok.
