Enchanting Trip to Bhutan

After breakfast, embark on a sightseeing tour of Thimphu Valley, beginning with the National Library, which houses an extensive collection of priceless Buddhist manuscripts. Next, visit the Institute for Zorig Chusum (Painting School), where students undergo a six-year training in Bhutan’s 13 traditional arts and crafts. Continue to the Textile Museum to explore one of Bhutan’s most distinctive art forms.

Later, head to Buddha Point (Kuensel Phodrang), where you can offer prayers to the largest Buddha statue in the country and enjoy panoramic views of the Thimphu Valley. Proceed to the King's Memorial Chorten, a monument to world peace and prosperity built in memory of Bhutan’s third king, His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, where locals continuously circumambulate while spinning prayer wheels. Finally, visit Trashichhoedzong, an impressive fortress and monastery that houses the Secretariat, the throne room of His Majesty the King, and serves as the summer residence of the Chief Abbot. Overnight stay at the hotel in Thimphu.

After breakfast, check out from the hotel and embark on a scenic drive to Punakha. En route, stop at Dochula Pass to take in stunning views of the eastern Himalayas, framed by 108 memorial chortens. Continue to Chimi Lhakhang, also known as the Temple of Fertility, perched on a hillock in the center of the valley. It is believed that couples who pray here are often blessed with children. The trail leading to the temple winds through lush rice fields and the quaint village of Pana, providing a rare glimpse into local village life. Later, visit the majestic Punakha Dzong, an impressive fortress located at the confluence of the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers. This massive structure, once the capital of Bhutan until 1955, still serves as the winter residence for the central monk body. Overnight at the hotel in Punakha.

After breakfast, embark on a scenic drive to Bumthang, crossing the Pelela Pass (3,100m). En route, visit Chendbji Chorten, an 18th-century stupa modeled after Swayambhunath in Kathmandu, featuring eyes painted at the four cardinal points. Stop for lunch at Trongsa, followed by a visit to the impressive Trongsa Dzong, the ancestral home of Bhutan’s royal family. Built in 1648, this massive structure served as the seat of power over central and eastern Bhutan. Both the first and second kings ruled from this seat, and all four kings were invested as Trongsa Penlop (governor) before ascending the throne. The Dzong cascades down the ridge in multiple levels, dominating the landscape. Visit Ta Dzong, perched on the mountainside, which was built to guard Trongsa.

Continue the drive to Bumthang, crossing the Yutong La Pass (3,400m). Along the way, visit Chumey Valley, where you can explore the Yathra weaving center, known for its vibrant woolen fabrics, and nearby villages. Upon arrival in Bumthang, check into your hotel. Bumthang, one of Bhutan’s most spectacular valleys and the heartland of Buddhism, welcomes you with wide, open cultivated fields and dense conifer forests. Overnight at the hotel in Bumthang (Altitude 3000m).

After breakfast, embark on a tour of the Bumthang Valley, beginning with a visit to Kurje Lhakhang, where the saint Padma Sambhava subdued a local demon and left his body imprint on a rock. Continue to Jambey Lhakhang, a 7th-century temple, and Tamshing Lhakhang, known for housing some of the oldest wall paintings in Bhutan. Next, explore Jakar Dzong, the administrative center of the region. Stroll through the village, browse the small handicrafts shop at the town's entrance, and perhaps enjoy refreshments at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, take a short hike to Lhodrak Kharchhu Monastery, located about 3 km from Chamkhar town. Founded in 1984 by Namkhai Nyingpo Rinpoche, recognized at a young age by H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama and H.H. the 16th Karmapa as the reincarnation of a Tibetan lama, the monastery is dedicated to preserving Tibetan culture. The monks' curriculum includes daily prayers, dharma dances, mandala drawing, learning sacred ritual melodies, making sacrificial objects, and studying grammar, poetry, and the stages of tantra. Overnight at the hotel in Bumthang.

After an early breakfast, check out from the hotel and drive to Gangtey, located east of Wangdue Phodrang. The beautiful Phobjikha Valley is home to the renowned Gangtey Monastery, established in the 17th century. A few kilometers from the monastery lies the village of Phobjikha, which serves as the winter residence for the black-necked cranes migrating from Tibet. The Gangtey Valley is one of the most picturesque spots in Bhutan, with its vast, treeless landscape standing in stark contrast to the dense forests that surround it, offering a rare sense of expansive space.

After lunch, enjoy the Gangtey Nature Trail (5.5 km, approx. 2 hours, easy difficulty), which provides a wonderful introduction to the Phobjikha Valley. The walk begins on a small hilltop overlooking Gangtey Goempa, leading downhill through flower-filled meadows to Semchubara village, then through beautiful forests into the open valley. The trail ends at the local community school, passing a chorten and Khewal Lhakhang along the way. Visit Gangtey Goempa, the largest Nyingmapa monastery in Bhutan, perched on a small hill rising from the valley floor. It is the only Nyingmapa monastery on the western side of the Black Mountains, surrounded by a village primarily inhabited by the families of the 140 Gomchens who maintain it. In the evening, take a leisurely stroll through the fascinating Gangtey Village. Overnight at the hotel in Gangtey.

After breakfast, visit the Black Necked Crane Information Centre located at the edge of the forest and wetland in Phobjikha Valley. The center features an observation room with high-powered telescopes and spotting scopes for optimal crane viewing, along with informative displays about the area's natural and cultural history. You can also explore a small gift shop offering local handicrafts.

Later, proceed to Paro and check into your hotel. After lunch, visit Ta Dzong, originally a watchtower, now housing the National Museum, which displays antique Thangka paintings, textiles, weapons, and historical artifacts. Next, walk to Rinpung Dzong, a fortress with beautiful wooden galleries and Buddhist wall paintings. In the evening, indulge in a traditional hot stone bath (additional cost) at a local farmhouse, a centuries-old Bhutanese practice believed to relax joints and alleviate health issues. Overnight stay at the hotel in Paro.