A Week in Western Bhutan

-7 Nights, 8 Days-

Overview

This trip offers a relaxed holiday covering western Bhutan. Western Bhutan is known for its stunningly beautiful scenery with rice paddy and apple orchards with rivers flowing down the mountain valleys. Most of the houses are painted with traditional designs and offer the visitor the opportunity to discover arts, architecture, and the way of day to day activities of the Bhutanese. The trip covers spectacular Dzongs (fortresses) and Monasteries in Paro, Thimphu, and Punakha.

Day 1. Paro to Thimphu

Arrival: Paro International Airport

♦ Meet with your guide and driver upon clearing immigration and customs. Drive about 1 hour and 30 minutes to Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan.

♦ Meet with your guide and driver at Hotel Lobby.

Bhutan Postal Museum: This small museum is dedicated to the history of the Bhutan Postal Service, from its earliest days when messages were delivered from Dzong to Dzong by the King’s bodyguards to the arrival of modern postage stamps and delivery methods. There are also displays of coins and religious artifacts.
Visit the Memorial Chorten: Built-in 1974 in loving memory of the Third King, His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, where a multi-storied stupa and numerous paintings are exhibited providing an insight into Buddhist Philosophy.
Buddha Dordenma Statue: The gigantic statue of Shakyamuni Buddha erected on a mountaintop is considered one of the giant statues of Buddha in the world and one of the most beautiful sights to come across. The statue houses over one hundred thousand smaller Buddha statues, each of which like the Great Buddha itself is made of bronze and gilded in gold.

Day 2. Thimphu

Visit the Royal Textile Academy: The tour at the RTA provides an excellent introduction to the techniques and style of various textiles woven in the country along with exhibitions of the national dress “Gho” for men and “Kira” for women.
Simply Bhutan “Living” Museum: This visit will give an insight into a successful initiative to conserve the culture & traditions of Bhutan and traditional contemporary art forms.
National Institute for Zorig Chusum: X “School
of Arts and Crafts”, Zorig Chusum literally means the thirteen
traditional arts and crafts. Commonly known as the Painting School, this institute is where you can see young children learning and practicing the ancient arts and crafts of Bhutan.
CSI Market: It is the largest dedicated marketplace for products made and grown in Bhutan.

Day 3: Gangtey

♦ Depart for Gangtey

First Stop at Dochula Pass: Dochula Pass is at 10,500 ft and 23 minutes from Thimphu. Visitors will witness one of Bhutan’s most enchanting views. If weather permits, the breathtaking peaks of Bhutan’s northern border can be viewed. Her Majesty the Queen Mother, Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck, dedicated the unique clusters of 108 Namgyel Khangzang Chortens as a tribute to the selfless service and visionary leadership of our Fourth King, His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck. These Chortens are a new landmark for travelers as they cross Dochula, the first mountain pass into the country’s interior.
Visit Black Necked Crane Centre: Known as Thrung Thrung Keh Narp, literally translating to thin, tall, and black-necked,
migrates from Tibet to Bhutan in late autumn each year, predicting the end of harvesting season and the onset of farmer relocations to the warmer, lower valley. The Centre is run by the Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN) and has an
observation room with high-power telescopes and good scope for spotting the famous Black Necked Crane which migrates to the region during winter. It also displays information about the history of the area.
End the day with Hot Stone Bath.

Day 4: Gangtey

Gangtey Nature Trail Hike: Gangtey Nature Trail Hike is the most beautiful and shortest of the existing nature trails in Bhutan. The hike is about 2 hours. It takes you through the pine forest and small bamboo plants providing a spectacular view of the Phobjikha Valley.
Depart for Punakha
Visit Chimi Lhakhang: Upon reaching the village of Sopsokha, you can walk about 20 minutes across the rice fields up to the monastery, Chimi Lhakhang. Lama Drukpa Kuenley built it
(also known as the Divine Madman by the West). It is believed that childless women who visit the monastery will conceive after receiving the ‘wang’ (blessing).
Visit Punakha Dzong: Located strategically at the junction of the Pho Chu and Mo Chu rivers, built-in 1637 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel the Dzong served as the religious and administrative center of Bhutan until the mid-1950s. The dual system of government was introduced here in the early 17^th century and where the Bhutanese enthroned the First King.

Day 5: Punakha

Visit Talo and Nobgang Village (Drive/Hike): These villages are known for their neat and clean appearance. Talo Village is set in the traditional Bhutanese style. Talo Village is set in the traditional Bhutanese style. The village is also blessed spiritually and one of the best things to do in Punakha. There are many monasteries and temples; Talo Monastery, Nalada Buddhist Institute, and Nobgang Lhakhang are a few to mention. A beautiful village set on the mountaintop of Punakha Valley. It is 5 km away from Talo monastery. Every household in the town has maintained a beautiful kitchen garden. As we walk along with the village we can see the variance of birds and give you the feel of another time.
A visit to this place will give you a glimpse of village life in Bhutan.
Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Lhakhang: The Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Lhakhang is a Buddhist Nunnery perched on a ridge overlooking an awe-inspiring scenery of the majestic Punakha – Wangdiphodrang Valley. The two-storey structure showcasing the finest craftsmanship of Bhutanese architecture Sangchhen Lhuendrup Lhakhang Nunnery has become one of the must-visit places in Punakha Valley.

Day 6: Paro

Drive to Paro
Visit Taa Dzong and Rinpung Dzong: Ringpung Dzong: Rinpung Dzong: “The Fortress on a Heap of Jewels” was built by Zhabdrung Ngwang Namgyel in 1646. Considered to be one of the finest examples of architecture, the Dzong also known as Paro Dzong houses administrative offices of the valley.
Taa Dzong: This conch-shaped fortress in Paro is located right above the Rinpung Dzong. Taa Dzong means the fortress of watchtower and it was converted into the National Museum of Bhutan under the command of the 3^rd King of Bhutan, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck in the 17^th Century.

Day 7: Paro

Day Hike to Taktsang Monastery (Tiger’s Nest): Taktsang meaning “Tiger’s Nest”, is built around a cave in which Guru Rinpoche (also known as Guru Padmasambhava) meditated. The monastery clings seemingly impossibly to a cliff at 914 cm above the valley floor. Hike up to the monastery is exhausting, thrilling, and mystical. Legend has it that Guru Rimpoche is said to have flown to the monastery site in the back of a tigress and meditated in the cave.
Kyichu Lhakhang: It is said to have been built by King Songtsen Gampo of Tibet. It is believed that it holds down the left foot of an ogress so large that it covers Bhutan and most of eastern Tibet. It is one of the 108 temples built by the Tibetan King in one day throughout the region of the Himalayas according to legend. The
the temple also housed a museum dedicated to the late Dilgo Khyentse Rimpoche and hosts a range of artifacts belonging to the Rimpoche.

Day 8. Departure

Transfer and departure from Paro International Airport.

A Week In Western Bhutan – 7 Days