Day 1: Arrive Paro
Minimum Altitude: 2195 m
Maximum Altitude: 3116 m
Paro is the first town you will enter when flying to Bhutan. While flying into Bhutan, from the left hand side of the aircraft you will see the Majestic Himalayan Range with the Peaks of Mt.Everest, Mt.Kanchanganga, Mt.Jumolhari and Mt.Jichu Drake whereby the latter two Mountains are in Bhutan.
On arrival at the Paro International Airport, Our representatives will receive you all. We will drive to straight to Gangtey.The driving distance is 185 km and might take around 4 hours 40 minutes.
Day 2: Gangtey Valley
Minimum Altitude: 2900 m
Maximum Altitude: 2900 m
After breakfast we will visit Black necked crane information center.Then we will head to Gangteng Sanagcholing Monastery. The monestary is a very important seat of Peling Tradition of Buddhism. We will then take the Nature trail hike. It is a very beautiful hike through the Village of Simchubara and ends at the Khewang Lhakhang.
Day 3:Gasa
Minimum Altitude: 1200 m,
Maximum Altitude: 2850 m
Today we will drive down to Punakha. We will tour Punakha Dzong.Sitting at the fork of two rivers, it is a stunning example of Bhutanese architecture. Built in 1637, it is the second oldest and second largest dzong in Bhutan. It was the location of the royal wedding of our current King and Queen in 2011.All our Kings are crowned here.
We will visit Khumsum Yuelley Namgyel Chorten. its is a 45minutes uphill hike to reach. It was built in 1990s in honour of our Present King, His Majesty King Jigme Kheser Namgyel Wangchuk. It took nearly about 10 years to built it. After Lunch, we will head to Gasa, The Land of unnatural peaks and hot springs. It will be 47.6 Km drive out of Punakha Valley.
It is the northernmost district of the country, which adjoins the districts of Punakha, Thimphu and Wangdue Phodrang and with Tibet to its north. The majority of the known herds of wild Takin also occur in Gasa.Take bath in the hot spring in the evening.
Overnight: Ap Tashi’s House
Day 4: Gasa – Laya: Trekking
Minimum Altitude: 2850 m
Maximum Altitude 3800 m.
Today we will drive early to Koina.It is a 25 km drive on a rough road and it will take about 2 hours.
From Koina we will start trekking to Laya Village ( Aprox. 19 km, 7- 8 hr. trek / 1070m ascent, 260m decent.)We will begin a gradual climb at first and then stay high for about half an hour and make a ascent to Koina Lapcha (3300m). From there, there will be several short descending and ascending up yo 3390m, we will desend to the bank of Mo chu river and follow it upstream for a while and arrive at Taksimakhang – an army post. Then from there we will begin a gradual climb to Laya Village.
Overnight: Yak Hearder’s House
Day 5: -Royal Highlander Festival
Altitude: 3800 m.
Today we will attend the Royal Highlander Festival. People around the country crave to attend the Festival, however given the fact of its venue being at Laya at an altitude of 3800 meters,few can make it.
The festival is a two days event and brings Yak herders of different regions of the country together. This is one of the few festivals where the Royal Family attands.
Some popular programs:
- Domestic animal Decoration Show
- Horse Race Competition
- Traditional Epic poem recitation
- Snowman Run Competition
- Selection of Best Bhutanese Mastiff
- Open Strongman Competition
- Cultural programs and dances.
Overnight: Yak hearder’s House
Day 6: Laya – Punakha
Minimum Altitude: 2850 m
Maximum Altitude: 3800 m.
We will trek back to Koina, where our car will be waiting for us. Drive back to Punakha. We will visit Gasa dzong, Gasa primary school (if its open) Community Water Bottling plant ( if it is open). Visit Gasa hot spring if time permits and drive back to Punakha.
Overnight at Zhingkham Resort
Day 7: Punakha- Menchuna Village
Minimum Altitude: 1200 m,
Maximum Altitude: 2850 m
We will head to Menchuna Village today. Enroute, we will visit Chimi Lhakhang. It is known as The Fertility Temple.it was built by the Naughty Saint, Drukpa Kinley also known as The Divine madman, in 1499 A.D.Couples who have difficulty bearing baby comes to this temple to pray. And many couples including foreigners were blessed with children. A Picture album of couples and babies can be seen in the temple.
We will drive till Thinleygang where a community guide, (Who will be a youth from *”Gakidh Village” project.) will be waiting to acompany us.From Thinleygang road point we will hike down hill to reach Chandana heritage house ( aprox. 45 mins walk). The local guide will be happy to share the folk lore behing the heritage house involving the Divine Madman. We will further hike to Tahogang, which is around 6 Km away and might take us Aprox. 3 hours to reach. We will visit the Tahogang Community School and interact with the students and teachers there. There are around 15 students in the school. We will go to the Gakidh village tea making center just above the school. There we will witness entire process of traditional tea making.We will take a walk around the village and interact with villagers.We can have a ‘Khuru’ match in the evening. Khuru is a traditional dart game played with two targets on opposite sides
Overnight : Menchuna Farm House
{* “Gakidh Village” meaning happiness Village is a community based ecotourism project to help youths.}
Day 8: (Menchuna Village – Paro
Minimum Altitude: 2195 m,
Maximum Altitude 3100 m
We will start early today, and if we are lucky,we will catch the sunrise at Dochula pass. Have breakfast at Dochula café. Then head to where we first started from, Paro.
- Ugyen Pema Woedling Zangthopelri
- Visit National Musuem
- Kichu Lhakhang
In the evening we will take a stroll around Paro town, and can shop for local products.
Overnight: Dewachen Resort
Day 9: Paro- Tiger’s Nest hike
Minimum Altitude: 2195 m,
Maximum Altitude 3120 m
No visit to Bhutan is truly complete without a trek to the iconic Tiger’s Nest Monastery. It is miraculously perched on the side of a sheer cliff 900 m above the floor of Paro valley. We will drive to the base of the Tiger’s Nest and begin our hike up hill. While this hike is a constant climb uphill, it takes only around 2 hours to get up and the views are well the worth.
Overnight: Dewachen Resort.
Day 10: Depart Bhutan
After breakfast an early morning transfer to Paro Airport for your onward flight. Thank you for visiting Bhutan
