The Grand Bhutan Luxury Tour Amankora

DAY 1

Arrive Paro. Transfer to Amankora Paro Hotel.

Arrive at Paro Airport. You’ll be met upon arrival and transferred by private vehicle to your hotel in the very small town of Paro. Depending on your arrival time, you may be able to enjoy a short sightseeing tour of Paro.

Accommodation: Amankora Paro Hotel, Paro
Meals: Dinner

For detailed information, choices and advice for International flight options to Paro, Bhutan - please click here

DAY 2

Paro Sightseeing

A day of cultural sightseeing. The morning is spent in the wonderful Paro Valley. This will be a mix of gentle walking and the use of a private vehicle to visit the principal sights of the delightful Paro Valley, including the magnificent Paro Dzong and the fascinating National Museum. In the afternoon, you’ll be driven to Thimpu (approximately 2 hours by private vehicle), stopping along the way to visit the Tamchhog Lhakang Temple. From the road, it’s an easy walk of around 15 minutes to reach this 14th-century temple. It’s very atmospheric, and you may be forgiven for feeling like you’ve just travelled back in time to mediaeval Bhutan. Reaching Thimpu, you’ll first be driven up to the huge Buddha statue, from where there are great views over Bhutan’s rather small capital city.

Accommodation: Amankora Thimpu Hotel, Thimpu
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 3

Thimpu and Cheri Gompa

The morning is spent exploring Thimpu with your guide. Firstly, you’ll pay a visit to the Tashishddzong and other places of interest, depending on your preferences. Possibilities include the School of Painting, craft workshops, the late King’s Memorial, and the Handicrafts Emporium. The latter is perhaps the best place in Bhutan to purchase Bhutanese handicrafts. One alternative would be to pay a visit to the Takin Reserve, a rather weird animal native to Bhutan. In the early afternoon, you’ll be driven a short distance from Thimpu to Begana to enjoy a beautiful afternoon walk up to Cheri Gompa. The Gompa was built in the 17th Century, high up on a hill surrounded by forested hills. It takes around an hour to walk up to the gompa, and there are a few different detour possibilities for the return so that you can walk through and experience the rural aspects of Bhutanese life. Walking time is around 3–4 hours.

Accommodation: Amankora Thimpu Hotel, Thimpu
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 4

Over the Dochu La to Punakha

To reach Punakha, the former winter capital of Bhutan, it takes around 3 hours by road in a private vehicle. But it’s a spectacular journey over the Dochu La. The pass itself is at an altitude of 3140 m, and if it’s a clear day, you can look forward to spectacular views of the distant peaks of the Himalayas. Actually, this is a good place to stop and enjoy a leisurely lunch and gaze at Bhutan’s highest peak, the unclimbed Gangkar Puensum (7550m). As you drop down into the Punakha Valley, you’ll notice how verdant everything is fast becoming. Stopping along the way, you’ll visit the “Divine Madman’s Temple”. Otherwise known as Chimi Lakhang, which is rather popular with Bhutanese women, it won’t escape your notice that this 15th-century temple is decorated with phallus symbols. The women are coming here to pray for having children, although Drukpa Kunley, who built the 15th-century temple, did have some rather eccentric views about sex and is revered to this day by the Bhutanese people. Indeed, you’ll find many Bhutanese homes have phallic symbols painted on them. Drukpa Kunley believed that sexual freedom lay at the centre of “The Truth” in his Tantric teachings. Welcome to Bhutan!

Accommodation: Amankora Punakha Hotel, Punakha
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 5

Punakha Valley & Punakha Dzong

You’re probably itching to visit Punakha Dzong, but first there’s a very atmospheric walk to enjoy. In less than half an hour's drive into the Punakha Valley, you’ll alight and set off on foot to Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten. The walking is innocent enough to begin with as you cross the Mo Chu River by way of a suspension bridge and stroll through paddy fields. But, as you’ve probably now realised, many religious monuments are located in the hills, and this one is no exception. So, you then have to climb up to the chorten. It should take less than an hour to reach it, though, even if it is a steep ascent. After exploring the chorten, you can walk back down the way you came up and return to your vehicle to be driven to Punakha Dzong. But if you prefer to carry on walking, you can exit via a different gate, and after an initial steep descent, the trail contours the hillside to descend more gradually through woodland to the village of Yabesa. Reaching the river, it’s then a nice and easy downstream stroll as you walk all the way to Punakha Dzong. After admiring the Dzong you’ll be driven back to your hotel. The total walking time for this option is around 3–4 hours.

Accommodation: Amankora Punakha Hotel, Punakha
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 6

Over the Pele La to the Gangtey Valley

Leaving Punkaha, you travel by private vehicle over the Pele La (3300m) and drop down by road to the Gangtey Valley. Gangtey is the name commonly given to the Phobjikha Valley, which lies in central Bhutan and is one of the kingdom's few glacial valleys. For several years, the cultivation of potatoes has brought a certain degree of prosperity to the local peasant farmers; however, the area is best known for the rare black-necked crane, which migrates from the Tibetan Plateau in order to avoid the extremely cold winters. You’ll visit the Black-necked Crane Visitor Centre, and if you’re here between late October and early spring, you may just see some of the revered Black-necked Cranes.

Accommodation: Amankora Gangtey Hotel, Gangtey
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 7

In the Gangtey Valley

Today, your guide will take you on a tour of the delights and sights of the Phobjikha Valley area. It’s your holiday after all, so you can choose how you’d like to enjoy the day. Your guide will help you, whether it be an on-foot walking tour, all by private vehicle, or a mix of both.

Accommodation: Amankora Gangtey Hotel, Gangtey
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 8

To Bumthang

Today you’ll be driven to the delightful Bumthang Valley via the Yotong La (3,425 m). Just before Chhumey, though, you’ll stop off to visit the Domgkhar Palace and Lamey Gompa. It’s then just a short drive to the small town of Jakhar. Bumthang is the general name given to a complex of four valleys—Chhumey, Choekhor, Tang, and Ura—with altitudes varying from 2,600 to 4,000 metres. The beauty of the area is renowned, with rich and fertile highlands covered mostly in pine and known for their buckwheat and apple production, sturdy stone houses, and a plethora of monasteries. Being one of the coldest parts of the country, snow is a frequent sight in the winter.

Accommodation: Amankora Bumthang Hotel, Jakhar
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 9

Explore Bumthang

Today, you can choose whether you’d prefer to explore Bumthang on foot or by private vehicle. Or a mix of both! Your guide will be willing and able to suggest possibilities as to how you’d like to spend today. One option for a quite straightforward walking exploration is to walk to Jambay Lakhang and follow a track that brings you to the three large temples of Kurjey Lakhang. From here, you descend to the river, cross via a suspension bridge, and continue to walk gently down stream to the most important Nyingma Gompa in Bhutan, the 16th-century Tamshing Lakhang. After exploring here, your private vehicle will return you to Jakhar. The walking takes around 3–4 hours. If you’re interested in crafts, then you could visit the Yathra weaving centre as well as several of the Dzongs, monasteries, and the Wangdichholing Palace in the valley by private vehicle.

Accommodation: Amankora Bumthang Hotel, Jakhar
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 10

Fly/Drive to Paro

While it is just a short flight to Paro from Jakhar and subject to being able to secure tickets for the flight (a challenge at times in itself), the flight itself is highly weather dependent. Thus, it may be necessary to drive back to Paro.

Accommodation: Amankora Paro Hotel, Paro
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 11

Excursion to the Haa Valley

Leaving Paro, you now head west over the Cheli La (3990m) and into the wonderful, rather “off the beaten track,” Haa Valley. Along the way to Cheli La, you’ll stop to visit the Kila Gompa nunnery, You’ll have to walk, but it only takes around half an hour to reach it. This rather isolated, peaceful Gompa with lush, forested slopes surrounding it is most certainly a place of peace and retreat. It’s home to around 30 or so nuns who live a life of seclusion and dedication to spirituality. Dating back as far as the 9th century, as a site of meditation, there are numerous secret caves as well as small buildings for secluded meditation. Descending into the “Once off limits” Haa Valley, you’ll notice the Rig Sum Goenpa—these are three hills, all cone-shaped, that are (believed to be) the physical manifestations of Manjushri, Chenrizig, and Chana Dorji. The Dalai Lama is considered to be Chenrizig in human form, the Buddha of compassion. Chana Dorji is the god that is believed to protect Bhutan. Reaching Haa, you’ll visit the monasteries of Lhakhang Karpo (the white temple) and Lhakhang Nagpo (the black temple). The central shrine of Lhakhang Nagpo is said to resemble that of the Jowo in Lhasa, Tibet, returning back to Paro later in the day. One option that would make this a less hurried day due to overland travel from and back to Paro would be to spend a night or two in the delightful Haa Valley. Presently, there aren't any "luxury" accommodations in Haa, though. But there are a couple of reasonably comfortable small lodges to stay in.

Accommodation: Amankora Paro Hotel, Paro
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 12

Taktsang Monastery - Option to add 2 day Bumdra Trek to Taktsang.

You’re probably itching to visit the Tiger's Nest, and the day has now arrived. It’s actually a stiff 2-hour walk up through woodland and a rather steep climb of around 350 m. Thankfully, there’s a teahouse at one of the classic Taktsang Monastery view points where you can rest and refresh before a further 30 minutes of climbing brings you to Takstang (3110m) itself. On the final climb, you pass what is probably the most famous view point, which looks directly across to the monastery. It’s usually possible to enter the monastery, but if there’s something going on at the monastery (religious or VIP visit), then it may not be possible. Heading steeply down, a descent of around 100m leads into a gorge before climbing back up to the main monastery gate, from which it’s down to the valley floor and your ride “home”. Walking time is around 4–5 hours, with around 750m of ascent and descent. However, if the sound of this walk to see Taktsang Monastery isn’t your thing (and on foot is the only way to reach it), you can be taken by private vehicle to visit the impressive Drukgyel Dzong instead. This altogether easier option can also include an excursion to a nearby view point to see Chomolhari, Bhutan’s second-highest mountain at 7314m.

Alternatively this can also be extended to become a 2 day trek known as the Bumdra Trek. This hike begins at Sang Choekor Monastery (2800m) near Paro followed by a steep climb of around 2hrs to a ridge and then to Chhoe Chhoe Tse Lakhang and then up through pine forests to Bumdra Monastery (3800m) where you spend the night at fixed camp. Walking time is around 4hrs total with 1000m ascent. There’s also the option to climb Bumdra Peak (2-3hrs return and approx 4000m) for greater Himalayan views.

The following day you would trek from Bumdra to Taktsang Monastery , which takes around 3hrs and then descend on the main Taktsang trail and return to Paro by private vehicle for the night.

Accommodation: Amankora Paro Hotel, Paro
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 13

Depart Paro

A private vehicle transfer to Paro Airport for your departing flight.

Meals: Breakfast

Of course, there's no reason to depart today; your Bhutan holiday can be readily tailored.