Land of the Thunder Dragon

DAY 1

Arrive Paro. Transfer to 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: Tenzinling Hotel or similar,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 in the Paro Valley and then Thimpu. 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: Hotel Galingkha or similar, 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 in order that you can walk through and experience the rural aspects of Bhutanese life. Walking time is around 3-4 hours.

Accommodation: Hotel Galingkha or similar, 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. It is rather popular with Bhutanese women, and 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: Meri Phuensum Resort Hotel or similar, 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 exterior you’ll be driven back to your hotel. Total walking time for this option is around 3-4 hours. 

Accommodation: Meri Phuensum Resort Hotel or similar, Punakha
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 6

Across the Cheli La to Haa

Heading back towards Paro again by private vehicle, it’s across the Dochu La once more, but instead of heading to Paro, you’ll be carrying on in a westerly direction to be driven over the Cheli La (3990m) and into the wonderful, rather “off the beaten track” Haa Valley. All in all, it’s around a 5-hour drive, and once again, from both passes, you can pray for clear weather for those wonderful Himalayan views. 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. 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 Rigsum—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 ie believed to protect Bhutan. Once you’ve arrived at the old town of Haa and checked into a rather more simple, but atmospheric accommodation, your guide will take on a a gentle leg stretcher walk and to explore part of this beautiful valley. You may with to consider spending an additional night here to give you another day to experience more of the Haa Valley.

Accommodation: Lechuna Lodge or similar, Haa Valley
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 7

Dzong Drakha & Taktsang Monastery

Heading back over the Cheli La to Paro, you’ll first stop and visit the Dzong Drakha. This is a stunning temple built as if it were part of a vertical cliff face, although it is actually constructed on a ledge. It’s certainly very impressive and also affords some rather splendid views. But you’re probably itching to visit the Tiger's Nest, and in the afternoon after reaching Paro, you’ll visit it. 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), instead you can be taken by private vehicle to visit the impressive Drukgyel Dzong. This altogether easier option can also include an excursion to a nearby view point to see Chomolhari, Bhutan’s second-highest mountain at 7314m.

Accommodation: Hotel Tenzinling or similar, Paro
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 8

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.