Our ‘Classic Bhutan’ is an exclusive offering from Bhutan Travel Club – a customised trip for an unparalleled insight into Bhutan and its culture, nature its people and the Bhutanese way of life- All in a comfortable time of 7 nights. Starts with the capital city of Thimphu, easy hiking exploration in the valleys Punakha with the most beautiful fortress and valley of Punakha, then to the idyllic valley of Phobjikha and finally to Paro to visit the iconic Tiger’s nest;
Our most valuable asset is our tour guides and field personnel who’ve been working with us for a long time and understand our company’s core values. This trip has very less driving times, with maximum exploration time to make the most of your holiday.
Inclusions & Exclusions
✔ Private transportation
✔ All accommodations in 3-4 star hotels
✔ Monument fees worth USD 300
✔ English-speaking tour leader and driver
✔ All necessary permit fees
✔ Lunch
✔ Dinner
✔ Breakfast
✔ All transfers in excellent car
✔ Drinking mineral water in the car
✖ Airfare to and from Bhutan
✖ All personal expenses like laundry, telephone, tips, beverages, shopping expenses
✖ Spa Charges
✖ Travel and Medical insurance
✖ Sustainable Development Fund/ Daily Tourism Tax
✖ Visa fee of USD 40 one time fee
✖ Tips and Gratuity
Additional Info: Our guides and drivers will be waiting to pick you up at arriving ports with placard with guest names.
Itinerary
Welcome to Bhutan
1
Paro
The flight into Bhutan takes you close to the great Himalayas; offering dazzling scenic views of world’s highest glacial peaks where you’ll be greeted by views of Mt.Everest and Mt.Kanchenjunga, and our very own Mt.Jomolhari and Mt. Jichu Drakey. As your flight descends into Paro valley, you’ll get your first impressions of Bhutan - forested hills; silvery Pa chu (Paro river) meandering down the valley below the idyllic Paro Dzong (fortress) located atop a hill overlooking the valley.
Duration: 60 minutes
2
Tachogang Lhakhang Bridge
Upon arrival you’ll be received by our friendly professional guide who will help you settle into your comfortable vehicle, and then proceed to the capital city Thimphu for a hour’s drive. Enroute stop to visit the Tamchog Lhakang monastery for a breath of fresh mountain air and marvel at the iron bridge reconstructed using original chain links from the 13th century bridge.
Duration: 60 minutes
3
Thimphu Chorten (Memorial Chorten)
On arrival you will be taken to your hotel for a check-in and short rest . In the evening, if time permits visit the Memorial Chorten Stupa which is a sacred shrine built in the memory of third king of Bhutan.
Duration: 60 minutes
4
Thimphu
You will enjoy welcome dinner in a nice local restaurant where you can enjoy authentic
Bhutanese cuisines. Overnight in the resort.
Duration: 60 minutes
Hiking and Cultural sightseeing in Thimphu - the capital city.
1
Buddha Dordenma
After breakfast, drive to Kuensel Phodrang where the gigantic 169ft statue of Buddha Dordenma sits overlooking the valley. Enjoy a panoramic view of Thimphu city from there. From here we’ll enjoy a lovely easy hike on one of the capital town’s favourite hiking trails to start flexing your leg muscles for a great start to your Bhutan holiday. The hike of 6 km easy paced brings you to the Changangkha temple.
Duration: 3 hours
2
National Folk Heritage Museum
Head to town to one of Thimphu’s favourite café for a healthy lunch. While the food is great, its also a window to see the ways of the urban townfolk of Bhutan. After lunch visit some of the cultural treasures of the capital – the Folk Heritage museum – which is a 19th century traditional Bhutanese farmhouse which provides glimpses of the Bhutanese lifestyle
Duration: 60 minutes
3
National Institute for Zorig Chusum
Visit the National Institute of Traditional arts to learn about Bhutan's 13 different types of arts and crafts and interact with artisans and students honing their skills
Duration: 60 minutes
4
Royal Textile Academy of Bhutan
After that visit the Royal Textile Academy to experience the rich and intricate textiles of Bhutan
Duration: 60 minutes
5
Thimphu’s Weekend Market
Finish the day by strolling around the Crafts Bazaar, along the streets of Thimphu which sells and displays various handicrafts and textiles made entirely in Bhutan. Weekend is a time for shopping so we’ll drive to the Centenial market and Kaja Thorm markets to delve right into the Bhutanese way of life and walk past various venders selling local vegetables and fruits that make up the Bhutanese culinary. This is place where locals come and spend time enjoying meals and also there are some live music shows entertaining onlookers for a nice weekend timepass.
Duration: 2 hours
Thimphu to Punakha
1
Dochula Pass
After breakfast, drive to Dochula Pass (3140m) which offers amazing views of the Himalayan ranges that form the jagged mountains that make the northern border of Bhutan. Situated atop the pass at the backdrop of fluttering prayer flags is the Druk Wangyal Chortens, a collection of 108 chortens (stupas) that was built to exemplify the greatness of the Fourth King.
Duration: 60 minutes
2
If you would like to hike, we recommend the Lungtsezelkha hike – another lovely like that passes through Rhododendron forests and alpine vegetation. Here you might come across some Yaks as we often spot them. It starts from Dochula pass – and climbs upto the peak where the Lungtsezekha temple stands at 3800m. From here, you can see the great Himalayan peaks of northern Bhutan as well as the valleys of southern Bhutan.
Hike Option 2 - If you’d like an easier hike you can hike on the section of Trans Bhutan Trail which descends from Lamperi Botanical Park through some old rhododendron forests to Talo village on the ancient heritage trail.
Duration: 3 hours
3
Druk Wangyel Monastery
Visit the Druk Wangyel Chortens
Duration: 60 minutes
4
If you’d like an easier hike you can hike on the section of Trans Bhutan Trail which descends from Lamperi Botanical Park through some old rhododendron forests to Talo village on the ancient heritage trail.
Duration: 2 hours
5
Chimi Lhakhang Temple
Continue driving to the low-lying rice valley of Lobesa and pay your respects to one of Bhutan’s most charming and eccentric historic figures nicknamed ‘The Divine Madman’ at the Chhimi Lhakhang – also called the fertility monastery - our guide will explain the entire story about it. The visit involves a short nice hike through a beautiful village surrounded by paddy fields.
Overnight in a lovely resort overlooking the fortress.
Duration: 60 minutes
Punakha sightseeing and easy hiking
1
Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten
Drive to Kabesa village to visit Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal stupa, which involves a short scenic hike through paddy fields for about 45 minutes till the hilltop where the temple is located. From here you can also enjoy a majestic view of the underlying valley. The temple itself is a splendid example of Bhutan’s fine architectural and artistic traditions and the only one of its kind in the world. Return to base and proceed to Zomlingthang grounds where we’ll we’ll serve a picnic lunch on the banks of the Punakha river. Here you’ll probably see locals enjoying a game of archery – the national sport of Bhutan.
Duration: 3 hours
2
Punakha Dzong
Continue to Punakha Dzong – the most beautiful fortress in Bhutan situated at the confluence of two rivers. This ancient fortress is the winter residence of the monastic order’s leadership and still serves as the administrative headquarters for the Punakha region. The fortress is a fine example of Bhutan’s rich art and architecture, and our guide who is an expert in iconography will explain all aspects of art, architecture, history, and its significance
Duration: 2 hours
3
Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup nunnery
Proceed to Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Lhakhang Nunnery which is atop a ridge amid pine trees and overlooking the valleys of Punakha and Wangduephodrang. Interact with the nuns and they love to speak English with visitors and learn about the ways of the world. From here, hike on the Trans-Bhutan Trail from Laptsakha to Punakha on a gentle hike of 5km to end the day.,
Duration: 2 hours
Punakha to Phobjikha valley
1
Gangtey
The highway to Phobjikha (Gangtey) follows the scenic Dang Chuu (River), climbing through forests of bamboo and oak, and just before crossing Pele La (Pass) a small side road splinters off into the hidden Phobjikha valley.
Duration: 3 hours
2
Gangtey Monastery
Visit the famous Gantey Gompa monastery in the afternoon and spend some time with the monks living in the monastic school. You can also do a meditation session inside the temple and our guide and help you with some basic instructions.
Duration: 2 hours
3
Black Necked Crane Center
This valley is different from others as it is a glacial valley which is home to the endangered Black-necked cranes who visit during the winter from the Tibetan plateau and has found a special place in the hearts of the local people and their folklore. As a result, the valley is a protected habitat for the birds while also being the potato basket of Bhutan, thereby a great example of how agriculture and conversation goes hand in hand. It is the beauty of this valley that inspired visitors to coin the word”Switzerland of the east”.
Duration: 3 hours
Phobjikha to Paro
1
Paro
After breakfast, drive back to Paro via Dochula Pass.
Duration: 5 hours
2
Kyichu Lhakhang
Visit Kyichu Lhakhang – believed to be the oldest Buddhist temple in Bhutan built during the 08th century. Then proceed to the National Museum to immerse yourself in the history and traditions of Bhutan. Some of the most treasured collections of arts, artefacts, textiles, stamps, statues, etc.
Duration: 2 hours
3
Rinpung Dzong
Visit Rimpung Dzong (fortress of the heap of jewels), built in 1644 by Zhabdrung (dynamic political and spiritual leader).
Duration: 60 minutes
Bhutan's Biggest Highlight - Tiger's Nest Monastery
1
Paro Taktsang
We’ve saved the best of Bhutan for the last. Today you’ll experience Bhutan’s most valued attractions, and perhaps one of the major highlights of your trip. An excursion to the famous Taktshang monastery –translated as- Tiger’s nest monastery is also a good way to acclimatise before you start trekking. A two hours hike would reward you with a spectacular temple clinging on a 1000 feet cliff. The temple was built in 1692 by a prominent historical figure named Gyaltse Tenzin Rabgye whose reincarnation is now a young teenager and already a prominent figure in the clergy. Your guide will complement the experience with its story. On the way back stopover at Satsam Chorten which offers you nice views of mount Jomolhari.
On the way back visit the ruins of Drugyal Dzong fortress, which is an important Bhutanese heritage as it served as a strategic watchtower and a fortress that helped repel numerous Tibetan invasions in the 1600s. Peak of Jumolhari ‘Mountain of the Goddess’ can be seen on a clear day from here (7,329 mts/24,029 ft.).
Continue your drive to Paro and visit Kichu Lhakang one of the oldest temple dating back from 7th century build by Tibetan king Songchen Gyampo to propagate Buddhism and continue to embrace one of the oldest paintings dating back from 15th century in Dungtse Lhakhang.
On the way back, you can visit the oldest Buddhist monastery in Bhutan – the Kichu Lhakhang monastery.
Farewell dinner at a great restaurant and proceed to your resort for the night.
Duration: 7 hours
2
Drugyel Dzong
On the way back visit the ruins of Drugyal Dzong fortress, which is an important Bhutanese heritage as it served as a strategic watchtower and a fortress that helped repel numerous Tibetan invasions in the 1600s. Peak of Jumolhari ‘Mountain of the Goddess’ can be seen on a clear day from here (7,329 mts/24,029 ft.).
Duration: 2 hours
Farewell
1
Paro
After breakfast at your hotel, your driver will take you to the airport. Your guide will help you with the formalities and fare you well on your onward journey.
Duration: 7 hours
Cancellation Policy
If you cancel at least 7 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel between 3 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.
Additional info
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Specialized infant seats are available
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
