Places covered: Paro, Thimphu, Punakha and Wangdue
Main Highlights of Bhutan Western Cultural Tour:
Choose this cultural tour, if you want to explore western Bhutan’s unique culture and traditions, superb arts and crafts, beautiful houses and landscapes doted with fluttering prayer flags, and stunning view of magnificent snowcapped mountains and lush green valleys with lot of pure crisp air to breathe on the way.
Itinerary
Day 01: Arrive Paro
Arrive Paro and transfer to hotel for overnight halt.
Day 02: Paro
After breakfast, hike to Taktsang Monastery (Tiger's Nest, about 4-5hrs walk up and down). Lunch at Taktsang cafeteria. Overnight halt in the hotel.
Day 03: Paro - Thimphu
After breakfast, visit Drukgyel Dzong (fortress) and Kyichu Lhakhang (Monastery). Catch towering view of Mount Jhomolhari from the base of Drukgyel Dzong. Afternoon, visit Ta Dzong (now National Museum) and then Paro Dzong. Then drive to Thimphu (about 1 hr 30 m drive). On arrival, transfer to hotel for overnight halt.
Day 04: Thimphu
Morning, visit National Library, Institute of Traditional Arts, Folk Heritage Museum and National Institute of Traditional Medicine. After lunch, visit Tashichhoedzong, Textile Musuem and Handicrafts Emporium. Overnight halt in the hotel.
Day 05: Thimphu – Punakha/Wangdue
After breakfast, drive to Punakha and Wangdue (about 2 hrs drive). Enroute, halt at Dochula pass (10500 feet) to see the spectacular view of snow capped eastern Himalayan Mountains. After lunch, visit Punakha Dzong and Khamsum Yuela Chorten. Overnight halt in the hotel.
Day 06: Punakha/Wangdue - Trongsa
After breakfast, visit Chimi Lhakhang (about 20 minutes leisure walk across the rice fields from the road) and Wangdue Dzong. After lunch, drive to Trongsa (about 4 hrs drive) and upon arrival transfer to hotel for overnight halt.
Day 07: Trongsa - Bumthang
Morning visit Trongsa Dzong and Ta Dzong. After lunch drive to Bumthang (about 2 hrs drive) and on arrival transfer to hotel for overnight halt.
Day 08: Bumthang
Visit Jakar Dzong, Jampel Lhakhang, Kurjey Lhakhang, Tamzhing monastery and walk in sacred valleys. Evening, stroll through town. Overnight halt in the hotel.
Day 09: Bumthang - Wangdue
After breakfast drive to Wangdue,(about 6 hrs drive), enroute visit Gangtey Gompa at Phobjikha. Overnight halt in the hotel.
Day 10: Wangdue - Paro
Morning, drive to Paro (about 3hrs 20 m drive). Upon arrival, check into hotel for overnight. Evening, take a leisurely walk through Paro town. Day 10 Transfer to airport for your next destination.
Day 11: Depart Paro
Transfer to Airport for your onward journey.