Mystic Bhutan

Trip Itinerary

Day 1: Kathmandu-Paro- Thimpu: There is a flight from Kathmandu to Paro at 9:55 Hrs. and reach Paro at 1100 hrs. Flight No. KB 203. Our representative will receive the group at the airport and then drive to Thimphu. Overnight in Hotel.

Day 2: Thimphu-Bumthang. (8 hrs. drive) After breakfast, drive to Bumthang. Lunch will be served on the way. Overnight in Hotel.

Day 3: Bumthang: After breakfast, a full day of Sightseeing. After breakfast, sightseeing in Bumthang: visit Jakar Dzong, which literally means "The Castle of White Bird". The current structure was built in 1667 and is said to be the largest Dzong in Bhutan visit Lamey Goemba, a large palace and monastery built in the 18th century by Dasho Phuntsho Wangdi. Visit Chakhar (Iron Castle) Lhakhang, it is the site of the palace of the Indian King, the Sindhu Raja who invited Guru Rimpoche to Bumthang. The Original palace was made of Iron hence the name Chakhar. The saint Dorji Lingpa built the Current building in the 14th century. Its correct name is Dechen Phodrang. Later visit Kurjey Lhakhang which is named after the body print of Guru Rimpoche, built in 1652 by Minjur Tempa. After lunch, visit Membartsho which literally means "the Burning Lake" where Pema Lingpa discovered many of the Guru Rimpoche's hidden relics. Overnight in Hotel.

Day 4: Bumthang:  After breakfast, drive to Ura and witness the Festival. In the evening, drive back to Bumthang (1 hr. one way).

Day 5: Bumthang: After breakfast, drive to Ura and witness the festival.

Day 6: Bumthang - Gangtey: After breakfast, drive to Gangtey. Route visit Trongsa Dzong, the most impressive dzong in Bhutan, built in its present form in 1644 by Chogyal Minjur Tempa, the official who was sent by Shabdrung to unify eastern Bhutan and enlarged at the end of the 17th century by Desi Tenzin Rabgay. Trongsa Dzong is the ancestral home of the present Royal Family and the first two hereditary kings ruled Bhutan from this Dzong. Then Visit Ta Dzong, an ancient watch tower. The chapel inside the Ta Dzong is said to be dedicated to the Trongsa Penlop Jigme Namgyal. Lunch at Trongsa. After lunch, drive to Gangtey. Visit Gangtey Gompa Monastery, from outside. Gyaltse Pema Thinley, the grandson and mind reincarnation of Pema Lingpa founded the Temple in 1613, and Tenzin Legpai Dhendup, the second reincarnation, built the temple. The present Abbot, Kunzang Pema Namgyal is the ninth reincarnation. It is a Nyingmapa monastery and is affiliated to other Nyingmapa monasteries including Tamshing in Bumthang. Explore Phobjikha Valley, famous for the Black Necked Cranes during winter. Picnic Lunch will be served. Overnight in Guest house.

Day 7: Gangtey - Punakha - Thimphu: After breakfast, drive to Punakha via Wangdi. Enroute, visit Wangdi Phodrang Dzong from outside. Lunch at Punakha. While in Punakha, visit Punakha Dzong visit Punakha Dzong built in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal and is situated between Pho Chu (Male river) and Mo Chu (Female river). For many years until the time of the second king, it served as the seat of the Government. The construction of the Dzong was foretold by Guru Rimpoche, who predicted, ".a person named Namgyal will arrive at a hill that looks like an elephant". There was a smaller building here called Dzong Chu (Small Dzong) that housed a statue of Buddha. It is said that Shabdrung ordered the architect, Zowe Palep, to sleep in front of the statue, while Palep was sleeping, the Shabdrung took him in his dreams to Zangtopelri and showed him the palace of Guru Rimpoche. From his vision, the architect conceived the design for the new Dzong, which in keeping with the tradition, was never committed to paper. The Dzong was named Druk Pungthang Dechen Phodrang (Palace of Great Happiness). The war materials captured during the battle with Tibetans are preserved here. Punakha is still the winter residence of Jey-Khenpo (The Chief Abbot) and King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk convened the new national Assembly here in 1952.

On the way to Thimphu, stop for a while to view Chimi Lhakhang built by Lama Drukpa Kuenley also called "The Devine Mad Man" in the 15th century. He subdued the demons with his "Magical Thunder bolt" and built a Temple here. The Temple is also known as "the Temple of Fertility ". Overnight in Thimphu.

Day 8: Thimphu, After Early breakfast drive to Thimphu. Visit Memorial Chorten, Folk Heritage Museum, Painting School, and National Library. After Lunch, Visit Simtokha Dzong, the Vegetable market, and Tashi Chho Dzong. In the evening, free to shop in the Handicraft Emporium. Overnight in Hotel.

Day 9: Thimphu- Paro, After breakfast drive to Paro. In Paro visit the ruins of Drukgyal Dzong 16 km up the valley. Built-in 1647 by the great Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, father and unifier of medieval Bhutan, the dzong was destroyed by accidental fire and left in ruins as an evocative reminder of the great victories it was built to commemorate. Explore the ramparts and on a clear day experience an unforgettable view of Mt. Jhomolhari (7,314 m). On the way back, visit Kichu Lhakhang, built in 659 A.D by the Tibetan king Srongsen Gampo. After lunch, visit Ta Dzong (built in 1656 and renovated in 1968), an ancient watchtower, which now houses the National Museum. Below the museum is the Rimpung Dzong (literally meaning "Heap of Jewels", built in 1646 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the center of civil and religious authority in this valley. Overnight in Hotel.

Day 10: Paro, Excursion to Taktsang Monastery. A very special day, with an excursion to view the spectacular Taktsang (Tiger's Nest) monastery - After breakfast a short drive takes us to Satsam Chorten, and from there a 2-hour horse ride to the viewpoint point of the monastery. The trail climbs through beautiful pine forest, many of the trees festooned with Spanish moss, and an occasional grove of fluttering prayer flags. We stop for a rest and light refreshments at the Taktsang Jakhang (cafeteria) and then walk a short distance until we see, clearly and seemingly within reach, Taktsang monastery. The primary Lhakhang was built around Guru Rimpoche's meditation cave in 1684by the Penlop of Paro Gyaltse Tenzin Rabgay, this incredible monastery clings to the edge of a sheer rock cliff that plunges 900 meters into the valley below. Legend has it that Guru Padmasambhava, the tantric mystic who brought Buddhism to Bhutan, flew here on the back of a flying tiger, Dorji Drolo, said to be his favorite consort. Lunch will be served at the cafeteria. After Lunch, we go back to the Hotel, check out, and drive to Thimphu. Overnight in Hotel.

Day 11: Paro - Katmandu, Early morning, drive to the airport and farewell.