7 NIGHTS 8 DAYS ROYAL BHUTAN TOUR

DAY 01 : NJP / BAGDOGRA – PHUENTSHOLING (179 KM 6 HRS)

Open arrival at NJP railway station/ Bagdogra Airport meets & welcome by our tour guide then drive to Phuentsholing (Indo-Bhutan border line area) after arriving Phuentsholing do immigration from India & Bhutan, over nights at hotel

DAY 02 : PHUENTSHOLING - THIMPHU (179 KM 6 HRS)

After early breakfast drive to Thimphu. Thimphu is a capital of Bhutan and we have hundred thousand populations existing in capital of Bhutan. Check in hotel and leisure time and free time for city exposure and shopping time. Overnight in Thimphu and dinner at the hotel.

DAY 03 : THUMPHU LOCAL SOGHTSEEING

After breakfast,Visit the school of arts and crafts, Indegenious Hospital, Folk Heritage Musuem, Textile Museum, Memorial chorten (stupa) and handmade paper factory.School of arts & Crafts (open 9-5pm mon-fri and 9-1pm on Sat –with exceptions of holidays and breaks). Commonly known as ‘the painting school’ is a national institute where children attend six-year course that provides instruction in Bhutan’s traditional arts and crafts called Zorig Chuksum - meaning 13 crafts Indigenous Hospital or National Institute of Traditional Medicine (Open 9-5pm Mon-Fri, 9-1pm on Sat) is government funded institute that facilitates research of traditional medicine and practices. It prepares and dispenses herbal and other medicines with clinic where doctors diagnose and prescribe traditional medicines or treatments.

Heritage Museum: Heritage Museum is also a recent addition; housed in a traditional home displays the living style of the Bhutanese family in 19th century.Textile Museum: A recent addition in the capital city, this museum displays the colorful and intricately hand woven textile, both old and new.

Memorial Chorten: This landmark of Thimphu was built in 1974 in the memory of third King, Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, who is popularly regarded as Father of Modern Bhutan. It is a four-storey tall white building, containing statues and iconography of deities from complex tantric teachings and serves as an important place of worship for Thimphu residents, as well as from other parts of the country.

Paper Factory: Traditional papers were made from the daphne plant, using simple methods. Over night in the hotel.

DAY 04 : THIMPHU - PUNAKHA (73 KM 3 HRS)

Drive from Thimphu to Punakha: The drive from Thimphu (75Kms) takes about 3 hours. The road climbs from Thimphu to Dochula Pass (3050m) and descends through ever changing forests into semi-tropical valley of Punakha at around 1250m. En-route stop at dochula Pass(3050m) where you can view the estern Himalayas, including Bhutan’s highest mountain, Gangkhar Punsum(7550m). Punakha Dzong: or Pungthang Dechen Phodrang "Palace of Great Happiness” is located on the confluence of two rivers, the Pho and Mochu. It was built in 1637 by Shubdrung Nawang Namgyal and following the ancient traditions, it serves as winter residence for chief abbot (Je-khenpo) and the monks of Central Monastic Body, who return to Thimphu in the summer.

Punakha and Wangdue, although two separate districts, are located in one valley (20km or ½ hr drive apart) Overnight Punakha. Sightseeing includes Khumsum Yuelley Chorten (Stupa) and Chimi Lhakhang Wangduephodrang Dzong.( Siteseeing is optional)

DAY 05 : PUNAKHA - PARO (135 KM 4 HRS)

After breakfast drive to paro visit some local sightseeing in Paro, National Museum, Paro Rimpong Dzong, Kyichu temple, complex and drive to Hotel.

Paro: Paro is one of the most beautiful valleys in the country with Bhutan’s only airport located here, among the terraced fields, and elegant farm houses. Willow trees line many of the roads, contrasting with bright colors of the fields and the most popular and important sites also found within Paro district. Paro town (2,280m) is still a small with one main street and less than one hundred small family-run shops.

Rinpung Dzong: meaning "fortress of the heap of jewels". Built in mid 17th century, it now serves as the administrative and judicial seat of Paro district and residence for the 200 monks of Paro. It is also the venue for Paro festival held in the spring. Several years ago, the colourful movie Little Buddha was filmed here.

National Museum: Established in 1967, the museum is housed inside a circular Ta Dzong, an ancient Watch Tower. It holds fascinating collection of arts, relics, religious thangkha paintings, household’s stuffs, arms, handicrafts, stuffed animals and Bhutan’s famous Stamps among others. (Open 10-4pm – closed on Monday).

Kyichu Lhakhang: Tibetan King Songtsen Gompo in the 7th century miraculously built 108 temples, along with Jorkhang in Lhasa. Kyichu is considered to be one of them and is one of the oldest temples in Bhutan. Overnight in Paro.

DAY 06 : HIKE TO TIGERNEST

Hike to Tiger’s Nest Monastery also known as Taktsang. Then visit typical Bhutaness Farm House.

Hike to Taktsang: Drive to famed Taktsang (Tiger’s lair) monastery. Taktsang monastery is located on the face of a 1,000m seemingly impossible sheer, vertical cliff, above Paro valley.
The trail begins near the Satsam (2650m) and climbs steeply uphill to the Cafeteria (2,940m), an area of exposed ridge with panoramic view of Takstang. This takes little more than an hour. (Ponies are provided on request to ride up till this Cafeteria, but rest of way, including return downhill must be on foot.) You can get a good view from the Cafeteria or hike further uphill for another hour or so to the temple itself. There are several other temples and sites within the vicinity.

Lunch is served at the tea house. The return trek to the road head is quite steep downhill, where you will be met by the transport. Farm House or Village Home: Bhutanese farmhouses are colorful, decorative and traditionally built without any nails. Majority of the houses are with three story, first floor is utilized for sheltering cattle, second floor for the family to live in and the top for storing and drying of foods and fodder for animal. Almost all the farmhouses follow the same architectural pattern. A visit to farmhouse is interesting and provides you with an experience to the daily life of average Bhutanese. Overnight Paro.

DAY 07 : PARO - PHUENTSHOLING (173 KM 6 HRS)

After breakfast drive to Phuntsholing.On the way stop in chuzom and take a some picture and continue drive before reaching phuntsholing stop and visit kharbandi lhakhang.the beautiful lhakhang is situated on the hill top overlooking the town.(Phuntsholing and jaigaon).over night in the hotel. If time permite visit zangdopelri lhakhang in phuntsholing town.

DAY 08 : PHUENTSHOLING - NJP / BAGDOGRA (179 KM 6 HRS)

After breakfast check ot from hotel then drive to Bagdogra Airport or NJP railways station for your destination.

Tashi Delek !