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10 Days Bhutan Rhododendron Festival Tour
Paro (2N) – Thimphu (2N) – Punakha (1N) – Gangtey (1N) – Paro (2N)
This 9 nights 10 days tour brings you to a unique experience of the Rhododendron Festival, which is a 3-day event held every year at Lamperi Botanical Garden. It features rhododendron garden walk. There is exhibition of local culture and cuisines. The festival displays different species that are in full bloom in their natural habitat as a celebration of the spring season.
Other than the festivals, the visit to local weaving center, other Dzongs, and tour of different cities also leads you to a deeper understanding of this land of happiness and its people.
- 14 - 16 April 2023
- Festival Experience, Cultural Sightseeing
- Private Tour for One and More
Itinerary
Day 1: Paro Arrival
Welcome to Bhutan, the land of the “Thunder Dragon”.
Upon your arrival at Paro International Airport, your local guide and driver will meet you at the airport arrival hall. They will introduce themselves and greet you warmly.
We will first visit the the ruins of Drukgyel Dzong built by the Tibetan Emperor in the 7th century, which is one of the oldest temples in Bhutan.
Next, you can take a tour at the Jowo Temple of Kyichu built by the Tibetan Emperor in the 7th century, which is one of the oldest temples in Bhutan.
Stay overnight in Paro.
Kyichu Lhakhang
Accommondation
The following local hotels are for your referrence. Please feel free to tell us your preferred hotel standard while enquring for your trip to Bhutan.
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Paro Olathang Hotel
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Paro Tashi Namgay Resort
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Paro Le Meridien Hotel
Meals Included
- Lunch and Dinner
Please feel free to tell us any of your food requirement.
Day 2: Paro Day Tour
After enjoying your breakfast, you will hike to Taktshang Lhakhang (Tiger’s Nest Monastery), which stands at the cliffside of the upper Paro valley. During March and April, Tsechu will be held in the valley sometimes, you can enjoy the dance of the Black Hat monks if lucky. Estimated walking time 2.5 hours up and 2.5 hours down. Lunch is available in the cafeteria of Taktshang Lhakhang.
In the evening, you can take a stroll in the Paro town and have a glimpse of the local lifestyle.
Stay overnight in Paro.
Trek to Taktshang Monastery
Accommodation
The following local hotels are for your referrence. Please feel free to tell us your preferred hotel standard while enquring for your trip to Bhutan.
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Paro Olathang Hotel
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Paro Tashi Namgay Resort
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Paro Le Meridien Hotel
Meals Included
- Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: Paro to Thimphu
In the morning, after breakfast, you will first visit the Paro National Museum and the Paro Dzong. The museum is in a round building in the shape like a conch shell. A good collection of thangkas and festival masks are exhibited in the museum.
Your local representatives will drive you to Thimphu after lunch.
After lunch, drive to Thimphu. On the way, visit Tamchog Lhakhang monastery. After, visit Semtokha Dzong, first fortress built by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel in 1627, which is built on a lofty ridge. It is a private monastery.
Stay overnight in Thimphu.
Paro National Museum
Accommodation
The following local hotels are for your referrence. Please feel free to tell us your preferred hotel standard while enquring for your trip to Bhutan.
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Thimphu Namseling Hotel
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Thimphu Druk Hotel
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Thimphu Six Senses Bhutan
Meals Included
- Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Thimphu Day Tour
In the morning, after breakfast, your local representatives will take you to the local Post Office, where you can buy Bhutanese stamps or customize the stamps with your own style.
Your next visit is to the Memorial Chhorten, which is a stupa with golden spires and bells, and is known as the most visible religious landmark in Bhutan.
Your next stop is the Jungshi Paper Factory. The factory shows the whole process of paper making step by step. Very interesting experience and educational.
After lunch, you can visit the Motithang mini zoo. You will have the chance to meet the lovely national animal of Bhutan – Takin there.
We will also take you to the Gagyel Lhundrup Weaving Centre in Thimphu to experience the local weaving industry. You will find it interesting to see how the local weavers work on traditional Bhutanese cloth. You can also buy some as souvenirs if you like.
In the evening, the local representatives will lead you to Tashichho Dzong, the seat of the head of Bhutan's civil government. You can enjoy paintings decorated in the Bhutanese style from Buddha's life, philosophy and teachings.
Stay overnight in Thimphu.
Gagyel Lhundrup Weaving Centre
Accommodation
The following local hotels are for your referrence. Please feel free to tell us your preferred hotel standard while enquring for your trip to Bhutan.
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Thimphu Namseling Hotel
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Thimphu Druk Hotel
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Thimphu Six Senses Bhutan
Meals Included
- Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Thimphu – Punakha
We will head to Punakha in the morning after breakfast in Thimphu. During the trip we will pass through Dochula Pass (3150m), where you can see astonishing view of the Himalayan mountains.
During the trip, you can choose to join Rhododendron Festival at Lampelri Botanical Garden. After, take a short hike through the Rhododendron Park and enjoy the beauty of nature around.
After dinner, your local representatives will drive you to Punakha.
Stay overnight in Punakha.
Dochula Pass (3150m)
Accommodation
The following local hotels are for your referrence. Please feel free to tell us your preferred hotel standard while enquring for your trip to Bhutan.
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Punakha Meri Phuntsum
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Punakha Zhingkham Resort
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Punakha COMO Uma
Meals Included
- Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: Punakha Stay
Today, after breakfast, you will visit the most majestic dzongs in Bhutan – the Punakha Dzong. The construction has 6 stories with a tower at the center and is well maintained after all these years. You can enjoy interesting architecture, beautiful paintings during the tour. The Dzong is located on the confluence of two rivers, the Pho Chhu (Male) and Mo Chhu (Female), which converge in the valley.
After lunch, you can hike to the temple of fertility (Chimi Lhakhang) on the way to Lobesa. This temple is built on a round hillock with a golden spire.
Stay overnight in Punakha.
Chimi Lhakhang
Accommodation
The following local hotels are for your referrence. Please feel free to tell us your preferred hotel standard while enquring for your trip to Bhutan.
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Punakha Meri Phuntsum
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Punakha Zhingkham Resort
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Punakha COMO Uma
Meals Included
- Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7: Punakha - Gangtey
Your local representatives will drive you to Gangtey (3100m) after breakfast.
You will arrive at Gangtey after lunch, then visit the Gangtey Goenpa Lhakhang sitting on the hilltop overlooking the Phobjikha Valley. This is also home to the endangered Black neck Crane.
Next, go hike through Gangtey Natural Trail, enjoy the beautiful view in the valley.
Stay overnight in Gangtey.
Gangtey Monastery
Accommodation
The following local hotels are for your referrence. Please feel free to tell us your preferred hotel standard while enquring for your trip to Bhutan.
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Gangtey Dewachen
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Gangtey RKPO Green Resort
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Amankora Gangtey
Meals Included
- Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 8: Gangtey to Paro
After enjoying your breakfast, we will drive to Paro (2200m). During the drive we will pass through Dochula Pass (3150m). You will visit Tachogang Lhakhang on the way to Paro. This temple along with an iron suspension bridge was built in the fifteenth century by Tangtong Gyelpo, known as the "Iron Chain Maker".
Stay overnight in Paro.
Tachogang Lhakhang
Accommodation
The following local hotels are for your referrence. Please feel free to tell us your preferred hotel standard while enquring for your trip to Bhutan.
-
Paro Olathang Hotel
-
Paro Tashi Namgay Resort
-
Paro Le Meridien Hotel
Meals Included
- Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 9: Paro – Haa Excursion – Paro
In the morning, after breakfast, you will drive to Haa valley through Chelila pass (3980 m). This is the highest motorable road in Bhutan. You can have a stunning view of Jhomolhari, “mountain of goddess” if the weather is clear.
Then drive down to Haa valley - one of the most beautiful valleys in Bhutan. After arriving at Haa, visit Lhakhang Karpo (White Temple) and Lhakhang Nagpo (Black Temple). You can take a stroll in the Haa town before lunch.
After lunch, we will drive back to Paro.
Stay overnight in Paro.
Lhakhang Karpo and Lhakhang Nagpo
Accommodation
The following local hotels are for your referrence. Please feel free to tell us your preferred hotel standard while enquring for your trip to Bhutan.
-
Paro Olathang Hotel
-
Paro Tashi Namgay Resort
-
Paro Le Meridien Hotel
Meals Included
- Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Tour Price
Add-on Activities
The general travel itineraries in Bhutan are usually leisure and relaxing. To make the most your time in Bhutan, you can choose to have more activities as you like, such as light hiking around the town or a featured culture experience.
Here we offer you the most popular travel ideas that most of our travelers choose to experience as an add-on activity during their trips in Bhutan. For more available activities or anything you want to add on to your trip in Bhutan, just feel free to contact us.
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Bhutan Hot Stone Bath
The popular Hot Stone Bath, a traditional healing process in Bhutan, is a great experience for you to relax and refresh yourself after one-day hiking or trekking. Different from hot spring, it is a kind of hot water bath offered in a traditional way with a wooden tub and herbs in the water. You can experience it in a local farmhouse or in a resort.
Please notice that you need to pay additional fees for the hot stone bath (usually within 30 minutes).
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Sightseeing Hiking
Even you don't take the trekking tour in Bhutan, you can also experience pleasant hiking on your travel days. Especially during your trips in western and central Bhutan, like in Gangtey, Bumthang, and Trongsa, there are some easy hiking and trekking trails around the town. You can take light hiking for 1 to 2 hours after general daily sightseeing. Just feel free to tell your guide if you are interested in an extra hiking experience.
Generally, you don't need to pay extra money for the hours' hiking.
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Cultural Exploration
Bhutan is a place that rich in culture and handicraft. If you want to experience more local culture and the real life of the locals, you can ask for more activities, such as a visit to a local weekend market, a class of traditional Bhutan archery or traditional weaving in Bhutan. Just feel free to let us know want you are looking for and want to experience during your Bhutan tour, we will help you find the best options to do.
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Farmhouse Homestay
All of our tour packages cover the accommodation from 3-star hotels to 5-star hotels and resorts. But if you want to get closer to the local Bhutanese' life, it is suggested to take one night stay in a farmhouse. It will be an unforgettable experience to eat ordinary food and dishes and live in the typical Bhutanese house just like a Bhutanese does.
Since the accommodation is required to be arranged in advance, if you are keen on a homestay in Bhutan, please tell us as early as possible.
Food and Drinks
All of our Bhutan tour packages include three meals a day. The local restaurants often provide Bhutanese food. In some hotels, you can also have western Buffet at breakfast and dinner. There are also local markets selling fresh fruits, such as apples, pineapples and so on. If you have any requirements on food, such as vegetarian, please feel free to tell your travel consultant or your local guide.
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Bhutanese Food
Most of your meals are in local restaurants, which offers typicla bhutanese food. The most popular food among local people is the Chili Cheese.
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Western Buffet
Besides the traditional Bhutan dishes, you can also have western buffet in some hotels in Bhutan. There are more choices for you.
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Western Breakfast
The breakfast offered in Bhutan hotels often include the egg, the toast with butter, honey and jams. You can choose to have a cup of tea or coffee.
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Water and Drinks
For every day trip, we offer one bottle of water for each tourists. There are also kinds of soft drinks you can buy in the restaurant, hotel or shops in the town in Bhutan. Also, you can taste the local beers if you want.
Bhutan Tour Planning FAQs
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