10 Days Domkhar Festival Tour

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. Your local representatives will then drive you to Thimphu (2320 m), the current capital city of Bhutan. Estimated driving time is around 1.5 hours.

We will first visit the Buddha Dordenma Statue when arrive at the entrance of Thimphu. This gigantic bronze statue gilded in gold has 125,000 smaller Buddhas hidden inside it. We will then hike from Kuensel Phodrang to Depsi, enjoying the peaceful view around the town.

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.

Tashichho Dzong

In the morning, after breakfast, your local representatives will take you 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 Motithang Mini Zoo. You will have the chance to meet the lovely national animal of Bhutan – Takin there.

After, you will visit the National Folk Heritage Museum, which gives a glimpse of the traditional rural life, and the National Library where plenty old scrolls and ancient manuscripts can be found.

After lunch, you can visit the Jungshi Paper Factory. The factory shows the whole process of paper making step by step. Very interesting experience and educational.

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.

Stay overnight in Thimphu.

Thimphu National Memorial Chorten

We will head to Punakha/Wangdi 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.

You can hike to Chimi Lhakhang, the temple of fertility on the way to Lobesa. This temple is built on a round hillock with a golden spire.

In Punakha, 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.

Stay overnight in Punakha.

Dochu La Pass

We will head to Bumthang in the morning after breakfast in Phobjikha. During the drive we will pass through Pelela pass (3400m) and visit Chendebji Chhorten, which is built to subdue demons.

We will then visit Trongsa Dzong on the way to Trongsa. As the largest Dzong in the country, the temple was constructed in the 16^th Century. Located in the central area of Bhutan, Trongsa Dzong has an extensive and complex structure as it should have as a strong and powerful fortress.

After, the tower of Trongsa Museum. The tower is strategically located on the hill with a fantastic panoramic view of the environment around. You can watch a well-organized video on local culture and religious heritage in the museum.

Then, across the Yotong La (3425m), we arrive at the Chumey Valley. There are in total four valleys in Bumthang. Yathra Weaving Center is our next stop. You can see how local Woolen Textile is weaved.

Stay overnight in Bumthang.

Chendebji Chorten

Today, you will enjoy the Domkhar Festival with the locals.

The Domkhar Festival is a traditional festival celebrated by the locals every year. It generally lasts three days, during which the local Bhutanese will perform the traditional chams and mask dances. And the display of the large Thongdrols on the last day is no doubt the highlight of this festival.

Stay overnight in Bumthang.

Domkhar Festival

In the morning after breakfast, your Bhutanese guide will lead you to visit Jakar Dzong in Bumthang valley. With a circumference of more than 1,500 meters, Jakar Dzong is one of the most majestic dzongs in Bhutan and widely accepted as a wonderful piece of architectural art all over the country. For a tour of Bhutan, pay a visit to this wonderful castle and feel the solemnness would be an excellent experience.

Then, you are going to worship the Jambay Lhakhang, a temple built by the King Songtsen Gampo of Tibet in 659 AD. It is said that Guru Rinpoche was the one who brought Buddhism to Bhutan. It was renovated by Sindhu Raja after Guru Rinpoche restored his life with his magical powers. If you visit Bumthang in October or November, you may have a chance to join in the highly popular Jambay Tsechu Festival here.

Not far from Jambay Lhakhang sits the Kurjey Lhakhang. It houses the imprint of Guru Rimpoche who meditated in a cave where the monastery was built. Finally, you will head to visit Namkhe Nyingpo Goemba. On the hill to the east of Jakar, the large Nyingmapa monastery was built in the 1970s by Namkhai Nyingpo Rinpoche.

Stay overnight in Bumthang.

Kurjey Lhakhang

After breakfast, you will start your journey to Gangtey (2,890m). The distance between Bumthang and Gangtey is about 163 kilometers, which will take you 5 hours 30 minutes. Gangtey, also called Probjikha, is one of the most beautiful destinations in Bhutan. It is also the winter home to a group of globally endangered black-necked cranes that arrive every year from the Tibetan Plateau.

Upon your arrival, you will first visit Gangtey Monastery, generally known as Gangtey Goempa. Situated atop a hill at an altitude of 2800m, the monastery offers a stunning view of Phobjikha valley. Besides, it is the winter home to the rare Black Necked Cranes of Bhutan. 

Stay overnight in Gangtey.

Gangtey Monastery

Today, you will get up early and say farewell to the charming Gangtey valley. About a 5-hour drive will bring you back to Paro. You will encounter the Simtokha Dzong en route. Built in 1629 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, Simtokha Dzong is often said to be the first dzong in Bhutan.

In the afternoon, your guide will bring you to visit the imposing Paro Rinpung Dzong (also named as Paro Dzong), a fortress once built to defend the valley from invasions. However, it now serves as an administration center and school for monks.

Stay overnight in Paro.

Witnessing the superb Punakha Dzong

In the morning after breakfast, you will start your hike to Taktsang Monastery (also known as Tiger’s Nest Monastery). You will spend 5 to 6 hours for the hike.

Perched on the side of a cliff 900m above the Paro valley, Taktsang Monastery is one of the most famous monasteries in Bhutan. The principal monastery of the present monastic complex dates from 1692. Taktsang was damaged severely by fire in 1998 but has now been fully restored to its former glory.

After exploring the monastery, you will begin your return tour to Paro. In the afternoon, you will visit Kyichu Lhakhang, one of Bhutan’s oldest and most beautiful temples built by the Tibetan King Songsten Gampo in the 7th century.

Insider tips: Travelers cannot take pictures in the monastery, but you can take a nice shot on your road to Taktsang Monastery. And you have to deposit all belongings, like cameras, phone, other electronic equipment, etc. at the entrance.

Stay overnight in Paro.

Trek to Taktshang Monastery

Our local guide and driver will take you to the Paro International Airport after breakfast.

We wish you a safe and pleasant journey onwards.

Service end.