10 Days Haa Summer Festival Tour

Upon your arrival in Paro by Druk Air, Bhutan’s national carrier, you will be picked up by your tour guide at the airport and then escorted to the hotel. After a short rest, you will go to tour the Paro city.

This first landmark in Paro you will visit is the Ta Dzong Museum, the national museum located on the hill behind the Paro Dzong. It houses many fine arts, religious relics, handicrafts, as well as textiles, jewellery etc., offering a great orientation into Bhutan’s historical, cultural, and religious past. Then head to visit the Kyichu Lhakhang, which is one of 108 temples constructed by the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo. Built in a manner similar to the Jokhang in Lhasa, Tibet, the temple has the great golden image of Buddha Shakyamuni.

After that, you will go to explore the famous Paro Rinpung Dzong. It is a large Dzong, Buddhist monastery and fortress built in 17th Century to protect Paro valley. Rinpung Dzong houses the district Monastic Body and government administrative offices of Paro Dzongkhag.

Stay overnight in Paro.

Kyichu Lhakhang

Today, we will enjoy the exciting trek to the Taktshang Goemba, also known as Tiger's Nest. Standing incredibly on the side of a sheer cliff 900m above the Paro Valley, Taktshang Goemba (3210m) is the landmark of Bhutan and also the holiest temple of the country. Legend has it that Guru Padmasambhava (also known as Guru Rinpoche) had flied here on the back of a tigress and meditated in the caves on the cliffside for three months. The temple has therefore become the holy site worshipped by all Bhutanese devotees, and known as one of the world’s top ten temples.

After the trek, we will head back to Paro.

Stay overnight in Paro.

Trek to Taktshang Monastery

After breakfast, we will leave for Thimphu from Paro, following the Pachu River. It is a short drive of about 1.5 hours, and you can stop on the way to see see the Tamchhog Lhakhang, a hereditary place of worship for the Bhutan’s iron bridge builders.

Upon arrival in the capital city of Bhutan, you will pay a visit to Tashichho Dzong (Thimphu Dzong), the most beautiful Bhutan dzong as well as the headquarters of Bhutan government. You will also explore the Folk Heritage Museum, a 300-year-old traditional house converted into a museum.

Stay overnight in Thimphu.

Tashichho Dzong

Today, it will be a full-day sightseeing tour in Thimphu. You will first visit the National Memorial Chorten, constructed in memorial of the third King of Bhutan, King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, in 1974. The King was generally regarded as the father of modern Bhutan and widely esteemed by the Bhutanese. Then head to National Textile Museum, which keeps the traditional art of waving preserved and exhibits a good collection of ancient colored textile in various forms. keeps the traditional art of waving preserved and exhibits a good collection of ancient colored textile in various forms.

After lunch, you will visit the National Institute of Traditional Medicine, to see the productive process of Bhutan’s traditional medicine, herbs mostly, and watch the medical practitioner training. Next, go to Traditional Paper Making Factory, which originated from the old tradition in the 8th century, Bhutan papermaking has been well preserved and listed as the valuable national heritage of Bhutanese culture.

Stay overnight in Thimphu.

Thimphu National Memorial Chorten

In the morning, we will continue our wonderful trip and travel northeast to Punakha, the former capital of Bhutan. On the way, you can stop for a rest at scenic Dochu La Pass (3,100m). The pass is a perfect vintage point where you can have an unobstructed vista of the mighty Himalayas.

We will have lunch at Wangduephodrang (1,350m) before keeping driving to Punakha. In Punakha, you will visit the celebrated Punakha Dzong, the second largest Dzong in Bhutan, built in 1657 at the onflunence of Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu Rivers. After that, you will go to visit Chimi Lhakhang, also known as Chime Lhakhang. Located near Lobesa, it stands on a round hillock and was built in 1499 by the 14th Drukpa hierarch, Ngawang Choegyel.

Stay overnight in Punakha

Dochu La Pass

Today, we will drive back the same way back to Thimphu from Punakha. On the way, you will pay a visit to the Royal Botanical Park, Bhutan’s first botanical park situated at the back of the Dochu La Pass.

Stay overnight in Thimphu.

Royal Botanical Park

After breakfast, we will drive to Haa from Thimphu. It will be a 3-4 hours’ drive before you could reach the festival site. The Haa Summer Festival is a lively and uplifting celebration of traditional living-culture, nomadic lifestyles, unique Bhutanese cuisine, traditional sports and religious performances. It gives the chance to witness the lives and traditions of Bhutan’s nomadic herders.

Tourists can play local sports, drink local liquor, taste home-cooked cuisine and enjoy traditional songs and dances. If lucky, you can also experience the night at one of the many village home stays and enjoy the hospitality of the local people of Haa Valley. 

Stay overnight in Haa.

Haa Summer Festival

Today, we will continue to enjoy the festival with a lot fun and joy. In the afternoon, we will take a short trek to the 8th century temples such as Juneydrag, Katsho Goempa and Haa Goempa.

Stay overnight in Haa.

In the morning, we will head back to Paro. On the way you will pass through Chelela Pass (3,988m), the highest Pass in Bhutan. You can stop there to take impressive photos of the great natural view.

After arriving in Paro, you can have a good rest in your hotel.

Stay overnight in Paro.

Chelela Pass

Your tour guide will transfer you to Paro International Airport for your next destination.Tour service end.