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7 Days Wangdi Phodrang Festival Tour
Paro - Thimphu (2N) - Punakha - Wangdi (2N) - Paro (2N)
This 7-day Wangdi Phodrang Festival tour is a classic one for you to experience an authentic Tshechu in central Bhutan, and to explore the top cultural wonders of this ancient Kingdom at the same time. As an annual grant event joyfully celebrated by locals in kinds of mask dances, Wangdi Phodrang Tshechu offers a chance for you to receive blessings and to understand the essence of Bhutanese culture. Meanwhile, the tour will take you to popular tourist destinations including Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, following a typical itinerary of Bhutan trip. You will get to visit famous attractions like National Memorial Chorten, National Textile Museum, Paro Rinpung Dzong, Punakha Dzong etc., one after another. And the thrilling trekking to the famous Tiger’s Nest will be the perfect finale of this wonderful trip.
- 22 - 24 Sep 2023
- Festival Experience, Cultural Sightseeing
- Private Tour for One and More
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Paro; Transfer to Thimphu
Upon your arrival in Paro by Druk Air, Bhutan’s national carrier, you will be picked up by your tour guide at the airport then escorted to Paro town for lunch.
After that, you will be transferred to Thimphu, following the Pachu River. It is a short drive of about 1.5 hours, and you can stop on the way to 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 National Library and Folk Heritage Museum, a 300-year-old traditional house converted into a museum.
Stay overnight in Thimphu
Tashichho Dzong
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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Thimphu Namseling Hotel
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Thimphu Druk Hotel
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Thimphu Six Senses Bhutan
Meals Included
- Lunch and Dinner
Please feel free to tell us any of your food requirement.
Day 2: Thimphu Full Day Sightseeing
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
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 3: Thimphu to Punakha and Wangdi
In the morning, we will depart to Punakha/Wangdue from Thimphu. The drive will take about 2 hours, following the steep road through lush forests. 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. Here also sits the 108 small stupas.
In the afternoon, we will drive on to Punakha, where you will visit the celebrated Punakha Dzong, the second largest Dzong in Bhutan, built in 1657 at the confluence of Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu Rivers. Then, you will also visit the Chhimi Lhakhang, also known as Devine Madman’s Monastery. The monastery has always been regarded as the fertility shrine by locals for a long time and you can receive an efficacious fertility blessing there.
Stay overnight in Wangdi.
Dochu La Pass
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 4: Wangdi: Attend Wangdi Phodrang Festival
Today, we will spend the whole day attending the Wangdi Phodrang Tshechu. Introduced by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal after the completion of the dzong, the festival is a three-day grand event annually attended by people from Punakha and Thimphu. Celebration activities include various mask dances in beautiful costumes and unfurling of the Guru Tshengye Thongdrel (large tapestry).
Stay overnight in Wangdi.
Attend the Paro Tshechu
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
-
Amankora Gangtey
Meals Included
- Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Wangdi to Paro
After a tasty breakfast in the morning, we will drive back to Paro from Wangdi. The drive will take about 3 hours in total. On the way, you will see the great view of the amazing Himalayan ranges. You can also stop at Dochula Pass to take impressive photos.
While in Paro, you will visit 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, jewelry etc., offering a great orientation into Bhutan’s historical, cultural, and religious past. 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.
Paro Rinpung Dzong
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 6: Trek to Taksang Lhakhang (Tiger’s Nest)
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
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
-
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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