10 Days Central Bhutan Meditation Tour

Highlight: Visit landmarks in Paro including Ta Dzong Museum Rinpung Dzong and Kyichu Lhakhang after arriving in this amazing city by flight.

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, jewelry 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.

Visit Paro Rinpung Dzong

Highlights: Visit the National Memorial Chorten, Buddha Dordenma and Tashichho Dzong in Thimphu.

Today, you will be transferred to Thimphu (2,350m), the capital city of Bhutan. Covering a total distance of nearly 54 kilometers, it will take you about 1 hour to get to Thimphu from Paro (2,250m).

After arriving at Thimphu, your guide will help you check in the hotel. Later, you will pay a visit to National Memorial Chorten, which was built in memorial of King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, the third King of Bhutan in 1974. After that, you can explore Tashichho Dzong, the eminent fortress where the national government and central monastic body are located. In addition, here sits the summer residence of Je Khenpo, the Chief Abbot of Bhutan.

Thereafter, you will head to visit Kuensel Phodrang Nature Park. Here, you can see the 169 feet bronze statue of Buddha Dordenma, Vajra Throne Buddha, one of the largest statue of Buddha in the world.

Stay overnight in Thimphu.

Visit Buddha Dordenma

Highlights: Cross Yotongla Pass and transfer to Bumthang.

Today, you are going to have a long drive, about nine hours. But the journey is going to be filled with memorable sights.

You will cross two high mountain passes, Dochula Pass at 3,150m between Thimphu and Wangdue and Yotongla Pass at 3,400m between Trongsa and Bumthang. Dochula Pass offers spectacular view of mountains on all sides. But we do not have luxury of time today since the journey is long and, for those who are not used to long road journeys, quite tiring.

Stay overnight in Bumthang.

Dochu La Pass

Highlights: Pay a visit to Kunzangdrak Monastery and do meditation here.

After breakfast, you will drive towards Kunzangdrak Monastery. From the road point, about one hour’s walk takes you to the temple. The temple of Kunzang Drak is one of the most sacred in Bhutan. It was built by the great native treasure discoverer Pema Lingpa in 1488. The temple contains his sacred relics. His footprint can be seen on a gilded stone. After lunch, you will start the meditation at the temple.

Stay overnight in Kunzangdrak Monastery.

Kunzangdrak Monastery

Highlights: Meditate in Kunzangdrak Monastery and explore cultural landmarks like Jampa Lhakhang, Kurjey Lhakhang and Tamshing Lhakhang in Bumthang.

Today you will meditate until 12 pm in Kunzangdrak Monastery and then return to Bumthang. On the way, you will visit Mebartsho (Burning Lake), the sacred lake associated with great treasure discoverer Pema Lingpa. Terton Pema Lingpa is said to have dived into the lake with a butter lamp in hand. After a while, he emerged from the lake carrying treasures with the lamp still burning bright. Thereafter, the lake came to be known as Mebartsho.

After lunch, you will enjoy a sightseeing in Bumthang. Deep in the central regions of the country, Bumthang valley is broad and presents a different landscape you may not see in west Bhutan. You will first visit Tamshing Lhakhang, which famous for its collections of printings exemplifying the region’s style. Then crossing the suspension bridge to the Kurjey Lhakhang. Not far from Kurjey Lhakhang sits the Jambay Lhakhang, a temple built by the King Songtsen Goempo of Tibet in the 7th century. Next, you will continue to visit Jakar Dzong, a wonderful architecture in Bhutan, with a circumference of more than 1500 meters.

Stay overnight in Bumthang.

Kurjey Lhakhang

Highlights: Transfer from Bumthang to Punakha and visit Trongsa Dzong on the way.

After an early breakfast, you will drive to Punakha which takes about seven hours. On the way, you will stop to visit the magnificent Trongsa Dzong. Trongsa Dzong was the seat of Trongsa Ponlop, the governor of the east, before the institution of monarchy. It is one of the most impressive dzongs in Bhutan. The crown prince of Bhutan symbolically assumes the role of Trongsa Ponlop before becoming the king.

Stay overnight in Punakha.

Visit the magnificent Trongsa Dzong

Highlights: Visit Punakha Dzong and Chimi Lhakhang.

On today’s schedule, you will first head to visit the Punakha Dzong. Standing by the riverside of Pho Chu and Mo Chu, Punakha Dzong is one of the most impressive buildings and one of the top favorite attractions in Bhutan. More importantly, the rectangular shape fortress is also an honorable treasury where preserves numerous Buddhist relics and historical legacies.

After witnessing the superb Punakha Dzong, you will continue to visit Chimi Lhakhang, also known as Chime Monastery, is a beautiful Buddhist monastery located in the Punakha District of Bhutan. It stands on a small round hillock close to the village of Lobesa and was built in 1499 by the 14th Drukpa hierarch, Ngawang Choegyel.

Stay overnight in Punakha.

Punakha Dzong

Highlights: Drive back to Paro to visit Drukgyel Dzong.

After breakfast, you will drive back to Paro, the home to Mount Jomolhari (7, 300m) situated at the northern end of the valley whose glacier water forms the Pa Chhu flowing through the valley. It will take you about 4 hours 20 minutes for the 125 kilometers.

Upon your arrival, your guide will bring you to the ruins of Drukgyel Dzong. It was built in 1647 by the great Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, father, and unifier of medieval Bhutan. Unfortunately, it was destroyed by an accidental fire and left in ruins as an evocative reminder of the great victories. Nowadays, Drukgyel Dzong becomes a popular attraction in Paro, Bhutan.

Stay overnight in Paro.

Visit Drukgyel Dzong

Highlights: Hike to Tiger's Nest Monastery and do meditation.

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.

As you approach the monastery, you will come across forests of prayer flags. This site will already prepare you for mediation at the holy place. After lunch, you can start today's first meditation. The place is naturally conducive for meditation having been blessed by several enlightened beings in the past.

Then you will continue hiking up to Taktshang Monastery, one of the greatest holy places associated with Guru Rinpoche in the entire Himalayan region. It's calm and tranquil, the physical environment most suited for meditation.

After exploring the monastery, you will begin your return tour to Paro.

Stay overnight in Paro.

Meditation in Tiger's Nest Monastery

After breakfast, your guide will meet you at the hotel and transfer you to Paro International Airport for your next destination.

The tour services end.