9 Days West Bhutan Photo Tour to Phobjikha Valley

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

Upon your arrival in Paro (2,250m) 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.

Paro including Ta Dzong Museum

Highlights: Cross Dochu La pass and visit Punakha Dzong and Chimi Lhakhang.

In the morning, you will drive to Punakha (1,242m). The route will first take you to Chunzom, the confluence of Pachu and Wangchu Rivers. Both two rivers are the cradle of Bhutan’s civilizations and flow through Paro and Thimphu valley respectively.

On the way, you will pay a visit to Tachog Lhakhang, the 14th-century temple built by the great master level architect Thangtong Gyalpo and houses some of the unique and precious statues. You will also 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.

After lunch, you will keep driving to Punakha. In Punakha, you will visit the celebrated Punakha Dzong, the most beautiful monastery 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.

Witnessing the superb Punakha Dzong

Highlights: Visit Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten and Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Lhakhang.

On today’s schedule, you will first pay a visit to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten, built by the Queen Mother of the 5th King to bring peace and harmony for all living beings. It sits on a ridge above Punakha Valley, where you will have a fascinating view of the countryside below. Two hours round trip walk through rice fields are required to visit the chorten.

In the afternoon, after two hours drive from Punakha Valley, you will arrive Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Lhakhang, including a double storied temple and a nunnery complex. The complex houses a permanent higher learning and meditation centre of nuns. Skills such as tailoring, embroidery, statue making and thangka painting can also be trained here.

Stay overnight in Punakha.

Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Lhakhang

Highlights: Cross Lawala Pass to get to Phobjikha Valley and visit ancient Gangtey Monastery and the Black-Necked Crane Information Center in Gangtey.

After breakfast, you will drive to Phobjikha valley (3,000m). The distance between Punakha and Phobjikha is about 80 kilometers and will take you nearly 3 hours to finish this driving journey. On the way to Phobjikha, you will get amazed by the beauty and serenity of the rich flora and fauna. And you may see some Yaks grazing in high altitude bamboo shrub along the road when you arrive at Lawala Pass (3,300m).

After crossing the pass, you will head to visit Gangtey Monastery, generally known as Gangtey Goempa. It is a very important monastery of Nyingmapa school. Thereafter, you will pay a visit to the Black-Necked Crane Information Center. The center is situated on the edge of the forest and wetland along the main road of Phobjikha valley. It has an observation room equipped with high power telescope and spotting scopes for catching the best view of the cranes. If you travel to Phobjikha in November to January, you can have a chance to view many black-necked cranes here.

Stay overnight in Gangtey.

Gangtey Monastery

Highlights: Trek Gangte Nature Trail, and then visit Gangtey Goempa and Black-Necked Crane Information Center.

After breakfast, you will have a short morning trek known as the “Gangte Nature Trail”, which takes only about 1.5 hours, starting from the mani stone wall to the north of the Gangtey Monastery and ending in Khewa Lhakhang. This is a good chance to enjoy the enchanting natural scenery and breathe the incredibly fresh air in Phobjikha Valley.

After the the short trek, you will pay a visit to an impressive monastery called Gangtey Monastery, generally known as Gangtey Goempa. It is a very important monastery of Nyingmapa school.

Thereafter, you will pay a visit to the Black-Necked Crane Information Center. The center is situated on the edge of the forest and wetland along the main road of Phobjikha valley. It has an observation room equipped with high power telescope and spotting scopes for catching the best view of the cranes. If you travel to Phobjikha in November to January, you can have a chance to view many black-necked cranes from Tibetan Plateau here.

Stay overnight in Gangtey.

The Information Center for the black-necked cranes.

Highlights: Transfer to Thimphu and visit the Simtokha Dzong, National Memorial Chorten and Tashichho Dzong.

Today, you will transfer to Thimphu (2,350m), the capital city of Bhutan. On the way, you will encounter the Simtokha Dzong in Thimphu valley en route. Built in 1629 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, Simtokha Dzong is often said to be the first dzong in Bhutan.

After arriving at Thimphu, 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 visit 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.

Stay overnight in Thimphu.

Thimphu National Memorial Chorten

Highlights: Explore Thimphu’s cultural wonders like National Folk Heritage Museum, Jungshi Handmade Paper Factory, and Motithang Takin Preserve.

Today’s tour will take you to explore the cultural wonders of Thimphu. First, you will go to National Folk Heritage Museum. It dedicates itself to connecting people with the rich Bhutanese folk heritage and rural history through exhibits, demonstrations, educational programs and documentation of Bhutanese rural life. The museum will strive to disseminate the rich cultural heritage across generations by preserving it in different forms.

Next, you will head to visit Jungshi Handmade Paper Factory. The factor is located approximately 1 kilometer from Thimphu city, and uses the bark of two tree species (the Daphne tree, and Dhekap tree) in the manufacture of traditional paper. You can observe the entire process of producing handmade paper using ancient traditional methods that have been practiced for generations. Besides, you are able to try your hand at this ancient craft and make some paper of your own as a souvenir.

Then, you will transfer to Paro. Covering a total distance of nearly 54 kilometers, it will take you about 1 hour to get to Paro from Thimphu.

Stay overnight in Paro.

Visit the Takin Preserve

Highlights: Hike to Tiger’s Nest Monastery to enjoy spectacular views from it and visit Kyichu Lhakhang.

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 900 meters 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.

Stay overnight in Paro.

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 service end.