10 Days Classic Bhutan Himalaya Tour

Highlight: Visit landmarks in Paro including Ta Dzong Museum 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.

Paro including Ta Dzong Museum

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

In the morning, you will drive to Punakha and Wangdue. 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 (Tachong Temple), 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 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.

Chimi Lhakhang

Highlight: Cross two mountain passes with scenic views and visit Chendebji Chorten.

Today, we will set out in the early morning after breakfast and travel to Bumthang (2700m). Covering a distance of 197 kilometers, it will take you 7 hours to get to Bumthang from Punakha. The on-the-route scenery is amazing, the bus will take you to lush forests of oaks and pine trees and you can see view changes as you ascend the mountain. Get a fantastic panoramic view from the Pele La Pass (3300 m).

Meanwhile, the open green meadows with rhododendron ridden valleys will lead you to visit Chendebji Chorten, a large Nepalese style chorten sits quietly by the side of the road. The chorten is modeled after the Swayambhunath in Kathmandu. It is said that Chendebji Chorten was built in the 19th century by Lama Zhida to cover the remains of an evil spirit who was killed at this spot.

Continue your drive to Bumthang by passing through Yotong La Pass (3400 m). The route during this section takes you to the Yathra Waving Center at Zugney village where you can witness the locals waving Yathra, a name that refers to the colorful and woolen cloth with geometric design in Bhutanese. Then the bus takes you further to Bumthang Valley.

Stay overnight in Bumthang.

Chendebji Chorten

Highlight: Visit landmarks in Bumthang like Tamshing Lhakhang, Kurjey Lhakhang and Jakar Dzong.

Today, 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

Highlight: Explore Probjikha valley and visit Gangtey Monastery.

After breakfast, you will start your journey to Wangdue. The distance between Bumthang and Gangtey is about 197 kilometers, which will take you 6 hours. On the way, the bus will first make a temporary stop at Gangtey Monastery, a can’t-miss monastery of Nyingmapa school of Buddhism. Then drive towards the Phobjikha valley which is one part of the beautiful Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park.

During the winter, a large flock of black-necked cranes, the endangered species, gather there to escape from the chilly weather. Besides, the forest covered mountains around the valley have been widely accepted as the most remote areas where only the rarely seen nomadic shepherds and yak herders can find the trails.

In the afternoon, you will have plenty of time exploring the Phobjikha valley and visiting the Black Necked Crane Center. Then continue your travel to Wangdue Phodrang, the capital of Wangdue Phodrang District. 

Stay overnight in Wangdue / Gangtey.

Gangtey Monastery

Highlight: Explore Thimphu’s cultural wonders like National Memorial Chorten, National Textile Museum and Traditional Paper Making Factory etc.

In early morning after the breakfast we will head straight forward for Thimphu. Upon arrival, you will visit some of the landmarks in this city. 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. 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

Highlight: Visit National Institute of Traditional Medicine, Takin Preserve, Craft Bazaar and Hike to Tango Monastery.

In the morning, we will first enjoy a half day tour around Thimphu. 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. Visit the Takin Preserve and get a closer look at the housed national animal Takin that is only find in Bhutan. Also explore the Craft Bazaar, which is a unique shopping site to get an in-depth knowledge of Bhutan cultures. You can buy the handcrafts with Bhutan characteristics that you are interested in.

After lunch, we will drive to the base camp of Tango Monastery which lies north of the Thimphu city. Starting from the base camp you follow the route in dense oak and pine tree dominated forest to the monastery, along which the red rhododendron flowers are in their full blossom and the fresh air drives away all the tiredness you suffer.

Tango Monastery is eminent for its home of the highly revered Buddhist monks who once brought the Drukpa Kagyupa school of Buddhism to Bhutan. Here you can enjoy a spectacular view from it. After that, we will return to Thimphu.

Stay overnight in Thimphu.

Tango Monastery

Highlight: Explore beautiful Haa Valley and take in stunning Bhutan Himalayas view along the way.

Today, we will first head to Haa valley, a steep north-south valley with a narrow floor in Haa District. Along the route, distinguished Bhutanese farmhouses can be sighted and you will be treated with local wines and butter teas with kinds of Bhutanese snacks. Then continue your journey to Haa valley and before heading either to Lhakhang Karpo (The white temple) or Lhakhang Nagpo (The black temple) or both depending on the time and your interests.

Then drive to Paro along the mountainside road winding up to the Chele La Pass (3822 m), and you can take in spectacular views of Bhutan Himalayas all the way. After passing a few of wild farmlands and scattered hamlets, we will finally reach Paro.

Stay overnight at hotel in Paro.

Chele La Pass

Highlight: Enjoy the wonderful trekking to Tiger’s Nest.

Today, we will leave for Paro to 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

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