11 Days Classic Western and Central Bhutan Tour

Highlight: Visit National Institute of Traditional Medicine, Takin Preserve and Craft Bazaar in 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 and then transferred to Thimphu. Following the Pachu River, it is a short drive of about 1.5 hours from Paro to Thimphu.

Upon arrival, you will visit some of the landmarks in this city. 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.

Stay overnight in Thimphu.

Visit the Takin Preserve

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

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

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

In the morning, we will drive to Punakha and Wangdue. On the way, you will 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. The bus will also make a temporary stop at the amazing 108 chortens built by Her Majesty Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck (The Queen mother of Bhutan) for the safety and wellbeing of His Majesty (The king of Bhutan).

After lunch at Wangduephodrang (1,350m), we 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 scenic Tang Valley and visit Ugyen Choling Heritage Museum.

After breakfast, we will drive around one hour to the remote but surprisingly lush Tang valley. Tang valley is among the popular four valleys in Bumthang district. Residents in this valley prefer to raise sheep rather than other food crops for the soil here is inappropriate for cultivation. At higher elevations, locals raise yaks and lead a nomadic life.

Then we will visit Ugyen Choling Heritage Museum which was built a century ago and once belonged to the Royal Family of Tang valley. After the lunch served at a farmhouse, you enjoy the peaceful life in the Tang valley.

After that, we will travel back to Bumthang.

Stay overnight in Bumthang.

Ugyen Chholing Palace

Highlight: Explore Probjikha valley and visit Gangtey Monastery.

After breakfast, you will start your journey to Wangdue. The distance between Bumthang and Wangdue 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: Hike to upper Punakha valley and visit the Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Lhakhang.

In the morning, we will first visit the beautiful Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Lhakhang (Temple) after hiking to the upper Punakha valley and crossing the hanging bridge through large tracts of paddy fields. It takes you about 1 hour to reach the temple and the view sighted from the temple is also stunning.

After that, head for Paro and check in the hotel. 

Stay overnight in Paro.

Khansum Yulley Namgyal Chorten

Highlight: Visit Drukgyel Dzong, Kyichu Lhakhang, Paro Rinpung Dzong and National Museum.

It is a full day sightseeing in Paro today. First drive up to the ruins of Drukgyel Dzong, the glorious fortress and Buddhist monastery in ancient time. Then visit 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.

Then 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.

In the afternoon, head to explore the National Museum and Dzongdrakha Temple. The national museum in Ta Dzong (The Watch Tower) houses a large number of valuable collections which will broaden your eyes with wonderful and rich Bhutanese culture and heritages. While the Dzongdrakha temples, also known as the mini - Taktsang, are built on the cliffs above Bondey village.

In the evening, you can choose to either stay in your hotel or stroll round the downtown and pay a visit to some local handicraft stores.

Stay overnight in Paro.

Kyichu Lhakhang

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.