12 Days Bumthang Cultural Trek

On your arrival at the Paro International Airport, you will be met by your tour guide and driver, who will assist you with any concerns on your entry to Bhutan and show you to the vehicle they will use to take you to your hotel in Thimphu (2,320 meters). The 45-kilometer drive from Paro to the Bhutanese capital takes around 1 hour 15 minutes, and once in your hotel you will have a traditional Bhutanese lunch.

After lunch, we will first visit Buddha Dordenma Statue, the tallest Buddha statue in the world, then take a short hike from Kuensel Phodrang to Depsi, in the south of Thimphu. The hike is a very easy walk that takes us through pine, rhododendron, and oak forests, and lasts for around an hour and a half. Along the route of the hike you will get to see the great views of Thimphu and the Wang Chhu, and can even being some prayer flags to hang between the trees, like the locals do here.

Then, we will visit the Thimphu Tashichho Dzong, the Fortress of the Glorious Religion, which is also the seat of the national government of Bhutan and the Central Monastic Body.

In the evening, you are able to take a stroll in the town or visit the Local Crafts Bazaar. The bazaar is full of hand-woven textiles, thangka paintings, masks, ceramics, etc. If you like, you can choose some gifts for your friends and relatives here.

Stay overnight in Thimphu.

Thimphu Tashichho Dzong

The day today is spent in Thimphu sightseeing, with the first visit heading to the Memorial Chorten, erected in 1974 in memory of the late king, Jigme Dorji Wangchuk. The temple inside the Chorten has many examples of Tantric Buddhism and the main philosophies.

Then we will head for the Motithang Zoo, which is now a free-roaming Takin park where you can see the national animal of Bhutan, as well as the Zulikha Nunnery, founded by Rikey Jadrel in 1976 which houses around 60 nuns.

We will also take a trip to the National Library, established in 1967 to preserve the many rare and sacred Dzongkha and Tibetan religious texts.

After a light lunch in town, we will visit the local paper factory, where the traditional and sought-after Bhutanese paper is made. Then it is on to the local Thimphu Weaving Center, where you can see the hand-woven textiles that have been popular in Bhutan and China for centuries, and you can see and buy the range of locally-made ready-to-wear garments.

In the evening, we will take a short trip to a local Bhutanese farmhouse for a delightful traditional dinner, as well as spending some time in the Hot Stone bath there.

Stay overnight in Bhutan at hotel or farmhouse stay.

Thimphu National Memorial Chorten

Today, we will head out of the Bhutanese capital for the day to visit the beautiful Punakha Valley (1,350m) in Wangdue Phodrang Dzongkhag, to the east of Thimphu. Traveling the 71 kilometers to Punakha takes you over the stunning Dochula Pass, at 3,150 meters above sea level. The pass is beset with 108 small religious stupas, as well as thousands of prayer flags that adorn the stupas, trees, bushes, and rocks of the pass. The crest of the pass is also one of the best places in Bhutan to get a great view of the Himalayan vista, which can be seen to the north on clear days.

After stopping at the pass to take photos, we will continue on to Lobesa (1,388m), where we will take a short hike to the Chhimi Lhakhang (1,300m), known locally as the temple of Fertility, which lies on the hilltop nearby. The Lhakhang is around 30-minutes hike from the road, and passes through paddy fields of Bhutanese red rice and small farming communities. Lunch will be had at Lobesa after the hike.

Punakha is the location of some of the most beautiful Dzongs in Bhutan, including the outstanding Punakha Dzong, which we will visit in the afternoon, then head on to the stunning viewpoint at the Khamsum Yule Namgyle Chorten, from where you can get one of the most amazing views of the rural landscape of Wangdue Phodrang Dzongkhag. Then it is back to Punakha for dinner at the hotel.

Stay overnight in Punakha.

Punakha Dzong

After a good local breakfast, we will take a drive to Bumthang (3,650M), in Central Bhutan, a drive of around 208 kilometers that takes around four hours. The road from Punakha rises slowly to reach the high Pela Pass, at 3,400 meters, where you can often see yaks grazing by the side of the road. Then we will descend on the other side through forests of rhododendron and dwarf bamboo to eat lunch at one of the restaurants in Rukubji Village.

Along the route to Trongsa, we will pass by the famous Chendebji Chorten, which was styled after the Swayambhunath Temple in Kathmandu in the 19^th century. The Chorten was built to cover the remains of an evil spirit that was destroyed on that spot several years before. As you crest the ridge and enter the Trongsa Valley, you can see the impressive Trongsa Dzong, a huge fortress, on the other side of the valley.

Once we reach Trongsa, we will stop to visit the Trongsa Dzong, as well as the famed Tower of Trongsa, the center of religion and power in Bhutan. The tower is now a museum which showcases the amazing aspects of Bhutanese culture and history, though for some, it is still a sacred place for encounters with the gods.

After leaving Trongsa, we continue on to Bumthang, taking on the hairpin bends of the winding mountain roads and passing through even more rhododendron, conifer, and oak forests, crossing the 3,425-meters Yotong La Pass. After the pass, the road comes out into a wide farming valley, known as the Chumey Valley (2,900m), the first of the four main valleys of Bumthang.

After arriving at Bumthang, your guide will help you check in the hotel.

Stay overnight in Bumthang.

Chendebji Chorten

In the morning after breakfast, your Bhutanese guide will lead you to visit Jakar Dzong in Bumthang valley. With a circumference of more than 1,500 meters, Jakar Dzong is one of the most majestic dzongs in Bhutan and widely accepted as a wonderful piece of architectural art all over the country. For a tour of Bhutan, pay a visit to this wonderful castle and feel the solemnness would be an excellent experience.

Then, you are going to worship the Jambay Lhakhang, a temple built by the King Songtsen Gampo of Tibet in 659 AD. It is said that Guru Rinpoche was the one who brought Buddhism to Bhutan. It was renovated by Sindhu Raja after Guru Rinpoche restored his life with his magical powers. If you visit Bumthang in October or November, you may have a chance to join in the highly popular Jambay Tsechu Festival here.

Not far from Jambay Lhakhang sits the Kurjey Lhakhang. It houses the imprint of Guru Rimpoche who meditated in a cave where the monastery was built. Finally, you will head to visit Namkhe Nyingpo Goemba. On the hill to the east of Jakar, the large Nyingmapa monastery was built in the 1970s by Namkhai Nyingpo Rinpoche.

Stay overnight in Bumthang.

Jambay Lhakhang

(Trek distance: 12km; Time: 4-5 hours)

The trek starts this morning from Toktu Zampa, and follows the Chamkhar Chhu, a popular river for trout fishing, stopping for lunch at the Thangbi Lhakhang (2,700m).

After lunch, we continue on to enter the popular Ngang Yul, or Land of the Swan, at the center of which lies the Ngang Lhakhang, the Swan Temple. The valley here was once heavily populated with swans, hence the name, though these days few swans remain in the area.

A trek of around 12 kilometers, which will take around 4-5 hours, we will stop for the night at a campsite in Ngang Yul, so you can spend the afternoon relaxing in this beautiful valley.

Stay overnight in Ngang Yul Campsite.

Bumthang Cultural Trek

(Trek distance: 16km; Time: 6 hours)

After a hearty trail breakfast, we will start by crossing the verdant meadows of the valley, overlooking the valley floor below, to climb up the gradual rise to the Phephe La Pass at 3,360 meters. This is the highest point of this trekking route. The train to the pass passes through dense primeval forests, and you can stop to admire the outstanding natural beauty of the area.

Then it is down the other side from the pass, which takes you downhill into a broad valley where the small village of Tahung (2,720m) is located. There are several campsites in the valley, as it is a popular place to stay. The day’s trekking covers a distance of around 16 kilometers, which should take around 6 hours at a relaxed pace.

Stay overnight in Tahung Campsite.

(Trek distance: 16km; Time: 4-5 hours)

As the day’s trekking starts, we will follow the course of the Tang Chhu, another popular trout-fishing river, passing the beautiful Tang Rinpoche Lhakhang on the banks of the river. The trek then passes by the Burning Lake and heads on to Tang Ogyencholing (2,900m), an ancient palace that houses the only private museum in Bhutan. The museum has an amazing collection of ancient artifacts on display.

After stopping to visit the museum, we will take the last leg of the trek to the nearby road head, where you will say goodbye to the trekking staff and drive back to Bumthang.

The trek for the day covers around 16 kilometers to the road, which can be done in around 4-5 hours, as most of the trek is downhill and less strenuous.

Stay overnight in Bumthang Hotel.

Ogyencholing Palace

After breakfast, you will start your journey to Gangtey (2,890m). The distance between Bumthang and Gangtey is about 163 kilometers, which will take you 5 hours 30 minutes. Gangtey, also called Probjikha, is one of the most beautiful destinations in Bhutan. It is also the winter home to a group of globally endangered black-necked cranes that arrive every year from the Tibetan Plateau.

Upon your arrival, you will first visit Gangtey Monastery, generally known as Gangtey Goempa. Situated atop a hill at an altitude of 2800m, the monastery offers a stunning view of Phobjikha valley. Besides, it is the winter home to the rare Black Necked Cranes of Bhutan. 

Stay overnight in Gangtey.

Gangtey Monastery

Today, you will get up early and say farewell to the charming Gangtey valley. About a 5-hour drive will bring you back to Paro. You will encounter the Simtokha Dzong en route. Built in 1629 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, Simtokha Dzong is often said to be the first dzong in Bhutan.

In the afternoon, your guide will bring you to visit the imposing Paro Rinpung Dzong (also named as Paro Dzong), a fortress once built to defend the valley from invasions. However, it now serves as an administration center and school for monks.

Stay overnight in Paro.

Paro Rinpung Dzong

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 900m 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.

Insider tips: Travelers cannot take pictures in the monastery, but you can take a nice shot on your road to Taktsang Monastery. And you have to deposit all belongings, like cameras, phone, other electronic equipment, etc. at the entrance.

Stay overnight in Paro.

Trek to Taktshang Monastery

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

The tour service end.