12 Days Cultural cum Festival Tour

Day 1: Arrive Paro at 10.45 and travel on the same day to Wangdue / Punakha

Drive to Punakha Valley and wangdue valley over Dochu-la Pass with 3140mtrs. Take a view of the eastern Himalayan Peaks. It is located at 1250mtrs, the size of the place surprising considering the role that punakha played in the history of the kingdom. It was the country’s capitals for 300yrs.The fertile punakha valley allows two rice crops an yrs. Orange’s and bananas is abundance.
Wangdue Valley: This is another valley, which is one of the largest districts in the Kingdom, which lies above 1350mtrs. Since it is located on an exposed promontory overlooking the river. The town here is very congested to make it wider, but the government has made the town plan on another side where people can make it wider. Over night at hotel or camp. Driving distance: 6 hours.

Day 2: Punakha (festival) Witness the festival for whole day.

Day 3: Wangdue / Punakha to Trongsa
Drive to Trongsa via crossing the Pelela Pass with 3200Mtrs from the sea Level. Enroute have a lunch in the café and continue your drive to Trongsa. In the evening visit the Monastery fortress( Dzong). That was built in 1646 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal Wangchuk, Person who Unified Bhutan In 1616. Over night at Hotel Yangkhil Resort, with the beautiful view of the Valley and Dzong. Driving distance: 6/7hours

Day 4: Trongsa to Bumthang. Drive to Jakar(Bumthang) valley which is the most historical valley in the kingdom with visible signs of the visit of the great Buddhist saint from India, Guru Rinpoche, in the 8th century. The valley lies above 2560mtrs from the sea level. You will also cross the high passes that are call Pelela Pass 3320mtrs; Yotong la Pass 3400Mtrs and Kekela pass 2970mtrs. Driving distance: 7hours

Day 5: Bumthang. Sight seeing in an around Bumthang valley.
Jakar Dzong: The original monastery here was built in 1549 and named it as a Jakar Dzong (Monastery of the White bird). When the monks from Trongsa arrive here in summer, they perform a ceremony commemorating the defeat of the Tibetan Invaders from Lhodrak in 1644. Dzong of the “white Bird, is very elegant and more modest in size then other dzongs.

Jambay Lhakhang: It was built in 659AD by the Tibetan King Sontsen Geombo to subdue the Ogress that was covering the Himalayan country. He built 108monasteries by sending 5000 disciples, among 108 this is one of the monastery built on left knee of the ogress, as we believe that the human has 108joins in our body. It is very sacred pilgrim site in the country founded in 659AD. Here the religious festival (Tshechu) is performing during the autumn season.

Kurjey Monastery: This monastery was founded as a pilgrim site in 8th century 747AD during the 1st visit of the Guru Rinpoche(Precious Master). We can still witness the cave where the precious master meditated and subdued the local deity Shelging Karpo. Also Queen Mother built additional monasteries surrounding. Lunch in hotel and drive for rest of the sightseeing, visit Koenchosum monastery restored by the treasure discover Terton Pema ling Pa in 15th century. The temple is famous with its bell, which bears an inscription from the 8th century. It must have been cast for the Tibetan Royal Family so that they can hear the “sound of Buddhism. It is said when the bell rung, its sound could be heard as far as Tibet.

Tamzhing Monastery literally the “Temple of Good Message, is 5km from the chamkhar town. It is one of the most important Nyingmapa temples in the Kingdom. It was built by Terton Pemalingpa (treasure discover) with the help of Khandrom (Female Celestial being) in 1501. it contain a Iron chain Jacket that was believe as a rain Jacket which used to worn by Terton Pemalingpa. The inner wall contains the original Un restored image that were painted by him in 15century.

Day 6: Ura. Day Excursion to Ura Valley that lies above 3100mtrs. The large and unusual village with cluster of big houses linked by little alleys paved with stone slabs is a rare sight in Bhutan. Uras main livelihood is raising is raising sheeps and yaks. After having pack lunch in Ura continue your drive to Trongsa valley for over night. Driving distance: 180km for day excursion from Bumthang-Ura and Trongsa. Driving Time: 7-8hours.

Day 7: Bumthang – Thimphu
Drive back to Thimphu the capital city of the kingdom with following the same road. You will also cross the same passes, which crossed during your drive to Bumthang. The Dochula pass 3140mtrs and pelela pass 3320mtrs. Over night at hotel in Thimphu.

Day 8: Thimphu: Visit the following places in the Thimphu
National Library: It is located to the west of the golf course. It was established in 1967 to preserve and promote religious and culture degradation from rapid modern development. It has 4500 English titles mainly on Buddhism. 3 baskets of Buddha teaching are in Burmese script and 50volume have Pali tipitaka in Devanagri script and it has 10,000 volumes of religious text. It also contents the world largest book with 7 feet wide and 5 feet tall.

Painting School: It is known as Zorig Chosum In Bhutan (Institute for thirteen Art’s). Where 13Art’s practiced in the Kingdom. It was established in 1971 to preserve its invaluable heritage. The institute offer six year’s course.

Heritage Museum: The museum content three-storied traditional rammed mud and timber. The museum showcase the traditional artifacts used now and in the past. It was recently inaugurated on 28th July 2001.

Textile Museum: It is located in the heart of the city, which gives you a fair Idea of the living national art of weaving. It was founded in 2000. Museum introduces the major weaving techniques and styles of local dress and textile made by the Bhutanese Women and man.

Traditional Hospital: The institute of traditional medicine service was established in 1967 as Indigenous Unit under the department of Health service. It promotes traditional system of medicine in the country. Conduct research and quality control of drugs. Provide alternative medicine as complementary to the allopathic system.

Memorial Chorten: This Memorial Chorten (Stupa) is the highlight of the capital city with its towering golden spires shining in the sun and its bell tinkling in the wind. This stupa was built in 1974 in the memory of 3rd King who passed away in 1972. Lunch in the local restaurant dinner at hotel and overnight. (Thimphu).

Day 9: Thimphu (Sunday market) – Haa. Drive to Haa Valley.
Haa valley lies above 2640mtrs from the see level. Here they grow only wheat and Potato. First school in Bhutan was opened in this valley.

Visit Temple in Haa: Lhakhang Karpo: It is also one among the 108monasteries that was built by the Tibetan King (songtsen Geombo) in 659AD. It contents the status of the present Buddha sakyamuni and the eight bodhisattva. At present it is use as a monastic school for the monk body. It lies in the beautiful Valley.
Lhakhang Nagpo: This monastery is in Black painting, which means black monastery. It was also built in the same year with the 108monasteries in 659AD. Inside the monastery you can still see the lake where one of the Tibetan King used to offer the holy water to God. Driving distance: 6hours. 150km.

Day 10: Haa – Paro
Drive to Paro Valley over chelela Pass with 3988mtrs. Take a view of the Northern Himalayan peaks, which are above 6500mtrs. Drive is through the dens forest of Pine, Spurs, Ever Green Oak and ETC.
Evening leisure time for you to buy suvinour for yours friends of family.
Over night at hotel. Driving distance: 3 and half hours 66km.

Day 11: Paro
National Museum: Built in 1649 as a watchtower but in 1968 it was converted into National Museum by the Third King. 7storied Building in couch shape. One of the best museum in Asia.

Paro Dzong: Dzong is (Monastery Fortress in English). The person who unified Bhutan in 1616 called Zhabdrung Rinpoche built it in 1646. It survived the 1897 earthquake but a fire severely damaged the dzong in 1907. It is one of the most impressive and well known with finest example of Bhutanese Architecture.

Kychu monastery: Built in 659AD by the Tibetan King Songtsen Geompo to pin down the Ogress.
The construction of Kychu Monastery in Paro and Jambasy Monastery in Bumtang (central Bhutan) first put Bhutan on the Buddhist Map. Dinner and over night at hotel in Paro.

Day 12: Sightseeing in an around Paro Valley.
Taktshang Monastery: this place was founded by the Precious Master (Guru Rinpoche) in 8th century (747AD) during his second visit to Bhutan. He has meditated for four month’s and founded this place as one of the most secret pilgrim site for Buddhist. It is also believe to be said that who ever visit this place once in their life will be counted as thousand time’s. After visiting this place can purified your sin that has been committed. It is about 5hours hike, if you complete the hiking in an around Monastery.

Dungtse Monastery: Built in 1421 by Famous Tibetan saint Thangthong Gyalpo also known as ChagzamPa, A famous iron chain bridge duilder. It contains most extraordinary frescoes painting in the Himalayan world. The temple is conceived as a Mandala( a mystic Cosmic diagram).
Over night in hotel.

Day 12: Paro (Departure)
You will be escort by the representative to Airport for your departure.