Discover Bhutan - The Last Shangri-La Of The Himalayas Tour

After breakfast, take a short drive to the north of town to Buddha Dordenma, located atop a hill in Kuensel Phodrang Nature Park. Followed by city tour visiting Textile Museum, the living national art of weaving. The place introduces the major weaving techniques, styles of local dress and textiles made by women and men & Folk Heritage Museum encapsulating the cultural heritage of the Bhutanese people. You can enjoy lunch at the Folk Heritage Museum. Post lunch, visit Changangkha Lhakhang, one of the ancient temples located on a ridge above Thimphu. From temple courtyard, there is fascinating view of Thimphu valley.Then drive to Takin Preserve to see Bhutan’s national animal Takin, located in the Motithang district of Thimphu. Conclude the sightseeing of the day with visit to Tashichhodzong, ‘fortress of the glorious religion’. Evening explore Centenary Farmers Market.
Stay : Overnight at Hotel
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast drive up to Dochula pass (3,088m/ 10,130 ft) stopping briefly here to take in the view and admire the chorten, mani wall, and prayer flags which decorate the highest point on the road.At Dochula Pass, 108 chortens or stupas known as Druk Wangyal Chortens have been built by Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuk, the eldest Queen Mother. These chortens are built in three layers, the first lowest level layer has forty-five chortens, the second has thirty-six and the top layer has twenty-seven, built around the main chorten. Then proceed onward to Punakha.Punakha served as the capital of Bhutan and seat of government until 1955 and still it is the winter seat of Je Khenpo (the chief abbot).After lunch, visit Punakha Dzong or ‘Palace of Great Happiness’. Then a short excursion to Chimi Lhakhang. The trail leads across rice fields to the tiny settlement of Pana, meaning ‘field’. A walk through the village near the temple will give you rare glimpses into the daily life and lifestyle of the villagers.
Stay : Overnight at Hotel
Meals : Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner

After breakfast, drive to Paro along scenic highway, enroute visit the newly restored Wangduephodrang dzong. On arrival in Paro, check into the hotel. Paro is also one of the most fertile valleys in the Kingdom producing a bulk of the locally famous red rice from its terraced fields.After lunch, proceed to visit Ta Dzong, originally built as Watchtower, which now houses National Museum. The extensive collection includes antique thangkha paintings, textiles, weapons & armour, household objects and a rich assortment of natural and historic artifacts.
Ta Dzong visit immediately followed by a short walk down the trail to visit Rinpung Dzong (Paro Dzong), meaning (“fortress of the heap of jewels”), which has a long and fascinating history. Along the wooden galleries lining the inner courtyard are fine wall paintings illustrating Buddhist lore such as four friends, the old man of long life, the wheel of life, scenes from the life of Milarepa, Mount. Sumeru and cosmic Mandala.
Stay : Overnight at Hotel
Meals : Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner

After early breakfast, embark on a fascinating excursion to Taktsang Monastery or Tiger’s Nest (approx. 5 hours round trip walk). It is one of the most famous of Bhutan’s monasteries, perched on the side of a cliff 900m above the Paro valley floor. Legends say that Guru Rinpoche arrived here on the back of a tigress and meditated at this monastery and hence it is called ‘Tiger’s Nest’. This site has been recognized as a most sacred place and visited by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1646 and now visited by all Bhutanese at least once in their lifetime. Late afternoon, drive end of the Valley to newly restored Drukgyel Dzong. Built by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1646 to commemorate an early military victory over Tibetan invaders, the dzong name means, indeed, ‘victorious Druk’. Historically and strategically, this Dzong withstood all its glory and was featured in 1914 vide National Geographic magazine. The glory of Drukgyel Dzong remained even when it was destroyed by fire in 1951. On a clear day, one can see the commanding view of Mount. Chomolhari (7,314m) from the village, below the Dzong. Nearby we will also visit a typical farmhouse. Bhutanese farmhouses are very colorful, decorative and traditionally built without the use of single nail. The majority of the population of Bhutan continues to live as it has for centuries – in small, isolated farms and hamlets, surrounded by terraced fields of rice, maize and buckwheat.
Stay : Overnight at Hotel
Meals : Breakfast,Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for flight to onward destination.
Stay : Not Applicable
Meals : Breakfast