| # | Itinerary | Program |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Arrival to Paro
|
Arrive by flight at Paro Airport. If arriving by land, cross the border from India at Phuntsholing/Jaigaon and drive approximately 5 hours to Paro. ➜ Drive to Paro Dzong, also known as Rinpung Dzong or “The castle on the heap of jewels.” The final scenes of the famous movie “Little Buddha” were filmed inside its walls. ➜ Walk down to the traditional roofed cantilever bridge over the Pa Chhu river. Here, you can try on Bhutanese dress and take photos with both the castle and bridge in the background! ➜ You might also like to see Paro's Khaja Throm market where residents make their grocery shopping and where you might try some snacks as well. ➜ Walk in lively little town packed with interesting shops, cafés, and local bars! ➜ Optionally, celebrate your arrival in Bhutan at the popular Park 76 music club! ➜ Day's program is subject to arrival timing. |
| 2 | Paro – Thimphu | Early morning drive to Drukyel dzong to see a freshly reconstructed castle and the summit of holy Jomolhari mountain in clear weather. ➜ Proceed with the hike to Taktsang Gomba (The Tiger’s Nest), the absolute highlight of the tour! While the climb is hard, it is very rewarding. If you don’t feel up to the full trek, you can stop at the cafeteria for a great view of the temple. If you have spare strength, you can hike up to Zangtopelri Lhakhang for a bird’s-eye view of the Tiger’s Nest! An afternoon hike can be considered depending on your strength and the weather. ➜ Witness a traditional Bhutanese archery match at the Nemjo archery ground if practice is underway. ➜ After hike drive to Thimphu with stop at Tachog lhakhang to see traditional bridge made using ancient iron chains. ➜ Take a rest after the morning's hike. ➜ Optionally celebrate arrival to Bhutan in popular Blackout Rooftop Bar or other popular venue. |
| 3 | Thimphu | Early morning drive to Dochu-la pass (3100 m). In clear weather you can see stunning mountain panorama. ➜ Drive back to Thimphu and visit gigantic statue of Buddha overlooking the valley. ➜ Walk in Norzin lam street and see the traffic police signaling in junctions. Thimphu is only capital in the world without the traffic lights. ➜ Finish walk at handicraft market where many interesting Bhutanese souvenirs can be seen and bought for reasonable price. ➜ Continue with visit to Folk Heritage Museum with the exhibition on traditional village life in Bhutan (closed on Sunday, alternatively visit Simply Bhutan museum). ➜ Otherwise, you can enjoy some free time in the town, exploring it on your own. ➜ Late afternoon visit to monumental Tashichho dzong castle, the seat of the king and government. |
| 4 | Departure | If time permits, visit the uniquely designed Dumtse Lhakhang, built by the 15th-century lama Thangton Gampo, also known as the "Iron Bridge Builder" or "Leonardo da Vinci of the Himalayas." ➜ Another option is the National Museum of Bhutan in the Ta Dzong watchtower, which features valley views and a Natural History gallery. You may skip the main building's religious artifacts if they are not of interest. ➜ Last-minute shopping in town is also an option. ➜ A stop at the Paro airport viewpoint offers a look at one of the world's most demanding international runways. ➜ Finally, depart from Paro by flight or take a 5-hour drive to the Phuntsholing border. |
Tour variants, extensions and combinations:
- Trekking: This tour can be easily combined with any trek, including Jomolhari Yaksa Trek (6 days) or Druk Path Trek (5 days). Please inquire for more informations.
- India extension: There is possibility to extend the tour to India via land border in Phuntsholing/Jaigon. Just 1 hour drive from there is Jaldhapara National Park with excellent elephant safari. In 5 hours drive you can reach Darjeeling, the mecca of every tea lover, and 2 more hours will take to reach Gangtok, capital of Sikkim. We will be happy to help with travel arrangements in India too!