7 nights 8 days Bhutan Tour

You will be received by your local Bhutanese tour guide. Transfer to your hotel in Paro and have a refreshment/lunch. Today your Bhutan tours begin by visiting the following:

National Museum: On a ridge immediately above Rinpung Dzong is the Ta Dzong (watchtower), built as a watchtower to protect the Dzong from intruders and warring factions. In 1968 Paro’s Ta Dzong was inaugurated as the National Museum, and now holds a fascinating collection of art, relics, religious thangkha paintings, Bhutan’s exquisite postage stamps, coins and handicrafts, together with a small natural history collection.

Paro Dzong (Rinpung Dzong): Explore the Rinpung Dzong which the locals call the ‘fortress of a heap of jewels’. Built in 1646 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the dzong stands on a hill above Paro Township. It is linked by the traditional cantilever bridge (called the Nemi Zam) over the Pa chu (Paro river) where one may pose a photograph. In the evening you can stroll around Paro town and you may visit local Bhutanese handicraft stores.

Stay Overnight at a hotel in Paro.

After breakfast, your Access Bhutan tour guide and driver will drive you to Punakha & Wangdue. After crossing Chunzom, you will travel along the Wangchu upto Simtokha. And also visit Druk Wangyal Lhakhang (temple).

On the way visit the Divine Madman’s Monastery-Chhimi Lhakhang, famously known for its fertility shrine, where one can receive a special fertility blessing.

After lunch visit the Punakha Dzong, located on the island of the Pho – Chu (male river) and the Mochu (female river).

In the evening, drive through upper Punakha valley passing through farm houses and take a short hike through farmhouses to the beautiful Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Lhakhang (temple built by the Queen Mother of Bhutan for peace and stability in this ever-changing world.

Stay Overnight at a hotel in Punakha/Wangdue.

After breakfast, tour continues towards central Bhutan which leads you to Bumthang through Trongsa.The journey will take you through dense forests of oak trees and rhododendrons and through the tropical vegetation through the village of Nobding and Pele la pass (11,000ft). Throughout your trip you will come across the beautiful sceneries of rural Bhutan, with scattered settlements far from the road which makes for good photographing.You will also pass through open meadows, and valley of yak herders and several other villages via Chendebji Chorten ( Stupa) . Lunch and refreshments will be served enroute. Just before reaching Bumthang you will come across “Yathra” weaving centre at Zugney and spend some time interacting with the local weavers..Yatra is made into jackets or bags ,etc. On arrival at Bumthang, check into your hotel and after refreshments stroll through Bumthang town , you may visit local shops and have free interaction with locals.

Stay Overnight at a hotel in Bumthang.

Jambay Lhakhang built in the 7th century by the King Songtsen Goempo of Tibet. In his effort to propagate Buddhism he had a plan to build a total of 108 temples in Tibet and neighboring kingdoms.

Kujey Lhakhang (Kujey means, “Body imprint”). The temple to the right is the oldest and was built by Minjur Tempa in 1652. It was built around the cave in which Guru Rimpoche meditated and left his body imprint.

Jakar Dzong, “castle of the white bird”. According to legend, when the lamas assembled in about 1549 to select a site for a monastery, a big white bird rose suddenly in the air and settled on a spur of a hill.

After lunch drive to Dorjibi weaving center which is located in Dorjibi village, half an hour drive from Bumthang town, has 20 women engaged in making Bhutanese weaves using local dyes and improved looms. It is joint initiative by WWF Bhutan and Wangchuck Centennial Park aimed at providing additional source of income for the mostly potato growing communities ,preserve the culture of weaving using locally available raw materials and reduce pressure on natural resources.

In the late afternoon, drive to Trongsa- the ancestral home of the royal family. Stay overnight at a hotel in Trongsa.

After breakfast visit the National Museum which is housed in the Ta Dzong (watch tower).A museum in which aspects of Bhutanese culture and history are explained by beautifully objects. Documentary will be shown too which explains a great deal about Bhutanese history and history of monarchy. And also visit Trongsa Dzong, which is the most impressive dzong in Bhutan. Built in 1644 by the Zhabdrung, the dzong is an architectural masterpiece. Then drive to Thimphu through Wangduephodrang with lunch enroute.

Stay overnight at a hotel in Thimphu.

After breakfast, full day sightseeing in Thimphu includes the visit to the following:

National Textile Museum which is a good place to see the art of traditional weaving being kept alive and preserved through exhibition and has a good collection of old textiles which are rich in colors and designs.You will also see people weaving with intricate designs.

Folk Heritage Museum which provides visitors and tourists with fascinating insights into the Bhutanese material culture and way of life

National Institute of Traditional Medicine (outside only), where medicinal herbs are compounded and dispensed, and traditional medical practitioners trained.

School of Traditional Painting of Arts and Crafts where students undertake a six-year course on the 13 traditional arts and crafts of Bhutan.

Centenary Farmers’ Market (open from Thu-Sun only): Most of the Thimphu’s population and many valley dwellers converge on the bustling weekend market, held by the side of Wangchu River.

Tashichhoe Dzong, a fortress of the glorious religion. It was built in 1641 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel and was reconstructed into present structure by the late King, His majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck in the year 1962-1969. It houses the secretariat building, the throne room and the office of the king, and the central monk body.

Takin Preserve, which houses the national animal the Takin that is only found in Bhutan. This is an extremely rare member of the goat family.

Kuenselphodrang where the Bhutan’s largest Buddha statue is perched on the hillock overlooking the entire Thimphu valley below and the view from there is magnificent.

Stay Overnight at a hotel in Thimphu

After breakfast, drive to Paro which takes about an hour and hike up to Taktsang Monastery, also known as ‘Tiger’s Nest’. The climb up to the viewpoint will take around 1 ½ hours and from there you will enjoy a spectacular view of the monastery clinging to the side of the cliff. Stop for refreshment at the View Point Cafeteria.Then walk further up to the monastery which will take about 1 hour. On the way, visit Kichu temple,one of the 108 temples built in the 7th century by the Tibetan King Songsten Gampo.

In the evening relax and overnight at a hotel in Paro.

In the morning, your Bhutan tour guide our travel agent will escort you to the airport for your onward destinations.