Dragon Culturaltour 6 Dragon Culturaltour 6
Bhutan Shangri-La Tour. 13N14D Day01. Arrival at Paro. Arrival from Bangkok or Delhi, Kolkata. O/n Paro. Your journey into Bhutan begins and ends at Paro valley, where the only airport is located. This is a spectular mountain flight as one nears Paro. Weather permitting you have great views of Mt. Jhomolhari and other Bhutanese peaks above 7000m. On reaching Paro our staff will be there at the airport to receive you and take you to your hotel. Be at leisure to explore the small Paro town with its many curio shops. Day02. Paro sightseeing. Visit the Taktsang monastery; a visit to Bhutan is not complete without the famous Taktsang Monastery hike. The Monastery clings on the granite cliff and is regarded as a power place because Guru Rimpoche the founder of the Tibetain form of Buddhism is said to have done his meditation in one of the caves on this cliff and after that a Monastery was built. The hike takes about 4 hrs excursion, and if you are not confident about making it to the monastery, we arrange a pony or mule and you can ride it as and when you pass out!. After the hike enroute visit Kichu Monastery, which is one of the oldest Monasteries built in Bhutan by the great Tibetain King Songsten Genpo in the 8th century. Day03. Paro sightseeing. Start your tour to the National Museum, the National museum is housed in the watchtower of the Paro dzong, there is a vast collection of artifacts. Later visit the Paro Dzong. The Paro dzong is also the Religious and administrative house of Paro district. After lunch take a drive to the Chelila pass, this is also the highest motorable road in Bhutan at near 4000m. Weather permitting there are great views of Mt. Jhomolhari and other peaks. You can see the Haa valley down below with its fairy tale hills. Day04. Paro to Thimphu. Drive to Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan. It takes appx 2hrs to Thimphu. The drive is through the villages and huge farmhouses of Paro aligned with willow trees. All along you drive parallel to the Paro river and later from the confluence you meet the Thimphu river or Wang chu. On arrival at Thimphu can be at leisure to explore the Thimphu city with its many handicraft shops. Day05. Thimphu sightseeing. Explore Thimphu city, start with a drive to the highest view point of Thimphu also called the BBS tower. Check out the Takin, national animal of Bhutan, has a head of a goat and the body of a bull. Visit the Zilukha nunnery, the nuns there will most probably be involved in a Buddhist ritual. Have a tour of the folk heritage museum and the handicraft school of 13 arts and crafts of Bhutan. You can also be at leisure to look around the city. Day06. Thimphu to Punakha. Today you go further west of Bhutan to the regions of Punakha, Wangdue region. The drive is 3 hrs and you go over the Dochula pass at 3000m. Weather permitting there are great views of the entire eastern Himalayan range, there are also 108 stupas built for the peace and security of the country. As you descend towards the fertile valley of Punakha enroute you can visit the Chimey Lhakhang/temple. Chimey Lhakhang is the temple of the ‘Devine mad man’ who is a greatly loved saint in Bhutan of the 14th century. All the phallus painting on the walls of homes and flying phallus are his! He had an unconventional way of dispensing the Dharma through wine and women. Day07. Punakha Sightseeing. Be at leisure to explore the Punakha valley, start with a trip to the Punakha Dzong which is built on the confluence of two rivers. Punakha Dzong used to be the old capital of Bhutan. It is still used as the winter capital by the monastic body. In this Dzong there is a lavish display of Bhutanese art and architecture. Later you can visit the Crown Prince’s monastery or just be at leisure to walk around some villages. Day08. Punakha to Gangtey. Your drive moves further towards the east today. We will visit the Phobjikha valley 3 hrs drive from Punakha, this is the valley of the Black neck cranes. Every winter the endangered Black neck cranes come here from Tibet. The Phobjikha valley is a broad beautiful glacial valley. Enroute visit the Wangdue dzong built on the ridge of a hill overlooking the entire Wangdue valley. Day09. Gangtey to Trongsa. Today you drive towards the most central part of Bhutan. The drive from Gangte to Trongsa is appx 3hrs, through the villages of Chendibji and Rukubji. You will cross the Chelila pass at 3000m. The scenic drive through different variation of vegetation with dwarf bamboo at Pelila pass finally gets you to Trongsa. Depending on the season you will encounter yak hearders and their nomadic camps at Pelila pass. Day10. Trongsa to Bumthang. Visit the Trongsa Dzong, which is also the largest Dzong in the country. The Trongsa Dzong is also a very important Dzong historically for Bhutan. It was from this Dzong that the first King’s father started his career and established the Wangchuck dynasty in Bhutan. The legacy, which still continues today. Later drive to Bumthang which is 2.3 hrs drive, you have the Yotongla pass before you finally reach the Chumey valley. Bumthang is also known as the Switzerland of Bhutan because of the similarity in landscape, there were also many Swiss nationals who used to live in Bumthang helping the local farmers in the forestry and farming sectors. Day11. Bumthang SS. Bumthang is a large valley comprised of four separate valleys and having many sights of Religious importance. You can visit the Tang valley, visit the Ugyencholing museum. Can visit the Kurjye monastery and the Jambay Lhakhang monastery. The Kurjye Monastery is a very holy site hence many great saints and royal family are cremated near this Monastery. Day12. Bumthang to Punakha. We will now head back towards Paro, complete sightseeing enroute. Day13. Punakha to Paro. Drive to Paro via Thimphu, complete last minute shopping and sightseeing, visit the Semtokha Dzong which is also the oldest Dzong in the country built in 1627. This Dzong is under massive renovation at present. Day14. Departure. Tariff: Group size USD per person. Free of Cost (FOC) 01 2890 02 2760 03-10 2370 11th person gets 50% off on ground arrangements and Druk air flights 10-15 2370 16th person gets 100% off on ground and Druk air flights. Tour Price includes. • A grade Accommodation and Resort Hotels on Full Board basis. • Mineral water on transfers. • Cultural show and cocktail party for groups above 6 people. • All Transfers in Toyota coaster bus or Toyota Hiace commuter van. • One night fashion show displaying the rich Textile heritage of Bhutan. • Visa Fees, Permits and Entry fees to all monuments and sights where applicable. What is not included. • Druk air flights in and out of Paro. • Use of bar and beverages in Hotels. • Use of Telephone, Internet, spa. • Tips and Gratuities to guide, driver. • Personal shopping, souvenirs. Options. While at Paro, guests have the option to stay at some luxury and Heritage hotel like the Zhiwaling Hotel or Uma Hotel. For this an additional surcharge is applicable based on room type and season. Note: The above Itinerary is susceptible to change with flight schedule and connections. On confirmation of flights and visa final programme will be advised. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
