PARO TSHECHU FESTIVAL
Day 01:
March 29 (Arrival at Paro International Airport)
Our guide/representative will receive you at Paro International Airport and drive you to the hotel. Early lunch and drive to the ruins of the Drukgyel Dzong 16 km up the valley built in 1647 by the great Shabdrung Nawang Namgyel, father and unifier of medieval Bhutan. The Dzong was destroyed by accidental fire and left in ruins as an evocative reminder of the great victories it was built to commemorate. Explore the ramparts and on a clear day experience an unforgettable view of Mt. Jumolhari (7,314 m). Way back drive to Rimpong Dzong and attend the Festival. Evening at leisure in town. Overnight Hotel
Day 02:
March 30 (Paro Tsechu/Taktsang Hike)
Morning attend Festival; Early lunch and excursion to Takshang Monastery. “Takshang” literally means Tiger’s Nest – The Monastery is believed to have been built in 1684 on the spot where Guru Rimpoche (founder of Buddhism in Bhutan) flew on the back of a Tigress and meditated to subdue the demons in Paro valley.
The trail to the Monastery climbs through beautiful pine forest, many of the trees festooned with Spanish moss, and an occasional grove of fluttering prayer flags. This incredible Monastery clings vertically to the edge of a granite rock cliff that plunges 900 meters above the valley floor. Overnight Hotel
Day 03:
March 31 (Festival & Local Sightseeing)
Morning attend Festival. After lunch, drive to the ruins of the Drukgyel Dzong 16 km up the valley built in 1647 by the great Shabdrung Nawang Namgyel, father and unifier of medieval Bhutan. The Dzong was destroyed by accidental fire and left in ruins as an evocative reminder of the great victories it was built to commemorate. Explore the ramparts and on a clear day experience an unforgettable view of Mt. Jumolhari (7,314 m). On the way back, visit Kichu Lhakhang, built in 659 A.D by the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo and visit the Taa Dzong, the National Museum of Bhutan. Evening visit Bhutanese Traditional. Overnight Hotel
Day 04:
April 01 (Paro Festival & Thimphu)
Morning attend Festival; after lunch drive to Thimphu. In Thimphu visit the Memorial Chorten built in memory of the late third King Jigme Singye Wangchuck by the late Royal Grandmother Gayum Phuntsho Choden. Visit the Dupthop Lhakhang, one of the few surviving nunneries in Bhutan. Drive to Sangyegang view point where you will have a great view of Thimphu city. On your return visit the “Takin” Preservation Center to see the National animal of Bhutan. Evening at leisure in town. Overnight Hotel
Day 05:
April 02 (Thimphu – Punakha)
After breakfast drive to Punakha across the Dochula Pass alt. 3050 Meters. If the weather is clear, you will have great view of the Higher Himalayas from the pass. Continue drive to Punakha with a stop at Missina to hike to visit Chhimi Lhakhang which was built by Lama Drukpa Kunley who is also known as the Devine Mad Man. He subdued the demons with his “Magical Thunder bolt”. The Temple is regarded as a pilgrimage site for barren couple and is also known as “the Temple of Fertility”. This beautiful temple is known for increasing fertility in woman and of late, even women from across the world drop by to this temple in hopes of conceiving. Aside from its significance to women, the temple is located in a wide-open valley away from the road point for visitors to take l short walk while on the way to Punakha. After lunch, visit Punakha Dzong, built by Shabdrung Nawang Namgyel in 1637. This Dzong has a historical significance in the Bhutanese History and is open to visitors only in summer when the monk body moves to Thimphu.
Visit the newly built Khamsum Yulley Monastery and walk around the valley on foot. Overnight Hotel
Day 06:
April 03 (Punakha – Wangdue – Gangtey – Punakha)
Early breakfast and day excursion to Gangtey. Enroute visit Wangduephodrang Dzong. While at Gangtey, visit Gangtey Gompa, an ancient monastery that was built in 17th century. Continue drive to Phobjikha valley, which is a wide open and a beautiful valley. This valley is also a winter home of the rare and endangered species bird ‘Black Necked Crane’ that migrate from the Tibetan plateaus in the north. Their arrival numbers have been steadily increasing over the years as the Phobjikha grounds have proved ideal and safe for them. Overnight Hotel
Day 07:
April 04 (Punakha – Thimphu)
Early breakfast and drive back to Thimphu. In Thimphu visit the National Library, stocked with ancient Buddhist manuscripts; the Painting School where traditional art is still kept alive through instructions in the art of painting Thangkas (sacred Buddhist religious scrolls). Also visit the Indigenous Hospital where medicines are prepared according to ancient practices; and to Lungtenzampa to see the silver smiths at work and Bhutanese Handmade Paper Factory. Other highlights include a visit to the Tashichhodzong (the central secretariat building) which houses the throne room of the King of Bhutan, seat of the Government and the Central Monastic Body, including the summer residence of the Je Khenpo (Chief Abbot of Bhutan); visit Semtokha Dzong; the oldest Dzong in Bhutan built by Shabdrung Nawang Namgyel in 1627 and visit the Handicrafts Emporium followed by a leisure time in town. Overnight Hotel
Day 08:
April 05 (Thimphu – Haa – Paro)
After breakfast, drive to Haa Valley. In Haa, visit the Karpo and Nagpo Monasteries and drive back to Paro via Chelela pass (Alt. appx.4000 Mtrs.) to see the beautiful scenery and walk up the pass (Above tree line for Photography). If weather is clear, you can view Mt. Jumolhari and the beautiful scenery of the whole valley. Overnight Hotel
Day 09:
April 06 (Departure PBH-KTM sector)
Early Morning, drive to Paro International Airport and departure.
March 29 (Arrival at Paro International Airport)
Our guide/representative will receive you at Paro International Airport and drive you to the hotel. Early lunch and drive to the ruins of the Drukgyel Dzong 16 km up the valley built in 1647 by the great Shabdrung Nawang Namgyel, father and unifier of medieval Bhutan. The Dzong was destroyed by accidental fire and left in ruins as an evocative reminder of the great victories it was built to commemorate. Explore the ramparts and on a clear day experience an unforgettable view of Mt. Jumolhari (7,314 m). Way back drive to Rimpong Dzong and attend the Festival. Evening at leisure in town. Overnight Hotel
Day 02:
March 30 (Paro Tsechu/Taktsang Hike)
Morning attend Festival; Early lunch and excursion to Takshang Monastery. “Takshang” literally means Tiger’s Nest – The Monastery is believed to have been built in 1684 on the spot where Guru Rimpoche (founder of Buddhism in Bhutan) flew on the back of a Tigress and meditated to subdue the demons in Paro valley.
The trail to the Monastery climbs through beautiful pine forest, many of the trees festooned with Spanish moss, and an occasional grove of fluttering prayer flags. This incredible Monastery clings vertically to the edge of a granite rock cliff that plunges 900 meters above the valley floor. Overnight Hotel
Day 03:
March 31 (Festival & Local Sightseeing)
Morning attend Festival. After lunch, drive to the ruins of the Drukgyel Dzong 16 km up the valley built in 1647 by the great Shabdrung Nawang Namgyel, father and unifier of medieval Bhutan. The Dzong was destroyed by accidental fire and left in ruins as an evocative reminder of the great victories it was built to commemorate. Explore the ramparts and on a clear day experience an unforgettable view of Mt. Jumolhari (7,314 m). On the way back, visit Kichu Lhakhang, built in 659 A.D by the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo and visit the Taa Dzong, the National Museum of Bhutan. Evening visit Bhutanese Traditional. Overnight Hotel
Day 04:
April 01 (Paro Festival & Thimphu)
Morning attend Festival; after lunch drive to Thimphu. In Thimphu visit the Memorial Chorten built in memory of the late third King Jigme Singye Wangchuck by the late Royal Grandmother Gayum Phuntsho Choden. Visit the Dupthop Lhakhang, one of the few surviving nunneries in Bhutan. Drive to Sangyegang view point where you will have a great view of Thimphu city. On your return visit the “Takin” Preservation Center to see the National animal of Bhutan. Evening at leisure in town. Overnight Hotel
Day 05:
April 02 (Thimphu – Punakha)
After breakfast drive to Punakha across the Dochula Pass alt. 3050 Meters. If the weather is clear, you will have great view of the Higher Himalayas from the pass. Continue drive to Punakha with a stop at Missina to hike to visit Chhimi Lhakhang which was built by Lama Drukpa Kunley who is also known as the Devine Mad Man. He subdued the demons with his “Magical Thunder bolt”. The Temple is regarded as a pilgrimage site for barren couple and is also known as “the Temple of Fertility”. This beautiful temple is known for increasing fertility in woman and of late, even women from across the world drop by to this temple in hopes of conceiving. Aside from its significance to women, the temple is located in a wide-open valley away from the road point for visitors to take l short walk while on the way to Punakha. After lunch, visit Punakha Dzong, built by Shabdrung Nawang Namgyel in 1637. This Dzong has a historical significance in the Bhutanese History and is open to visitors only in summer when the monk body moves to Thimphu.
Visit the newly built Khamsum Yulley Monastery and walk around the valley on foot. Overnight Hotel
Day 06:
April 03 (Punakha – Wangdue – Gangtey – Punakha)
Early breakfast and day excursion to Gangtey. Enroute visit Wangduephodrang Dzong. While at Gangtey, visit Gangtey Gompa, an ancient monastery that was built in 17th century. Continue drive to Phobjikha valley, which is a wide open and a beautiful valley. This valley is also a winter home of the rare and endangered species bird ‘Black Necked Crane’ that migrate from the Tibetan plateaus in the north. Their arrival numbers have been steadily increasing over the years as the Phobjikha grounds have proved ideal and safe for them. Overnight Hotel
Day 07:
April 04 (Punakha – Thimphu)
Early breakfast and drive back to Thimphu. In Thimphu visit the National Library, stocked with ancient Buddhist manuscripts; the Painting School where traditional art is still kept alive through instructions in the art of painting Thangkas (sacred Buddhist religious scrolls). Also visit the Indigenous Hospital where medicines are prepared according to ancient practices; and to Lungtenzampa to see the silver smiths at work and Bhutanese Handmade Paper Factory. Other highlights include a visit to the Tashichhodzong (the central secretariat building) which houses the throne room of the King of Bhutan, seat of the Government and the Central Monastic Body, including the summer residence of the Je Khenpo (Chief Abbot of Bhutan); visit Semtokha Dzong; the oldest Dzong in Bhutan built by Shabdrung Nawang Namgyel in 1627 and visit the Handicrafts Emporium followed by a leisure time in town. Overnight Hotel
Day 08:
April 05 (Thimphu – Haa – Paro)
After breakfast, drive to Haa Valley. In Haa, visit the Karpo and Nagpo Monasteries and drive back to Paro via Chelela pass (Alt. appx.4000 Mtrs.) to see the beautiful scenery and walk up the pass (Above tree line for Photography). If weather is clear, you can view Mt. Jumolhari and the beautiful scenery of the whole valley. Overnight Hotel
Day 09:
April 06 (Departure PBH-KTM sector)
Early Morning, drive to Paro International Airport and departure.
REGION DESTINATIONS
