Bhutan, the serene mountain kingdom. Untouched by modernity still retains its old world charm. Opening its doors to tourists in 1974, Bhutan is an ancient land, rich in Buddhist culture. Dotted with ancient monasteries, temples and stupas, Bhutan lies in the eastern Himalayas, bordered by Tibet on the north and India in the south.
Tour departs 2nd April 2019 for 11 days
Witness the famous Paro Festival (Tshechu).
Local arts and architecture
Learning about the rich history, culture and Buddhism
Visit the local markets, farmhouses and an opportunity to meet and interact with local people
Visit Bhutan’s most famous pilgrimage site, the Tiger’s Nest temple
Haa Valley excursion
Fly to Delhi.
Morning arrival in Delhi and settle into your hotel for an overnight stay. Afternoon, we explore local sights.
Fly to Paro. Your guide will meet you and take you on a drive along the Paro and Thimphu river valleys to Thimphu, Bhutan’s capital, at 2320 metres. We stop enroute at the magnificent Tamchhog Lhakhan, the hereditary place of worship for Bhutan’s iron bridge builder. Take a late afternoon walk around Thimphu and soak in the atmosphere with its busy shops and bazaars and citizens in national dress. Later on visit Tashichho Dzong. Settle into your hotel and gather for a welcome dinner.
Spend the morning exploring Thimphu, visit the Thimphu Dzong and Folk Heritage Museum. Then, visit the National Textile Museum to browse its exhibitions. Bhutan’s weavings and brocades are considered spiritual expressions and are admired for their diversity and sophistication.
Drive to Punakha passing Dochu-la- pass, where we will stop for a hot drink and enjoy the spectacular panoramic views of the Eastern Himalayan Ranges. You will notice the change of climate and vegetation as we approach low-lying Punakha at 1250 metres. Take a pleasant walk for an hour or so across terraced fields to Chimi Lhakhang (Temple of Fertility) built in the 15th century by the ‘Divine Madman’ (Lama Drukpa Kuenley). Settle into your hotel and enjoy dinner together.
Today, gentle walk to Khamsum Yuelley Namgyel Chorten, a spectacularly situated temple. Be rewarded for your efforts with incredible views of the valley below. Then visit the Punakha Dzong, an impressive fortress guarding the southern end of the valley at the confluence of the Pho (male) and Mo (female) Rivers.
An early start to travel to the beautiful alpine valley of Paro. Afternoon to visit the famous colourful Paro festival – which takes place in the impressive Paro Rinpung Dzong, one of the finest examples of Bhutanese architecture. You will see locals dressed in their finest clothes who have walked from miles around to attend the festivities. They come to watch masked dances, to pray, and to feast. While the underlying purpose of the festival is spiritual, dances are more often like plays, telling stories where good triumphs over evil, or depicting significant historical events, especially surrounding the life of Bhutan’s patron saint, Padmasambhava. First of three nights in Paro.
Today, we will take a day excursion to Haa at 2670 metres. We will cross the Chele La pass at 3800m from where you will have a view of Mount Jomolhari to the north as well as down to the Haa valley, and then continue down to Haa town- a great opportunity to view this beautiful rural scene.Late afternoon return to Paro for a leisurely evening
Morning fly to Delhi. Rest of the day at leisure.
Morning transfer to airport to board your return flight, arriving home the same day.
| START DATE | END DATE | PRICE(PP) | SPECIAL(PP) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02 Apr, 2019 | 11 Apr, 2019 |
|
£3895 | Book by 1st May |
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