Bhutan
Bhutan, the land of the peaceful thunder dragon, lies amidst the highest mountains on earth. Like Tibet, this remote and ancient mountain kingdom was closed to foreigners for many years, but has now opened its doors to a limited number of travelers each year.
The secluded kingdom of Bhutan is a remarkable country, with a vibrant yet beautifully preserved orthodox culture, a land full of grandeur and peace and unparalleled views of the Himalayan peaks.
You can now discover the cultural and natural wonders of this last remaining Mahayana Buddhist Kingdom of the Himalaya. Here is a kingdom that is just throwing off the veil of mystery, and opening its doors to visitors.
Bhutan has a pristine environment, almost no pollution, and a living culture where festivals and cultural events are a part of daily life and not creations for tourism. Let us take care of your needs on your tour of this little known kingdom.
Season: the best time for this trek is March to May, and September to November. The best month is April and early May when the rhododendrons are in full bloom.
GANGTEY / GOGONA TREK 9 days/8nights
This trek is to the beautiful Phobjikha valley (3,000m), one of the few glacial valleys in Bhutan, which lies the mountains east of Wangduephodrang. After crossing over the pass you soon come to the great monastery of Gangtey, established in the 17th century. This quiet, remote valley is the chosen winter home of the rare black necked cranes, which migrate here annually from the Tibetan plateau. This moderate trek visits a village and rhododendrons are full bloom in April. It is one of the finest low level treks in Bhutan.
Day1. Arrive Paro
on arrival at Paro Airport, you will be meet by you Bhutan Men-Lha Adventures and Travelers representative, and transfer to Thimphu n completion of arrival formalities. O/N hotel in Thimphu.
Day2. Thimphu-Gangtey
After breakfast, morning tour in Thimphu, visiting Memorial Choten, Traditional Hospital, Painting School, Folk Heritage Museum, National Library. After lunch drive to Gangtey, for an about 5hours. En route cross Dochula Pass (3140m) and drive by WangduePhodrang Dzong. O/N Farm house or camp, Gangtey.
Day3. Gangtey Gompa-Gogona
Trek commences today. The trails wind gradually upwards through meadows and fields, ascending to Tsele La pass (3,400m) where we stop for lunch. The trail then descends gradually for some time through forests of Junipers, Bamboo, Magnolias and Rhododendrons. After a last short climb, we reach Gogona village,. The people of Gogona were originally nomads and they speak a language called Bjopkha (language of Namads). O/N in Camp.
Walking Distance: 16kms
Timing: 6-7hours
Day4. Gogona-Khotokha
Once again the trail wind up gently above Gogona village, climbing into a forest of Firs, Oak, Spruce, Rhododendron and Cypress. A long and gradually climb takes us up to Shobju-La Pass(3,400m). the path leads down to the wide vallt of Khotokha, where the people of Sha (a region of Wangduephodrang district) come in summer to graze their animals. O/N camp.
Walking distance: 17kms
Timing: 7hours
Day5. Khotokha-Chazam/Wangduephodrang.
A short ascent takes us to a pass, from which the path descends steeply through ever-changing vegetation till finally reaching the bridgeat wangduephodrang. The trek ends here. O/N at the hotel in Wangduephodrang.
Walking distance: 13kms
Timing: 5hours
Day6. WangduePhodrang and Punakha Sightseeing.
Morning after the leisure breakfast drive to Punakha and visit the Punakha Dzong, built in 1637, consider as second oldest dzong in the country. It is built in between two rivers, Female River and Male River. Visit Chimi lhakhang (fertility Temple) built in 1649 by the Lama Ngawang Chogyal. The temple is founded by the divine Madman after subduing the demon dragged from the Dochula pass.
Lunch in the hotel and evening visit Wangduephodrang Dzong built in 1637. It is built on the cliff of two valleys. O/N at hotel in Wangduephodrang.
Day7. Wangduephodrang to Paro.
morning after breakfast drive to Paro via Thimphu the capital city of the Country. Lunch in Thimphu and continue your drive to Paro. O/N at hotel in Paro.
Day8. Paro Sightseeing.
morning visit National Museum, Paro Dzong and Dungtse Lhakhang and lunch in town and continue your sightseeing drive to the north to visit the ruin Drugyal Dzong, en route back visit Kyichu Lhakhang built in 659AD by Tibetan King. O/N Hotel in Paro.
Day9. Paro Departure.
Early breakfast drive to Paro Air Port for flight to onwards destination, enjoying superb mountain views from the Air Bus as you fly out of the valley.
Amazing Bumthang(7days)
Bumthang (Bum meaning a hundred thousand, thang meaning meadows) is also know as the land of thousand meadows and is one of the most beautiful glacial valleys in Bhutan. The people are called Bumthaps and they speak their local dialect Bumthapi Kha. Bumthang has a very strong Swiss influence due to the various Helvetas developmental projects that was initiated in the early seventies. A good place to try out ementhal and gruyere cheese and Weis beer.
Day 1: Bkk/Ktm to Paro
The first day flight to Paro airport will bring you the most spectacular view of the Himalayan ranges. Twenty five minutes before you land in the Dragon kingdom you will be able to view the highest mountain range, The Everest and then other mountains like the Mt.Kanchenjunga, Mt.Makalu and at the later end you will also see the mountains of Bhutan like the most famous Mt.Chomolhari, Mt.Jichu Drake, Mt.Tsrim Gang etc. Finally you will reach Paro airport after 2 hrs 45 minutes (from BKK) or 1hr 30 minutes (from KTM). There your respective guide will receive you. Here there are two options, one you can either drive to the Capital, i.e 2 hrs from Paro or halt at Paro i.e 15 minutes away from the airport. If your flight is early then you will be served lunch at your respective hotel. You can then discuss the other following programmes with your guide. In the evening if you are not tired then you can take a drive/walk through the Paro town.
Day 2: Paro sightseeing.
On your second day you will go for Paro Sightseeing. In the morning you will experience a small hike of 3 hrs to the Taksang monastery (The tiger’s nest). A small history on this monastery will help you understand further and appreciate the monastery.
As believed by the Bhutanese, Guru Padmasambhava flew here on a tiger’s back in the 8th century and meditated for three months. Later in 1684 this holy place was built. When you finish your climb you will reach a cafe where you will get a very good view of the monastery. There you will be served tea and snacks. For some tourists who wants to get a very close view of the monastery, they can further climb for the next 45 minutes and enjoy the 50 meter close view of the Tiger’s Nest. You can ask your guide to give you a detailed explanation. Later when you reach back to Paro then the first sightseeing will be to visit the Drukgyel Dzong (fortess). This Dzong was built by Shabdrung Nawang Namgyel in 1647.This Dzong was built to celebrate the victory over the Tibetains. In the early 18th century a candle fire accidentally burned down this Dzong and still at present this Dzong is in ruins.
You can proceed to go for lunch either in town or back to your hotel. After lunch you can visit the Tag Dzong which was later converted into the National Museum in 1967.Inside the museum you will find many antique thankas, different kinds of textiles, a small temple of tree of life, different statues, etc. After this you can drive to the Rimpung Dzong or the Paro Dzong which was built in the 17th century. This Dzong is now the administration center and school for the monks. In the evening you can take a short walk in the town. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 3: Paro to Thimphu.
You can have an easy start from Paro since Thimphu (2300m) is just 2 hrs drive. On the way you will see a monastery called the Tachogang lhakhang. You can ask your guide for some explanation. After a drive of 1 hour you will reach a place called Chuzom which means the meeting of two rivers. The Thimphu river and Paro river meets here at a confluence of three different kinds of monastery that you will see in the country. There will be a road junction from which one goes to the south which leads to Phuentsholing in the southern part of Bhutan and the other to the capital. Before reaching Thimphu you will see a dzong on the top of a hill which is the Simtokha dzong. Shabdrung Nawang Namgyel built this dzong, which is infact one of the oldest dzongs in Bhutan. It was built in 1627 and at present it is being used as a school for the monks and also for students who want to learn Dzongkha in a professional field. You will reach Thimphu after 15 minutes from this Dzong and then you can either check in your hotel first or start with your sightseeing after lunch. The first thing you will visit is the Memorial Chorten which was built in memory of the third king in 1974.You can further go inside the Chorten and enjoy the most exotic statues of the gods. You can then visit the indigenous hospital, the School of Arts & Crafts where the students use the art of ancient painting. Then you can visit the Tashichhodzong from outside which is the seat of the Royal Government and central monastic body. After this you can go back to your hotel for some tea and relaxation.
Please note that if you are in Thimphu during the weekends then you can visit the Subji Bazaar i.e the vegetable market where you will witness a lot of natural people in their own style of selling and buying vegetables.
Day 4: Thimphu to Punakha.
This day consists of your drive to Punakha, which is 4 hours drive from the capital. On the way you will stop at the Dochula Pass which is at 3050 meters. There is a café above the pass where you can enjoy some hot tea & snacks. From there you will experience a superd view towards your north of the Himalayan ranges. You will then drive down further through temperate forests into semitropical range of orange and cactuses. Before you reach a junction you will see Chime Lhakang built by a famous divine mad monk, Drukpa Kinley. This monastery is a famous pilgrim site for infertile women who wish to bear children. As you drive further you will pass Khuruthang which is the new Punakha town. This town has been shifted from the pervious town near the dzong and is a new settlement of the Punakha People. When you reach near the dzong you will see the Punakha dzong built on the meeting of the Phochu (Male River) and the Mochu (Female River). This Dzong was the winter capital 300 years ago; today it is the winter residence of the Je- khenpho the chief abbot and also serves as the administration center of the Punakha district. You can go for your lunch at your hotel in Punakha or eat packed lunch on your way. Overnight at hotel.
Day 5: Punakha to Wangdiphodrang /back to Thimphu.
After your breakfast you can then proceed to Wangdiphodrang. On your way you will see a different kind of village called the Richengang village. Here you will see the houses are built very close together. You can visit the Wangdiphodrang dzong built in 1647 by Shabdrung Nawang Namgyel. After a satisfying view over the dzong you can have your lunch in Wangdi town. You can then turn back the same road to Thimphu. Overnight Thimphu hotel.
Day 6: Thimphu to Paro.
On your last day in Thimphu you can visit some places like The Royal Academy of Performance & Art where the national folk and Bhutanese dances are practiced. You can then visit the Handicraft in the town for some shopping. After lunch you can proceed to Paro. When you reach Paro you can visit some places like the Kyichu lhakhang and the Dungtse lhakhang. You should take an early day off since your flight may be early in the morning. Overnight at hotel.
Day 7: Paro Airport.
Drive to the airport for your flight to BKK/KTM/DEL.
Nepal Sherpa Treks does custom Itineraries!
NST can quote you best price for custom itineraries including inner-Nepal transport, guides, porters, and lodging as well as Kathmandu Hotel , and Jungle Safari elephant safari, and more!
