Black-Necked Crane (Festival)

Day 1:   Arrival in Paro – Thimphu

The flight to Paro is one of the most spectacular mountain flights in the world, with a constantly changing panorama of some of the highest mountains on earth. Our Representative from Bhutan Everest Tours & Treks will receive you at the airport and drive you to the Hotel. After lunch enjoy afternoon sightseeing around Paro, including a visit to the National Museum, Ta Dzong. Evening drive to Thimphu (capital of Bhutan)

Dinner and overnight stay in a hotel in Thimphu.

Day 2:   Thimphu (Sightseeing)

Enjoy a full day of sightseeing, including a visit to the National Memorial Chorten, completed by the Royal Queen Mother as a memorial stupa for the Third King who passed away in 1972. Continue on to Kuensel Phodrang, where the largest statue of Sitting Buddha is located, 12th century Changangkha Temple, BBS Tower and Tashichhodzong (the administrative headquarters of Bhutan)

Dinner and overnight stay in a hotel in Thimphu.

Day 3:  Thimphu – Punakha (sightseeing)

After breakfast, drive to Punakha. On the way to Punakha, halt in Dochu-La Pass (3140 m) for photography. Visit Royal Botanical Park at LamPelri. Upon reaching Lobesa, visit Chimi Lhakhang – dedicated to Lama Drukpa Kuenley also known as “Divine Madman”. We halt in Lobesa town for Lunch.

After lunch visit Punakha Dzong, a massive structure built at the junction of two rivers. Punakha was Bhutan’s capital until 1955, and Punakha Dzong still serves as the winter residence of the central monk body. Bhutan’s first King, Ugyen Wangchuck, was crowned here in 1907. The fortress has withstood several damages from fire, earthquake and flood over the centuries.

Dinner and overnight at hotel in Punakha.

Day 4:  Punakha – Gangtey / Phobjikha

After breakfast drive to Wangduephodrang to explore this bustling market town and visit Wangduephodrang Dzong. Built in 1639 the strategically located Dzong is perched on a spur at the confluence of two rivers. Afterwards drive up a winding mountain road through oak and rhododendron forests, and over a high pass down into the wide and picturesque Phobjikha valley.

Phobjikha is one of Bhutan’s few glacial valleys, and chosen winter home of black necked cranes (November – March) migrating from the Tibetan plateau. The valley is one of the most beautiful in Bhutan. Visit Gangtey Goempa (Monastery), the only Nyingmapa monastery in western Bhutan and explore Phobjika Valley with time to view the Black-Necked Cranes. These great birds, beloved in Bhutan and known as Trung Trung, feed along the marshy Phobijikha valley bottomlands. There are said to be only 1600 of the birds in the world, of which about 400-500 come to Bhutan in November and stay until March. The beauty of the Cranes has given rise to many Myths, legends, Folktales and songs.

Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Phobjikha.

Day 5:  Gangtey/Phobjikha

Attend the Black-Necked Crane Festival. The festival features numerous cultural programs organized by the local community. These include students performing the crane dance and small stalls offering many colourful local items such as yak tail dusters, butter tea cups, turquoise and also different Bhutanese handicrafts for sale. This will also be ample time to view the Black Necked Cranes, visit the Information Centre and enjoy some of the many nature trails throughout the valley.

Dinner and overnight at hotel in Phobjikha.

Day 6:  Gangtey/Phobjikha – Bumthang

After breakfast drive to Bumthang. On the way, Halt in Pele-La pass for photography and also visit Trongsa Dzong- built in its present form in 1644 by Chogyal Minjur Tempa and Ta Dzong – an ancient watch tower. Trongsa is the ancestral home of Bhutan’s ruling dynasty.  After lunch, continue your journey towards Bumthang (2.5 hrs), one the most spectacular valleys in Bhutan and also the spiritual and historical heartland of the country. The road winds steeply up to Yo Yutung La Pass (3,400m) before descending down through dense coniferous forest to Chummey valley. Enjoy a visit to the Chummey weavers’ workshop (at the beginning of the only straight road in Bhutan!). Here you can see example of Bumthang’s noted textiles. Some of the most popular are Mathra, deep wine and dark green plaid fine wool, nowadays made into colorful scarves, bags, blankets and sweaters.

Bumthang is home to some of Bhutan’s oldest Palaces, Buddhist temples and monasteries. The valley’s barley fields, apple groves and meadows lay below huge hills which climb up towards the Himalayan mountain wall separating Bhutan from Tibet. The beautiful architecture unique to Bhutan is evident in the many large farmhouses and temples. Bumthang is associated with Guru Rimpoche (Padmasambhava) and with Terton Pemalingpa.

Dinner and overnight at hotel in Bumthang.

Day 6: Bumthang (Sightseeing)

Enjoy a day exploring some of the incredible sites of Bumthang, including Jakar Dzong (Dzong of the white Bird) and Tamshing Lhakhang, founded in 1501 by Terton Pemalingpa (founder of the Nyingmapa sect) and containing interesting and ancient Buddhist wall paintings. Pemalingpa’s heavy coat of nails is kept in the Vestibule and people are permitted to try it on. It is said that if they can walk around the inner sanctuary three times while wearing it, some of their sins will be forgiven. Also visit Kurjey Lhakhang, one of the most sacred places in the kingdom where Bhutan’s patron saint Guru Rimpoche meditated and Jambay Lhakhang, erected by the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo in the 7th century. It dates back to the origins of Buddhism in Bhutan and is one of the Kingdoms oldest temples.

Dinner and overnight at hotel in Bumthang.

Day 8: Bumthang – Thimphu

After breakfast drive to Thimphu. On the way, Halt in Pele-La pass for photography and also visit Trongsa Dzong- built in its present form in 1644 by Chogyal Minjur Tempa and Ta Dzong – an ancient watch tower. After lunch, continue your journey towards Thimphu.

Dinner and overnight in hotel in Thimphu.

Day 9: Thimphu – Paro

After breakfast drive to Paro. On the way to Paro visit Tachogang Lhakhang. Take you the thrilling experience of walking the suspension bridge that leads to the Temple. Make your last stop as memorable as ever as you take this short walk up to the Temple located on a hill top adjacent to Paro highway.

After lunch visit, Kyichu Lhakhang. Kyichu Lhakhang is one of Bhutan’s oldest and most beautiful temples. The temple is popularly believed to have been built in 659 by King Songtsen Gampo of Tibet, to pin down the left foot of a giant ogress who was thwarting the establishment of Buddhism in Tibet.

Dinner and overnight at hotel in Paro.

 Day 10: Paro Taktsang Monastery

After breakfast, enjoy a full day of sightseeing, including a Visit to Paro Taktsang Monastery is an unforgettable experience thanks to its unique location and the views of surrounding majestic mountains and emerald green valleys.

In the afternoon drive to the ruins of the 17th Century Drukgyel Dzong, an historic monument built by the Shabdrung to commemorate his victory against invading Tibetans in 1644. In fine weather the towering peak of the sacred Mount Jomolhari (7314m) appears as a stunning backdrop. On the return drive to Paro, visit 7th Century Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the 108 temples constructed by the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo.

Dinner and overnight at hotel in Paro.

Day 11: Depart Paro

Breakfast in the hotel, then drive to the airport for flight to your onward destination.
Tashi Delek!