8 Days Journey of Happiness Bhutan
Day 1 (Paro, Thimphu)
During the flight on a clear day, you will get to enjoy breathtaking views of Mount Everest, Kanchenjungha, and other famous Himalayan peaks including sacred Mount Jumolhari and Jichu Drake Peaks in Bhutan. Upon arrival at Paro Airport, you will be greeted by our representative and transferred to your hotel. The drive to Thimphu is about 1 an hour. On route, enjoy the view of the valley of Thimphu and river through a rather arid and Rocky landscape.
After lunch we will take you to visit the The King’s Memorial Chorten (built-in memory of The Third King of Bhutan who reigned from 1952-1972), you will visit The School of Traditional Arts, Mini Zoo to see takins, the national animal of Bhutan and drive to Buddha point to enjoy the view of Thimphu valley. Evening will be at leisure and you can stroll in the town, visit local handicraft shops, do shopping as you like. Overnight stay at Hotel River view in Thimphu.
Day 2 (Thimphu, Punakha)
After breakfast you will visit Simtokha Dzong, the oldest Dzong in the country that was built in the year 1629, thereafter the road climbs for an hour till you reach Dochula Pass at an altitude of 3150m dotted with colorful prayer flags and 108 Stupa. Weather permits, this pass offers the most spectacular view over the high peaks of the Eastern Himalayans, depending upon your interest you can do a hike on the mountain side about an hour and have lunch at Dochula Resort. After lunch continue your drive to Punakha. Evening have a leisure time in the town and overnight stay at Hotel Damchen in Punakha.
Day 3 (Punakha)
After breakfast at the hotel, drive about ten kilometers north of Punakha, on a hill rock called Nyizergang, HM the Queen Ashi Tshering Yangden had built three stored chorten called Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten consecrated in December 1999. Situated in idyllic rural countryside, 45minutes climb from the road is well worth to see the paintings, which are beautiful and present an incredibly complex iconography and the statues. Visit Punakha Dzong by crossing the cantilever bridge. The spectacular Punakha Dzong was built in the year 1637 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal.Have lunch at the Restaurant in the town. After lunch you visit the Nunnery and take a drive to Nopgang village and walk around the village to experience the life style of the Bhutanese people. Overnight stay at hotel in Punakha.
Day 4 (Punakha, Phobjikha valley)
After breakfast take a drive for few kilometers and take a walk to the temple standing on a round hill rock through a paddy field to Chimi Lhakhang or the temple of fertility. It is about 25 minutes walk through rice terraces and the village of Yoakha. The temple is situated on the spur above the village. It is believed that barren couple will have children if they get blessing for this temple and continue your drive, have lunch on the way and cross the mountain called Pelela (3400m). Overnight stay at Hotel in Phobjikha Valley.
Day 5 (Phobjikha)
After breakfast, we will drive towards Phobjikha Valley, is a glacial valley situated on the western slopes of the Black Mountain is one of the most beautiful open valleys in Bhutan. One of the most important wildlife preserves in the country and winter home (late October to early February) of the rare black neck crane, which annually flies in from Tiber. There are also muntjaks (barking deer) wild boars, sambars, himalayan black bears , leopards and red foxes. While in Phobjikha, you will visit the Black Neck Crane nature information centre, the carpet facotry and the sacred Gangtey Monastery plus enjoy time to wander through Gantey village and hike the Gantey Nature Trail. Have lunch at hotel and take rest about an hour. evening visit a farm house and walk in the village. Overnight stay hotel in Phobjikha Valley.
Day 6 (Phobjikha, Paro)
After breakfast, take a drive to Paro following the same road back crossing Dochula pass. the drive to Paro takes around four hours. After lunch in Thimphu, continue your drive to Paro. In Paro, you will visit Rimpong Dzong (fortress of the heap of jewels); the administrative & religious centre of Paro District. This Dzong was built in 1646 by order of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, who unified Bhutan in the 17th century.upon your interest have your diner at farm house. Overnight stay at hotel in Paro.
Day 7 (Paro)
After breakfast, you will take “pilgrimage” hike up to the most famous Taktsang Monastery, also know as Tiger Nest. All Bhutanese Buddhist desire to make this their pilgrimage at least once in thier lives and each step they take along the trail counts as merit points towards their future. The trails is through the meadow of pines, rhododendrons and oaks. Visitors can choose between 2 hours round trip hike to the cafe for a good view of Monastery or a 5 hours more strenous hike to the Monastery itself. It is believed that Guru Rimpoche flew here on the back of a tigress and mediated here for 3 months and subdued the local deities and converted them to Buddhism. Later in the 17th century, the 4th Desi deities or temporal ruler of Bhutan, Tenzin Rabgye built a temple in 1692 in its present form, thus fulfilling the wishes of shardrung Rinpoche who died before he built this temple. (Horse ride to the cafe is available and can be arranged at additional cost).
After lunch, on the way back to the town you will visit the oldest temple called Kichu Lhakhang, one of Bhutan’s oldest and most revered temples, which was built by a Tibetan kind in 7th century to subdue the demoness. Overnight stay at hotel in Paro.