Bhutan Heritage Tour - 8 days

Take an international flight to Paro. Bhutan has only one international airport located in Paro. The airport lies at a scenic location surrounded by rolling green hills. Enjoy the sight of the verdant mountains before the plane lands on the runway. Your Bhutanese guide will be waiting for you at the airport’s terminal. Head to a restaurant for lunch/refreshment.

Later visit two of Paro’s historical landmarks - Rinpung Dzong and Kichu Lhakhang. Rinpung or Paro Dzong is an ancient fortress built in the 17th century on a monastery built by Padmasambhava or Guru Rinpoche. The fortress is also known as the ‘Fortress on a Heap of Jewels.’ It now houses a government office and a monastery. Some portion of the Hollywood movie ‘Little Buddha’ was shot at Rinpung Dzong.

Kichu Lhakhang is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Bhutan. Built by the Tibetan emperor Songtsen Gampo, the temple dates back to the 7th century. Kichu Lhakhang houses some of Bhutan’s oldest and priceless religious relics. After your sightseeing tour, head to your hotel.

Overnight in Paro.

Have an early start and drive to Thimphu. A short drive from Paro brings you to the capital city. Your sightseeing tour commences as soon as you reach the city. Visit the Memorial Chorten (built-in memory of the third King of Bhutan, Jigme Dorje Wangchuk) and a Buddhist nunnery, Thangton Dewachen Nunnery. Later, head to Changangkha Lakhang, an ancient Buddhist temple dating back to the 12th century. The temple sits atop a hill overlooking the city. Parents of newly born babies come here to have their babies blessed and named by the monks residing at the temple.

Also, visit Simtokha Dzong, the oldest surviving traditional palace and fortress in Bhutan built by Zabdrung Ngawang Namgyal( the ruler who unified Bhutan). Stroll through the colorful Crafts Bazaar and shop for souvenirs. You can buy Bhutanese textiles; bamboo, traditional paper, and wooden items; traditional Bhutanese jewelry; Thankha (traditional scroll painting), etc.

In this Bhutan Holiday Package tour, your visit to Thimphu is incomplete without a trip to Taschichho Dzong. Step inside this impressive building and witness the regal splendor of the palace. The dzong houses the government’s secretariat and the king’s throne room.

Wind up your sightseeing tour with a short drive to the hilltop vantage point, where a large statue of Buddha watches over the valley. The statue known as Buddha Dordenma is 51 meters tall and is built on the ruins of an old palace Changri Kuensel Phodrang.

After the sightseeing tour, you will be driven to your hotel. Take a well-deserved rest.

Overnight in Thimphu. 

Start early and drive to Gangtey Valley, the nesting site of the endangered Black-Necked Cranes. Your drive takes you past the picturesque Dochula Pass, from where you can enjoy a 360-degree panorama of the Himalayan peaks. The pass is decorated with chortens or Buddhist memorials dedicated to the Bhutanese army-men who lost their lives in the line of duty.

Drive downhill to Wangduephodrang, a sleepy town filled with terraced farms and few houses. Phobjika is a glacial valley located in central Bhutan. Every winter, hordes of black-necked cranes (an endangered bird species) fly into this valley from Tibet. These birds are sacred to the Bhutanese, who regard them as the symbol of longevity. According to local legend, the first of these birds which enter Bhutan during their annual migration circle the Gangtey Monastery thrice before heading to the marshlands.

After reaching Gangtey, head to your hotel, freshen up, and take a rest. Afternoon, take a stroll down the village. Afterward, head back to your hotel for a well-deserved rest.

Overnight in Gangtey.

Wake up early and head to Gangtey Monastery. The monastery, built in the traditional Bhutanese style of architecture, is located atop a hill. The beautiful monastery is a photographer’s delight. The artful façade, ornamental balconies, and multi-tiered roof appear splendid. The monastery lies surrounded by a traditional village inhabited by Gomchens, caretakers of the monastery. Each winter, the monastery’s courtyard becomes the venue of the Black-Necked Crane Festival. The festival held annually is observed to celebrate the arrival of the black-necked cranes from Tibet. The monastery was built in the 17th century and is the biggest Nyingmapa monastery in Bhutan. Visit the inner shrine and interact with the little monks. Afterward, take a couple of hours' drive to Punakha. The drive takes you past verdant forests of birch and pine and pristine rivers snaking down past the green hills.

Your Bhutan Tour itinerary also includes a visit to one of the most sacred temples dedicated to the ‘Divine Madman.’ Head to Chimi Lakhang, a temple dedicated to Drukpa Kuenley (the Divine Madman), a 14th-century Buddhist saint known to bless women with fertility. As Drukpa Kuenley is regarded as the patron saint of Bhutan, this is one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Bhutan.

Overnight in Punakha.

Take a day trip to the sky burial ground above Chele La Pass, the highest motorable high mountain passes in Bhutan. Visit the sky burial ground, a place where the Bhutanese leave the dead. According to Buddhists (Vajrayana) belief, the corpse is an empty vessel and should be disposed of to benefit the other living creatures. The dead body fulfills a need when the scavengers (vultures and wild beasts) feed on it.

Enjoy panoramic vistas of Jomolhari and other Himalayan peaks from Chele La Pass and the burial ground. Afterward, hike down to Kila Gomba, an ancient nunnery. Meet the Anis(Buddhist nuns) living there before finally descending to the highway. Board the vehicle and drive back to Paro. Once in Paro, head to a hotel where you will be staying overnight.

Overnight in Paro.

Wake up early in the morning and drive to the trailhead that leads to Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest) Monastery. Perched high on the side of a rocky cliff, the monastery is an iconic Bhutanese landmark.  It is believed that Padmasambhava or Guru Rinpoche (known as the Second Buddha in the Himalayas) flew on the back of a tiger to the site where this monastery now stands. The trail follows a steep incline. If you wish, you can ride on a pony. But please be informed ponies are not allowed beyond the halfway point, and you may have to walk the rest of the way to the monastery. Once you reach the top, the awe-inspiring views of the monastery as well as the surrounding mountains will make you forget all your aches and pains. Explore the monastery. Take photographs and selfies and hike down to the highway where your vehicle will be waiting for you.

Later, head to a local farmhouse and enjoy a relaxing soak at the traditional hot stone bath.

Overnight in Paro.

Your incredible Bhutanese adventure ends today. Bid goodbye to this beautiful country and the people you have befriended. You will be driven to the international airport on time to catch your flight.