Bhutan Tour with Haa Valley - 8 days

Take a scenic flight to Paro and enjoy the stunning view of the Himalayas from your window. Upon your arrival in Paro, Bhutan, our Bhutanese guide from Third Rock Adventures will come to welcome you at the airport and take you to your hotel. You will get a briefing on your schedule.

In the afternoon, you will be visiting the Rinpung Dzong, also known as Paro Dzong. The dzong built in traditional Bhutanese style is one of the fine examples of Bhutanese architecture. The complex of the dzong features temples, courtyards, and offices. It features government offices and a monastic body and is also the region's religious, social, administrative, and military center.

Further, you will be visiting one of the oldest and holy shrines of Bhutan, Kichu Lhakhang. The temple is an important place for historians and also houses the 7th-century statue of Jowo Sakyamuni. As per legends, Padmasambhava visited the temple, and the temple conceals many spiritual treasures. Later in the evening, take a stroll in the town of Paro.

Overnight in Paro.

Today you will be driving to Haa Valley, the valley of Guardian Spirit. En route, you will be crossing the Chele La Pass, the highest motorable high pass of Bhutan. The pass is situated at 3,988 meters or 13,083 feet between Paro and Haa valleys. On a clear day, you can enjoy the astounding views of snow-capped mountains, including Mount Jumolhari and Jichu Drake. The pass, which is filled with colorful Buddhist Prayer flags, also offers an unparalleled view of the verdant valleys.

Further, you will be driving downhill from the pass and driving through a dense forest filled with fir, pine, and oak trees. In the afternoon, you will be exploring the local villages. Moreover, you will be visiting the local families and interacting with them. A stay at the remote Haa Valley will give insight into the daily lifestyle in rural Bhutan and experience warm local hospitality.

Overnight in Haa Valley.

You will be taking a scenic drive past beautiful villages and jungles with pine trees on your way to the capital city of Bhutan, Thimphu. You can take optional stops along the road and click pictures as well. You will see Dobji Dzong, which is known as the first model dzong in Bhutan and was built in 1531 by Ngawang Chogyal. After crossing Dobji Dzong, you will reach Chhuzom to see local farmers selling fresh fruits and vegetables.

In the evening, you can stroll in Thimphu City, filled with restaurants, shopping centers, internet cafes, and others.

Overnight in Thimphu.

On this day, you will be taking a scenic drive to Punakha, and en route, you will be stopping at Dorchula Pass.  It is located at an altitude of 3,100 meters and overlooks panoramic views of snowcapped mountains. On a clear day, you can enjoy the view of mountains over 7,000 meters, including Jejegangphugang (7,158m), Kangphugang (7,170m), and Masaganang (7,200m). One of the most beautiful mountain passes, Dorchula Pass, is dotted with 108 small chortens built in the memory of Bhutanese soldiers martyred in the war of 2003 against Indian insurgents.

Your next stop will be Chimi Lhakhang, also known as the Temple of Fertility. A walk of around 20 minutes from Metshina Village will take you to the temple. The temple is dedicated to saint Drupak Kunley also known as ‘Divine Madman,’ who had unorthodox ways of teaching Buddhism by singing, humor, and sexual overtones. Phallus imaginary is a common sight in the village, which is known to ward off the evil eye. The monastery houses an original wooden phallus with a silver handle and is used to bless people, especially childless women seeking blessings.

Also, couples with newborns visit the temple to get the blessing from the monk as well. Further, you will be visiting Punakha Dzong, located on the confluence of two rives Mo Chu and Po Chu rivers. Punakha Dzong represents the fine Bhutanese architecture and is the second oldest and second-largest dzong of Bhutan.

Overnight in Punakha.

Today you will be exploring the popular villages of Punakha. The journey starts with a drive up on a hilly road to villages, namely Talo village and Nobgang village, the home of the Queen's mothers. You will see villages dotted along the hilly slopes in Talo, which as famous for their hygiene and cleanliness among other villages of Punakha. The village features traditional Bhutanese houses.

Moreover, you will be visiting Nobgang village, which translates as “gem hill.” The hilltop village of Nobgang is dotted with traditional houses. You will see a variety of tropical fruit trees along with beautiful farmlands. The visit gives you a chance to get an insight into their daily lifestyle and interact with them.

Further, you will be driving to Wangdue and visiting the quaint village of Rinchengang village. The village is popular for its artfully stone houses on a tiny hill lock overlooking the Wangdi Phodrang Dzong. Rinchengang village is regarded as one of the oldest villages in Bhutan. As per legends, skilled laborers from Nepal and Bhutan who were brought to build the Wangdue Phodrang Dzong settled in the village.

Overnight in Wangdue.

On this day, you will be driving back to Paro from Wangdue. You will be crossing Dorchula Pass on your way, which overlooks the stunning view of the Himalayas. It is also a famous place in Bhutan among locals for picnics. The pass is filled with colorful flowers and rhododendron blooms in the spring season while it gets covered in snow during winter. You will be stopping at Thimphu for lunch and continuing your drive to Paro.

In Bhutan, locals playing archery is a common sight and is often played to socialize. You will see men, women, and children playing this sport. Archery is called Dha is Bhutanese and is also the national sport of Bhutan.

Overnight in Paro.

Today you will be hiking to Taktsang Monastery or Tiger’s Nest Monastery, which has become a landmark of Bhutan. Taktsang Monastery is one of the revered places of Bhutan. As per legends, Guru Rinpoche flew on a Tigress to meditate in one of the caves here. Tiger’s Nest is dramatically perched on a cliff and resides at the height of 3,120 meters. It takes around 5 to 6 hours to do the hike. However, the duration of the walk may differ depending upon your physical fitness and pace. The trail is beautiful and is filled with pine and rhododendron trees.

You will be having lunch at Cafeteria Restaurant located halfway up on the mountains enjoy the stunning view. Exploring the wonderful monastery and bask in its beauty before heading down.

Overnight in Paro.

You will be returning with beautiful memories of the trip. Our Bhutanese guide from Third Rock Adventures will drop you at the international airport of Paro. You can take an international flight to New Delhi, Kathmandu, Bagdogra, Dhaka, Singapore, and others from Paro.

If you wish to extend your trip to Bhutan or countries like Nepal, Tibet, and India, you can do it.