Bhutan Express Tour in 5 days, 4 nights
Thimphu – Punakha – Paro
Accommodation in Thimphu & Paro
DAY 1/5:
Sites: Paro river, Tamchog Lhakhang Iron Bridge, Buddha Dordenma Statue, National Memorial Chorten, Bhutan Post Office Headquarters (if time permits).
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Thimphu
- Upon arrival at Paro airport, our local guide will welcome you, and we’ll head directly to Thimphu (50km, approximately 1.5 hours).
- En route, we’ll pause at the Tamchog Lhakhang Iron Bridge, located by the Paro river, a unique structure adorned with colorful prayer flags, built by the saint Thangthong Gyalpo.
- In Thimphu, we’ll visit the Buddha Dordenma Statue (Kuenselphodrang, Buddha Point), the largest sitting Shakyamuni statue in the world. Standing 51.5m tall, built of bronze and gilded in gold, the statue has 125,000 smaller Buddha statues placed within it.
- National Memorial Chorten is the most visited landmark of Thimphu which was built in 1974 in memory of the Third King, His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuk (the Father of Modern Bhutan). Dedicated to world peace and prosperity, this stupa is a Tibetan-style chorten with amazing paintings and brilliant sculptures.
- Bhutan Post Office Headquarters (the General Post Office) is home to the world’s largest photo book and the most interesting collection of Bhutanese stamps. Here you can make your own personalized stamps. It’s a fun way to surprise your family and friends with a postcard with your face on the stamp!
- Check into your hotel for a good rest.
DAY 2/5:
Sites: Changangkha Lhakhang, Motithang Takin Preserve, Folk Heritage Museum, School of Arts and Crafts, and Tashichho Dzong.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Thimphu
- Situated just steps away from your hotel is the most revered and oldest surviving monastery in Bhutan, Changangkha Lhakhang. This fortress-like temple was built by Lama Phajo Drukgom Shigpo who came to Bhutan from Tibet in the 12th century.
- Motithang Takin Preserve (Takin Sanctuary, Takin Zoo) is a wildlife reserve area for the Takin, the national animal of Bhutan. Drukpa Kunley (Divine Madman), the famous Tibetan saint, is said to be responsible for the creation of this unique creature which has the head of a goat and the body of a cow.
- Folk Heritage Museum (Phelchey Toenkhyim) is set inside a three-storied, 19th-century traditional house and provides visitors with a glimpse of the traditional Bhutanese lifestyle, artifacts from rural households, collection of typical household objects, tools, and equipment. The museum also organizes regular demonstrations of rural traditions, skills, habits, and customs and hosts educational programs for children.
- School of Arts and Crafts (Thimphu National Institute for Zorig Chusum) is an institute that nurtures exemplary craftsmanship in Zorig Chusum (13 Arts and Crafts). In the Institute, thirteen skills are taught to students. These thirteen art forms are Traditional Painting, Sculpturing, Wood Carving, Calligraphy, Papermaking, Bronze Casting, Embroidery, Weaving, Carpentry, Masonry, Bamboo and cane weaving, Gold/Silver Smithy, and Black smithy.
- Tashichho Dzong (Thimphu Dzong) known as the “Fortress of the glorious religion”, it houses the throne room of His Majesty the King, government offices, and the central monk body.
- Relax at your hotel after a long day of sightseeing.
DAY 3/5:
Sites: Dochula Pass, Suspension Bridge, Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten, Punakha Dzong, Chimi Lhakhang, Rinpung Dzong
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Paro
- Early morning checkout from hotel and drive from Thimphu to Punakha (74km, about 2.5h) via Dochula Pass.
- Dochula Pass is a place in honor of 108 Bhutanese Soldiers, there are 108 stupas called the “Druk Wangyal Chortens” representing each soldier’s life that was lost in the war of December 2003. The pass is decorated with colorful prayer flags which are symbols of veneration and the best wishes for peace and prosperity for Bhutan. If the weather is good, the Dochula Pass will become the best platform to get breathtaking views of the snow-covered Himalayas.
- Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten: After walking across the famous Suspension Bridge, it is about a 45min walk from the main road to the Chorten. The stupa was built in 1990 to drive off evil forces and bring peace to Bhutan and the world. This Chorten was a typical combination of the art, architecture, and traditions of Bhutan. One can get an excellent view of the Punakha Valley and Punakha Dzong from here.
- Punakha Dzong is known as the palace of great happiness or bliss and also known as the most beautiful Dzong in Bhutan. It stands at the junction of two great rivers called the Pho Chu river (father river) and Mo Chu river (mother river). It was originally built as the administrative center and the seat of the Bhutanese officials till the capital city was moved from Punakha to Thimphu in 1955. Now, this Dzong is served as the winter residence for Je Khenpo, Chief Abbot of the Central Monastic Body. In 2011, the Dzong witnessed the royal wedding ceremony of Bhutan’s King, His Majesty Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck to Queen Jetsun Pema. In the spring you can get a breathtaking view of the purple-blue jacaranda blooms outside the fortress.
- Chimi Lhakhang (Fertility Temple, Chime Lhakhang) is located on a hillock among the rice field and is a pilgrimage for a childless couple to seek blessings. The monk there blesses the couple with a wooden phallus that is believed to have the power to help the childless couple conceive a child. This temple is associated with the famous Drukpa Kunley (The Divine Madman, Tibetan saint), who is famed for using his phallus to guide people to enlightenment and subdue demons. That is why you can see the symbol of phalluses scattered everywhere. You can buy handicraft souvenirs here with the phallic symbol in various colors, shapes, and sizes.
- Drive from Punakha to Paro (115km, about 2.5h) and catch a glimpse of the luminous Rinpung Dzong at night. It houses the district Monastic Body as well as government administrative offices of Paro Dzongkhag. One of Bhutan’s biggest festivals “Tsechu” takes place at this dzong where locals come together in their best “ghos and kiras” and celebrate their religious faith.
- Check into your hotel for a good night’s rest. Prepare for the big hike tomorrow!
DAY 4/5:
Sites: Taktsang “Tiger’s Nest Monastery”, National Museum of Bhutan (Ta Dzong)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Paro
- Drive from Paro city to the start point of the hiking route of Taktsang “Tiger’s Nest Monastery”. It takes about 2.5 hours to reach Tiger’s Nest by foot (5 hours for a round trip), and you can have a rest at the view terrace which is located at the halfway point of the hiking road. You can also choose to ride a horse (self-paying) from the camp base to the Taktsang Cafeteria (lunch spot). Tiger’s Nest Monastery (Taktsang Goemba, Takhtsang Lakhang, Paro Taktshang), first built in 1692, is the iconic landmark of Bhutan. As a world cultural heritage site, it is on the side of a cliff at a height of 900m above the Paro valley. It is said that Guru Rinpoche (a Buddhist saint) rode a tigress to the current site of the monastery and meditated in a cave for 3 years 3 months and 3 days. Now it is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Bhutan and a sacred religious site for Bhutanese to pilgrimage at least once in a lifetime.
- Visit the National Museum of Bhutan (Ta Dzong), Bhutan’s tallest building (a cylindrical structure), which is 22 meters high and has 6 floors. It was completed in 1649 as a watchtower on the hill above the Rinpung Dzong (Paro Dzong). It was later converted into the National Museum of Bhutan in 1968 with a rich collection of ancient artifacts like pottery, armor, thangkas, masks, stamps, photos, statues, costumes, relics, stone axes, and religious paintings.
- Return to hotel, celebrate your farewell dinner with a Bhutan Culture Dance Show in Paro.
DAY 5/5:
Sites: –
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: –
- Our local representative will meet you at your hotel in the morning and you will be dropped to the Paro international airport.
Note: Some of the sites in the itinerary may change due to season, weather, national holidays, and special events. We maintain the right to alter the itinerary. The changes in itinerary will be mainly based on improving your tour experience in Bhutan.
PRICE INCLUDES
- English-speaking local guide
- Meals listed in the itinerary
- Accommodation in 3-star hotel under twin/dbl bed sharing basis
- All transportation within the country including airport transfers
- Entrance fees for Museums and Monuments
- Bhutan SDF fee: USD 100 per person, per night
- Bhutan visa fee: USD 40 per person
PRICE EXCLUDES
- Single room supplement charges
- Personal expense and Travel Insurance
- Cost for any meal/drink/services not mentioned in the “PRICE INCLUDES”