11D Magic & Mountains

Seat-in-coach tour (MM11):  Daily departure from Paro with English speaking guide

Private tour (MM11): Daily departure from Paro with a guide in the language of your choice (surcharges may apply)
 

PARO – THIMPHU  (-/L/D)

DAY 1 The flight to Paro is one of the most spectacular of all mountain flights. One can see the Mt. Everest, Mt. Kanchanjunga, Mt. Makalu and other peaks in Bhutan such as Mt. Chomolhari, Mt. Jichu Drakay, and Mt. Tsherimgang. The green wall of hills known as the doors, or gateways into Bhutan from the plains climbs continually higher as down the forested mountainsides, and to the north, the great snowcapped peaks of the inner Himalayas rise up to the sky.  You will be received by the representative of Diethelm Travel Bhutan. 

Visit the Ta Dzong, built in the 17th century as a watchtower for the Paro Dzong. This dzong was converted into the National musuem in 1967, and is filled with antique thankha paintings, textiles, weapons and armor. Drive to the Rinpung Dzong, built in 17th century, to defend the valley against Tibetan invaders, the dzong is now used as an administration centre and school for monks. 

Drive to Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan. Check into hotel.  Walk around the National Memorial Chorten built in 1974 in honor of the late King.  Browse through local handicrafts and free time to mingle with the people.
 

THIMPHU  SIGHTSEEING  - WANGDUE (B/L/D)

DAY 2 Visit the National Library, a treasure trove of priceless Buddhist manuscripts. Visit Changangkha temple, which is the temple of Chenrizig or Compassionate Buddha. See the Traditional Incense and Paper Factory. See the Traditional Painting School of Arts & Crafts where children are taught centuries old craft, and the National Folk Heritage Museum to get an insight into the typical Bhutanese way of life. Visit the Bhutan Post to see the different Stamps of the country.  

Drive to Punakha (70Km) via the Dochula pass (3140 m). An hour’s drive from Thimphu will take you to this pass (3140 m) where one can have a superb view of the Eastern Himalayas on a clear day. There is a powerful binocular telescope in the cafeteria. From west to east these are the different peaks with their elevation: 

Drive onto Punakha, the old capital of Bhutan and presently the winter residence of the central monk body. Visit the Punakha Dzong, located on the island of the Pho – Chu (male) river and the Mochu (female) river. Visit the Dho Jha Gha Lam Temple. 
 

WANGDUE – TRONGSA – BUMTHANG  (B/L/D) 

DAY 3 Today drive to Trongsa via Pele la pass at an altitude of 3,150 metres, a wonderful opportunity for photographs. Commanding the Mangde Chu at an altitude of 2,200 metres Trongsa Dzong is the most impressive dzong in Bhutan.  Built in 1644 by the Shabdrung, the dzong is an architectural masterpiece.                                                                                        

Drive to Bumthang, this is one of the most spectacular valleys in Bhutan and also the heartland of Buddhism. Here the great teachers meditated and left in their wake many sacred grounds. The Guru and his lineage of Tertons, treasure finders, have led to the sprouting of many temples in the valley. Visit Yatha Weaving Center a cooperative of the National Women Association of Bhutan where the women of the region sell their textiles and Yatha specialty. Check into Hotel.
 

BUMTHANG – MONGAR      (B/L/D)

DAY 4 The journey continues eastwards, winding through more rugged terrain. The drive, with spectacular views, will take about six hours. Pass through Ura village in Bumthang before climbing sharply to the highest motor road pass in the Kingdom, the Thrumshingla Pass – 12,465 ft. Gradually drop down to Sengor. Watch cascading waterfalls along the way. The descent stops at 2,130 ft on a bridge over the Kurichu. Climb again through pine forest, maize fileds and eastern hamlets to Mongar town. The Mongar Dzong, albeit built not to long age, still maintains the architectural traditions of the old dzongs. 
 

MONGAR – TRASHIGANG     (B/L/D)

DAY 5 The road from Mongar to Trashigang, the eastern most region, begins through lush forests and ferns passing over the Kori La at 8,000 ft. After about an hours journey you reach the village of Ngatshang, the site of one of the fiefdoms before unification of the nation. Descending rapidly through corn fields and banana groves, you reach Yadi village. Follow the Gamri river until the bifurcation to Drametsi. This temple, perched atop a steep hill, was founded by Nun Choden Zangmo in the 16th century. This is the place from where the famous Drametsi Nga Chham, mask dance with drums, originated. About 30 kilometres onwards lies Trashigang, at 3,775 ft. Trashigang is the center of the biggest and most populated district in the nation. View the dzong, built strategically on a spur going out towards the Gamri Chu. 

After lunch, visit Khaling, it is the weaving center under women association of Bhutan and is under the Government of Bhutan. There you can see all the process and materials involved in weaving. Drive back to Trashigang for overnight.
 

DAY EXCURSION TO TRASHIYANGTSE   (B/L/D)

DAY 6 Excursion to Gom Kora and Tashiyangtse and sightseeing around Trashigang.  

TRASHIGANG – BUMTHANG    (B/L/D)

DAY 7 Drive back to Bumthang. Check into hotel. Free time to relax. 
 

BUMTHANG – GANGTAY – WANGDUE   (B/L/D) 

DAY 8 After early breakfast, drive to Gangtey Gompa with picnic lunch. Visit Gangtey Gompa, which now houses one of the only Nyingmapa monastery in Bhutan. The valley is also the winter home to the rare black-necked cranes (Grus Nicorocolis), which migrate, from remote parts of Tibet, China and Siberia to winter in this valley. Drive to Wangdue for overnight halt. Evening stroll around Wangdue town.
 

WANGDUE  – THIMPHU  (B/L/D) 

DAY 9 Morning: Hike a hike to Khamsum Yuelley Namgyel Chhorten built by the Queen of Bhutan for peace and stability in this everchanging world. This temple is built in an auspicious place, which is like a palm of the hand and has been described in the old Buddhist scriptures. 

Drive back to Thimphu. 
 

THIMPHU - PARO (B/L/D)

DAY 10 Drive to Paro. Check into hotel. 

After Lunch, hike up to the Taktsang Monastery (Tiger’s nest). The climb up to the viewpoint will take approx. 3hours. Enjoy the stunning view of the monastery, where Guru Padmasambhava flew on the back of a tiger and landed there in the 8th century, and meditated for three months. The monastery was later built in this holy place in 1684. After tea in the café, walk back to the road point and drive to hotel for lunch. 

Visit Kyichu temple one of the 108 temples built in the 7th century by the Tibetan King Songsten Gampo. The story goes that a giant demoness lay across the whole area of Tibet and the Himalayas and was preventing the spread of Buddhism. To overcome her, King Songtsen Gampo decided to build 108 temples, which would be placed on all the points of her body. Of these 108 temples, 12 were built in accordance with precise plans. Thus, it happened that in about the year AD 638 the temple of Jokhang in Lhasa was built over the very heart of the demoness. Visit the Dungte Lhakhang.
 

PARO – DEPARTURE (B/-/-) 

DAY 11 Morning your guide will escort you to the airport for your flight onwards.   
 

Our package tour prices are inclusive of transfers and tours by air conditioned car/ van/ coach with English-speaking guide on seat-in-coach departures (for private tours other language guides are available on request), entrance fees, meals as specified in the program (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner), accommodation in twin shared rooms at indicated hotels, service charges and BST (Bhutan Sales Tax), airfare Bangkok - Paro - Bangkok incl. airport tax in Bhutan.

Not included are visa fee (USD 20.00 payable upon arrival), international airport departure tax in Bangkok, other meals than mentioned in the program, surcharges during festival seasons, optional tours, and expenditures of a personal nature.

*Note: Small deviations in the tour program are sometimes necessary, depending on road conditions and availability of rooms. 

|  Back to Land Tours | Contact Us |