8D Magical Kingdom Tour

Seat-in-coach tour (MK8): Daily departure from Paro with English speaking guide

Private tour (MK8): 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 who will be your guide throughout your tour. 

Drive to see the Rinpung Dzong, built in 1645 to defend the valley against Tibetan invaders. The Dzong is now used as an administration center and school for monks. Drive to Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan. Check into hotel.                
 

THIMPHU SIGHTSEEING (B/L/D)

DAY 2 Visit our Traditional Medicine Institute where equal emphasis is given to both allopathic and traditional medicines. The rich herbal medicines abundant in the kingdom are prepared here. Visit the Bhutan Post known for its world famous stamps where you can buy postcards and stamps. Tour the National Folk Heritage Museum to get an insight of the Bhutanese way of life. Tour the National Library where the history of Bhutan lies imprinted in archaic texts, which are preserved at the National Library, a treasure trove of priceless Buddhist Manuscripts and ancient texts; the library also has modern academic books and printing blocks for prayer flags.  Walk to see the Memorial Chorten built in 1974 in memory of the Third King H M Jigme Dorji Wangchuk , who died in 1972. The late King had decided to put into tangible form the three traditional pillars of Buddhism, the Word, Body and Mind of Buddha. He had the commentaries of Buddha, the Tanjur, transcribed in letters of gold to represent the Body of Buddha, but he died before he could complete the Mind of Buddha in the form of a Chorten. His Mother, the Royal Grandmother Ashi Phuntsho Choedron built the monument on his behalf and in his memory. 

Walk down to Changlimithang where a decisive battle in Bhutanese history was fought in 1885, and it gave virtual control of the whole country to the future First King, Ugyen Wangchuk. Archery tournaments and football matches take place every holiday.
 

THIMPHU   - TRONGSA (B/L/D) 

DAY 3 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: 

After lunch, 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. Visit the Ta- Dzong the Trongsa Dzong. Free time to relax.
 

TRONGSA – BUMTHANG   (B/L/D)

DAY 4 After breakfast, walk by Trongsa Dzong (first built in 1647) and visit the Ta Dzong (watch tower), dedicated to the Buddhist epic hero, King Gesar of Ling. Drive to Bumthang distance 68 km, 2 hours. After lunch visit Kurje temple (where the Indian saint Padmasambhava subdued a local demon and left his body imprint on a rock), the Jambay Lhakhang (7th century), Tamshing monastery (one of the oldest monastic schools), the Jakar Dzong. Also visit the Swiss farm where you can buy cheese, and local fruit products. Drive to see Tamshing temple, which was founded in 1501 by Terton Pema Lingpa, the re-incarnation of Guru Padmasambhava. The monastery has very interesting religious paintings like 11000 Buddhas and 21 Taras (female form of Boddhisatava). The temple was restored at the end of the 19th century  Overnight at  Bumthang. 
 

BUMTHANG – PUNAKHA  (B/L/D)

DAY 5 After breakfast drive back towards Punakha (1350 mtrs.) for about 7/8 hrs. Overnight at Punakha.
 

PUNAKHA  - PARO (B/L/D)

DAY 6 In the morning, walk to Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten (50 minutes) – temple built by the Queen Of Bhutan for peace and stability in this ever-changing world. 

Drive back to Paro driving through the idyllic countryside, dotted with villages and paddy fields, crossing rivers and natural forests to Paro. In the evening, visit a farmhouse and try our traditional drinks and snacks. 
 

PARO DAY EXCURSION   (B/L/D)

DAY 7 Morning 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. Drive to Drukgyal Dzong (fortress) now in ruins, which were built in 1646by Shabdrung to commemorate his victory over the Tibetan invaders, led by Mongolian Warlord, Gushri Khan. Historically and strategically this dzong withstood all its glory and had captured western eyes in 1914 in National Geographic magazine.

In the afternoon, 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 8 In the 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 shared twin rooms at hotels indicated, service charges and BST (Bhutan Sales Tax).

Not included are other meals than mentioned in the program, surcharges during festive 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. 

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