Day 1: Paro – Thimphu

Arrive by KB flight to Paro. After arrival and upon completing the formalities at the airport, your guide will receive you. Drive to Thimphu (an hour). Leaving Paro the road to Thimphu first follows the Pa-chu (river) till the confluence where the Thim-chu joins. From the confluence follow the Thim-chu up stream till Thimphu, one of the least visited capital town. Arrive Thimphu and check-in to hotel. As this is the first day in Bhutan, you will have to take it fairly easy with just a visit to the Memorial Chorten (Stupa) built in memory of the Late King and wandering and exploring the shops, on the main street of Thimphu. Overnight Hotel

Day 2: Thimphu

After breakfast visit the Textile Museum, the folk heritage museum and the paper factory where a special kind of paper is made from the bark of the Daphne plant. After lunch visit the Zilukha nunnery, this temple is fairly new and is dedicated to a Tibetan saint who came to Bhutan in 15th century, to the Bhutanese he is popularly known Chag-zampa meaning Iron bridge builder as he was the first person to extract iron from earth and had constructed several suspension bridges all over Bhutan. Later, walk through the main street and explore the shops in Thimphu. Overnight Hotel

Day 3: Thimphu - Punakha

Visit the School of fine arts, where young children study religious art, carving, sculpting, tailoring, embroidery, gold and silver works. Visit the National Library, where one can see the religious text as old as 13th century preserved in excellent condition. Drive to Punakha. Leaving Thimphu the road climbs a series of zigzags over the Dochula Pass (3050 meters) with its (weather permitting) spectacular views of the snow capped Eastern Himalayas, Coffee/Tea break at the Pass. From there gradually descend through varied forest finally emerging into the highly cultivated valley of Punakha. Lunch at hotel. Having lunch, drive to visit the impressive Punakha Dzong situated at the confluence of the Mo-chu (Female river) and Pho-chu (Male river). This Dzong is the winter home to the Chief Abbot and the Central Monk Body. Overnight Hotel

Day 4: Punakha

After Breakfast drive for about 15kms towards north of your hotel and arrive at a suspension bridge, from here walk for half an hour to 45 minutes to visit the impressive Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten (Stupa) which is, located on a ridge. The view of the valley below is magnificent and the Stupa here was constructed to remove or overcome the negative forces in the changing world. Walk back to the bus, drive to Hotel for lunch. After lunch, visit the Chime Lhakhang (Temple) dedicated to Drukpa Kuenley, popularly know to the west as the divine mad man. Overnight Hotel

Day 5: Punakha - Paro

Trace your way back to Thimphu over the Dochula Pass. Lunch at Thimphu, after lunch further drive to Paro. Upon arrival in Paro visit the National Museum housed in an ancient watch tower and the Paro Dzong. Overnight Hotel

Day 6: Paro

In the morning, drive to the foot hills of Taktsang Monastery and from here hike up to the viewpoint of the sacred Taktsang monastery, which is approx. 700 meters above Paro valley. Your 1 hour walk through the oaken and the pine forest is rewarding with an unforgettable view of the 800 meters below and a chance to see the unusual temple clinging to the side of the cliff. This is a sacred place for the Bhutanese and every Bhutanese from far away places try to visit at least once in their lifetime. There is an option for either walking or a pony ride. Lunch will be served at the Taktsang Cafeteria. After coming back from Taktsang drive to visit the historic Drugyel Dzong, which was once a gateway to Tibet, from here, one can (weather permitting) see one of the highest peak in Bhutan, Mt. Jumolhari (7314m. Weather permitting). Overnight Hotel

Day 7: Paro - Departure

Morning, transfer to airport for the Departure flight (KB) from Paro.

"Tashi Delek"