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8-Day Luxury Bhutan

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Overview

Welcome to Bhutan – the land of happiness. Nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas, Bhutan is one of the most sought after travel destinations in the world.

Bhutan has always remained an independent kingdom, it was closed to the outside world for many years, and as a result, its age-old culture, tradition, spiritual heritage and environment are still intact.

On this luxury Bhutan tour, you will explore the Buddhist monasteries dotted around the country, Chortens (stupas), prayer flags and monuments. The land of happiness kingdom is a trekker’s paradise and an environmentalist’s dream, with 72.5 per cent of the country under forest cover, Bhutan’s pristine ecology is home to rare and endangered flora and fauna that you will discover while trekking Tiger's Nest and Khamsum Yulley Namgyel.

The kingdom is an adventure like no other, so satisfy your deepest travel curiosities and discover it. In Bhutan, your journey is as seamless and unique as your imagination.
Sightseeing
Hiking & Trekking
Culture & Arts
Wellness
Outdoors & Nature

Itinerary

Day 1

Paro Arrival and Thimphu Sightseeing

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Paro Arrival and Thimphu Sightseeing

Transfer into the city to start your sightseeing immediately, visit the Rinpung Dzong meaning ‘fortress of jewels’, which is the seat of the Paro district built in 1645 by Shadrung Ngawang Namgyal. Then visit a Buddhist monastery and fortress on the northern edge of the city of Thimphu. This has traditionally been the seat of the Druk Desi (or "Dharma Raja"), the head of Bhutan's civil government combined with the kingship since the creation of the monarchy in 1907.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hotel Taj Tashi 5 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
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    Activities

    Rinpung Dzong

    Kuensel Phodrang

    Tashichho Dzong

  • restaurant icon
    Restaurants

    Yue-ling Restaurant

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Paro International Airport to Paro

    Private Driver from Paro to Thimphu

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Paro

    Thimphu

Day 2

Thimphu to Punakha

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Thimphu to Punakha

The drive from Thimphu to Punakha takes us first to the Dochula Mountain Pass looking out to the snow-covered Himalayas. Here there are 108 memorial chortens built by the eldest Queen Mother. Visit to Punakha Dzong, the most beautiful dzong in the country, especially in spring when the lilac-coloured jacaranda trees bring amazing colours to the dzong's towering whitewashed walls. After lunch hike to the Devine Madman’s Monastery, famously known for its fertility shrine.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Dhensa Boutique Resort4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
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    Activities

    Dochula Pass

    Punakha Dzong

    Chimi Lhakhang

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Thimphu to Punakha

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Thimphu

    Dochula

    Punakha

Day 3

Punakha to Phobjikha

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Punakha to Phobjikha

Visit Gangtey Gompa, the seat of the Ngyingmapa Buddhism, one of the religious sects in Bhutan. The present reincarnate is the 9th descendant of Terton Pema Lingpa. This monastery serves as the wintering home for endangered black-necked cranes migrating from Tibet from November to February to escape harsh winter there. The road to Gangtey passes through dense forests and oak, rhododendron trees and is beautiful.

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    Activities

    Wangdue Phodrang

    Gangtey Monastery

    Black-Necked Crane Information Centre

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Punakha to Phobjikha Valley

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Punakha

    Thimphu

    Wangdue Phodrang

Day 4

Back to the Old Capital

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Back to the Old Capital

Crossing this important Pass, you may enjoy the pastoral atmosphere as you drive deeper into the valley with meadows where sheep and yaks graze. If you are a bird watcher, look out for the endemic bird called the wren babbler taking refuge underneath the bamboo. Trongsa, the sacred and the temporal heart of the country is the first district that you will come across before arriving back in Punakha.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Dhensa Boutique Resort4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten

    Punakha Suspension Bridge

  • restaurant icon
    Restaurants

    Dhensa Boutique Resort

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Phobjikha Valley to Punakha

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Punakha

Day 5

Return to the Charming Capital

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Return to the Charming Capital

Start your journey back to Thimphu via a small factory that produces traditional Bhutanese paper from the bark of the daphne bush - you can see the whole process. Visit the prominent National Memorial Chorten, which is predominantly white with spires of gold. It was erected in 1974 in honour of the father of modern Bhutan, the third king of the country. Stop by Kuensel Phodrang - Buddha Point, a gigantic Buddha statue, which houses over one hundred thousand smaller Buddha statues.

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    Activities

    Jungshi Handmade Paper Factory

    Memorial Chorten

    Changangkha Lhakhang

  • restaurant icon
    Restaurants

    Simply Bhutan

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Punakha

    Thimphu

Day 6

A Luxury Paro Sightseeing Tour

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A Luxury Paro Sightseeing Tour

You'll journey back to Paro is the last leg of your journey. Visit one of the oldest monasteries in the country built in the 7th century by the Tibetan King Songsten Gampo and the ruins of Drukgyal Dzong. This fortress was built around 1644-49 to commemorate the Bhutanese victory over the Tibetan-Mongol forces. It was later burnt in an accidental fire in 1951.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Uma Resort5 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
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    Activities

    Tachog Lhakhang

    Kyichu Lhakhang

    Drukgyel Dzong

    Hot Stone BathsOptional Activity

  • restaurant icon
    Restaurants

    Yue-ling Restaurant

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Thimphu to Paro

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Paro

Day 7

Hike to Tiger's Nest

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Hike to Tiger's Nest

Paro is a valley of religious myth and legend. The most famous landmark, the Taktsang Monastery (Tiger’s Nest), stands on a granite cliff about 800 metres above the valley. Legend has it that Guru Rinpoche, a famous Buddhist saint, flew to Paro on a tigress and meditated at Taktsang. The monastery is considered as a national treasure of Bhutan. Today is dedicated to hiking to the monastery to see it in its majesty. It will take you most of the day.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Uma Resort5 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Hike to Tiger's Nest

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Paro

Day 8

Weekend Market and Departure

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Weekend Market and Departure

Visit Paro's weekend market before your departure. This market isn't very large but it has a traditional feel and has some unique local products like organic Tsirang honey, squares of dried jellied cow skin known as khoo (a local snack). Drive to the airport for your departure.

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    Activities

    Paro Market

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Paro to Paro International Airport

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Paro

Included in Price

  • 5 nights accommodation
  • 19 activities
  • 7 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 7 dinners
  • Airport transfer
  • Entrance fees
  • Ground transportation

Not Included in Price

  • Alcohol beverages
  • Domestic flights
  • Entry visas / airport departure tax
  • Gratuities
  • International flights
  • Laundry
  • Licensed English speaking guides
  • Personal expenses
  • Travel insurance
  • Trekking permits

Notes

Included
- Government royalty of USD 65 per person/night
- All government taxes
- Juices, snacks and mineral water
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