8-Day Matsutake Mushroom Festival
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Overview
This eight-day Matsutake Mushroom Festival in August will enable the guests to taste one of the most coveted mushrooms, the Tricholoma Matsutake, in all its freshness and succulent flavor. The prized mushrooms, harvested annually from the forest, provide a major source of income for the local people of the secluded village in Thimphu. During the Bhutan festival, you will see various folk dances and mask dances being performed in the open ground, and you will also be able to interact with the local people.
During this trip, you will also visit many traditional, cultural, religious and natural heritage sites of Bhutan, all of which were kept in isolation from the rest of the world until the 1960s when the country slowly embarked on a modern development. You will also get to explore Bhutanese art, the Bhutanese livelihood, activities, cuisine, and many interesting places during your trip.
During this trip, you will also visit many traditional, cultural, religious and natural heritage sites of Bhutan, all of which were kept in isolation from the rest of the world until the 1960s when the country slowly embarked on a modern development. You will also get to explore Bhutanese art, the Bhutanese livelihood, activities, cuisine, and many interesting places during your trip.
Itinerary
Day 1
Paro Arrival and Travel to Thimphu
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After meeting you at the Paro International Airport, your guide and driver will take you to Thimphu. Depending on your arrival time, you will visit the Ta Dzong National Museum and do some local sightseeing en route to Thimphu. After checking in to your hotel and having lunch at a local restaurant, you will visit some cultural and religious sites including the Simtokha Dzong, Jungshi Paper Factory, and the Tashichho Dzong.
Accommodation
Hotel Riverview★3 star
Activities
Paro Ta Dzong National Museum
Simtokha Dzong
Jungshi Handmade Paper Factory
Tashichho Dzong
Restaurants
Babesa Village Restaurant
Transportations
Private Driver from Paro International Airport to Thimphu
Meals
Lunch and dinner
Destinations
Paro
Thimphu
Semtokha
Day 2
Drive to Genekha and Back to Thimphu
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After breakfast, you will be driven for one hour to the village of Genekha to attend Matsutake Mushroom Festival. Here you'll be involved in the Bhutan festival associated with the prized mushroom of the area, you'll take part in mushroom picking and identifying, as well as tasting the famous Matsutake Mushroom soup. You'll also witness the celebratory traditional folk dances and religious performances. Later, you will travel back to Thimphu.
Accommodation
Hotel Riverview★3 star
Activities
Masutake Mushroom Festival
Craft Bazaar and Clock Tower Square
Transportations
Private Driver from Thimphu to Thimphu
Private Driver from Thimphu to Thimphu
Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Destinations
Thimphu
Tenchhekha
Day 3
Thimphu Sightseeing
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You'll visit a variety of historical, traditional and natural sites within and around Thimphu. These will include the National Library, Folk Heritage Museum, National Institute of Zorig Chusum and the Royal Takin Preserve. After lunch, you'll also visit the Memorial Chorten, Changangkha Lhakhang and Buddha Point, which is home to the largest Buddha statue of Bhutan.
Accommodation
Hotel Riverview★3 star
Activities
National Library of Bhutan
Folk Heritage Museum Kawajangsa
National Institute for Zorig Chusum
Motithang Takin Preserve
Memorial Chorten
Changangkha Lhakhang
Kuensel Phodrang
Restaurants
Bhutan Kitchen
Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Destinations
Thimphu
Motithang
Day 4
Thimphu to Punakha
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After breakfast, you'll embark on an adventurous journey to Punakha, which will take around 5-6 hours. En route, you'll make a stop at the Dochula Pass to take in the stunning view of the Himalayan mountain ranges. A little further along the route, you'll make a stop to visit the Royal Botanical Park where you'll take a short hike and have lunch. After arriving in Punakha, you'll visit the nunnery and the Punakha suspension bridge.
Accommodation
Meri Puensum Resort★3 star
Activities
Dochula Pass
Royal Botanical Park
Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Lhakhang Nunnery
Punakha Suspension Bridge
Transportations
Private Driver from Thimphu to Punakha
Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Destinations
Thimphu
Dochula
Walakha
Punakha
Day 5
Punakha to Phobjikha
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After breakfast, you'll visit Punakha Dzong, built by the founding father of Bhutan. You'll then be driven from Punakha to Phobjikha Valley where you'll visit Gangtey Monastery, after enjoying lunch at the homestay. You'll take a stroll through Phobjikha Valley to see the local villages and later enjoy a traditional hot stone bath to relax before dinner.
Accommodation
Homestay in Phobjikha
Activities
Punakha Dzong
Gangtey Monastery
Phobjikha Valley
Hot Stone Baths
Transportations
Private Driver from Punakha Dzong to Phobjikha Valley
Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Destinations
Walakha
Punakha
Wangdue Phodrang
Paro
Day 6
Phobjikha to Paro
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En route to Paro, you'll visit Chimi Lhakhang, known as the Fertility Temple, in Punakha and Tachog Lhakhang Monastery in Paro. Bhutan is famous for its people's fine craftsmanship skills that date back many generations. In the afternoon, you'll have the option to take a walk around Paro's local arts and crafts shop, learn about the local trades and purchase some truly unique souvenirs of Bhutan.
Accommodation
Bhutan Mandala Resort★3 star
Activities
Chimi Lhakhang
Tachog Lhakhang
Transportations
Private Driver from Phobjikha Valley to Paro
Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Destinations
Wangdue Phodrang
Punakha
Paro
Day 7
Hike to Tiger's Nest Monastery
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After breakfast, you'll be driven around 20 minutes to the starting point of the hike to Taktsang Monastery. Perched on the cliff, it is one of the most iconic landmarks of Bhutan. After you've finished the hike, you will visit Rinpung Dzong and Kyichu Lhakhang which both bear great historical significance to Bhutan. In the evening, you'll have the option to enjoy a hot stone bath to soothe your muscles after the hike.
Accommodation
Bhutan Mandala Resort★3 star
Activities
Hike to Tiger's Nest
Rinpung Dzong
Kyichu Lhakhang
Hot Stone Baths
Restaurants
Taktsang Cafeteria
Transportations
Private Driver from Bhutan Mandala Resort to Tigers Nest
Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Destinations
Paro
Day 8
Drop off at Paro International Airport
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After breakfast and depending on your flight timing, you will have the opportunity to take a stroll around Paro's local arts and crafts shops to collect some souvenirs of Bhutan. You will then be escorted by your guide to the airport and they will assist you with formalities before bidding you a safe journey home.
Activities
Local Arts & Crafts
Transportations
Private Driver from Bhutan Mandala Resort to Paro International Airport
Meals
Breakfast
Destinations
Paro
Included in Price
- 7 nights accommodation
- 26 activities
- 7 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 7 dinners
- Airport transfer
- Entrance fees
- Entry visas / airport departure tax
- Ground transportation
- Licensed English speaking guides
Not Included in Price
- Alcohol beverages
- Domestic flights
- Gratuities
- International flights
- Laundry
- Personal expenses
- Travel insurance
- Trekking permits
Notes
Also included;
- Bhutan visa fees and entrance fees
- Sustainable development fee of $65 per person per night
- Bhutan visa fees and entrance fees
- Sustainable development fee of $65 per person per night
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Low season price starting fromAU$3,347
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