Bhutan – Into The Heart Of The Dragon

Tour Itinerary

Day 1 – Paro(Alt. 2200m/7218ft)

Upon arrival at Paro, you will check-in at your hotel and later briefing on the tour. Lunch, followed by sightseeing. Visit –

Watch Tower, RingpungDzong, KyichuLhakhang. Accentuating the natural beauty are the many elegant, traditional-style houses that dot the valley and surrounding hills. Paro town has been growing rapidly in recent years and there are plenty of restaurants, bakeries and cafes to choose from. One of the distinctive features of Paro town is that it is situated in a flat valley bottom and follows a grid-like pattern. The central plaza is adorned with a large prayer wheel and a small amphitheatre at which events such as concerts are often organized.

Overnight at Hotel Olathang

Day 2 – Hike to Taktsang Monastery in Paro (Altitude: 900m above Paro Valley)

Ride for 35mins to reach Taktsang from where your hike begins. Your trek will be through a forest for about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Hot Tea to be served at cafeteria from where one can have a spectacular view of Taktsang monastery. Visit

ParoTaktsang: A temple complex first built in 1692, around the TaktsangSengeSamdup, cave where Guru Padmasambhava is said to have meditated for three years, three months, three weeks, three days and three hours in the 8th century. Padmasambhava is credited with introducing Buddhism to Bhutan and is the tutelary deity of the country.After visiting Taktsang monastery, you will return to Taktsang Cafeteria to have lunch and later proceed towards Paro to visit DrugyelDzong.

Overnight at Hotel Olathang or similar

Day 3 – Paro to Thimphu (altitude: 2,320m) via Chelela Pass (altitude: 3,988 meters) (218 Km / 05hrs)

Chelela is located between Haa and Paro which is 50 Km away from Paro Valley, which is the highest motorable pass in Bhutan at 3,988 meters (13,084 ft).Lunch at Haa valley. Then proceed towards Thimphu:

Attraction: Visit

Memorial Chorten, built in 1974 in loving memory of the Third King, His Majesty JigmeDorjiWangchuck.

Trashichhoedzong: Also known as “fortress of the glorious religion” built in 1641 and later rebuilt in its present form by King JigmeDorjiWangchuk in 1965. Later visit The National Assembly Hall and Buddha Point (KuenselPhodrang).

Overnight at Hotel PhuntshoPelri or similar

Day 4 – Thimphu (altitude: 2,320m) to Punakha (altitude: 1,310m) (142 km / 3hrs)

After breakfast proceed to Punakha, riding through Dochula Pass at an altitude of 10,500ft. (23Km from Thimpu) where you can see one of Bhutan’s most enchanting views.Dochula Pass is 45km from Thimphu at 10,500 ft. (23km from Thimphu – 45 minutes drive), where you can see one of Bhutan’s most enchanting views. After spending some time, lunch atDochula cafeteria, later on proceed towards punakha. Enroute visit

ChimiLhakhang. After arrival at PunakhaDzongone can also walk on the longest suspension bridge and enjoy the view. From here you can have an Ariel view of Punakha valley.

Overnight at ZhingkhamResort or similar.

Day – 5 Punakha (altitude: 1,310m) to Phobjikha (Altitude: more than 3000m)(77 km / 3hrs)

After breakfast, proceed to Wangdue to reach Phobjilha through oak tree forest plantation. Lunch at Nobding.Upon arrival at Phobjikha, visit

GangteyGoempa,Nyingmapa monastery in Bhutan.

Black Necked Crane Information Centreis situated on the edge of the forest along the main road of Phobjikha valley, which has an observation room equipped with high power telescope for catching the best view of the cranes.Walk around Phobjikha Valley, at an altitude of 2900 m.

Overnight at Hotel Dewachen or farm house/home stay.

Day 6 – Phobjikha (Altitude: more than 3000m) to Trongsa (Altitude: 2,200m) (142km, 06hrs )

After breakfast, proceed to Trongsa, stopping along the way for sightseeing. ChendebjiChorten: The chorten is situated at the point believed to be where the three ridges and the three edges of the sky meet. It is an important chorten in Bhutan, and is recognizable by its roundish shape and the eyes painted on its sides, which bears similarity to the JarungKhashor (Bodhanath) stupa in Nepal.Lunch in local restaurant.Later you will be officially entering Central Bhutan. The vegetation seen along the route consists of shrubs of high altitude dwarf bamboo which are used for making paper.

Arrive in Trongsa followed by sightseeing: visit

TrongsaDzong: the largest Dzongfortress in Bhutan,. Built on a spur overlooking the gorge of the Mangde River, a temple was first established at the location in 1543 by the Drukpa lama.

Ta Dzong: This watchtower (ta dzong) overlooking the dzong now houses an excellent museum. The five floors of displays focus on Buddhist art and royal memorabilia. There are sweeping views from the roof, a souvenir shop, and a cafe on the ground floor provides refreshments (and lunch by prior arrangement).

Overnight at Yangkhil Resort or similar.

Day 7 – Trongsa (Altitude: 2,200m) to Bumthang(Altitude: 2,800m) (3 h 12 min79.3 km)

You will travel to most extensive protected areas in Bhutan. The northern two-thirds of the district (the gewogs of Chhoekhor and Tang) belong to Wangchuck Centennial Park, buffered by pockets of biological corridors. Southern Bumthang (the gewogs of Chhumig, Tang and Ura) is part of another protected area, Thrumshingla National Park. Bumthang is known for its important population of black-necked cranes migrating in winter. L unch at Bumthang Town andlater visit:

JakarDzong: constructed in 1549 as a monastery.JakarDzong is now used as the administrative center for Bumthang valley, and also houses the regional monk body.Bumthang farm yields buckwheat, dairy products, honey and apples among other products. Rest of the day free to relax in Bumthangtown, something unique for outsiders because of its structural and the architectural design and a geographical location.Enjoy coffee at cafe in the wilderness.

Overnight at Hotel Ugyen Ling or similar

Day 8 – Bumthang (Altitude: 2,800m) Sightseeing (134km, 06hrs 30mins)

Bumthang directly translates as “beautiful field” – thang means field or flat place, and bum is said be an abbreviation of either bumpa (a vessel for holy water, thus describing the shape and nature of the valley), or simply bum (“girl,” indicating this is the valley of beautiful girls).

Bumthangattraction.MembarTsho (Burning Lake): where sacred scriptures hidden by Guru Rimpoche in the 8th century where later recovered by PemaLingpa in the 15th century.

KurjeLhakhang: Located further along the valley, KurjeLhakhang comprises three temples. The one on the right was built in 1652 against the rock face where Guru Padmasambhava meditated in the 8th century.The temple in middle is built on the site of a cave containing rock with the imprint of the Guru’s body, and is therefore considered to be the most holy. The temple on the left was built in the 1990s by H.M. AshiKesang, the Queen Mother. These three temples are surrounded by a 108 Chorten wall.After sightseeing, you will have lunch at ChamkharTown .

Overnight at Hotel Ugyen Ling or similar

Day 10 – Mongar (Altitude: 1,600m) to Tashigang (Altitude:3,773m) (91km, 04hrs)

The travel towards Tashigang will be mostly through rough road which leads to taking more time even for short distance. The beginning of the journey is through leafy forest filled with ferns and later road decends rapidly through corn fields and banana groves arriving at the famous Zigzags of Yadi, which is a recent settlement. Tashigang is the center of the biggest and most populated district in the country. Visit TrashigangDzong, standing at the extreme end of the spur, overhanging the Gamri River. It serves as the administrative seat of the district and part of the Dzong is occupied by the Drukpa monastic community.30kms awayllieTashigang at 1000m. Arrive in Tashigang, in time for lunch in the town followed by sightseeing’s:

TrashigangDzong: or ‘The Fortress of the Auspicious Hill’ was built in 1659, to defend against Tibetan invasions. This imposing fortress is strategically situated high atop a spur overlooking the Dangmechu River.Mount Meru is the site of the palace of the DrukChhoglayNamgyal (victory of Bhutanese Over enemies in all directions). It is accessible only from the north, via a narrow road, paved by blasting through the cliff-side.

Trashigang: The Jewel of the East – Trashigang spans the easternmost corners of the kingdom, skirting up to the edge of the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. It is the country’s largest district, with an altitude ranging from 600m to over 4000m.

Overnight at DrukDeothJungResort

Day 11 – Trashigang (Altitude:3,773m), to MerakSakten (Altitude:3,800m)

Merak-Sakteng stands out as a distinct attraction in Bhutan. Unlike anywhere else in the country, it offers a visitor to experience a unique semi-nomadic lifestyle, culture and vernacular in one of the most scenic pastoral valleys in the protected area of Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary (SWS) in TrashigangDzongkhag (District), in Eastern Bhutan.Situated at an altitude over 3,500 meters, the exotic valleys of Merak and Sakten have been home to the Brokpas for centuries since their displacement from Tsona in southern Tibet. The nomadic indigenous farmer of eastern Bhutan, the Brokpas seasonally move their herds of livestock from the lower valleys.Lunch at villages along the way while riding towards MerakSakten.Riding towards Merak and Sakteng will be a different experience and the road is a farm road as of now and you will be away from any communication or mobile network until you reach destination. Arrive MerakSakten and followed by sightseeing:

Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary: The trek lies within the Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary (SWS). It covers an area of 650 km2 and is bordered by the Indian State of Arunachal Pradesh (Tawang) in the north and east, PhongmeyGeog and KangparaGeog in the west, and ShingkharLauriGeog in SamdrupJongkhar. It is connected to Khaling Wildlife Sanctuary by a biological corridor, a part of the Bhutan Biological Conservation Complex (B2C2).

Overnight stay with the nomads- (You will have different experience)

Day 12 – MerakSakten (Altitude:3,800m) to Trashigang (Altitude:3,773m), excursion to Tashiyangtse

Wildlife Sanctuary is located in north-western part of Bhutan and covers an area of 1,545 sq. km with 420 sq. It has one of the richest temperate Fir forests in the eastern Himalayas and provides an ideal protected habitat for big cats like Tigers and Leopards.The district is also home to a number of other rare animals including Barking Deer, Himalayan Black Bears, Red Pandas and hundreds of Black Necked Cranes that migrate to the region every winter.

Attraction: GomKora – 24 km from Trashigang, the temple of GomKora is set on a small alluvial plateau overlooking the river. Surrounded by rice fields and clumps of banana trees, it looks like an oasis in an arid landscape. Lunch at TashiYangtse Town followed byvisit :

ChortenKora – dazzling white stupa is situated on the riverbank below the town.

ZorigChusum (13 traditional arts and crafts):This art and craft institute south of town was opened in 1997 to provide vocational training opportunities for those who are not continuing in the higher education system.The people of the region have developed incredible skill at woodworking and paper making.Later return to Tashigang.

Overnight at DrukDeothjung Resort.

Day 13 – Trashigang (Altitude:3,773m) to SamdrupJongkhar (Altitude: 22m) (180km, 06hrs)

Travelling towards SamdrupJongkhar will be combination of rough road and tarmacroad.The ride will be through the hot climate comparing to Tashigang. The SamdrupJongkhar is a small border town with few hotels and restaurants. Although SamdrupJongkhar region is not a popular destination, the town’s proximity with Indian town makes it an important place.The Townmarket is an interesting mixture of Bhutanese and Indian shops and eateries. It is a bustling little town with shopkeepers and hawkers coming from the nearby border of Assam to sell their wares..Lunch in townand later walk around followed by sightseeing:

ZangtopelriLhakhang: is a new monastery located across from the entrance to the dzong. Even though made of cement and lacking the character of older monasteries, Zangtopelri is perhaps S/Jongkhar’s only tourist site.

Shopping Market:Just past the border gate is an Indian market called Mella Bazaar. Here, there are an array of stalls selling goods at much lower prices than in S/Jongkhar and some specializing in Assamese and northern Indian food. The chaos and noise is quite a contrast to the peace and harmony that exists just the other side of the gate in Bhutan.

Bhangtar:A picturesque village inhabited by Bhutanese of Nepalese descent.

The town in SamdrupJongkhar is one of the oldest in Eastern Bhutan and has seen gradual development over the years.

Overnight at TashiGatsel Hotel.

Day 13 – End of Tour

Return journey from here to India in the morning.