BHUTAN: Cultural Tour of West and Central Bhutan - 10 days
Tour Summary
Join Boutique Tours and Travel small group tours and discover the mystery of the last Buddhist Kingdom on earth, the mountain kingdom of Bhutan. It is renowned for its rich and unique cultural heritage and friendly people. This Bhutan cultural tour is perfect for those people who have limited time to spend in the landlocked country of Bhutan.
This Bhutan culture tour package includes visits to sacred festivals and pilgrimage sites and visits the remarkable Drugal Dzond ruins, the fortified tower of Ta Dzong School of Thanka painting natural history Museum and other various attractive activities. This is a fascinating introduction to this magical Himalayan kingdom.
Destinations: BHUTAN: Thimphu | Punakha | Bumthang | Gangtey | Paro
Tour Commences In: Paro/Thimphu
Tour Concludes In: Paro
Number of Days: 10 days / 9 Nights
Tour Style: Luxury / Deluxe boutique journey
Accommodation: Luxury & Boutique Hotels
Meals: Breakfasts; 8: Lunches; 8: Dinners; 9:
Leaders: Professional private local guide
Transportation: Luxury private chauffeur driven air-conditioned vehicles
Tour Grading: MODERATE: Suitable for travellers with an average level of fitness and mobility
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Tour Highlights
National Museum (fortfied tower of Ta Dzong) Watch Tower of Paro Rinpung Dzong.
Kyichu Temple (Buddhist TempleTiger Nest Monastery ("TAKTSANG" Monastery)
Drugyal Dzong Ancient Ruins
Taktsan retreat 9th & 7th century
Suggested Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Paro – Thimphu: (D)
Arrive at Paro airport your gateway to Bhutan. (flights from Delhi, Calcutta, Kathmandu or Bangkok arrive into the International Airport) Paro is situated in a beautiful valley situated at 2280 metres it is a fitting introduction to this charming kingdom. Your guide will greet you followed by a scenic one-hour drive along the Paro and Thimphu river valleys to Thimphu, Bhutan’s capital, at 2320 metres. You can stop on the way to take in the magnificent Tamchhog Lhakhang, the hereditary place of worship for Bhutan’s iron bridge builder. After checking in at your hotel take an afternoon stroll around town and soak up the atmosphere of this magical capital with its shops, colourful bazaars and photogenic citizens in national dress.
Day 2: Thimphu: (B/L/D)
This morning visit the weekly market, (Wednesday - Sunday includes the handicrafts) Walk onto the revered Memorial Chorten and the huge statue of Buddha Dordenma, which commands a tremendous view of Thimphu valley. The huge 3-storey throne holds several chapels and the body itself is filled with 125,000 smaller statues of Buddha. On the way back, visit Changangkha temple, perched on the hilltop overlooking the town. Devotees flock throughout the day to circumambulate and turn the prayer wheels. The temple also contains beautiful wall paintings and hundreds of religious scriptures written in gold. After that you may like to visit the Takin Reserve showcasing the unique national animal, the Takin. This afternoon, visit the School of Traditional Arts and the National Library, the Folk Heritage Museum and browse the striking collection of intricate textiles at the National Textile Museum. Continue on and visit the newly opened postal museum, detailing the history of Bhutan’s postal system and showcasing Bhutan’s rich assortment of interesting stamps. If you would like to view or buy Bhutanese handicrafts you can visit the new market opposite Taj Tashi hotel which has an array of stalls run by local handicraft shops selling purely home-made articles with no imports. Later if you wish, we can drive about 30 minutes out of town to visit Simtokha Dzong (one of the oldest fortresses in Bhutan, dating from 1629 AD).
Day 3: Thimphu – Punakha: (B/L/D)
Today you drive approximately 3 hours to the old capital, Punakha, via Dochu La pass at 3050 metres seeing the colourful prayer flags along the way. You stop for lunch and enjoy spectacular panoramic views of the Eastern Himalaya ranges. You will notice the change of climate and vegetation as you approach low-lying city of Punakha at 1250 metres. You are able to walk for an hour or so across the terraced fields of Sopsokha village to Chimi Lhakhang (Temple of Fertility) built in the 15th century by the ‘Divine Madman’ (Lama Drukpa Kuenley). Then visit the imposing Punakha Dzong, “Palace of Great Happiness”. Built in 1637, it is strategically placed at the confluence of two rivers, the Po Chu and the Mo Chu. You will have lunch along the way and dinner is included.
Day 4: Punakha – Bumthang: (B/L/D)
Drive this morning approximately 4.5 hours to Trongsa, the gateway to central Bhutan at 2180 metres. Set amidst spectacular scenery, Trongsa Dzong, the ancestral home of Bhutan’s royal family it commands the eye from miles away. You can also visit Ta Dzong, the museum in the watchtower dedicated to the Wangchuk dynasty which tells the stories of the Dzong and the valley it has watched over for centuries and features personal belongings of the Kings and Queens of Bhutan. Continue a further 2.5 hours through some of Bhutan’s most beautiful landscapes to Bumthang, an area of high valleys at 2580 to 3100 metres.
Day 5: Bumthang: (B/L/D)
Sightseeing in Bumthang, the spiritual heartland of Bhutan, with its many legendary monasteries, temples and palaces. Bumthang is the collective name for an area of 4 valleys - Chokhor, Tang, Ura and Chumey. Your guide will take you on a fascinating walking and driving tour of a variety of sacred sites including Jamba Lhakhang, Kurjey Lhakhang and Tamshing Lhakhang, followed by a visit to Membar Tsho ‘the Flaming Lake’, one of Bhutan’s most important pilgrimage sites. You can also visit Bhutan’s largest Dzong (Jakar), with its picturesque location overlooking the Chokhor valley. You may be interested to see Bumthang’s famous Swiss cheese factory and dairy farm.
Day 6. Bumthang – Gangtey: (B/L/D)
Today’s drive is approximately 5-6 hours to Gangtey at 2900 metres. Enjoy the views of the immense and remote Phobjikha valley and the black mountain ranges. Visit Gangtey Gompa (one of Bhutan’s oldest monasteries and recently extensively renovated) and explore the valley where the villagers continue to live a traditional Bhutanese rural lifestyle. This is the site where black-necked cranes visit in their hundreds in November each year after spending the summer in Tibet.
Day 7: Gangtey – Paro: (B/L/D)
Today we return to Paro, a drive of approximately 5-6 hours via Wangdi. Wangdi (also known as Wangdue Phodrang) was originally considered Bhutan’s secondary capital and it commands an important central position. Sadly Wangdi Dzong was gutted by fire in June 2012, destroying in a few hours not only a magnificent building that had stood proudly for hundreds of years, but also the painstaking work that had been in progress for many months to rebuild recent earthquake damage using traditional construction methods. Renovation work is again underway and is not yet reopened. Meanwhile there is little now to see in Wangdi and after a brief stop continue on your way. In the afternoon there will be adequate time to visit and support some local handicraft shops for souvenirs of your trip.
Day 8: Paro: (B/L/D)
This morning visit the impressive Paro Rinpung Dzong, one of the finest examples of Bhutanese architecture. You can also visit the National Museum housed in the Ta Dzong (watch tower) which was built on top of the hill above Rinpung Dzong to defend Rinpung Dzong and the Paro valley during times of war, in an unusual circular construction resembling a conch shell. The Ta Dzong was badly damaged by an earthquake in September 2011 but has now been renovated and you can see a magnificent collection of Bhutanese artefacts – costumes, religious paintings, arms, textiles and a fascinating collection of Bhutan stamps. Near to the museum you may also be able to see a demonstration of traditional wood turning skills by local artisans who make traditional wooden bowls and cups – and you can try your hand as well if you wish. Nearby you can also visit the 7th century Kyichu Lhakhang, a temple of historical significance and one of the most sacred shrines in Bhutan.
Day 9: Paro: (B/L/D)
Our highlight today is to hike to the ‘Tiger's Nest’, the sacred Taktshang monastery which clings to the rock face 900 metres above the valley floor. It is one of Bhutan’s most holy sites and draws pilgrims not only from Bhutan but also from neighbouring Buddhist countries. Stop by at the Taktshang cafeteria from where you get a spectacular view of the monastery. After, perhaps you can try your hand at archery, Bhutan’s national sport.
Day 10: Depart Paro.
Your private tour concludes early this morning. Your guide will accompany you to the airport for you onward or homebound flight. We wish you ‘Tashi Delek’ (goodbye and good luck)
Some guests may wish to stay another day or more in this amazing country. Please don’t hesitate to contact Boutique Tours & Travel for further travel arrangements.
Our specially curated itineraries are carefully planned and well thought out to ensure you are rewarded with the best experiences in Morocco. The magic of travelling in such a small group allows us to cater for spontaneity and sometimes we often find some wonderful surprises along the way and it can be these unplanned occurrences that are the most memorable. The rich tapestry of experiences and the characters you meet along the way will make this guided small group tour something special and one you will remember for a lifetime.
Flexibility
The itinerary may be flexible, sometimes due to weather or sometimes for sites or events which guests may wish to see. If there is something not included in this itinerary that you would like to do or see, please contact us to discuss if it is possible.
Suggested Hotels
Thimpu – Taj Tashi Hotel
Punakha - Uma Hotel
Paro - Uma Hotel
Tour Inclusions
A curated itinerary especially for Boutique Journeys
Airport Meet & Greet with private transfers for all arriving guests
Private airport transfers for all guests departing
Bhutan Visa
Hand selected Luxury Modern & Boutique hotel accommodation
Internet Access where available
Meals as indicated in Itinerary; B = Breakfast: L = Lunch: D = Dinner:
Private services of a professional bilingual tour guide
Concierge / Bellhop Services throughout tour
24 hour on call support service
Luxury /Deluxe private air-conditioned vehicles for all your transportation
Entrance fees, taxes to all sightseeing & shows
Porterage, tipping and gratuities, except to guide & driver
Bottled water whilst touring in vehicle
Guaranteed Departures with Just Two Guests
Not included:
International and or Domestic air fares
Arrival / Departure Taxes, levies and other charges
Passport and visa fees
Excess baggage charges
Cost of any ‘luggage delivery’ via FedEx or postal services
Personal travel insurance
Porterage, tipping and gratuities
Meals not included
Alcoholic beverages
Personal expenses
Country Information
Accommodation:
We offer hand selected Modern & Boutique hotel accommodation for this Bhutan Tour. All rooms have modern facilities, private bathrooms with double or two twin beds.
Climate & Clothing:
The best time to travel to Bhutan is in spring and autumn; March to June and late August to December. The majority of rain falls in the summer months, whilst the coldest period is January to February.
The general rule is to bring comfortable clothing including lightweight cottons for the warmer months and warmer clothing for the cooler months. Comfortable walking shoes are essential as is a light waterproof jacket. We provide a detailed packing list to all our guests prior to departure.
Currency & Money Matters:
Bhutan currency is called Ngultrum Currency code: BTN. The Ngultrum is further divided into 100 chetrum. There are coins to the value of 25 and 50 chetrum and Nu 1, and notes of Nu 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000. The Nu 1 coin depicts the eight auspicious symbols called Tashi Tagye, while each note depicts a different dzong.
Indian rupees may be used freely anywhere in Bhutan We recommend that you take a combination of cash and credit cards Major foreign credit cards are only acceptable in a few designated shops, hotels and large restaurants. We highly recommend you bring US Dollars in small denominations.
Credit Card Charges can be up to 5%. US dollars cash receives a better rate of exchange.
Electricity:
In Bhutan the power plugs and sockets are of type D, F and G. The standard voltage is 230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz.
Insurance:
You must be comprehensively insured as a condition of travelling with Boutique Travel & Tours. We recommend that you purchase insurance at the time of Booking. Boutique Tours & Travel is able to assist you in arranging your Insurance.
Language:
‘Dzongkha’ is a Sino-Tibetan language spoken by over half a million people in Bhutan; it is the sole official and national language of the Kingdom of Bhutan.
Meals:
Our hotels offer a wonderful selection of dishes at their buffet breakfasts and we offer a variety of both menu and venue for lunches and evening meals.
Medical Services & Facilities:
All our hotels refer you to Hospitals if required. They can also assist guests with purchasing of medicine. The international hospitals throughout Bhutan are excellent and have western trained medical and surgical specialists. Dental care is only available in Thimphu.
Passports & Visas:
To enter Bhutan you require a passport valid for at least six months beyond the date of departure and with at least two blank pages. A Visa is required for all guests and will be organised prior to departure. Boutique Tours & Travel is able to arrange your Visa.
Special Requests:
Specific requests such as adjacent or connecting rooms, bedding requests and special dietary needs or any other arrangement should be advised at time of booking. Please note that every effort will be made to secure your special request; however, they cannot always be guaranteed.
Time Zone:
Time zone in Bhutan (GMT+6)
Tipping:
We know that some of our guests are not familiar with tipping so any gratuities (eg to waiters, bellhops etc) are taken care of as part of your fee but if you wish to Tip individually please do so. Gratuities & tips to Guide & Driver would gratefully be received. Thank you
Transport:
We use modern luxury and deluxe cars and minibuses. These are spacious, comfortable, well maintained safe vehicles. We also walk where and when it’s suitable.
Water & Beverages:
Our hotels offer bottled water and bottled water is also provided when in vehicle. Alcoholic beverages are not included in the cost of this tour.
