Bhutan Kingdom Happiness Tour   |  14 Days

Itinerary

• 1 Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu and transfer to hotel.On reaching at Kathmandu international airport via respective airlines and countries, received by Foot and Shadow Walking Holiday staff and transfer to hotel in the heart of Kathmandu city, after getting refreshed our guide will brief with information on hotel, culture, do’s and don’ts and Kingdom of Happiness Tour with welcome dinner.
• 2 Day 2: Sightseeing tour and trek preparation.After breakfast our city guide will take you on sightseeing tour at places of interest as Kathmandu valley full of world heritage sites with temples, monasteries, stupa’s and old king’s palace after an enjoyable interesting tour back to hotel, preparation for Kingdom of Happiness Tour.
• 3 Day 3: Fly to Paro 2,280 m and drive to Thimphu 2,300 m - 02 hrs journey.On arrival at Paro-Bhutan’s international airport after going through visa formalities our Destination Holidays native guide of Bhutan and representative will receive you with warm welcome and then drive for two hours through countryside dotted with farm villages and terraces with typical Bhutanese landscapes and Buddhist culture architecture villages. On reaching Thimphu the capital city of Bhutan, interesting to know that Thimphu the only city in the whole world without traffic lights, all the traffic controlled by traffic police with their whistle. In Thimphu in the best hotels, afternoon at leisure with time for a walk around the market and observe the Bhutanese way of life.
• 4 Day 4: At Thimphu with exciting cultural and historical tour.After refreshing breakfast our guide will take you on a tour of memorial stupa, indigenous hospital, where traditional medicine is still practiced and the painting school. Tour of Memorial Chorten (temple) built in memory of the late 3rd King of Bhutan. Visit of ChangangkhaLhakhang, the oldest temple in the valley offering a nice view of the valley, a short scenic drive for a visit of the largest and recently built statue of Buddha with wonderful view of entire Thimphu valley. After an interesting tour around Thimphu return back to hotel, after lunch tour around traditional Hand Made Paper Mill, School of Arts and Crafts where students learn 13 different arts used predominantly in Bhutan, Folk Heritage Museum, National Library and the Traditional Institute of Medicine. Drive to the Zilukha nunnery to meet the nuns and interact with them.
• 5 Day 5: Drive to Punakha 1,350 m- 03 hrs driving journey.After a great time in Thimphu, morning scenic drive to Punakha for few hours as ride leads over Dochu-la pass at 3,200 m, in fine clear weather a fantastic view of Bhutan’s highest mountains Chomolhari / Jumolhari can be seen with other snowcapped peaks extending almost 180 degrees. Walk around108 stupa and continue drive to sub- tropical valley of Punakha, on arrival, if time permits hike to the temple of ChimiLakhang, the temple of fertility associated with religious art of phallus.
• 6 Day 6: At Punakha with interesting tour.At Punkakha a short hike for less than 2 hours to TashigangHongtso Monastery, located into a clearing at the edge of a serene forested area overlooking the town of Hongtso, Tashigang has been one of our favorite visits for well over a decade. In the surrounding buildings are pilgrims practicing silent meditation, and a peaceful calm pervades the area. The monastery houses about 40 orphans, who receive language, religious and general education from the monks an interesting tour of the Gompa (monastery), observe a private ceremony with chanting using ceremonial instruments in the main temple room, here you can interact with head lama. A nice drive at the top of Dochu-la for superb views of Himalaya peaks, including the unclimbed peak GangkharPuensum, 7570 m (24,836 feet). Then back to Punakha Valley, a subtropical Shangri La carved by the Mo Chhu and the Po Chhu (Mother and Father River), arriving at the lodge with another short hike through the Royal Botanical Forest.
• 7 Day 7: Drive to Trongsa 2,200 m - 05hrs.Morning starting with an interesting drive to Trongsa leading past Wangdi province and short tour around the ruins of WangdiDzong (Fortress), which has been destroyed by fire recently. From here continue drive to Trongsa over Pelela Pass at 3m300 m which forms the part of Black Mountain range that divides the country from east and west. On route this picturesque journey with short break for a hike to remote village of Rujubji. On reaching at Trongsa after a good drive of 5 hours or more with tours in between drive relax and refresh in the local nice hotel.
• 8 Day 8: Drive to Jakar 2,650 m - 04 hrs.Morning after breakfast tour around Trongsa town visit of majestic TrongsaDzong (Fortress), an earlier royal resident and the unique watchtower which houses a newly converted museum after a nice tour drive towards Yotong La pass at 3,425m and on route stop over the weaving place, beside the road where "Yatha" (wool weaving) is done which the valley of Bumthang is famous for and then continue drive to Jakar on arrival transfer into a nice local lodge / guesthouse.
• 9 Day 9: Around Jakar tour of places of interest.Starting the morning with a visit of JampayLakhang, one of the first two Buddhist temples built in the country. Tour of Kurjeylakhang Temple, the site where royals are cremated, from here walk across the suspension bridge visit the village of Parar and Tamshing or drive there and then concluding the day with a walk passing by the Swiss farm. Most of the activities can be done on foot. Evening stroll in Jakar town and try some local pancake and noodles.
• 10 Day 10: Drive to Phobjikha 2,900 m - 04 hrs.After a great wonderful time around Punakha, drive to the isolated valley of Phobjikha. The valley protected for endangered and rare Black Necked Cranes visits Bhutan every winter (early Nov to end of February). The drive is very scenic and exciting with everlasting views, on reaching at Gangtery visit the famous old Gompa (monastery), the only Ningma-pa sect of Buddhism monastery and largest around western Bhutan. Phobjikha valley is a paradise for trekkers and hikers with afternoon at leisure for short walks.
• 11 Day 11: Drive to Paro - 08 hrs.Today a long and interesting overland drive to Paro an opportunity to marvel the countryside and rural farm villages, after a great drive reaching Paro with a stroll around the old Paro town with local handicrafts stores. Here an opportunity to watch traditional game of archery the national sports of Bhutan.
• 12 Day 12: Sightseeing around Paro at places of interestMorning after breakfast, our expert guide will take you on a pleasant walk or short drive with an hour uphill hike to Bhutan’s famous landmark old Taksang Monastery known as Tiger's Nest. A place for retreats and meditation of many Buddhist monks and high priest of Bhutan, the monastery located within the overhanging rock cliff with superb views of Paro town and snowcapped peaks towards north, from here with steep downhill a short drive to visit 17th century Ta-Dzong, later converted into the National Museum in 1967, afternoon free at leisure for stroll around Paro shops and markets.
  
  
• 13 Day 13: Fly to Kathmandu and then transfer to your hotelsMorning transfer to Paro airport for the flight to Kathmandu or to your next respective destination with connecting flight from Delhi-India or back to Kathmandu, during air scenic views of mountains, green scenery of hills and farm fields within nice villages and towns as flight lands back at Kathmandu and then drive within hustle and bustle city life of Kathmandu. On reaching your hotel with time for individual activities and shopping souvenirs.
• 14 Day 14: Depart for international flight home ward bound or to respective countries.Your last memorable day in Nepal after a wonderful experience on Bhutan Happiness Kingdom Tour with great service of Explorer Adventure, and as per your international flight then transfer to Kathmandu international airport for homeward bound or to your respective destinations.