7 DAYS & 6 NIGHTS ITINERARY - PARO, THIMPHU & PUNAKHA WITH MORE SIGHTSEEING DAY 1 ARRIVAL IN PARO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT The moment you step out of the plane you will feel the cool breeze followed by the effect of the altitude since Paro sits at 7,333 feet above sea level. However this will be short lived once you get acclimitized in the next few hours especially during your travel from Paro to Thimphu and check in your hotel. A short drive from Paro to the Capital Thimphu via Chuzom (Confluence of two rivers namely Pa Chhu & Wang Chhu) shall just take an hour. During your travel from Paro towards Thimphu you will see on the way beautiful traditional houses totally unique from where you came from. You will also see few monastries and chortens (stupas) built alonside roads and adjacent mountains. The scenic view around during the drive is entirely refreshing & mesmerizing. Upon reaching Thimphu you will witness the fast growing capital city of Bhutan spread from the valley towards the mountains. A welcome gate in its traditional bright paints (7 km before reaching the Captal city) will give you a feel that you are not only welcome in this country but once you reach here its no going back since you cannot stop yourself getting in to a such beautiful place. If you landed in a morning flight then after lunch at your hotel you can take a stroll through the downtown of Thimphu city. However, if you landed late afternoon, you will reach Thimphu by evening time. So refresh, rest & relax in your hotel room then therafter can go for dinner. DAY 2 TOUR OF THIMPHU Thimphu is the capital of Bhutan and is regarded as one of the unique capital city amongst other countries. Here you will come close to our loacl customs as you get glimpse of our monks dreesed in traditional red robes, men in striped Ghos and women in beautiful coloured Kiras. After your breakfast at the hotel you will start your day visiting following beautiful palces:- 1. Memorial Chorten:- Situated in the City core area at Chorten Lam The National Memorial Chorten was built in 1974 to memorialize Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, the third king of Bhutan (1928-1972). A chorten is a stupa, or hemispherical structure, that is used as a place of meditation. The whitewashed building with a golden finial on top is a popular location for prayer as it represents the strength and kindness of our beloved third king. 2. Buddha Point:- Kuensel Phodrang After Memorial Chorten a scenic drive up to Buddha Point in the Kuenselphodrang Nature Park to see the 169-foot-tall bronze statue of the seated Buddha Dordenma. One of the largest sitting Buddha statues in the world, it sits atop a hill where you will see sweeping views of the valley and surrounding mountains From Buddha Point you will come down to the town for lunch at any multi-cusine restaurants. 3. Takin's Park at Sangaygang or locally known as BBS Tower After Lunch then a drive about 20 minutes from the main city to a hillock where the Bhutan Broad Casting Tower is stationed. From there you can relish the beautiful scene of the whole of Thimphu City. On the way up or down from the hillock, you can also see Takin the national animal of Bhutan. It is also possible to request for the early morning walk up to this viewpoint 4. The Thimphu TashiChhog Dzong The Tashichhog Dzong is a fortress and Buddhist monastery with a distinctive Bhutanese architectural design. Sitting aside the Wang Chhu (river), it is the current seat of the Druk Desi, the head of the civil government, and houses the offices of the current king. You should not miss the view of this Dzong at night as it glows with powerful & colourful lightings. DAY 3 THIMPHU TO PUNAKHA On DAY 3 we travel to Punakha, the former capital of Bhutan until 1955, and will stop off at Dochula Pass along the way. This popular tourist spot provides stunning 360-degree views of the Himalayas. It is also home to the 108 Druk Wangyal Chortens that were built on a small hill to memorialize the Bhutanese soldiers killed in a 2003 battle with Assamese insurgents from India. The Druk Wangyal Lhakhang temple was completed in 2008, built to commemorate 100 years of monarchy and His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the fourth king, and leader of the raid that removed the Indian rebels. Punakha Dzong: Placed strategically at the junction of the Pho Chu and Mo Chu rivers, the Dzong was built in 1637 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal to serve as the religious and administrative seat of the region In between a time can be managed for Lunch at one of the standard restaurants in Punakha town, Pho Chhu Suspension Bridge: The 160 metres Pho Chhu Suspension Bridge is known for the longest suspension bridge in Bhutan, which gives you spectacular views of Punakha Dzong and the Pho Chhu Valley. This bridge connects Punahka dzong with Punakha town. Khamsum Yuley Temple: There is no temple in Bhutan built elaborately as this. This fascinating temple was built by the Queen Mother of the 5th King to bring universal peace in this world. The best of the spiritual art works are painted on the inner walls. There are also paintings of Buddhist teachers and tutelary deities of the country. This is a great temple to study the symbolic meanings from frescoes and sculptures. Dinner can be arranged at the same hotel or at any good restaurants in town. DAY 4 PUNAKHA TO TO THIMPHU & 2ND TOUR OF THIMPHU SAME DAY On Day 4 morning by 9 am we start back for Thimphu via Dochula Pass. Upon arriving at Thimphu we will take a short break and thereafter visit the following historic places around Thimphu. 1. Simtokha Dzong: A drive five miles away from Thimphu town to the oldest dzong in Bhutan. Just stroll through the very first dzong, built in 1627 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. The Institute for Language and Cultural Studies is located here now. Enthral yourself with the most noteworthy artistic feature in from of over 300 finely worked slate carvings behind the prayer wheels in the courtyard. 2. Centenary Farmer's Market: The Centenary Farmers’ Market is just 15 minutes walk from town. This is the place where farmers come to sell their vegetables, cheeses, grains, and the occasional yak leg. Across the street is the Kundeyling Baazam where you can bargain for local handicrafts, such as mala beads and prayer wheels. 3. Dechen Phodrang: A drive towards Dechenphodrang. At the end of Gaden Lam is Dechen Phodrang, the site of Thimphu's original Trashi Chhoe Dzong. Since 1971 it has housed the state monastic school, and a long procession of monks often travels between here and the dzong. A team of 15 teachers provides an eight-year course to more than 450 students. 4. Simply Bhutan: A living museum and a photo studio with a mission to engage and empower youth entrepreneurs through preservation, promotion and showcasing of Bhutanese tradition and cultural diversity. [Opening hour Summer 09.00 AM - 17.00 PM, Winter 10.00 AM - 16.00 PM] 5. Tango & Cheri Lhakhang: An half an hour drive from Thimphu town to Tango & Cheri Monastery which is 14 kilometres far. Tango Monastery is a Buddhist monastery located to the north of the capital city of Thimphu in Bhutan, near Cheri Mountain. Tango Goemba has a rich history and is one of the highest Buddhist learning centres in Bhutan. A vast majority of religious leaders — locally known as Je Khenpo —in the country have gone through a nine-year training program at this particular monastery. 6. Walk in the Thimphu town towards evening: After returning from Tango Cheri Monastery you can walk to town for dinner and after dinner you can wander through the shops, bars, and cafes of Thimphu. DAY 5 THIMPHU TO PARO FOLLWED BY TAKTSANG HIKE Taktsang Monastery: Often called the Tiger’s Nest, perched on the cliffs, has awestruck many a visitor. “Trip to Bhutan is never complete without climbing to Taktsang”, says one tourist. Indeed, it’s true as the journey there fills you with spiritual bliss. For those not choosing the spiritual side, it is the dramatic, artistically built monument that becomes a hiker’s delight. Take a trip to this dramatically set Buddhist relic hanging from a cliff. Experience the uphill climb as you ascend more than two thousand feet from the valley floor. Next early Morning on Day 6 you'll leave Thimphu for Paro Taktsang Monstery. It’s an hour & half drive from Thimphu till Taktsang Base. From Base you start hiking uphill towards Taktsang Monastery which is normally 2 to 3 hours hike. You can enjoy the senic beauty of nature on the way ans as well as witness a spectular view of Paro valley from the top of the view point before reaching Monastery. Packed Lunch to be carried for this hike. Return back to base by afternoon and then back to hotel room in Paro by evening. Dinner at hotel. DAY 6 TOUR OF PARO The beautiful valley of Paro is home to many of Bhutan's old monasteries and temples. The country's only airport is in Paro. The valley is also home to Mount Jomolhari (7, 300m) situated at the northern end of the valley whose glacier water forms the Pa Chhu flowing through the valley. On Day 8 at Paro the following historical places can be visited which will cover the entire day.