Holidays Bhutan tour guide will greet and receive our guests at the Paro international for swift 15-minute transfer to the hotel. Refresh and join the welcome tea, formal introduction and tour briefing.

Paro Valley is 2,200 masl and located in western Bhutan.

To get your bearings, you will be guided on a tour inside the historic 5- storied Ta Dzong (watch tower established in 1968) and Rinpung Dzong (built in 1645), the fortress on a heap of jewels, which is the powerhouse of western Bhutan. Bhutanese architecture harmonizes traditional engineering feats and aesthetics from the massive fortresses to traditional houses.

In the evening, join us for a welcome dinner, featuring the best of Bhutanese cuisines. Please feel free to share your dietary restrictions so that we can adjust the cuisine recipes to suit your palate.

Meals included: Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Paro

Attend a guided morning yoga session in the hotel’s nature campus in Paro. Transfer to Thimphu (1hr. 30 minutes), the capital city of Bhutan (2,330masl).

Check into the hotel. Drive up to the Buddha Dordhen Statue (169 ft. one of the largest Buddha statues in the world) at Kuensel Phodrang, Thimphu. Enjoy the bird-eye view of the Thimphu city.

Visit the Royal Textile Academy of Bhutan/ museum (instituted in 2005) and learn about the history and craft of textile weaving in Bhutan.

Visit Dechen Phodrang monastic school (established in 1971), which houses rare historical artefacts and paintings from 12 century.

Towards evening, visit the historic Tashicho Dzong fortress (built in 1641). In Autumn, the fortress is the venue for grand 5-day Thimphu tshechu festival.

Please check the festival dates to plan your trip and catch the festival in the courtyard of the historic fortress.

Visit the National Institute of Zorig Chusum, where you can watch and learn about the thirteen arts and crafts of Bhutan. The institute remains closed on Sunday and public holidays.

Stroll through the craft market showcasing the authentic crafts of rural Bhutanese artisans.

Guest will be treated to a dinner displaying authentic Bhutanese cuisines at Bhutan Folk heritage museum.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Thimphu

Stopover at the Dochula Pass for tea/coffee and enjoy the spectacular view of the pan-Himalayas from the 3,100-mt mountain pass. Visit the spectacular and historic Druk Wangyel Temple built in 2005. The murals inside the temple are inspired by and dedicated to the founder of Gross National Happiness His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck.

Enjoy a short walk to the popular Temple of Fertility in Punakha. Learn about the beloved saint Drukpa Kunley (1455-1529), whose songs and stories of spiritual realization continue to influence and shape the Bhutanese socio-cultural life.

Please have an open mind as you take the walk of fame to the temple through the village proudly exhibiting their phallic house paintings, souvenir arts and crafts.

Check out the model market KAJA THROM in Khuruthang town, Punakha. The marketplace showcases fresh farm produces from tropical Punakha valley and around Bhutan.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel transfer in Punakha

Visit the 400-year-old Pungthang Dechen Phodrang, the palace of great bliss and learn about Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel (1594-1651), the founding father of Bhutan. The castle fortress is an epitome of Bhutanese architecture housing national relics and finest Buddhist frescos including the popular 12 episodes of the life of Shakyamuni Buddha inside the grand assembly hall.

Every spring, the fortress hosts the 3-day Dromchoe festival, where resident monks perform sacred masked dances. It is the first festival to usher in the Traditional New Year on the Bhutanese traditional calendar. Please check the festival dates to plan your trip and catch the festival in the courtyard of the historic fortress.

Go Kayaking or rafting along the Pho-chu River (Wolathang – Samdinkha / 4.1 miles), which is a strictly reserved and protected roosting site of the critically endangered resident Imperial Heron / the White-bellied Heron. The bird is recognized among the 50 rarest bird species with only 200 of them in the world.

OR

Explore the valley on an adventurous guided cycling tour.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Phobjikha

Stopover at Dochula Pass for Lunch at Dochula Resort and enjoy the spectacular view of the pan-Himalayas from the 3,100-mt mountain pass.

Visit Tachogang temple on the way to Paro. Drubthob Thangtong Gyalpo (1385 -1485) built the 3-storeyed temple. Popularly known as Chakzampa, the iron-bridge builder, he engineered 118 ferries, 120 temples, 111 stupas, 60 wooden bridges and 58 iron-chain suspension bridges in Tibet, China and Bhutan. He built 8 rust-resistant iron-chain footbridges in Bhutan.

Leisure strolling and shopping through Paro town. Visit the model market KAJA THROM. Get rest for the hike to the Tiger’s Nest.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Transfer to Hotel in Thimphu

Gear up for the round hike to the spectacular Taktshang, literally called the Tiger’s Nest, which takes between 2-4 hours depending on the walking pace. The first temple complex was built in 1692, which was blessed by Padmasambhava as a power-place and treasure trove in the 8th century. The magical site is visited by some of the legendary Buddhist saints and treasure discoverers who attained spiritual realizations and revealed treasure teachings from the site.

Lunch at Tiger’s Nest cafeteria.

In the afternoon, visit the 7th-century Kyichu Temple, the oldest landmark Buddhist monument in the Himalayan Buddhist world.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Paro

This morning/afternoon we see you off at the airport to catch your flight to Bangkok or other gateway cities to connect with your international flight to next destination.