Holidays Bhutan reception team, led by the host, will receive our Senior Citizens at the Paro international Airport for swift 15-minute transfer to the hotel.

Check into the room, refresh and join the welcome tea/drinks and formal introduction.

Holidays Bhutan’s cultural guide and tour-leader will discuss and brief our guests about the detailed tour itinerary.

Paro Valley (2,200 masl) is one of the most scenic valleys in western Bhutan. In spring (March – May), the blossoms paint the landscape like an artist’s brushstroke. In autumn (Sept-November), the valley’s golden rice fields and clear blue sky is picture-perfect.

Visit the historic National Museum, which exhibits more than 1,500 historical and archeological artifacts from last 3000 years. Enjoy the sweeping view of the valley’s rice fields. Paro is famed for producing the native variety the Red Rice. Visit Rinchen Pung Dzong (built in 1645), literally translating into the Fortress on a Heap of Jewels. Walk down and across the traditional cantilever footbridge.

Guest information:

Bhutanese staple Red Rice gets its color from water-soluble pigments called anthocyans. It is usually consumed partially polished with red bran layer, which gives nutty flavor. Red rice contains high anti-oxidant levels and is rich source of calcium, iron, magnesium and zinc.

Activity:

In the evening, our guests will visit Namgay Artisanal Brewery, which produces Bhutan’s popular Red Rice beer, wheat beer and ale. Watch the live process and try a pint if you are a beer lover and no dietary restrictions.

Drive back for herbal body massage and traditional hot-stone bath. Traditional hot-stone bath is helpful for ailments such as arthritis, hypertension, joint pain, stomach disorders and other deep-set aches.

If our guests are interested to experience local costume and culture, our cultural guide will help wear Gho for men/ Kira for women, the national dress of Bhutan. They can also try the bespoke traditional boots and scarves to pair with the dress.

Welcome dinner with cultural program.

Meals included: Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Paro

On the way, visit the iconic Tachogang Temple and learn about the engineering feats of the 14 th century iron-bridge builder Drubthob Thangtong Gyalpo (1385 – 1485). Popularly known as Chakzampa, Thangtong Gyalpo 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. Thangtong Gyalpo. The last remaining iron-chain bridge can be seen across the Pachu river.

Check into the hotel and refresh with a welcome tea/drink.

Visit the Motithang Takin Reserve. Tour the Takin Museum and listen to the mythical creation of this national animal of Bhutan.

Drive to Sangaygang viewpoint and enjoy the sweeping view of the capital city.

Visit the National Institute of Zorig Chusum, where guests can watch and learn about the thirteen arts and crafts of Bhutan. All government institutions /offices remain closed on Sunday and public holidays.

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

Visit the city’s landmark Centennial Farmer’s Market.

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.

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

The day starts with a guided yoga/meditation session/morning walk. Stopover at Dochula Pass for tea/coffee and enjoy the spectacular view of the pan-Himalayas from the 3,100-masl mountain pass.

Guest information: In Spring (April-June), the annual Rhododendron festival is hosted at the Royal Botanical Park in Lampelri below the pass. There are 48 Rhododendron species in Bhutan. The pass is a reserved wildlife sanctuary for the endangered Red Panda.

Check our festival dates to plan you trip and catch the festival.

Enjoy a short walk to the popular Temple of Fertility in Punakha. The temple is a popular haunt/attraction for couples around the world. Locals frequent the temple to receive names for their newborns. 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.

Visit Kaja Throm, a farmer’s market in Khuruthang (1,300 masl).

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

The day starts with a guided yoga/meditation session/morning walk. In the morning, 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.

Please check the festival dates to catch the festival in the courtyard of the historic fortress.

Afternoon activity: Rafting along the calm emerald Mo Chhu River.
Khamsum Yullay base – Changyul

Level: easy 1-2: Some rough water and may need some maneuvering with basic
paddling skills
Rafting distance: 7 km
Rafting time: approximately 1 hr depending on water volume and season

Guest information: Bhutan is known for the towering peaks (over 7,000 masl) and pristine wilderness. With rivers meandering through picturesque valleys downstream, Bhutan offers great opportunities for water sports. Mo Chhu river in Punakha is rated as one of the best rivers for rafting due to its ‘easy access & safe course’.

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

The day starts with a guided yoga/meditation session/morning walk.

Drive from Punakha to Paro (115 km / 3 hr 10 min) Stopover at Dochula Pass for tea-coffee and enjoy the spectacular view of the Himalayas.

Activities:

Guests will take part in an archery match shoot-out on traditional bow & arrow in the hotel campus in Paro. Holidays Bhutan will present gifts to the best shooters and all the guest participants.

Guest information:

Archery has been a favorite sport of the Kings of Bhutan. Played during religious and secular public holidays, emotions run high during competitions. Archery was declared the national sport of Bhutan in 1971 when it became a member of the United Nations.

Drive from Thimphu to Paro (40 km / travel time: 1 hrå)

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

Hike to the spectacular Taktsang, literally called the Tiger’s Nest. The round hike takes from 2-4 hr for local hikers; our guests may take longer time depending on their walking pace and weather conditions. Guests have options between foot-hike and pony ride up to the Tiger’s Nest. 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 has attracted some of the legendary Buddhist saints and treasure discoverers who attained spiritual realizations and revealed treasure teachings from the site.

Guests have options between foot-hike and pony ride up to the Tiger’s Nest.

The 2-3-hour moderate climb traverses mixed forests of oak, pine and rhododendron and finally descending to a waterfall cascading down a 2000-ft vertical cliff.

Option: Our Guests who cannot make it to the Tiger’s Nest can do a leisure nature hike from Olathang – Paro Kyichu Temple (2-4 hr depending on walking pace). Light Butter lamps and make aspirations inside the 7 th century temple shrine.

Drive back for leisure strolling through Paro town and last-minute shopping for your loved ones back home.

Visit KAJA THROM, a farmer’s model market in the downtown.

Go for herbal body massage and traditional soaking bath.

Later in the evening, attend a cultural show and farewell dinner.
Formal closing session by Holidays Bhutan team

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.