Bhutan: Druk Path Trek and Cultural Tour

Welcome to Bhutan!

You will be met upon arrival and transferred to your hotel. Afterwards you will visit Rinpung Dzong, a fortress that is popularly known as Paro Dzong and is the seat of the local government and the monk body of Paro, Kyichu Lhakhang that is one of the oldest temples built by the Tibetan Buddhist King Songtsen Gampo in the 7^thcentury and the ruins ofDrukgyel Dzong.

Today you will climb Taktshang (Tiger’s Lair or Nest). The trek uphill will take about 3 hours and the return downhill will take about 2 hours. Taktshang Temple clings on to a sheer cliff of 3,000 feet above the valley. Guru Padmasambhava, popularly known as Guru Rinpoche, the great Indian Saint who brought Buddhism to Tibet and Bhutan, meditated in a cave that is now concealed behind a carved wooden grill in the inner sanctum of the temple that is opened only once a year.

Lunch will be served at the cafeteria there before descending back to the valley. On arrival in the valley, depending on the time, you can visit places of interest in Paro town.

After breakfast, you will begin your Druk Path Trek. A 3-4 hour walk through a stretch of 8 km allows you to acclimatize. The journey starts with a short climb up to Jele Dzong. The trek trail ascends gradually up to the camp. If the weather is clear, Paro valley can be seen with snow-capped mountains behind. Above the camp is Jele-la pass (3,400m) and Jele Dzong, which is mostly in ruins. There is also an lhakhang (temple) containing a statue of Buddha Sakyamuni.

Today you will walk 10 km that should take you about 4-5 hours. Begin with a one and a half hour climb and then ascend more gradually upwards. The trail takes you through thick alpine forests and rhododendrons. You will have views of Jhomolhari and other snow capped peaks if the weather is clear. You may see yak herders around your campsite.

Today you will trek 11 km, which should take about 4-5 hours. The trail follows the ridge and on a clear day the views of the mountains and valley are enchanting. You will have a great view of Jichu Drake (6,989m), the peak representing the protective deity of Paro. Your camp is close to the Jimilangtsho lakes, which are famous for their giant sized trout.

Today you will trek 11 km, which should take about 4-5 hours. The trail takes you through dwarf rhododendron trees and passes by the lake of Janetsho. You may come across some yak herder’s camps and will get an idea of how these people live.

Today you will trek 10 km, which should take about 4-5 hours. The trek begins with a gradual climb. If the weather permits, you will enjoy majestic views of Mt. Gangkhar Phuensum and many other peaks. The trail slowly descends through juniper forest to a campsite beside a community of monks, nuns and lay monks.

Today is the final leg of your trek. You will descend 5 km in 2-3 hours to Thimphu, passing through a blue pine forest. Your trek ends at BBS Tower (Bhutan Broadcasting Service Tower) from where your transport will pick you up. Spend your afternoon at leisure rejuvenating.Special Dinner: Ambassador Lhatu Wangchuk will host a dinner at his home with his family and chat with you about your trek experience or any other topics of interest related to Bhutan.

Thimphu is the capital city of Bhutan. It is the most populous city in the country with over 120,000 people. By Bhutan’s standards, it is a melting pot of different ethnic groups but also of international communities made up of mainly expatriates. There are many places of interests including museums, arts and crafts, zoo, cultural sites, restaurants, etc. Some of the recommended sites are listed below:

Dupthop Lhakhang is better known as Zilukha Nunnery. This place is located on the face of a hill. From here you can get a panoramic view of the Royal Secretariat, Royal Thimphu Golf Course, Parliamentary building, and the northern part of Thimphu valley. This is a good place to take photographs.

Memorial Chorten (stupa) is a monument (stupa) built by Her Majesty the Royal Grandmother in 1972 in memory of His Majesty the Third King who passed away in 1972.

Statue of seated Buddha at Kuenselphodrang is perhaps the largest seated Buddha in the world and sits on a face of a gentle hill overlooking the valley of Thimphu.

Royal Textile Academy was established under the Royal patronage of Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Sangay Choden Wangchuck. Bhutan is well known for its finest hand-woven textiles with intricate designs

School of Fine Arts is where artisans are trained in different skills.

Folk Heritage Museum is a typical farmhouse where you will see how Bhutanese people live in remote villages.

Visit the Institute of Traditional Medicine. In Bhutan traditional medicine is practiced in close collaboration with the allopathic medicine.

Visit the Zoo where you will see the Takin (National Animal of Bhutan). Takin is a strange animal that has a head of a goat and a body of a cow.

Handmade Paper: Visit traditional handmade paper factory and other art galleries in the vicinity.

Visit Tashichhodzong: Royal Secretariat, seat of the Royal Government, and the summer residence of His Holiness the Je Khenpo (Head Abbot) & Monk Body.

Traditional and contemporary art: Spend an hour with Artist, Azha Karma, to discuss traditional and contemporary art of Bhutan.

The day program will start by visiting places of interest that you have missed from Day 9.

In the afternoon, you will hike to Tango Monastery. This is about an hour’s walk. It is located 14 km away towards the north end of Thimphu valley. A Lama (high monk) by the name of Gyalwa Lhanampa founded this Buddhist monastery in the 13th century. It is an important center for Buddhist studies including a three-year meditation or retreat. The drive up to where the motor road ends will take you to see Dechenchholing Palace, Pangri Zampa Temple, the Royal Body Guards cantonment and the RBG golf course.

After an early breakfast, you will depart by car to the Punakha valley. Following an hour’s drive, you will stop at Dochu-La (3150 meters above the sea level) that offers a stunningly beautiful and panoramic view of the snow-covered mountain ranges of Bhutan and Tibet on a clear day.

There are 108 chortens (stupas) that were built under the royal patronage of Her Majesty Queen Mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck. These were built to honor and to express gratitude to His Majesty the Fourth King and the people for the victory in the war fought in the southeastern region of the country that was occupied by the militants from the neighboring country.

The drive from here is downhill all the way until you reach the warm and fertile valley of Punakha. After lunch, you will visit Chime Lhakhang. This Lhakhang, standing on a round hillock, blessed by the famous divine madman called Drukpa Kunlay, is a pilgrimage site for couples or women who are unable to bear children. Afterwards, visit Punakha Dzong, which is interestingly situated at the junction of the Pho Chu (male river) and Mo Chu (female river).

After breakfast, you will hike to Khamsum Yueling Namgyel Chorten that has great views of Punakha valley. This beautiful monument was built under the royal patronage of Her Majesty Ashi Tshering Yangdon Wangchuck, The Mother of The 5^th King. 

On arrival at Paro and after check in, you may want to walk around Paro Town

After breakfast, you will be driven to Paro International Airport to catch your flight to Bangkok. Our representative will help you with departure formalities. Our representative will bid you “Lok Jeygay – See You Again”