Footloose Travel Guides

 Hike the Thunder Dragon

 

Itinerary:

Day 1 BANGKOK-PARO The flight to Paro is one of the most spectacular of all the mountain flights. The first three gifts you will receive from Bhutan will be cool, clean fresh air you feel as you step out of the plane. The second will be warm welcome you will receive from our Bhutan team. The third - the enchanting Paro valley. After lunch visit the National Museum. You will have time to admire the museum's collections of rare Bhutanese artifacts and art, traditional weaving and other eclectic pieces including a piece of "moon rock," a bequest of Neil A. Armstrong and the other astronauts who made the first landing on the moon. After the museum you hike down to visit the Paro Dzong - who now house the offices of the district administration and the district monk body. You will continue your hike down to the traditional cantilever bridge. One of the scenes in the film little Buddha includes this bridge. Your transport will pick you from the other side of the river. You return to your traditionally styled hotel and relax with an orientation and welcome of Asian/Bhutanese cuisine. Dinner and overnight at hotel. Day 2 PARO SIGHTSEEING Today you will visit the Drukgyal Dzong built by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1647 to commemorate the victory of the Bhutanese over the Tibetan invaders. It was destroyed by fire in 1951 and it is now in ruins. On the way back you will visit the Kyichu Lhakhang builti in the 7th century by King Songtsen Goenpo. He built 108 temples in a day to pin down an Ogress who tried to destroy his mission to spread Buddhist teachings along the Himalayas. Out of the 108 sacred temples two are in Bhutan including the Jambay Lhakhang in Bumthang. Lunch in a restaurant in town. After lunch you will visit the Dzong Drakha Monastery, which literally means "Dzong on the rock." Dinner and overnight at hotel. Day 3 PARO-PUNAKHA After breakfast you will drive to Punakha. Tea-stop at the Dochula Cafeteria and an opportunity to enjoy the most spectacular view of the high peaks of the eastern Himalayas. The road to Punakha descends from the pass through the magnificent pine and rhododendron forests and wanders through some of Bhutan's most specticular countryside. Punakha, situated at an elevation of 1400 m served as the capital of Bhutan until 1955 and still serves as the winter residence of the Je Khenpo (Chief Abbot) and the Central Monk Body. Blessed with temperate climate and fed with the Po Chu (Male) and Mo Chu (Female) rivers, Punakha is one of the most fertile valleys in Bhutan. The climate allows for two crops of rice to be grown a year. And is also good for growing fruits with oranges and bananas in abundance. Visit the Punakha Dzong and admire the beauty of the Bhutanese art and architecture where dzongs were built with no iron nails. Check in and lunch at your Bhutanese home - a family run hotel. After lunch you will the Punakha Dzong built in 1637 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal to serve as the religious and administrative center of the region. Dinner and overnight at hotel. Day 4 PUNAKHA SIGHTSEEING After breakfast you will do the easy hike to up to the Chimi Lhakhang (temple) on a small hilltop. This temple is dedicated to the great Yogi of the 14th century known as Drukpa Kuenley or popularly known as "Divine Madman" to the westerners. It is believed that this temple blesses women who seek fertility. After that you will drive to Wangdiphodrang (Wangdi/Wangdue in short). Wangdi is the last town before central Bhutan, which is like an enlarged village with a few well-provided shops. This place is known for it's fine bamboo works, slate and stone carvings. Lunch in Wangdi. After lunch you will explore the Wangdi town. Evening at leisure. Dinner and overnight at hotel.  Day 5 PUNAKHA-THIMPHU After breakfast you will drive to Thimphu - capital town of Bhutan. Upon arrival in Thimphu, you will visit the post office, where you will have time to admire and buy some stamps - Bhutan is well known among the philatelists and stamps constitute one of its most delightful exports. Lunch at restaurant in town. After lunch you will visit the National Library - a tall stately building in the traditional Bhutanese style that is a repository of precious historical and religious manuscripts written in gold. Next you will visit the Institute for Zorig Chusum - a painting school where the traditional style of Thimphu Thangka painting is passed on to the next. You will then visit the Traditional Paper Factory followed by a visit to the Textile Musuem, Government Handicrafts Emporium. Dinner and overnight at hotel. Day 6 THIMPHU SIGHTSEEING After breakfast, you will attend the National Day Celebrations at the Changlingmithang Stadium. You will then begin your sightseeing with a visit to the Memorial Choeten, a stupa built in 1974 to honor the memory of the third king, His Late Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. The stupa is one of the most elegant and masterpiece built in the 20th century with its detail religious wall painting and sculptures. Then we visit the 14th century Changangkha Lhakhang, which is also a focus of daily worship for many Thimphu residents. Then we drive up to Sangaygang - the viewpoint. It is also known as "Lover's Point," where young couples come to enjoy the bird's eye view of the Thimphu valley. Then you will visit the Dupthop Monastery built by the Dupthop Thangthong Gyalpo, also known as "Iron Bridge Builder" in Bhutan's history. It is now a nunnery and it has more than 70 practising nuns. Lunch in town. .  After lunch you will drive north of Thimphu valley to visit the Cheri Goenpa - a monastery built by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1620. On route view the Dechencholing Palace where His Majesty King Jigme Singye Wangchuck was born in 1955. Continue our drive further north to the starting trail to the monastery. The trail starts by crossing a lovely bridge that spans the Thim Chu, then climbs gradually to the Monastery. Evening at leisure. Dinner and overnight at hotel. NATIONAL DAY: December 17 is celebrated as the National Day in Bhutan and it commemorates the ascension to Golden Throne of Ugyen Wangchuck, the first King of Bhutan at Punakha Dzong on 17 December, 1907.  Day 7  THIMPHU-PARO Morning at leisure - time for final shopping you may have - Bhutanese souvenirs for your loved ones at home. Lunch in Thimphu. After lunch you will drive to Paro. On route you will visit the Simtokha Dzong built in the 1627 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. This is the oldest dzong in the kingdom and it now houses the Institute of Language and Cultural Studies. Resume your journey to Paro. Dinner and overnight at hotel. Day 8 PARO Day Excursion to Taktshang Monastery literally known as "Tiger's Nest." This is one of Bhutan's most sacred places, and an important pilgrimage destination. You will walk along a trail that slowly rises above the valley, taking you through fields and past four large prayer wheels turned by a stream. Continuing across an open meadow, you hike up a section of trail to a ridge where prayer flags rustle in the wind next to a massive prayer wheel. Just beyond is the Taktshang Cafeteria at 9,200 feet, where you stop to enjoy a hot drink and the striking views of the Monastery across the valley. Depending on your energy level, you may relax in the pleasant atmosphere of the cafeteria until lunch or continue on for a mile of steep climbing to another dramatic viewpoint. You return to the cafeteria for a delicious buffet of typical Bhutanese food. You may want to try Emadatsi (A chili cheese dish), vegetables with cheese sauce and other dishes. Farewell dinner and overnight at hotel. Day 9  PARO-BANGKOK After breakfast you will drive to Paro International Airport for your onward destination. Our Bhutan team will assist you with check in formalities and bid you farewell.

Reservation Center Reserve a Tour Make a Payment   Buy Airline Tickets Your Tickets Booking Engine   Terms & Conditions  Tour Booking Process Tour Prices Payment Schedule Tour Revisions Cancellations & Refunds Limitations of Liability Trip Insurance Single Supplement Visas and Passports Health Concerns