The Last Shangrila

Day 1: Arrive Paro

Flying into Bhutan will be wonderful start of your trip to Bhutan. Your journey to Bhutan will be wonderful with exciting scenery of foothills, green vegetation and landscape and Himalayan mountains covered by snow. With an exciting journey, you will finally reach to your much awaited destination, Bhutan.

On arrival at Paro airport and after clearing custom and immigration, you will be met by our representative and will then be transferred to the hotel. Evening take a stroll around Paro market and town. Overnight at the hotel in Paro.

Day 2: Paro – Thimphu

Begin this day with a short drive to the ruined fortress of Drugyel dzong which still attracts visitors due to the strategic location of the fort. From this fort Bhutanese repelled several invasions by Tibetan armies. Nearby visit traditional Bhutanese Farm House which offers good insight into lifestyle of local people. Then take an excursion to Taktsang Monastery, the spot where Guru Rinpoche arrived on the back of a tigress and meditated. The temple is perched on a sheer rock face. The excursion to monastery’s view point takes about 5 hours for round trip. While return to Paro town visit enroute Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest and most sacred shrines of the Kingdom. Evening drive to Thimphu. Overnight at the hotel in Thimphu.

Day 3: Thimphu

After breakfast visit Trashichhodzong, the beautiful medieval fortress/monastery which houses most of the Government’s office and King’s Throne room. Then visit National Library which holds a vast collection of ancient Buddhist texts and manuscripts. After that visit Painting School, famous for traditional thangkha paintings. Also visit to Traditional Medicine Institute is worthwhile where centuries old healing arts still practiced. Later visit, Textile and Folk Heritage Museum, a fascinating testimony of the Bhutanese material culture and living traditions.

After that, visit the Handicrafts Emporium and local shops for souvenirs ranging from Bhutan’s fine traditional arts, textiles, thangkha paintings, masks, ceramics, slate and woodcarvings, jewelers to other interesting items made from local materials. Then drive to Memorial Chorten, the stupa built in the memory of Bhutan’s Third King who is popularly regarded as Father of modern Bhutan. Overnight at the hotel in Thimphu.

Day 4: Thimphu – Punakha, 75 km, 2.1/2 hours

After breakfast, drive to Punakha across Dochu-la pass (3,088m/10,130 ft). The highest point on the road is marked by a large Bhutanese Chorten and prayer flag fluttering on the hill. On a clear day, there is a breathtaking view over the high peaks of the eastern Himalayas from this spot. On arrival, check into the hotel.

Afternoon, visit Punakha Dzong , the fortress of 17^th century and followed by  visit to Chimi Lhakhang. Overnight at the hotel in Punakha.

Day 5: Punakha – Wangduephodrang -Gangtey (Phobjikha), 70 km, 3 hours

After breakfast drive to Gangtey via Wangduephodrang. Visit the ruins of Wangdue Dzong (tragically destroyed by fire in June 2012) and interesting local market. Further ahead pass through dense forests and oak, rhododendron tress, reaching at Gangtey (Phobjikha). Evening take a walk around Gangtey village and visit Gangtey Gompa, the only Nyingmapa monastery in this region. Overnight at Camp / Guest House.

Day 6: Gangtey (Phobjikha) – Trongsa, 128 km, 4.1/2 hours

After an early breakfast, explore Phobjikha valley which is famous for Black Necked Cranes. These cranes migrate here from Central Asiatic plateau to escape the harsh winters.

After lunch drive to Trongsa crossing 3,300m high Pele la pass. En route visit the beautiful 18th century Chendebji. Evening visit to Trongsa market. Overnight at the lodge in Trongsa.

Day 7: Tongsa – Bumthang (Jakar), 68 km, 3 hours

Morning visit Tongsa Dzong, the largest Dzong in Bhutan and the Ta Dzong (museum housing a collection of historical artefacts of the Royal Family).  After lunch, proceed to Bumthang, one of the most spectacular valleys in Bhutan and also the holy heartland of Buddhism. Enroute observe the Yathra weaving center at Zungey. Evening at leisure. Dinner and overnight at the lodge in Bumthang.

Day 8: Bumthang

In the morning visit Kurjey Lhakhang, one of the most sacred places in the kingdom where Bhutan’s patron saint Guru Rinpoche meditated and also visit 7th century Jambay Lhakhang. Like Kyichu Lhakhang in the Paro valley, this temple is said to be the first that King Songtsen Gampo of Tibet constructed in 7th century. Afternoon visit Tamshing Lhakhang, founded in 1501 by Pema Lingpa. It contains interesting and ancient Buddhist paintings. Later see the Jakar Dzong, “the dzong of the white bird”. Evening take a stroll through Bumthang market area. Dinner and overnight at the lodge in Bumthang.

Day 9: Bumthang (Excursion to Ura valley)

Bumthang to Ura is 48 km, about one and a half hour drive. To reach here, the road climbs to amazingly open countryside, only occasionally running into forest. Large sheep pastures line the road up to 20 km behind the southern tip of the Tang valley. The route crosses Ura la pass (3,600m) with a magnificent view of Mount. Gangkhar Puensum. Villages in Ura have clustered houses, which is quite unusual in Bhutan. Above Ura village (3,100m) is a new temple dedicated to Guru Rinpoche. Inaugurated in 1986, it contains a huge statue of the master and remarkable paintings of the cycle of his teachings. Since last 25 years Ura has been transformed from a marginal community to prosperous valley.

Overnight at the lodge in Bumthang.

Day 10: Bumthang – Mongar, 198 km, 7 hours

Check out from the hotel after breakfast and proceed on a drive to Mongar. Afternoon, visit Mongar Dzong, built albeit quite recently, the dzong still maintains the architectural traditions of old dzongs. Overnight at the lodge in Mongar.

Day 11: Mongar – Trashigang, 96 km, 3 hours

Morning drive to Trashigang, enroute visit Dametsi, this temple perched on top of steep hill was founded by Choeden Zangmp and is the most important monastery of eastern Bhutan. This is the place from where famous Naga Chham, mask dance with drums originated. After lunch visit Trashigang Dzong, standing at the extreme end of the spur, overhanging the Gamri river. It serves as the administrative seat for the district and part of the Dzong is occupied by the Drukpa monastic community. Overnight at the lodge in Trashigang.

Day 12: Trashigang (excursion to Trashiyangtse)

After breakfast, visit the temple of Gom Kora, set on a small alluvial plateau, overlooking the river. Gom Kora is a famous place where Guru Rinpoche subdued a demon. Further ahead reach to Doksum village where you can see women busy in weaving traditional Bhutanese fabric and a chain bridge dating of the 15^th century.

Visit Trashiyangtse Dzong, which overlooks the town and was built in the late 1990s when the new district was created. If time permits, visit the dazzling white stupa of Chorten Kora on the riverbank below the town and Art School. In the evening, return to Trashigang. Overnight at the lodge in Trashigang.

Day 13: Trashigang – Samdrup Jongkhar, 180 km, 6 hours

Drive to Samdrup Jongkhar. En-route see Sherubtse College, the only college in country founded in 1978. Also visit the Zangtho Pelri temple built in 1978 by the late Minister of Home Affairs. It represents Guru Rinpoche’s paradise. Stop at Khaling to visit the Blind School and Weaving Centre. From here the road descends fairly rapidly to the plain through a dense tropical forest with an abundance of teak, bamboo and ferns. Overnight at the lodge in Samdrup Jongkhar.

Day 14: Depart Samdrup Jongkhar

After breakfast transfer to Bhutan border where you will be picked up by Indian agent for onward program. Our representative will bid you farewell.