8 Days Bhutan Tour

Fly into Paro, drive to Thimphu and visit Tashichho Dzong in the late afternoon.
Main experience: Tashichho Dzong in the late afternoon.
Lighter moment: Tachog Lhakhang's iron chain bridge.
Local meal: Ema datshi with red rice.
Insider tip: Rest early to help your body adjust to the altitude.

About Tashichho Dzong
Tashichho Dzong, on the banks of the Wang Chhu in Thimphu, is Bhutan's seat of government. It houses the throne room and offices of the King and the summer residence of the Je Khenpo (chief abbot). It was rebuilt in its present form in the 1960s in traditional style, without nails or written plans.
What to see:
The grand whitewashed courtyards and golden roofs
The central utse tower
Evening flag-lowering ceremony
Views of the dzong lit up at night

Visit Buddha Dordenma, the Institute of Zorig Chusum, the National Library and the Memorial Chorten, then take an evening walk along Norzin Lam.
Main experience: Buddha Dordenma, overlooking the valley.
Lighter moment: The Institute of Zorig Chusum (weekdays), the National Library and the National Memorial Chorten.
Local meal: Traditional lunch at the Folk Heritage Museum restaurant.
Insider tip: Evening walk along Norzin Lam, Thimphu's main street, and a coffee at Ambient Café.

About Buddha Dordenma (Kuensel Phodrang)
Buddha Dordenma is one of the largest seated Buddha statues in the world: a 51.5 m gilded bronze figure of Shakyamuni on a hilltop at Kuensel Phodrang, overlooking the southern end of Thimphu valley. Inside are 125,000 smaller gilded Buddha statues.
What to see:
The giant gilded Buddha
The meditation hall filled with small Buddhas
A panoramic view over Thimphu valley

About Institute of Zorig Chusum
The Institute of Zorig Chusum in Thimphu teaches Bhutan's 13 traditional arts and crafts, including thangka painting, wood carving, embroidery, statue-making and calligraphy, to young Bhutanese students.
What to see:
Students painting thangkas and carving wood
Embroidery and weaving classes
A shop selling student work

About National Memorial Chorten
The National Memorial Chorten was built in 1974 in memory of the Third King, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, the "Father of Modern Bhutan." From dawn to dusk, elderly Thimphu residents walk around it, spinning prayer wheels and counting prayer beads.
What to see:
Locals walking the kora
The large prayer wheels
The golden spire and whitewashed stupa

Cross Dochula Pass to Punakha and visit Punakha Dzong and Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten.
Main experience: Punakha Dzong, where two rivers meet.
Lighter moment: A walk through the rice terraces to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten.
Local meal: Red rice and local vegetables at Lobesa.
Insider tip: Stop for tea at Dochula and take in the Himalayan views behind the 108 chortens.

About Dochula Pass
Dochula (3,100 m), on the road from Thimphu to Punakha, is famous for its 108 memorial chortens (Druk Wangyal Chortens), built in 2004 to honour Bhutanese soldiers. On clear days, especially from October to February, there is a panorama of the eastern Himalaya, including Gangkar Puensum (7,570 m), the world's highest unclimbed mountain.
What to see:
The 108 Druk Wangyal chortens
Druk Wangyal Lhakhang temple
A panorama of the eastern Himalaya on clear days
Tea at the pass café

About Punakha Dzong
Punakha Dzong, the "Palace of Great Happiness," was built in 1637–38 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal where the Pho Chhu (male) and Mo Chhu (female) rivers meet. It was Bhutan's capital until 1955, is where Bhutan's kings are crowned and married, and is the winter home of the monk body. Many people consider it the most beautiful dzong in the country.
What to see:
The six-storey central tower and three courtyards
The river confluence and the covered cantilever bridge
Jacaranda trees blooming purple in spring
Murals of the life of the Buddha

About Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten
Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten is a beautiful temple on a ridge above the Punakha valley, built by the Queen Mother and completed in 1999 to bring peace to the world. It is reached by a 45-minute walk through rice fields.
What to see:
Intricate paintings and statues
The rooftop view up the Mo Chhu valley
The walk through rice terraces

Drive via Wangdue and Lawa La into the Phobjikha Valley. Visit the crane information centre and watch the cranes fly in at dusk.
Main experience: Your first views of the wide, glacier-carved Phobjikha Valley and its crane marshes.
Lighter moment: A short film and telescope viewing at the Black-Necked Crane Information Centre.
Local meal: A farmhouse dinner of buckwheat pancakes, local potatoes and butter tea.
Insider tip: Be at the viewpoint at dusk to watch the cranes fly in to roost.

About Phobjikha (Gangtey) Valley & Black-Necked Cranes
Phobjikha (2,900 m) is a wide, glacier-carved valley, one of the most beautiful places in Bhutan, and the largest winter home in the country of the rare black-necked crane (Grus nigricollis). Cranes arrive from the Tibetan plateau in late October and leave by March. To protect them, the valley's electricity lines run underground. Overlooking the valley, Gangtey Goenpa is a 17th-century monastery founded in 1613 by Gyalse Pema Thinley, grandson of Pema Lingpa.
What to see:
Gangtey Goenpa monastery
Black-necked cranes feeding in the marshes (November to February)
The Black-Necked Crane Information Centre and its telescopes
The Gangtey Nature Trail through pine forest and villages
The Black-Necked Crane Festival (11 November)

Visit Gangtey Goenpa in the morning, walk the Gangtey Nature Trail, then drive back to Punakha.
Main experience: A morning visit to Gangtey Goenpa, the 17th-century monastery overlooking the valley.
Lighter moment: The Gangtey Nature Trail, an easy 1.5–2 hr walk through pine forest and villages.
Local meal: A picnic lunch in the valley.
Insider tip: Local legend says the cranes circle the monastery three times when they arrive and again before they leave.

Drive to Paro to visit the National Museum and Rinpung Dzong, with a free afternoon.
Main experience: The National Museum (Ta Dzong) and Rinpung Dzong.
Lighter moment: The rest of the day is free in Paro town.
Local meal: Momos and suja (butter tea).
Insider tip: Save your energy for tomorrow's hike.

About Paro Valley & Rinpung Dzong
Paro (2,200 m) is a wide, fertile valley of rice fields and traditional farmhouses, and home to Bhutan's only international airport. Rinpung Dzong, the "Fortress on a Heap of Jewels," was built in 1646 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, who unified Bhutan. It still serves as the district's administrative and monastic centre. The dzong is reached by the covered wooden Nyamai Zam cantilever bridge, and it hosts the famous Paro Tshechu festival each spring.
What to see:
The courtyards, towers and painted woodwork of Rinpung Dzong
The traditional Nyamai Zam cantilever bridge
Paro town's painted wooden shopfronts and craft shops
Views of the valley and the airport runway from the road above

About National Museum of Bhutan (Ta Dzong)
The National Museum is housed in Ta Dzong, a round 17th-century watchtower built to guard Rinpung Dzong. Since 1968 it has displayed Bhutan's finest thangka paintings, bronze statues, masks, textiles, weapons and the country's famous postage stamps.
What to see:
Ancient thangkas and religious statues
Masks used in tshechu dances
Bhutan's collectable postage stamps
The view over Paro Valley and Rinpung Dzong

Hike: About 5–6 hrs round trip | Altitude: 3,120 m | Overnight: Paro
Hike to Tiger's Nest, then take an evening stroll in Paro town.
Main experience: Paro Taktsang, Bhutan's best-known landmark. Alternatives: the cafeteria viewpoint or Chele La Pass (3,988 m).
Lighter moment: An evening stroll through Paro town.
Local meal: A farewell dinner with jasha maru and ara.
Insider tip: Start at around 7:30 am to hike in the cool air before the crowds.

About Tiger's Nest Monastery (Paro Taktsang)
Paro Taktsang is Bhutan's most famous landmark, a monastery built into a sheer granite cliff about 900 m above the Paro Valley, at 3,120 m. According to legend, Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava), who brought Buddhism to Bhutan in the 8th century, flew here on the back of a tigress and meditated in a cave for three years, three months, three days and three hours. The present monastery was built in 1692 and carefully restored after a fire in 1998.
What to see:
The hike through blue pine forest and prayer flags (about 5–6 hrs round trip)
The cafeteria viewpoint halfway up, with a classic view of the monastery
The temples and Guru Rinpoche's meditation cave inside
The waterfall and bridge just below the monastery

If you cannot walk up to the monastery, then you can hike up to cafeteria which takes about 50 minutes from the base. Then take photo of Taktsang monastery, have a cup of coffee and return to the base.

Or

If you do not want to hike to Taktsang monastery then we will take you to Chele la pass, the highest motor able point in Bhutan at 3,988 meters above sea level between Paro and Haa valley. It is approximately 40 km one way from the hotel. Have a good view of snow- capped mountain and tourist indulge in bird watching.

Transfer to airport for departure.