Tour in Bhutan
03 Nights – 04 Days Bhutan Tour (Paro-Thimphu-Paro)
- 4 Days
- People: 4
- Bhutan
Nestled in the folds of the Eastern Himalayas, Bhutan remained in self-imposed isolation for centuries. The population lived in close harmony with nature, evolving a unique identity derived largely from a rich religious and cultural heritage. Bhutan, roughly the size of Switzerland, is the world’s only Mahayana Buddhist country. The Buddhist respect for all sentient beings has helped Bhutan protect its pristine ecology and wildlife.
This self-sufficient population was never colonized and had limited contact with the outside world. Buddhism was established in the 8th century by the Indian saint Padmasambhava, known in the Tantric tradition as Guru Rinpoche. Bhutan was unified in the 17th century by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the great leader of the Drukpa school of Mahayana Buddhism. In 1907, Bhutan established a hereditary monarchy, and in 2008, it transitioned to a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy.
Facts and Figures:
- Land area: 38,394 sq. km
- Forest area: 72.5%
- Altitude: 240m – 7541m above sea level
- Inhabitants: 700,000
- Language: Dzongkha (official), English widely spoken
- Religion: Vajrayana Buddhism
- Currency: Ngultrum (equal to Indian Rupee)
- Capital: Thimphu
- National Symbols: Cypress (Tree), Raven (Bird), Blue Poppy (Flower), Archery (Sport), Takin (Animal)
- Local Time: GMT +6 hours; IST +30 minutes
Day 1: Arrive in Paro & transfer to Thimphu
Day 2: Thimphu sightseeing & transfer to Paro
Day 3: Excursion to Taktshang Monastery
Day 4: Depart Paro
Please feel free to contact us for detailed itinerary or customized itinerary.
Day 01: Arrive Paro by Druk Air & transfer to Thimphu (Lunch, Dinner)
The flight to Paro is one of the most spectacular in the entire Himalayas. Flying along the Himalayan range from Kathmandu, the journey offers fascinating views and an exciting descent into the Kingdom. Bhutan’s first gift to you as you disembark from the aircraft will be cool, clean fresh mountain air. After immigration formalities and baggage collection, you will be met by our representative, and afterward drive to Thimphu, the capital town of Bhutan.
On arrival, in Thimphu check into the hotel. The capital town of Bhutan and the center of government, religion, and commerce, Thimphu is a unique city with an unusual mixture of modern development alongside ancient traditions. With a population of about 90,000, it is perhaps still the world’s only capital city without a traffic light.
Conclude the tour of the day with a visit to Trashichhoedzong, the “fortress of the glorious religion”. This is the center of government and religion, the site of the monarch’s throne room, and the seat of Je Khenpo or Chief Abbot. Built-in 1641 by the political and religious unifier of Bhutan, Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, it was reconstructed in the 1960s in the traditional Bhutanese manner, without nails or architectural plans.
Evening an exploratory walk around Thimphu’s main street and market area.
Dinner & overnight at the hotel in Thimphu.
Day 02: Thimphu – PARO (65 km, 1.15 hrs. approx.) (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Textile Museum: is worth a visit to get to know the living national art of weaving. Exhibitions introduce the major weaving techniques, styles of local dress, and textiles made by women and men.
Simply Bhutan Museum: The newly commissioned museum depicts the ancient Bhutanese architecture which is being lost to modernization. The uniqueness of the structure is in its composition of the materials used. The structure is built reusing old timber, window and door frames and other items from traditional and old demolished houses. The best part is the portrayal of the age-old lifestyles of the Bhutanese people.
Lunch followed by a city tour that includes:
Memorial Chorten: The stupa built was the memory of Bhutan’s third King, His Late Majesty, King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, who is popularly regarded as Father the of modern Bhutan. The paintings and statues inside the monument provide a deep insight into Buddhist philosophy.
Buddha Point (Kuensel Phodrang). Located a short drive from Thimphu city center, centers can get a good overview of the Thimphu valley from Buddha point (Kuensel Phodrang). You can pay your obeisance and offer prayers to the Buddha, the largest statue in the country and then walk around and take a glimpse of the valley.
Dinner & overnight at the hotel in Paro. (Altitude 2,195 m)
Day 03: PARO (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
After breakfast excursion to Taktshang Monastery (5hrs hike): It is one of the most famous of Bhutan’s monasteries, perched on the side of a cliff 900m above the Paro valley floor. It is said that Guru Rinpoche arrived here on the back of a tigress and meditated at this monastery hence it is called ‘Tiger’s Nest’. This site has been recognized as a most sacred place and visited by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel in 1646 and is now visited by all Bhutanese at least once in their lifetime. On 19 April 1998, a fire severely damaged the main structure of the building but now this Bhutanese jewel has been restored to its original splendor.
Lunch at a restaurant.
Along the way, visit the 7th-century Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the 108 temples built in the Himalayas by Tibetan King, Songtsen Gampo. The building of this temple marks the introduction of Buddhism in Bhutan.
Evening an exploratory walk around the Mainstreet and market area.
Dinner & overnight at the hotel in Paro.
Day 04: Depart Paro
After early breakfast at the hotel, drive to the airport for the flight to your onward destination. Our representative will help you with exit formalities and then bid you farewell.
BHUTAN VISA
In order to process a Bhutan visa, we require a clear readable color copy of the passport (page containing passport no and face picture in JPEG or PDF format) at least 30 days prior to the date of entry into Bhutan. The remaining validity of the passport should be minimum of 6 months from the date of entry into Bhutan (excluding the traveling month).
* Guests are required to have multiple entry visas for India if they are traveling to Bhutan from India and again re-entering India from Bhutan. Please also check if your Indian visa has a ‘2 months re-entry restriction’. If a restriction has been stamped on your Indian visa, then you will have to get it endorsed by the Indian embassy in Thimphu for a nominal charge. For this, however, you will need to be in Thimphu on working days, Mon – Fri during office hours excluding Govt holidays. You will be asked to provide you’re traveling documents like passports, Air tickets, etc.). Our Bhutan Office will assist the clients.
Monument Closing Days:
- Paro National Museum (Ta Dzong): Closed on Government Holidays
- National Library (Thimphu): Closed on Saturdays, Sundays & Government Holidays
- Textile Museum (Thimphu): Closed on Government Holidays & Sundays (Open on Saturdays from 9 AM – 4 PM)
- Institute of Zorig Chusum (Thimphu): Closed on Sundays & Government Holidays; Winter closure (Dec – early March)
- Simply Bhutan (Thimphu): Closed on Sundays & Government Holidays
- Tiger’s Nest Monastery (Paro): Closed on all Tuesdays
- Folk Heritage Museum: Closed on Sundays & Government Holidays