9 days Bhutan Shangri-la Tour

Elevation 2,200m

Welcome to Bhutan, the Land of the Thunder Dragon. As you arrive at Paro International Airport, you will be received by our company representative your guide at the airport and drive you to Thimphu through scenic route that offers beautiful views of villages by the riverside. Halt overnight at hotel.

Elevation 2,200m

Today after breakfast you visit to the National Memorial Chorten, built in 1974 in memory of the Third King of Bhutan and is dedicated to world’s peace and prosperity.

Visit to Kuensel Phodrang that has 169 feet the largest Buddha Statue on a hill top.  (Option: you may go for a short hike that may take you about an hour plus or visit the Statue area). The trail will lead you to a canopy from where you get to see beautiful Thimphu valley on the right. You walk up hills for about 2 minutes reach at the top, turn left to walk through pine trees and bushes leading you to another hill. On your front is a beautiful Simtokha valley having oldest fortress “Simtokha Dzong” built in 1629 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. Also you see a private college “Royal Thimphu College.” The trail leads you down to Buddha Statue.

Visit to National Library that houses thousands of ancient Buddhist texts and scriptures.

Visit National Institute of Zorig Chusum; here students train in thirteen traditional Bhutanese arts and crafts.

Visit Folk Heritage Museum, which will provide insight into a traditional Bhutanese farm house and Bhutan’s fast disappearing rural past.

Visit Takin preserve, the kingdom’s national animal in Motithang. Drive further to Sangaygang for a view of Thimphu city.

Visit Tashichhoedzong which seated throne of King and his office, also the summer residence of the Je Khenpo or the Chief Abbot.

Elevation 1200m

Today after breakfast drive to Punakha, the old capital of Bhutan, and the kingdom’s dramatic river valleys and paddy lands. On the way stop at Dochu La pass (3050m) from there you take a panoramic eastern Himalayan range on a clear day. Also take a stroll in a concentration of 108 memorial stupa built is honor of Bhutanese soldiers who dies in a 2003 military operation known as “Druk Wangyal Chortens.”  From here road leads down the mountain through forest and valley stop at Mitsina, walk about 20 minutes through the paddy field to visit Chhimi Lhakhang, also known as the temple of fertility. This monastery is built by Drukpa Kuenley, the 15^th century saint known as the divine madman for his disgraceful methods of life and teaching of dharma. Late afternoon visit the majestic Punakha Dzong built in 1637 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal the founder of Bhutan. The Dzong stands at the beautiful confluence of the rivers Pho Chu (Male) and Mo Chu (female) river.

Elevation 1200m – 3000m

Today you drive further to the valley of Phobjikha in the Wangdue district, one of the most important wildlife preserves in the country, and the winter habitat of the endangered Black-necked cranes. The valley also has a very interesting feature a 17th century Nyingmapa monastery.

After lunch we continue drive to Phobjika valley, you can do a short walk leading downhill from the prayer stone wall north of Gangtey Goenpa to the Khewa Lhakhang. The trail descends to Semchubara village and keeps straight at the Chortens into the edge of the forest, before descending to a square Chorten and the Lhakhang. From here we can cross over the metal bridge to the community school. For tonight we halt at Phobjikha

Elevation 2320m

Today after breakfast drive back to Thimphu. As we head back to Thimphu on the way stop at Lamperi to view Botanical Garden. You will again stop at Dochu La pass for lunch for a view of the Himalayas and visit Druk Wangyal Lhakhang. Late in the afternoon visit the Semtokha Dzong built in 1629, one of the oldest fortresses in the kingdom Bhutan.

Elevation 2,200m

Today after breakfast in the morning, you will start your day with a short hike to the Cheri a 17th century monastery. After 15 km drive from Thimphu, it is an hour walk from the road head uphill to Cheri Monastery. The monastery serves as a school of higher learning for Buddhist monks where they come for retreat and practice meditation. It is also an important site for pilgrimage.  You will come across a private painting school and also a pangrizampa monastery where monks study Buddhist astrology. On the way back to city, we may stop at Dechencholing Palace, a residence of Queen Mother. Late afternoon you could go to the Changlimithang archery range and watch archery play by locals, it’s a national game of Bhutan.

Elevation 2,056 m

Today, take a day excursion to beautiful Haa valley. The Haa valley is about 31 kilometers just on the other side of the mountain west to Paro valley. Haa is at an altitude of 3056 m. It takes about one and half hours to two hours.

You drive to Haa valley through Chelela pass at an altitude of 3810 m. Standing at a height gives the beautiful view of Paro and Haa valley on either sides. And perfect view of Mount Chomolhari and Jichu Drakey. It has one of best places for short walk; a good place to sit and take sip of hot cup of coffee.

From here we descend down to Haa valley through bushes and pine forest. Visit Lhakhang Karp, also known as White Temple is one of the oldest temples around. As per the legend King Songtsen Gampo released a black and white pigeon in order to build temples. The white pigeon landed on mountains of Chenrizi of towering Rigsum. On the other hand black pigeon landed on north – that is Lhakhang Nagpo. Today the temple is called Nagpo or black built on the site where black pigeon landed. Both the temples are much revered and must visit. The annual festival HAA TSECHU is celebrated here in these temples on the 8th – 10th day of Bhutanese month.

Also visit Haa Wangchuklo Dzong (Fort) built in the year 1915, it is an interesting place. Standing in the midst of lush greenery this beautifully painted building is worth of spending few hours walking and admiring the very presence of it. Later in the afternoon return to Paro via Chela pass and halt over night at Paro.

Elevation 2,200m

Today, you drive to Paro valley and hike to Tiger’s Nest monastery a popular Buddhist sites for Buddhists in the Himalayan region. The monastery clings on a rock cliff on a mountain.

The uphill hike will take about 3 hours at moderate pace from the base. There is a cafeteria in the midpoint. We may take rest for light refreshment and enjoy the view of Tiger’s Nest on the way up or on the way back to base.  A legend says a Guru Padmasambhava; the tantric mystic man flew on the back of tigress and meditated here in AD 747. He brought the Buddhism to Bhutan.

Later visit Kichu Lhakhang, a oldest temple in Bhutan built in 659 A.D by a Tibetan king Songsen Gompo. After that we drive north to ruin Drugyel Dzong, a fortress ruin that is under renovation.

Later in the afternoon visit National Museum. It was built as Ta Dzong, a watch-tower that was converted to Museum in 1998. The museum highlights Buddhist culture and history date back to 7^th century.  A short walk downhill to the impressive Rimpong Dzong, serves as the centre for district’s administrative and religious for Paro. As you walk further down and cross a traditional bridge into Paro town.

After breakfast depart for onward journey