The capital 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 100,000, it is perhaps the world’s only capital city without traffic lights!
Accommodation
Immerse yourself in the local culture, exploring the sites and staying in our hand picked five star hotels. At each hotel, you’ll be greeted with smiles and luxurious amenities to make you feel at home.
The hotels you will be staying at are:
Your Journey
Flying along the Himalayan range, 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 its cool, clean fresh mountain air! You will then drive to Thimphu, following the Pa Chu andWang Chu rivers. In the evening, you will explore the capital’s cottage industries: from traditional paper making to hand-rolled incense. You will also visit the Trashi Chhoe Dzong, the seat of Bhutan’s government and royal offices.
After breakfast at the hotel, you will take a short drive to the foothills of Cheri Monastery, from where you will start a pleasant walk through the woods up to the monastery. After lunch, you will visit the Simply Bhutan Museum, an exclusive project under the Bhutan Youth Development Fund. This will be followed by a visit to The National Memorial Chorten, located close to the centre of Thimphu city and is one of its most iconic monuments. In the evening, you will visit the Thangka Conservatory and return to your hotel. The vehicle will be at your disposal for this visit.
After breakfast, you will drive to Punakha taking you past some dramatic scenery. In the afternoon, you will visit Punakha Dzong, home to the remains of Bhutan’s first ruler and the winter residence of the monastic order’s leader and his entourage of monks. You will then visit Chimi Lhakhang. The Chimi Lhakhang is situated on a hillock in the center of the Punakha Valley, and is also known as the temple of fertility. A walk through the village near the temple will give you a rare glimpse into the daily lives of the villagers.
In the morning, you will visit Richengang Village, which is one of the oldest villages in Bhutan with traditional architecture and delightful local people. Later you will spend time in a Bhutanese Farmhouse. These farmhouses are very colorful, decorative and traditionally built without the use of nails. In the afternoon, you will hike through fields of chillies and cabbages to Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten followed by a short drive to the hilltop overlooking the vast paddy fields and orchards, to Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Lhakhang nunnery. We will arrange a packed picnic lunch, which you can enjoy by the river.
After breakfast you will drive to Paro, crossing the famous Dochula Pass. On the way, you will visit the 17th century Simtokha Dzong, the place of profound ‘tantric teaching’. This dzong now houses a school for the study of the Dzongkha language. Your journey will continue over Dochula, where, if the weather is right, you will get to see spectacular views of the Himalayan peaks. Late in the afternoon, you will arrive in Paro and check-in to your hotel. The rest of the day will be at leisure.
Today you will visit the National Museum previously the valley’s watchtower, which displays an intriguing collection of artifacts, illustrating the rich culture and heritage of the Kingdom. You will then walk down to Paro Dzong, which houses the seat of the local government and which gained international fame when scenes from the film “Little Buddha” were filmed here. From the Dzong, you will cross Nyamai Zampa, a traditional cantilevered bridge where your vehicle will be waiting to take you into Paro town for a stroll. In the afternoon, you will visit Dungtse Lhakhang, the uniqueness of this temple lies in the fact that it is in the form of a Chorten. In the evening, you will participate in an Archery ‘contest’ with a professional archer.
In the morning, you will hike up to view one of Bhutan’s most dramatic monuments, the Taktsang Goemba, more commonly referred to as the Tiger’s Nest. The rest of the afternoon will be at leisure to explore the town on your own. As this will be your last evening in Bhutan, you can soak in your lodge’s Hot Stone Bath and enjoy a relaxing Tibetan Ku Nye massage, in which warm oil is applied to specific points to release energy blockages.
Your visit draws to a close, as you bid farewell to Paro and the Kingdom of Bhutan. In the morning, you will be escorted to the airport in time to board your flight to your onward destination.
