9 Nights Bhutan Private Tour - Daily Departures

Day 1: Arrive in Paro (2250m) and transfer to Thimphu (2350m)

1. Paro
   3h
   Arrive Paro & meet at the airport then transfer to Paro for lunch. Visit Paro Ringpung Dzong in Paro then drive to Thimphu. Proceed with sightseeing in Thimphu visiting King’s Memorial Chorten, Buddha’s point, Centenary farmer’s market, handicraft market etc.
2. Paro Airport Bird's Eye View Point
   30m
   Paro airport is the only international airport in Bhutan.
3. Rinpung Dzong
   30m · Admission ticket included
   Paro Rinpung dzong is the center of attraction in Paro.
4. Thimphu
   8h
   Thimphu is the capital of Bhutan.
5. Thimphu Chorten (Memorial Chorten)
   30m · Admission ticket included
   King's Memorial Chorten is one of the sightseeing attractions of Thimphu.
6. Thimphu’s Weekend Market
   30m
   Weekend market is where the local farmers sell their rest and organic produces.
7. Thimphu Handicrafts Market
   30m
   Handicraft market is closer to the weekend market where one can find many collectible items for gifts etc.
8. Buddha Dordenma
   1h · Admission ticket included
   Buddha's point is the largest statue of Lord Buddha atop a hill overlooking the beautiful Thimphu Valley.

Day 2: Thimphu – Wangdue (1310m) – Gangtey (2320m)

1. Thimphu District
   30m
   After breakfast, drive to Gangtey crossing over Dochla pass (3050m) which commands great views of the eastern Himalayas on a clear day. Getting closer to Punakha Valley, take a short hike to Chimi Lhakhang ‘the fertility temple’ dedicated to Drukpa Kuneley. After Wangdue, the road climbs up and finally to the beautiful Phobijikha Valley and eventually to Gangtey.
2. Dochula Pass
   30m
   Dochula pass is en-route Thimphu to Punakha and commands spectacular Himalayan panorama of the eastern mountains in a clear day.
3. Wangdue
   Pass by
   Wangdeu is en-route Thimphu to Punakha.
4. Chimi Lhakhang Temple
   45m
   Chimi Lhakhang is the temple dedicated to Drukpa Kunley.
5. Gangtey
   8h
   Gangtey is a beautiful village in Bhutan.
6. Phobjikha Valley
   1h
   Phobijikha Valley is one of the most beautiful valleys in Bhutan.

Day 3: Gangtey – Trongsa – Bumthang (2800m)

1. Gangtey
   30m
   Visit Gangtey Dzong at the center of Gangtey Village. Then drive towards Bumthang. En-route pass along Trongsa, a small highway town. Trongsa has the enormous fortress-monastery Trongsa Dzong. Further, continue drive will reach Bumthang.is a small town along Gangtey to Bumthang highway.
2. Trongsa
   8h
   Trongsa is a small town along Gangtey to Bumthang highway.
3. Tongsa Dzong
   Pass by
   Trongsa dzong is a huge monastery fortress located in Trongsa town.
4. Chendebji Chorten
   Pass by
   Chendebji Chorten is en-route Gangtey to Trongsa and chorten resembles Swayambhunath 'Monkey Temple' of Nepal.
5. Bumthang
   8h
   Bumthang is the cultural heartland of Bhutan with some of the oldest temples and monasteries of Bhutan.

Day 4: In Bumthang - Sightseeing

1. Bumthang District
   1 day
   After breakfast, go for cultural sightseeing around Bumthang visiting several monasteries and temples like Jambay Lhakhang, Kurje Lhakhang, Tamshing Lhakhang including Jakar Dzong. Afterward, back at the hotel.
2. Jambay Lhakhang Temple
   1h · Admission ticket included
   Jambay Lhakhang is said to be one of the 108 temples built by Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo in 659 CE on a single day.
3. Kurje Lhakhang
   1h · Admission ticket included
   Kurje Lhakhang is the final resting place of the remains of the first three Kings of Bhutan.
4. Tamshing Lhakhang Temple
   1h · Admission ticket included
   Tamzhing monastery was built in 1501 by Pema Lingpa. This temple is well known for most unique mural paintings.
5. 1h · Admission ticket included
   Thangbi Lhakhang is located beyond Kuje Lhakhang with an easy 2 hr walk through the beautiful upper Chhoekhor Valley from where the motorable road ends. It was founded in 1470 by the 4th Shamar Rinpoche (the red hat Karmapa)
6. Jakar Dzong
   2h · Admission ticket included
   Jakar Dzong is the monastery or fortress in Bumthang. It is located on a ridge above Jakar town in the Chamkhar valley of Bumthang.

Day 5: Bumthang – Ura (2850m) – Bumthang (2800m)

1. Bumthang
   6h
   After breakfast, visit Ura Valley located 42 kilometers at a distance from Bumthang. En-route pass along Ura Shelthangla from where a magnificent view of Bhutan’s highest peak, Gangkhar Puensum (7,500 m) can be seen. Then reach Ura Valley inhabited by people whose main occupation is raising yaks and sheep. Also, visit Ura Lhakhang at Ura then back to Bumthang.
2. Ura Valley
   6h
   Ura located at an altitude of 3100m is the highest of the four valleys in Bumthang district. The village of Ura has about 50 or so clusters of traditional homes.

Day 6: Bumthang – Gangtey (2320m)

1. Bumthang District
   30m
   Trace the same route back to Gangtey from Bumthang passing along Trongsa en-route. Upon arrival, check-in hotel & take a rest or you can explore the beautiful Phobijikha Valley.
2. Gangtey
   8h
   Gangtey is a small village in western Bhutan.

Day 7: Gangtey – Punakha (1310m)

1. Gangtey
   30m
   Drive to Punakha from Gangtey crossing over Wangdue. In Punakha, visit Punakha Dzong arguably one of the most beautiful monasteries in Bhutan.
2. Punakha District
   8h
   Punakha is the old capital of Bhutan.
3. Punakha Dzong
   1h · Admission ticket included
   Punakha Dzong is arguably one of the most beautiful monasteries in Bhutan.

Day 8: Punakha – Paro (2250m)

1. Punakha District
   30m
   After breakfast, drive to Paro from Punakha once again crossing over Dochula pass and one more time to witness the spectacular views of the eastern mountains from the pass. Upon arrival in Paro, check-in hotel.
2. Dochula Pass
   30m
   Dochula pass is en-route Thimphu to Punakha and commands a spectacular Himalayan panorama of the eastern mountains on a clear day.
3. Paro
   8h
   Paro is the entry and exit point of Bhutan if you are flying in/out of Bhutan.

Day 9: Paro – Hike to Taktsang Monastery ‘Tiger’s Nest’ (3120m)

1. Paro
   12h
   In the morning, drive to the base of Taktsang Monastery outskirts of Paro town then begin the hike up to the monastery. After two hour’s hike will reach the cafeteria from where a beautiful view of the monastery can be seen. Then further hike up to reach the monastery, explore around and head downwards to the road point. Drive to Paro en-route visit Kychi Lhakhang, one of the oldest temples of Bhutan.
2. Paro Taktsang
   6h · Admission ticket included
   Takstang monastery is the main highlight of any Bhutan tour. The monastery is perched in a vertical hillside defying all engineering logic where it's believed that Guru Padma Sambhava came on a back of a flying tigress from Tibet in the 8th century and meditated here, thus the name 'Tiger's Monastery'
3. Kyichu Lhakhang
   30m · Admission ticket included
   Kyichu Lhakhang is the oldest temple in Bhutan.

Day 10: Paro depart

1. Paro Airport Bird's Eye View Point
   30m
   After breakfast, drive to the Paro International Airport for your onward flight to your next destination & bidding farewell to the land of the thunder dragon.

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Children must be accompanied by an adult