Country | Bhutan | Max-Altitude | 3,180m/10,430 ft | ||
Trip Start | Paro, Bhutan | Trip End | Paro, Bhutan | ||
Group Size | Min 2, Max 12 | ||||
Meals | Breakfast throughout the trip | ||||
Accommodation | A and B category hotel throughout the trip |
Western Bhutan Tour takes you to the last Himalayan kingdom in existence, where inner happiness is more valued than material wealth. Embark on an overland tour and explore Bhutan's most popular tourist destinations - Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, and Gangtey.
Drive past the picturesque Bhutanese countryside and savor panoramic views of the snow-covered peaks. Walk through the ornate traditional dzongs that house monasteries, government offices, and museums. These ancient dzongs or fortresses are a testimony to Bhutan's rich past. Experience Bhutan's rare and unique wildlife at the Royal Takin Preserve and Phobjika Valley.
Your trip begins with an amazing flight over the Himalayan mountains to Paro. Enjoy views of Mount Everest, Kanchenjunga and other Himalayan giants during your flight. From Paro, you take a drive to Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan.
Begin your sightseeing tour by visiting the popular tourist sites in the city- Memorial Chorten, Buddha Dordenma, Tashichho Dzong, and Royal Takin Preserve. Learn more about the thirteen Bhutanese traditional arts and crafts at the National Institute of Zorig Chusum. Try your hand at traditional paper making at a paper factory which uses age old techniques of paper making.
Explore the most beautiful dzong in Bhutan at Punakha. The majestic Punakha Dzong, which stands at the confluence of two rivers, is a sight to behold. Take a short walk past paddy fields and local farms to reach Chimi Lakhang or the Fertility Temple. Childless couples are blessed with a sacred wooden phallus at this miracle temple.
Take a scenic drive to the valley of Gangtey or Phobjika. Nestled beneath the Black Mountains, this ecologically rich valley is the winter home of the endangered Black-necked Cranes.
You end your Western Bhutan Tour in Paro with a thrilling hike to the clifftop monastery of Taktsang or Tiger's Nest. The trail meanders past a dense forest of pine, fir, and rhododendron and reaches an elevation of 3180 meters.
This week-long tour is ideal for those looking for an unexplored destination and an exotic cultural experience. It is an easy tour suited for people of all ages and fitness levels. The hike to Tiger’s Nest can be skipped, if you are not used to hiking. An experienced and knowledgeable local tour guide will guide you during your stay.
Western Bhutan Tour can be done whole year round. To make the most of your trip, you can time your visit during a festival or Tsechu (masked-dance festival).
Each city has its own Tsechu that is celebrated on an auspicious day. While Paro and Punakha Tsechus are usually held in the spring season, Thimphu and Gangtey Tsechus fall during the autumn months of September or October.
Traveling during late autumn or winter will also allow you to witness the endangered Black-necked Cranes roosting in the glacial valley of Phobjika or Gangtey and enjoy the Black-necked Crane festival.
Distance: 1 hour drive (55km)
Included meals: No
Accommodation: Hotel Tashi Yoedling
International Airport lies in a green valley surrounded by mountains and traditional houses. Your Bhutanese guide will greet you at the airport and accompany you on a drive to Thimphu, Bhutan's capital city.
Savor views of the Himalayan Mountains and rustic farms as the highway weaves past the countryside. After reaching Thimphu, check into your hotel and get some rest. Later in the evening, you can take a stroll around the city.
Overnight in Thimphu.
Distance: 1 hour drive (55km)
Included meals: No
Accommodation: Hotel Tashi Yoedling
Included meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Tashi Yoedling
You start your exploration of Thimphu by visiting the King's Memorial Chorten. The Chorten is a massive white stupa built in memory of the third King of Bhutan, Jigme Dorji Wangchuk. He is regarded as the 'Father of Modern Bhutan' for bringing modern reforms and opening Bhutan to outsiders.
Next, you will visit the School of Arts and Crafts or National Institute of Zorig Chusum and discover the students learning the thirteen traditional arts and crafts of Bhutan. There's a small gift shop inside the institute where you can buy handicraft items made by the students.
Later you head to a hill overlooking Thimphu city to experience the grandeur of one of the biggest sitting Buddha statues in the world. Known as Buddha Dordenma, the enormous gilded statue of Lord Buddha holds 1,25,000 small statues of Buddha inside.
After taking pictures and enjoying the panoramic view of the city and the mountains, you drive down to the Royal Takin Preserve and watch the unique national animal of Bhutan grazing inside the reserve.
Your guide will also take you to the Junshi Handmade Paper factory, where you can experience the traditional art of paper making or Deh-sho using the barks of trees.
A tour of Thimphu city is incomplete without a visit to the grand Tashichho Dzong, and your guide will take you there. The dzong, dating back to the thirteenth century, houses government offices, monastery, chapels, and the king's throne room.
You head back to your hotel after an eventful day and take a well-deserved rest,
Overnight in Thimphu.
Included meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Tashi Yoedling
Distance: 2 to 3 hours drive (76km)
Included meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: The Four Boutique Hotel
Leaving Thimphu, you get on the road and drive past a scenic highway. On the way, you stop at the mountain pass of Dochula, from where you can enjoy stunning views of Bhutan's tallest peaks. The pass is decorated with 108 chortens built in memory of the slain Bhutanese army men who lost their lives in the line of duty.
After reaching Punakha, your sightseeing tour begins.
You will visit Chimi Lakhang or the Fertility Temple, which is a popular pilgrimage site for childless couples. The temple built in the fifteenth century is said to have been blessed by the Divine Madman or Drukpa Kuenley, the patron saint of Bhutan. You will have to hike through paddy fields and farms to reach the temple.
Later you will visit the Punakha Dzong, the most famous landmark in Punakha. The beautiful fortress is located at the confluence of the Mo Chhu and Pa Chuu rivers. The magnificent fortress houses government offices, monasteries, and chapels.
Overnight in Punakha.
Distance: 2 to 3 hours drive (76km)
Included meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: The Four Boutique Hotel
Distance: 2 to 3 hours drive (85km)
Included meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Kichu Resort
Today you will take a drive to the picturesque Gangtey or Phobjika Valley. Nestled beneath the Black Mountains, this vast glacial valley is the winter home of the Black Necked Cranes. The cranes stay in the valley from October to February. You will get to visit the Crane Information Centre and learn more about these endangered birds.
Before leaving Gangtey, you will visit the ancient Gangtey Gompa, the largest Nyingmapa Monastery in Western Bhutan. From the monastery, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the vast Gangtey Valley. The gompa holds the annual Black-necked Crane festival, which is quite popular among locals and tourists.
Overnight in Gangtey.
Distance: 2 to 3 hours drive (85km)
Included meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Kichu Resort
Distance: 5 to 6 hours drive (176km)
Included meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Tashi Namgay Resort
After a delightful stay, you bid goodbye to Gangtey and drive towards Paro. On the way, you will visit the grand Druk Wangyel Lakhang, built in memory of the fourth king of Bhutan. The temple lies close to the Dochula Pass, and one can enjoy 360-degree view of the surrounding valleys and mountains from here. Inside the lakhang are paintings and murals of the royal family and Buddhist deities.
After a long drive, you finally reach Paro. Head to your hotel and retire early as you have a busy day tomorrow.
Overnight in Paro.
Distance: 5 to 6 hours drive (176km)
Included meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Tashi Namgay Resort
Distance: 5 to 6 Hours hike
Included meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Tashi Namgay Resort
Wake up early and have your breakfast. Your driver will drop you off at the trailhead of the Tiger's Nest Hike. Led by your knowledgeable Bhutanese guide, you start your hike toward one of Bhutan's iconic pilgrimage sites. According to Buddhist legend, Padmasambhava flew to this site on the back of a tigress from Tibet. His meditation cave is located inside the monastery.
Taktsang Monastery or Tiger's Nest is perched on a cliff and can be accessed by hiking through a moderately difficult trail for 2 to 3 hours. If you don't want to walk the whole way, you can hire a pony (rental charge is not included in your package) which will take you up to the cafeteria or the midpoint of your hike.
You will have a gentle start through a dirt trail shaded by pine and fir trees. From the path, you can see the monastery looming above the hill. The ascent is tough on your legs, but there are many photo opportunities en route. You can enjoy gorgeous views of the Himalayan Mountains and Paro Valley. You stop for rest and refreshment at the Taktsang Cafeteria. Later you continue your journey and walk the final few steps to the monastery. After exploring the monastery, you descend to the car park and return to your hotel in Paro.
Overnight in Paro.
Distance: 5 to 6 Hours hike
Included meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Tashi Namgay Resort
Included meals: Breakfast
After a week of traveling through this ancient kingdom and creating some unforgettable memories, it's time to bid goodbye to Bhutan and head home. Your guide will escort you to the Paro International Airport on time to catch your flight.
Included meals: Breakfast
During your travel, you will be staying at Tashi Namgay Resort in Paro, Hotel Tashi Yoedling in Thimphu and The Four Boutique Hotel in Punakha, All accommodations are on a twin-shared basis. Single supplement will be served on request and will cost USD 350. Hotels in Bhutan are approved and classified by the government as grade A, B and C. These government-approved hotels are equivalent to 3-4 star hotels elsewhere. Based on availability at the time of the booking, A and B category hotels will be provided in this tour. You will be accommodated in A category hotel in Paro and Thimphu and B category hotel in Punakha.
Breakfast are included during your stay in Bhutan. A variety of meals are available in most hotels – the most popular being Indian, Chinese, and the more common continental food. Non-vegetarian dishes are generally available in most parts of Bhutan - pork, beef, chicken, and fish. The best advice is to ask the hotel and restaurant to recommend what is fresh and in season.
All foreign nationals are required to obtain a visa in order to enter Bhutan. A Bhutanese Visa must be obtained prior to your arrival i.e. before entering in Bhutan because Druk Air allows boarding only after your visa clearance from Bhutan government. Since, no embassy abroad or foreign mission can grant a tourist visa, your visa needs to be processed by local tour operator, thus we will be assisting you to obtain tourist visa. Your passport must be at least 6 months valid after you leave Bhutan. Please send us a copy of your passport in order for us proceed to apply for the visa. Also, bring at least 3 recent passport photos (for your Bhutan Visa, Entry permit, etc.)
For further information please visit http://www.mfa.gov.bt/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/b...
All foreign nationals are required to obtain a visa in order to enter Bhutan. A Bhutanese Visa must be obtained prior to your arrival i.e. before entering in Bhutan because Druk Air allows boarding only after your visa clearance from Bhutan government. Since, no embassy abroad or foreign mission can grant a tourist visa, your visa needs to be processed by local tour operator, thus we will be assisting you to obtain tourist visa. Your passport must be at least 6 months valid after you leave Bhutan. Please send us a copy of your passport in order for us proceed to apply for the visa. Also, bring at least 3 recent passport photos (for your Bhutan Visa, Entry permit, etc.)
For further information please visit http://www.mfa.gov.bt/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/b...
You need to keep extra money to cover miscellaneous expenses. It is advised to carry US$ for personal expenses. This would be for travelers’ spending money for requirements like beverages both alcoholic and nonalcoholic, purchasing toiletries, souvenirs, paying for laundry service, bar bills, phone bills, extra porters, bottled water, tipping, and other services not listed and recreational expenses. You need to consider your own spending habits when it comes to using money for the above mentioned expenses. There could be unforeseen circumstances like natural calamities, landslides, political disturbances, strikes, changes in government regulations, flight cancellations etc that are beyond Extollo Adventures' control, for which emergency funds will be highly recommended.
Generally, we do not charge solo travelers any extra charge. You will be paired up with another traveler of same gender and hotel room will be provided on twin sharing basis in Bhutan. On request, you will be provided a single room in Bhutan with a single supplement charge.
Dress Code: One should remember to dress appropriately while visiting Dzongs, monasteries and temples.
Must wear:
Collared shirt (either full or half sleeve)
Full-length pants/long skirt
Shoes with socks
* Tie is not required.
You will not be allowed to enter if you are wearing:
Hats/caps
Shorts/short skirt
Slippers/sandals
T-shirts
Photography: Bhutanese in general pose for photographs. However, make sure to ask for permission from the concerned person before you take a shot. Taking pictures inside dzongs, temples, monasteries and museums are prohibited.
Smoking/Tobacco prohibition: Bhutan bans smoking in public places, and prohibits growing or importing tobacco. You must always be able to produce proof of purchase of products such as Invoice or bill at the airports or entry points (borders). On demand, you must also produce a receipt of tax payment, failing to adhere to this rules will result in third degree felony punishable by three years in prison.
The maximum number of tobacco or tobacco products a person can carry for personal consumption at a single time includes:
200 sticks of cigarette or
30 pieces of cigar or
150 grams of other tobacco and tobacco product
*Tobacco products imported from India shall pay 100% Sales Tax and from countries other than India shall pay 200% duty.
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