Spirituality in Bhutan – Duration 10 Nights & 11 Days – Paro International Airport (PBH) – Punakha (03 Nights) – Gangtey (02 Nights) – Thimpu (01 Night) – Paro (03 Nights) – Phuentsholling (01 Night) – Bagdogra Airport (IXB) or New Jalpaiguri Railway Station (NJP)
There is nothing ordinary about Bhutan, a land of mystery, tradition, spirituality and jaw-dropping landscapes. Renowned for their approach in sustainable tourism, Bhutan is perhaps one of the rare countries in the world that seems to have not been affected by the outside world. Guests will experience superb hiking and trekking and get a better understand of the Bhutanese way of life.
Day – 01 – Arrival in Paro Airport (PBH) – Upon arrival into Paro Aiport guests will be transferred to Punakha Valley via Thimphu and Dochu La – If time permits to visit Thimphu, the kingdom’s capital, the sightseeing begins with a tour which may include some of the following: National Memorial Chorten, Trashi Chhoe Dzong, local market, and Folk Heritage Museum. The drive onto Punakha is truly awe-inspiring as it zigzags up to the 3,140 meters high mountain pass of Dochu La with its forests of fluttering prayer flags, maze of memorial chortens and, on a clear day, sweeping views of the main Himalayan range. The drive takes approximately 4.5 hours – Check in Hotel / Resort – The remainder of the day is at leisure – Overnight stay at Punakha
Day – 02 – Paro Village Trail – Start off your day with a gentle walk up through fields of paddies, cabbages and rice along the banks of the Mo Chhu to the upper end of the valley to Khamsum Yuelly Namgayel, a delightful 03 storey chorten that looks down on the upper Punakhan Valley where you will have stunning views – On the way down explore Punakha Dzong, a massive architectural structure erected in the 17th century and where you will hear resident monks during their daily prayers Post lunch, take a quick drive to the village of Talo for a walk in the beautiful village – Later hike down to Nobgang “The village on Treasure Hill” visiting farm houses and meeting families – The concept of the Village Walks is to facilitate an authentic ‘underfoot’ experience and provide a ‘snapshot’ of rural life in the Himalayan Mountains of Bhutan – On your way back from Nobgang village to Punakha you have an option to pay a visit to Nalanda Buddhist College – The remainder of the day is at leisure – Overnight stay at Punakha
Day – 03 – Choten Nibu and Khabasa village – After breakfast, you will be driven to Chorten Nibu- Dating back to the 18th century, this is a little known treasure with its magnificent statue of Maitreya – the future Budha – and fine images of the great lamas of the Drukpa lineage – In 2005 the Monastery started housing poor orphans from the nearby village and founded a small Buddhist educational institution for these little monks, a place where the children can study both traditional Buddhist scriptures and texts, and also learning Western subjects. You will hike back to hotel, which is 45 minutes away, passing through a Khabasa village with a traditional house – The remainder of the day is at leisure – Overnight stay at Punakha
Day – 04 – Transfer from Punakha to Gangtey – Depart Punakha to make your way towards the East, passing through villages, deep ravines with dizzying drops to the little visited Phobjikha Valley, home to the quaint rural settlement of Gangtey – Gangtey is in a remarkably attractive glacial valley called Phobjikha – The region boasts various nature trails as well as a Crane Information Centre to educate visitors – Gangtey boasts its own important religious sites such as the Gangtey Goempa Monastery, situated at the head of the valley, from where you can take in exceptional viewsLocated at 3,000 metres above sea level, this glacial valley is home to the endangered black-necked cranes – The drive is approximately 3.5 hours long – The remainder of the day is at leisure – Overnight stay at Gangtey
Day – 05 – Phobjikha Valley hike – Phobjikha is one of the most beautiful destinations in Bhutan – It is the winter home to a group of globally endangered black necked cranes that arrive every year from the Tibetan Plateau – This pleasurable walk will start from the small hilltop overlooking Gangtey Goemba – Downhill through flower meadows to Semchubara village and from here through beautiful forests and into the open valley – After passing a chorten and Khewa Lhakhang, the trail ends at the local community school – The Nature Trail covers Gangtey Goemba and the local school – The remainder of the day is at leisure – Overnight stay at Gangtey
Day – 06 – Transfer From Phobjikha to Thimpu – Early morning breakfast – Next Guests head backs to Thimphu backtracking through Punakha – It will be a full day of travelling and the journey will take about 07 – 08 hours depending on traffic – En route, you will have a lunch stop and breaks – Thimphu formerly spelled as Thimbu or Thimpu is the capital and largest city of the Kingdom of Bhutan – It is situated in the western central part of Bhutan, and the surrounding valley is one of Bhutan’s dzongkhags, the Thimphu District The remainder of the day is at leisure – The remainder of the day is at leisure – Overnight stay at Thimphu
Day – 07 – Transfer From Thimphu to Paro – You will depart in the morning and make your way to Paro – Paro is a town and seat of Paro District in the Paro Valley of Bhutan – Paro is Destination Of Scenic Beauty – Along the main street there is a complex of traditional architecture with richly decorated buildings housing small shops, institutions and restaurants – Once checked into your hotel, guests will be taken on a day walk which will take you to Zurig Dzong, Rinpung Dzong, Drukgyel Dzong and the National Museum – Guests will also cross the Paro Chhu via the traditional covered bridge, Nyamai Zam, and then past the main archery ground, Ugyen Pelri Palace, and into Paro town – The remainder of the day is at leisure – Overnight stay at Paro
Day – 08 – Hike to Tiger’s Nest – Today hike toward one of Bhutan’s most sacred places-the site of a Cliffside monastery and an important pilgrimage destination – Taksang (meaning Tiger’s Nest) Monastery was built atop the cave where Guru Rimpoche, the father of Mahayana Buddhism, meditated for three months after arriving in the Paro Valley on the back of a legendary tigress – Although not an ordeal, the climb is demanding – The trail rises slowly above the valley, passing through fields, forests and by large prayer wheels turned by a stream – We continue hiking across an open meadow and up a steep trail to a ridge where prayer flags rustle in the wind. Just beyond is the Taktsang teahouse, at 9200 feet, where stop to enjoy a hot drink and striking views of the monastery across the valley – The remainder of the day is at leisure – Overnight stay at Paro
Day – 09 – Chele La Pass and hike to Kila Nunnery – Start early for the drive to Chele La Pass which, at 3988 meters is the highest road pass in Bhutan, snaking upwards through blue pine and rhododendron forests for 35 kilometers – The two-hour hike will take you through a dense rhodendron forest and to Kila Goemba, an ancient nunnery nestled on the mountainside below, one of the seven oldest nunneries in the Kingdom – Having made your offerings and perhaps been blessed, it is time to descend further. An hour later and you are back at the road where you can saddle up on a mountain bike and freewheel down to Paro Valley – The remainder of the day is at leisure – Overnight stay at Paro
Day – 10 – Transfer to Phuentsholling / Jaigaon – After Breakfast – Check-Out from Hotel – Proceed for Paro International Airport Sightseeing – The Only International Airport of Bhutan in Paro – One can also visit some sightseeing places at supplement cost – Next drive & drop to Phuentsholing – It is Approximately 175 kilometers and is nearly 05 hours drive by road – One can stop at the University gate for some refreshment and Tea – Reach Phuentsholling and Check into hotel – Evening free to Stroll around the area – Overnight Stay at Phuentsholling
Day – 11 – Departure Transfer to New Jalpaiguri Railway Station (NJP) / Bagdogra Airport (IXB) / Siliguri – After Breakfast: Check-Out from Hotel Transfer to New Jalpaiguri Railway Station (NJP) / Bagdogra Airport (IXB) / Siliguri – The distance is 170 kilometers and is approximately 04 – 05 hours – The drive is through Dooars i.e. the foothills of Himalaya it is plain forested area and number of Tea estate – One of the most beautiful and green belt of the region – Stop at Coronation bridge at Sevoke for photography if time permits – Forwarding Journey
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