• Breakfast at your leisure
• Visit Memorial Chorten (stupa)
• Continue to Giant Buddha Statue and hike around (1.5 hrs approx)
• Visit the National Textile Museum
• Lunch at a local restaurant, carry on to Takin Preserve.
• Depart to School of traditional Arts and Crafts.
• Textile museum.

Rise to the Thimphu morning and enjoy a hearty breakfast, as well as the view of the beautiful mountains and workers wearing traditional Ghos and Kiras. This morning, we start of our day by joining the locals performing their daily ritual of turning the giant prayer wheels at the whitewashed National Memorial Chorten with its shining golden finial, dedicated to the third king of Bhutan. Next, drive to the Buddha Dordenma Hill, one of the largest Buddha statues in the world. Stop at the Big Buddha Temple for a visit, or for and independent meditation. Afterward, begin a moderate hike around the Buddha. The area offers great views of Thimphu Valley below. After lunch drive to see Takin where you will finally meet a rare national animal of Bhutan. Carry on to the School of Arts and crafts,  where students learn thirteen different Bhutanese crafts over six years course including masonry, painting, sculpture and much more. Continue to the National Textile Museum which holds a substantial amount of textile artifacts that are exclusive to Bhutan. There is an opportunity for you to learn about the traditional art of thagzo (weaving). A number of shops are also scattered throughout Thimphu to bring some gifts back home before we go back to the hotel.

Today’s Hike at Kuensel Phodrang Park.

STARTING ELEVATION: 8600FT/2600M

►ELEVATION GAIN: 450FT/136M

►HIGHEST POINT: 9050FT/2740M

►TOTAL DISTANCE: 1.08 MILES/1.64KM

►HIKE ENDS AT: 8700FT/2650M

►ESTIMATED TIME: 2HOURS + (APPROX)

►DIFFICULTY: MODERATE

 Please include the following for the day hike.

1. Hiking Shoes
2. Hats
3. Rain gears
4. Walking stick
5. Sunscreens
6. Full trousers
7. Long sleeves

• Early breakfast at the hotel.
• Tea stops at Dochula Pass and see the 108 chortens.
• Arrival to Punakha, then proceed to Chimmi Lhakhang valley walk.
• Lunch
• Visit most beautiful Dzong of Bhutan, Punakha Dzong.
• Afternoon relaxation by the hotel and leisure evening.

 An early departure is recommended on a clear sunny day to capture dramatic views of the Himalayan peaks at Dochula Mountain Pass. There are striking cloud-capped views and 108 hillside chortens (Buddhist shrines), while colorful prayer flags add a special dimension. Continuing your adventure, we descend into Punakha Valley. Because of the warmer climate, owing to the lower altitude of 4,265 feet (1,300 meters), Punakha is the preferred winter happiness destination for many Bhutanese. After your two-and-a-half-hour transfer, arrive at Lobesa Village, Punakha. Continue by proceeding to Chimmi Lhakhang, a fertility temple built in AD 1499 dedicated to the “Divine Madman”. This walk is renowned as a pilgrimage for couples planning to start a family, hoping to receive a blessing from the saint. Enjoy a lunch in this beautiful village and then visit Punakha Dzong, also known as Pungtang Dechen Phodrang Dzong, which means “the Palace of Great Happiness”. This well-preserved fortress serves as the administrative center of Punakha. Located at the junction of Pho (father) Chhu (river) and Mo (mother) Chhu in the Punakha-Wangdue Valleys, its structure stands six stories high and was constructed as an embodiment of Buddhist values.

• Drive 30 min. and hike to Stunning Khamsum Yueley Namgyal Chorten.
• Picnic Lunch.
• Drive to Nalanda Buddhist monastery and interact with monks, learning more on Buddhist teaching and meditation.

Your Punakha adventure continues with a hike to Khamsum Youley Namgyal Chorten, which is most decorated temple dedicated for long life to our beloved current king. Hike up through fields of rice along the banks of the Mo Chhu to the upper end of the valley, a stunning monument recently built by the Queens and consecrated in 1999.

After enjoying picnic, drive up to explore the picturesque villages of Talo or Nobgang, the ancestral home of the Queen Mothers of Bhutan. The villages are scattered along a ridge above the Punakha valley at an altitude of around 2,800m and is known amongst Punakha villages for its neat and clean appearance. The women here are particularly known for their beauty.
Visit Nalanda Monastery to visit the monks who are pursuing higher Buddhist studies and learning English as well. You may interact with the monks and chat with them.

Evening at leisure.

• Early breakfast to begin your day
• Departure to Paro by heading west towards Dochula Pass.
• arrive Paro; visit a farm house with Traditional lunch.
• Proceed to National Museum.
• Walk to tradional wooden bridge
• Evening dinner at your convenience

Retrace the path to Paro by heading westward towards Simtokha Dzong, the first dzong in the Kingdom built in AD 1629, proceeding further south towards Chuzom (confluence of rivers) Bridge where Wang Chhu and Pha Chhu meet. From here, a leisurely drive brings you to the town of Paro and onward to a family home. Once you arrive, settle in and enjoy a Bhutanese traditional lunch and do not miss homemade liquor ARA and traditional butter tea.  

After Lunch visit National museum and followed by short downhill walk with a beautiful view of Paro valley.

Kila nunnery Hike

Hiking on hiking trails and dirt road

1300” elevation loss (highest elevation: 12,500”)

Activity length: 2-3 hours

Activity level: Moderate.

Leisure time in downtown, Paro.

The day adventure starts with easy morning as we set out on a road that climbs almost 5000” above the valley floor to Chele La, 12,500’. Towards the end of our scenic hour and a half journey, we emerge from the blue pine forest and rhododendron forest into windswept highlands sometimes favored by yaks. Here we will enjoy a view filled with Himalayan wildflowers and some of the snowcapped Himalayan Mountains on a clear day.

Leaving the prayer flag-swathed cool and our vehicle behind, we strike off along the ridge, passing through meadows, before re-entering forest of Larch, spruce, hemlock, fir and rhododendron. After a little under two hours, we see the Kila Goenpa, seemingly suspended in rock crags. Home to approximately 3o nuns, this place has serve as a retreat and meditation monastery since 9th century and visit to the temple is often thought to tame the negative emotions of anger, ignorance and greed.

Following our visit and picnic lunch, we descend on a dirt road that winds through conifer and rhododendrons, watching occasional glimpses back to Chele La Pass where we have began our hike. After an easy half hour we meet our vehicle to return to Paro valley.

• Early breakfast followed by a hike to Taktsang Goemba. (All Day)

Staring Elevation: 2400m

Gain in Elevation: 700m    

Highest Point: 3100m

Total Distance: 8km (back and forth)

Stop at Cafeteria for tea and restroom facilities

Lunch on the way back at Cafeteria.

Your day begins with an energy boosting breakfast before departing to see one of the most significant landmarks and cultural icons of the Kingdom, Taktsang Goemba, known as Tiger’s Nest. This highly revered monastery was built on a sheer cliff face roughly 2,950 feet (900 meters) above Paro Valley; it is visible from the valley floor. Your guide will hike up with you to the monastery and share stories of its history. Enjoy the wonderful scenery through pine forests that are colorfully decorated with moss and prayer flags. This sacred pilgrimage site is where the great tantric mystic, Padmasambhava flew on the back of the tiger and brought the teaching of Buddhist Dharma to Bhutan in early 8th century. During cooler weather, clouds often shroud the monastery, highlighting its sanctity and remoteness. For lunch, a picnic can be arranged or you may opt to dine at a local restaurant in Paro town followed by some last-minute shopping. If energy levels permit, visit the Kyichu Lhakhang, a 7th century sanctuary that is an absolute gem for historians and art connoisseurs. It is said to have two magical orange trees that bear fruit throughout the year. Along the way hang some prayer flags for peace and to mark your journey in the Kingdom of Bhutan.

Tonight, bid a farewell at the dinner to your newfound friends with whom you shared this extraordinary journey in Bhutan.

Please include the following for the day hike.

1. Hiking Shoes
2. Rain gears
3. Hats
4. Walking sticks
5. Sunscreens
6. Full trousers
7. Long Sleeves.

• Breakfast at leisure
• Finalize your packing, check out and depart for airport

Although it is sad to leave the “Happiest Place on Earth”, an early departure is necessary since all flights depart in the morning. After an early breakfast, your 30-minute transfer to the airport will be arranged by your guide to coordinate with your flight schedule.