After a leisurely breakfast explore the capital Thimphu and visit the main sites. Soak in the panoramic view of the Thimphu valley from the site of the gigantic Buddha Shakyamuni, one of the largest statue of Buddha at a height of 169 feet (51.5 meters). You can also enjoy a short hike around the Buddha, and then a stopover at the Memorial Chorten/stupa in town is another favorite with the tourists and elderly citizens as they circumambulate the Chorten chanting prayers and pulling at their beads. The main statue of the Buddha inside the Chorten is said to grant wishes for the earnest and honest hearted!

If you want to mingle with the Bhutanese people and jostle with local farmers amongst the aroma of organic fruits and vegetables, the Centenary Farmers Market is the place to be. Smiling tourists watch in awe as locals bargain with the vendors and you could even stock up on your organic fruits for the coming days. In the evening visit the Tashichho Dzong/Fortress of the Auspicious Religion that houses the office of our King, few government offices and the Central Monk Body.

Rest and relax at your hotel.

In the evening, take a stroll along the town’s main street.

Overnight at Hotel.

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.

Enroute stop at the Iron Chain Bridge built in the early 15th century by the great iron bridge builder and Poet - Yogi ThangtongGyalpo (1385-1464), who also built DungtseLhakhang in Paro and many iron bridges throughout Bhutan and Tibet. The iron bridge was carried away by floods in 1969 and a traditional style bridge with the original iron chains was built in 2005.

 Continue to Paro.

This beautiful valley encapsulates a rich culture, scenic beauty and hundreds of myths and legends.  It is home to many of Bhutan’s oldest temples and monasteries, the country’s only airport, and the National Museum.  Mt. Chomolhari (7,300m) reigns in white glory at the northern end of the valley, its glacial waters plunging through deep gorges to form the Pa Chu (Paro River). The Paro valley is one of the kingdom’s most fertile, producing the bulk of Bhutan’s famous red rice from its terraced fields.

On arrival visit the National Museum. The museum collection includes ancient Bhutanese art and artifacts, weapons, coins, stamps and a small natural history collection. (Closed on Govt. Holidays)

Then walk down a hillside trail to visit RinpungDzong (ParoDzong) situated at a commanding height overlooking Paro valley. Built by ShabdrungNgawangNamgyal in 1646, this Dzong now houses Paro’s monk body and the offices of the civil administration and is symbolic as the religious and secular center of all affairs of the valley. Walk down a paved stone path running alongside the imposing outer walls and across a traditional cantilever bridge adorned with colorful prayer flags. If you drive a little further down along the river, there is a good spot where you can capture all three sites - the Cantilever Bridge, ParoDzong and the National Museum.

Also visit KichuLhakhang, one of the oldest temples in the country. The temple is one of the 108 temples built in the Himalayas by the Tibetan king, SongtsenGampo to subdue a demoness in the 7th century. The building of this temple marks the introduction of Buddhism in Bhutan.

Evening explore the quaint Paro town.

Overnight at Hotel in Paro

In the morning we gear up for the excursion up to Taktsang Monastery, also known as the Tiger’s Nest. It is believed that Guru Rinpoche, the founding father of the Bhutanese form of Mahayana Buddhism, arrived here on the back of a tigress and meditated at this monastery. The main structure was severely damaged by fire in 1998, but after many years of painstaking restoration work, the complex has now been fully restored to its former glory.

On return we will head back to the hotel and get ready for your journey back out of Bhutan

Overnight at Hotel.

We have finally reached the end of our journey and we hope that you had a wonderful time in Bhutan, hopefully you have made some memories to take back with you and we hope that we will see you again!

Early breakfast in the hotel, then drive to the airport for flight to onward destination.