Bhutan - Hikers Paradise
Bhutan is a hiker’s paradise, with lush rhododendron and evergreen forests, pure mountain air, and serene valleys where the rhythms of rural life remain unchanged. Visiting Bhutan is like taking a breath of fresh air. The landscape is full of mountainous valleys, glacial rivers, and terraced rice fields. This tour takes you through stunning, isolated, rarely visited monasteries, villages and valleys offering breathtaking mountain scenery that are only accessible only by foot. The trails that lead to these destinations are sometimes a small path on the ridge of terraces rice fields. In some case it’s paved with wild flowers during spring.
Brief Description of Cities
Thimphu: Capital and the largest city of Bhutan - Only capital city in the world that does not have traffic lights - Main center of Commerce, Religion and Government in the country - Most modern city of Bhutan and has abundance of restaurants, internet cafes, nightclubs and shopping center. It is one of the few cities of Bhutan having ATM facilities.
Paro: Small town in the western part of Bhutan - Also home to Paro Airport, Bhutan’s only International Airport - The valley has many isolated small villages and is known for red rice - Also home to most of Bhutan’s oldest temples and monasteries.
- Visit old Monasteries and majestic fortresses.
- Explore a capital city with no traffic lights.
- Feast on Ema Datsi and Red Rice, two of the most popular dishes of Bhutan.
- First-hand experience of untouched Nature and unique Culture.
- Experience the Sacred Spirituality.
- Prayer flags fluttering in the wind.
- Village houses and rural life.
- Shop for Silks, Souvenirs and More.
- Structures adorned with Phallus paintings.
- Hike through pine forests to visit “Tiger’s Nest”.
- Hike the rarely visited Lhakhangs, Monasteries and Villages.
- Beautiful landscapes and spectacular Himalayan scenery.
Day 1. Paro - Thimphu:
Distance: 65 kms; Driving time: 1.5 - 2 hrs; Altitude of Thimphu: 2,350 m.
Your flight to Paro on a clear day, is marked with the panoramic views of the Himalayas including the Everest and other famous Peaks. The approach through the foothills and the landing (including few steep turns) at the tiny airstrip of Paro has been termed as adventurous by many travelers. After the completion of immigration formalities at the Paro Airport exit door, you will be received by your Bhutanese guide with traditional “Tashi Khadar”. Afterwards drive to Thimphu following the Pa Chhu River. Check-In to the hotel and have your first experience with Bhutanese Cuisine. Later in the day, you would have your first experience of hiking in Bhutan. You would be driven to Druk School. From there you would go for a short hike to Kuensel Phodrang. Its an uphill hike for 3-4 Kms. On the way admire the view of Thimphu Town. You would also notice prayer flags fluttering reemphasizing the importance of Buddhism in Bhutan. On reaching the top you would see:
- Kuensel Phodrang, the gigantic Buddha Dordenma Statue located atop a hill in Kuensel Phodrang Nature Park. The statute is around 50 meters in height and is made of Bronze, glided with gold. The statue fulfills an ancient prophecy dating back to the 8th century A.D that was discovered by Terton Pema Lingpa (Religious Treasure Discoverer) and is said to emanate an aura of peace and happiness to the entire world.
Later, you walk down the same way till your car. You are then driven to:
- National Memorial Chhorten, a Stupa built in 1974 to honor the third Druk Gyalpo, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. Every morning till night old people and young people circumambulate the Chhorten. You may choose to light butter lamps and also circumambulate around the Chorten.
Finally, you are driven back to the hotel. In the evening enjoy a Private traditional cultural show. During the show you could also join in to get a feel of an important aspect of Bhutan.
Meals – Lunch and Dinner, Overnight at the Hotel in Thimphu.
Day 2. Thimphu Sightseeing:
After breakfast, drive to Tango Cheri Road in upper Thimphu through several villages. Relax and walk around the villages when in Dodena. You then hike to
- Cheri Monastery, was established in 1620 by Ngawang Namgyal, 1st Zhabdrung Rinpoche. The hike takes about 45 minutes. Apart from being one of the most beautiful monasteries, here we also have an option of meeting with the students and the monks. You would also be see pretty phalluses that are believed to ward of the evil.
Picnic Lunch shall be provided on the venue. Post lunch, you start you hike to
- Tango Monastery, was founded by Phajo Drugom Zhigpo in the 13th century and built in its present form by Tenzin Rabgye, the 4th Temporal Ruler in 1688. The hike to Tango Monastery also takes around 45 minutes and goes gradually uphill through alpine woods.
Return back to town by evening. Then you would be taken to
- Tashichhodzong, or ‘the fortress of the glorious religion’. Initially erected in 1641 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, it was rebuilt in the 1960s during the reign of Bhutan’s third king in the traditional style, without plans or nails. It houses some ministries, His Majesty’s secretariat, and the central monk body and opens after 5 PM.
Finally, you are driven back to the hotel. By the end of the day, you shall have the opportunity to enjoy adventure, nature, culture and the way of life in Bhutan. Evening free for leisure.
Meals – Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, Overnight at the Hotel in Thimphu.
Day 3. Thimphu - Paro:
Distance: 135 kms, Driving time: 3 - 4 hrs. Altitude of Paro: 2,280 m.
After breakfast and completion of Check Out formalities you are driven to Paro, for your second leg of the tour. On the way, you would go for
- Lungchutse Hike – After departing Thimphu and driving for about 45 minutes, you would begin your hike to Tashigang Goenpa (3,200 m). This monastery was built in 1786 by the 12th Je Khenpo. From here you will enjoy a gradual uphill climb of about 2 hours to 18th century Lungchutse Lhakhang. The picturesque route passes through forests of rhododendrons, magnolias, birches, firs, hemlocks and bamboos, and occasionally meadows that are being used as yak pastures. The view from Lungchutse Lhakhang over the entire Bhutan Himalaya and its snow covered peaks is amazing. We will then walk downhill for about an hour until we reach.
- Dochula Pass, lies at an elevation of 3,150 m and is a great place to view the higher Himalayas. The landmarks around the pass includes 108 Druk Wangyal Stupas built under the patronage of Queen Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuk.
Lunch would be served at a local restaurant at Dochula Pass. Here our driver picks us up and continue our drive to Paro. After arrival at Paro, check in to the hotel. Rest of your evening free for leisure.
Meals – Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, Overnight at the Hotel in Paro.
Day 4. Paro Sightseeing:
After breakfast, start your day with a hike to
- Taktsang Monastery (Tiger's nest), the abode of gods and monks situated at an altitude of 3100m on the Upper Paro Valley, Bhutan. As per the legend, Guru Padmasambhana (Guru Rinpoche), the tantrum mystic who brought Buddhism to Bhutan, came in the form of Dorje Droloe riding a flying tigress to subdue the demon that was obstructing the spread of Buddhism in the Himalayas.
After the completion of the hike, you would be served picnic Lunch among the woods. After lunch, visit
- Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest monasteries in Bhutan built in the 7th century by the Tibetan Emperor Songtsen Gampo.
- Ta Dzong, an ancient watch tower overlooking Rimpung Dzong built in 1951 now converted into national museum.
Later in the day, you would then drive to village house to witness the traditional rural life in a Bhutanese village. Also you have an option of experiencing a Traditional Hot Stone bath in the village house. You can also choose to have your dinner in the house with the Family or also spend your overnight in the village house (needed to be confirmed at the time of confirmation of the Tour) or be driven back to your hotel.
Meals – Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner; Overnight at the Hotel in Paro.
Day 5. Paro Sightseeing:
After breakfast, you would go for
- Dzongdrakha Hike at 2600mts which is relatively 1-hour gentle hike from the road. The trail begins following a dirt path which turns to climb through a grove of oak trees. The entire village, set up over the cliffs, stretches horizontally along the ledge, affording beautiful views of the valley below. A tranquil village of eight farmhouses and four temples has the main temple complex situated on the cliff just above Bondey Valley. The ascent to Dzongdrakha will certainly get your heart pumping as you climb turn after turn for about one hour until reaching the turn off to the temple. Like Takstang, this is an area in which Padmasambhava meditated in the 8th century.
Later you return back to Paro. After your lunch, you would be taken for another hike to
- Dra Karpo, an important pilgrimage place. Like the Paro Taktsang, it is associated with Guru Rinpoche. It is one of the many places in Bhutan where Guru Rinpoche is said to have meditated while he was in Bhutan. In the temple you can see a huge stone which the Guru, according to legend, shifted from the mountain side to make space for the intimate altar room. The views from the temple are breath taking with an immediate drop down to Paro valley. A place of Tshering Ma (goddess of long life) below the temple is considered to be the gateway to the sacred place. The hike takes around 1 - 2 hours to complete and 30 - 45 minutes to come back.
Evening is free for leisure activities and shopping.
Meals – Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner; Overnight at the Hotel in Paro.
Day 6. Departure:
Today we will bid farewell to this beautiful country and take an early flight back. We hope by now you must have made some good friends and also have taken photographs and beautiful memories of Bhutan. We certainly hope of serving you again on your next visit to this great country or the Last Shangri-La. Tashi Delek.