A taste of Bhutan Premium Tour 6 Days / 5 Nights

Arriving at Paro International airport and upon clearing immigration and customs, you will meet with our guide and driver outside the airport terminal. Drive for about 1 hour to Thimphu (2,286m), the capital of Bhutan and enroute visit Tachog Lhakhang. Tachog (Tachogang lhakhang), located along Thmphu-Paro highway and across the Pachu river was also built-in early 15th century by Thangthong Gyalpo (iron bridge builder). Tachogang means ‘temple of the hill of the excellent horse’. It is believed that Thangthong Gyalpo while meditating here, he saw a vision of the spiritual horse ‘Balaha’, an emanation of Avalokiteshvara and therefore decided to build the temple on the spot. He also built an iron bridge which was washed away by flood in 1969 and presently holds an iron chain traditional bridge which was restored in 2005. The temple is presently managed by the descendant of Thangthong Gyalpo. Visit Gagyul Lhundrup weaving centre just before reaching the main Thimphu city. Check in at your hotel. Visit Tashichhoe Dzong (the fortress of the glorious religion) after office hours, 5 PM. Tashichhoe Dzong houses His Majesty’s Secretariat and the Central Monk Body. You can see the National Assembly building across the river.

After breakfast, start sightseeing tour. Visit Memorial Chorten, built in 1974 in loving memory of the Third King, His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, where a multi-storied Stupa and numerous paintings are exhibited providing an insight into Buddhist philosophy. Visit Buddha Dordenma at Kuenselphodrang. The statue is located on the hill at Kuenselphodrang Nature Park overlooking the southern entrance of Thimphu valley. It is about 51.5m is considered the largest Buddha Shakyamuni statue in the world. It is made of bronze and gilded in gold. It also houses about 125,000 smaller statues, about 10000 eight inches statues and 25000 twelve inches statues. The statue was built to fulfil an ancient prophecy of Terton Pema Lingpa dating back to the 8th century. Sitting royally atop a great meditation hall, this Buddha statue exudes peace and tranquillity. Visit the Takin Preserve Center, where you can see the national animal of Bhutan (Takin). The Motithang Takin Preserve was built as a small zoo but later it was converted to an animal preserve center. Visit Green Weaving Center which features Nettle Weaving and Dyeing, aiming to uplift women as leaders in green fashion and household sustainability while nurturing future generations of Bhutanese. If interested, at your leisure visit the Kaja Throm, built under the command of His Majesty the King, to bring together farmers, eateries, local entrepreneurs and entertainment. The beautiful local market showcases the best of what locals have to offer to visitors, mainly fresh vegetables and fruits or visit Craft Bazaar, which consists of around 80 shops which are entirely made of bamboo huts initiated to promote the young talented rural-based artists selling textiles, bamboo and wooden products.

• The first stop after leaving Thimphu is Dochula pass at 10,500 ft. (23km from Thimphu - 45 minutes’ drive), where you can see one of Bhutan’s most enchanting views. If weather permits, from this pass, the breath-taking peaks of Bhutan’s northern border can be viewed. • At Dochula, you will also see a unique cluster of 108 Namgyel Khangzang Chortens that spiral up to the main Chorten known as the “Druk Wangyal Khangzang Chortens”. Her Majesty, The Queen Mother, Her Majesty, Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck had dedicated these chortens as a tribute and monument to the selfless service and visionary leadership of our Fourth King, His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck. The Chortens are also a celebration of the stability and progress that His Majesty the King brought to the nation. These chortens are a new landmark for travellers as they cross Dochula, the first mountain pass into the interior of the country. Visit Chimi Lhakhang, which was built by Lama Drukpa Kuenley (also known as the Divine Madman by the West). It is believed that childless women who visit the monastery will conceive after receiving the ‘wang’ (blessing). Visit Punakha Dzong located strategically at the junction of the Pho Chu and Mo Chu rivers, built in 1637 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel. The Dzong served as the religious and administrative center of Bhutan until the mid-1950s. It was here that the dual system of government was introduced in the early 17th century and where the Bhutanese enthroned the First King. Drive towards Nezergang, and see Khamsum Yueley Namgyel Chorten, built by The Queen Mother, Her Majesty Ashi Tshering Yangdon Wangchuck in 1999 for the protection of the country and universal peace in the world, from the base parking, if unable to hike up, which is approximately 1hour 30minutes of walk. Visit the longest suspension bridge in the country, a long metal bridge over a mountain river, decorated with colorful Buddhist prayer flags

Drive to Paro after breakfast and visit National Museum/Ta Dzong in Paro (opening hrs, 9am – 5pm). On your return from the Dzong, visit CSI market, located inside an old-fashioned Bhutanese house that reflects the historic architecture of Paro District. Built in 1980, it's not just a pretty traditional house but also holds onto the feeling of the past that's still present today. They sell the products made and grown in Bhutan like food items, tea, edibles, craft products, etc

After early breakfast, drive to the end of the road at Ramthangkha and hike to Taktsang Monastery. Taktsang meaning “Tiger’s Nest”, is built around a cave in which Guru Rimpoche (also known as Guru Padmasambhava) meditated. The monastery clings seemingly impossible to a cliff at 914m above the valley floor. In 1998 the monastery was seriously damaged by fire and has since been painstakingly reconstructed to its original condition and consecrated by the Fourth King, His Majesty King Jigme Singye Wangchuck in 2005. For the local people it is a place of pilgrimage, but for a tourist, a hike up of about 1.5 hours to the viewpoint opposite the monastery is exhausting, thrilling and mystical. For the strenuous hikers, it will take about a minimum of 3-4 hours depending upon one’s walking pace. Legend has it that Guru Rimpoche is said to have flown to the site of the monastery on the back of a tigress and meditated there. If unable to hike, can see the monastery from the base parking area and return to visit Kyichu Lhakhang and Drugyel Dzong or Namgay artisanal brewery, situated overlooking the international airport to see their microbrewery followed by a beer tasting session. They brew 8 types of beer

After early breakfast, drive to Paro international airport for your onward journey