Day 1: Arrival in Paro
Welcome to the land of happiness, also known as Druk Yul (country of the Drukpa
Lineage, the Dragon People, or the Land of the Thunder Dragon.) Upon arrival at the
Paro International Airport, you will be greeted in our traditional style by our guide and
driver, who will be accompany you throughout the tour.
After that, you will drive to your hotel, check in and rest for a while. Then after you are
done, you will then start off with your first sightseeing in Paro.
We will gradually start with the tour at National museum / Ta Dzong / Watch tower.
(Ta Dzong actually means a watch tower to look after the province of Paro valley and
served as a regional administrator as well as a store house which would ensure
supplies in the event of warfare.)
Paro Dzong / Rinpung Dzong (It was built by Gyalchog (brother of Gyalzom) the family
of lama Pha Dung Dung in 15 centuries. He surrendered himself to the local deity
Jawang Nep and built a 5 storied building and named as Hungrel Gampo.)
You will then go have lunch at a local restaurant to experience the traditional style
Bhutanese cuisine.
Dungtsey Lhakhang (The temple is notable as it is in the form of a chorten, very rare in
Bhutan. It is located on the edge of a hill between the Paro valley and
the Dopchari valley, across the bridge from Paro.)
Then you will go back to your hotel and you will need plenty of rest since tomorrow, you
will start with a short hike to the famous Tiger’s Nest Monastery. It’s mainly for you to
acclimate and do short hike at the iconic Monastery before you do the Drukpath Trek.
Day 2: Paro Taktshang
Today you will be visiting the most iconic structure in the valley of Paro, the Tiger’s
Nest. The cave on the rock was there before 750 million years ago during the formation
of the earth. It was only known after the arrival of Guru Padmasambhava in 746 A.D.
Guru Padmasambhava used the cave for meditation for 4 months. He came on a riding
female tigress (moenmo Tashi Khenden) from Singye dzong – Khoma-Drakarpo-
Chumphuney and finally on Taktshang (tiger’s nest).
And if you wish to visit another temple which is really old and sacred, then please visit
Kichu lhakhang (Kichu it actually means the peaceful palace. There are three temples
built by a very renowned person with different dates. The first temple was built by a 1 st
Dharma king of Tibet Songtsen Gampo in 7 th century. He has built a 108 structure in a
Himalayan region to ogress the evil spirits and out of those two temples was now in
Bhutan and they are Kichu lhakhang in Paro and Jambay lhakhang in Bumthang.)
You will also get to see the museum of Dilgo Khyentse Rimpoche’s home.
The Druk Path Trek is a moderate, Five-day trek. This popular trek offers beautiful
views as you cross the chain of mountains that separate the Paro and Thimphu valleys.
This route is also famous for its spectacular rhododendron forests and wonderful high
altitude lakes teeming with fish. There will be a number of temples and dzongs to visit
on the way, and in the clear weather of late autumn and winter there are great views of
the Himalayas. As well as being able to visit the sites of Paro and Thimphu before and
after the trek, you may also enjoy a day visit to the Punakha valley.
Day 3: National Museum to Jili Dzong
Although today’s trekking day is short, we keep slow and steady pace as altitude gain is
significant. After breakfast, you will drive to the road head at the National Museum
(2487m) above Paro from where you will start your trek. We will walk from the Museum
heading up hill through apple orchards, smallholdings of Damchena village and pine
forests. Visit Jele Dzong (3490m), perched on a whaleback ridge. Jele Dzong is mostly
in ruins and there is a Lhakhang with the statute of Buddha Sakyamuni. On a clear day,
the views of Paro town far below and of Mount Jumolhari (7315m) are breathtaking.
Overnight camp at 3480m.
Day 4: Jili Dzong to Rabana
Today’s walk is a short and enjoyable ridge walk, full of short ascents and descents, so
there’s plenty of time for a morning visit to Jili Dzong. You might see or hear monal
pheasants during the day. There are two trails to Jimilang Tsho. Most groups take the
high trail because it offers better views, including Jomolhari (in good weather) and
6989m Jichu Drakye, the peal representing the protective deity of Paro. The lower trail
descends from Tshokham into the upper Bemang Rong valley and then climbs via the
yak pasture of Langrithang. It will take another 3 to 4 hours.
Day 5: Rabana to Jimilang
There are two trails to Jimilang Tsho. Most groups take the high trail because it offers
better views, including Jomolhari (in good weather) and 6989m Jichu Drakye, the peal
representing the protective deity of Paro. The lower trail descends from Tshokham into
the upper Bemang Rong valley and then climbs via the yak pasture of Langrithang. It
will take another 3 to 4 hours.
Day 6: Jimilang to Simkotra Tsho
The trail climbs from the lower end of the lake through yellow rhododendrons to a ridge
at 4010m, traverses the ridge, and then descends to a single stone shelter. It will take
around 4 hours.
Day 7: Simkotra Tsho to Phajoding to Thimphu
In the evening side, you can visit the Centenary Farmers’ Market. It is where most of
the locals gather near the bank of the Thimphu river every weekend. Farmers from the
nearby village come here to sell their agricultural products and handmade crafts to the
people.
Day 8: Thimphu
Today after breakfast, you will then start our sightseeing at Memorial Chorten (The
National Memorial Chorten was built in memory of Third Druk Gyalpo and is dedicated
to World Peace. The chorten is a large white structure crowned with a golden spire.)
Then visit the Buddha Point (one of the largest Buddha rupas in the world, at 54
meters (177ft) and contains 100,000: 8-inch-tall and 25,000: 12-inch-tall gilded bronze
Buddha.)
Takin Preservation Centre (located in the Mothitang district of Thimphu, Bhutan is a
wildlife reserve area for takin (Budorcas taxicolor), the national animal of Bhutan.)
You will then go check in your hotel. Lunch will be at Folk Heritage to experience the
traditional style Bhutanese cuisine and house.
National Institute of Zorig Chusum; (Commonly known as ‘the painting school’,
operates four to six years courses that provide instruction in Bhutan’s 13 traditional
arts.)
Royal Textile Academy of Bhutan (is a national textiles museum)
Changangkha Lhakhang (It was first built by Lama Phajo Drugom Zhigpo(12-13
century) the founder of Drukpa Kagyu school in Bhutan.)
Tashichho Dzong (Tashichho Dzong has been the seat of the government since 1952
and presently houses the throne room and offices of the king, the secretariat and the
ministries of home affairs and finance. Other government departments are housed in
buildings nearby.)
OR IF you wish to do mountain biking, you can also do it here in the capital since there
are few places where you can ride from the hills and also from the streets to visit places
around the capital.
Day 9: Punakha
Today you will be driving to Punakha district (the old capital of Bhutan till 1985). Start
off early in the morning. You will be driving pass the Dochula Pass (Elevation 3100m),
one of the highest pass. Once you reach there, you will stop for a short sightseeing for
about 30minutes.
Then if you wish to ride your bike downhill from the pass towards Punakha, you can do
it since this will be a whole new different level of experience for you and your son. The
distance from the pass till Punakha will be around 51km.
The elevation will be 1300m in Punakha.
Before Punakha, you will first visit the Chimi lhakhang (Temple of the famous saint
mad man Drukpa Kinley)
Then have a lunch at a local traditional restaurant.
Punakha Dzong (also known as Punthang Dechenphodrang, Legend says that
Zhabdrung made the carpenter trulpizow balep made to sleep in chamber and he had
been taken to paradise /zangtopelri of Guru Rinpoche and he got at the sketch and the
model of the dzong.)
Visit to the long suspension bridge in Punakha. (Approximately 160m wide)
Later you will drive back to Paro to catch your flight in the morning.
Day 10: Departure from Bhutan
Today you will be dropped to the airport by our team and they will bid farewell to you all.
Please have a pleasant flight back home. We will be looking forward to seeing you
again in future for another place to tour around. Thank You & Tashi Delek!