Trip Details

This Punakha Valley is designed you to take you inside the beautiful Bhutan.  Monasteries, royal palaces, beautiful landscapes, art and culture of the local people are the main highlight of this tour.  Bhutan has sacred places with a spiritual prominence.  According to the legends, Bhutanese history began on the 7th century A.D and the myths and legends have been passed on throughout the century and the people of this country have well preserved their culture and religions through many generations.  This 6-day tour offers you to explore different parts of Bhutan including Paro, Punakha Dzong, Punakha, Dochula Pass, and other touristic areas here in Bhutan.  

Itinerary

• Day 1 Arrival to Paro

  Upon reaching the airport and after finishing visa formalities, our staff will take you to Thimphu which is about 54 km away from Paro. It will take about 1-1/2 hours to reach there. It will be a scenic 1:30 hour drive. After reaching there, you will be transferred to the hotel. During the free time, you will explore the local market. Overnight stay at the hotel.

• Day 2 Thimpu Sightseeing

  Today, we will spend whole day here exploring the area. After breakfast, we will visit the Memorial chorten built in the memory of the late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. Also, we will visit Changangkha monastery which was built around 15th century. Beautiful sculpture and arts are well preserved in this monastery. We will spend some time here roaming around and then we will further drive down. We will get a good view of the valley and the surrounding environment. On the way, we will visit Drupthob nunnery temple. It is a newly build nunnery where we will spend some time exploring the area. After that we will drive back to our hotel. In the free time, we will explore the market. Overnight stay at the hotel.

• Day 3 Drive to Punakha

  After breakfast, we prepare to drive to reach Punakha. It will take about 3 hours to reach there. We will cross Dochula Pass 3100 m during our drive. During the good weather, you will get a good view of mountain ranges towards east. Mt.Gangar Punsum 7520 m, highest mountain here in Bhutan can be seen in clear weather. We will enjoy the view of the mountains while driving after that we will cross the pass. Road is mostly downhill, which will take you to the lower and warmer valleys of Punakha, Lobesa. After checking in the hotel, we will explore the local area in the free time. Overnight stay at the hotel.

• Day 4 Drive to Thimpu

  After breakfast, our tour starts. First we will visit Punakha Dzong – it is an old capital of Bhutan which is now administrative district of Punakha. This fortress is built between two rivers and has survived many calamities like floods and fire. A Punakha Serda procession takes place during the month of February to celebrate victory over the Tibetans. We will spend some time roaming around the area and continue to drive to reach Thimpu. It will take about 3 hours reach here. During free time, we will explore around the local place here in Thimpu. Overnight stay at the hotel.

• Day 5 Drive to Paro

  After breakfast we will drive for 2 hours to reach Paro. On the way, we will visit Simtokha Dzong, the oldest building in Bhutan which now serves as a Buddhist University. We will explore the area for some time and then continue our drive to reach Paro. We will visit ruined fortress of Drugyel Dzong – major attractions here in Bhutan. There is a myth that in the early 17th century, this fort defended the Paro Valley from the Tibetan invasion. We will spend some time there sightseeing around the valley. Then we will hike up to Taktsang Monastery. We will hike villages and forest full of pine. It will take about 3 hours of walk to reach at the top. The monastery is situated a big granite cliff 800 meters from the Paro valley. There is an old saying that the Great Saint Padmasambhava came on a flying tigress where he meditated in a cave for 3 months around 7th century. He spread the Buddhism here in Paro Valley. We will explore around the monastery and the surrounding area and then return back. In the free time, we will explore the local market and do some shopping. Overnight stay at the hotel.

• Day 6 Departure

  Today is the last day of this tour. After breakfast, our representative will escort you to connect you to your flight.

Photos