Bhutan Classic Tour

On arrival at Kathmandu Tribhuwan International Airport received by our staff and guide with warm welcome and greetings and then transfer to your hotels in the heart of Kathmandu city. After checking into your rooms getting refreshed from Jet-Lag, a quiet environment after getting refreshed join at main hall or in lobby where our guide will provide briefing on Bhutan Classic Tour with necessary information includes some Nepal portion. Evening includes group dinner in a typical Nepali restaurant with folk culture program with various dances of Nepal while having your authentic Nepalese dinner with local entertainment.

Morning after hearty breakfast depart from the hotel where our city and tour guide leads you for exciting guided sightseeing around Kathmandu. Although Kathmandu a metropolitan city still retains its ancient culture and traditional way of life with many world heritage sites to visit of great interest, tour of Kathmandu Durbar Square (old palace courtyard) old Syambhunath Stupa (famous land mark of Nepal and Kathmandu), Bouddhanath Stupa (Little Tibet) with holy Pashupatinath Temple of Hindu religion and then back to hotel with time for Bhutan tour preparations.

Morning as per flight time for Bhutan depart from the hotel for scenic one hour flight to land at Paro international airport of Bhutan, with panorama of mountain range during air borne. On reaching at Paro airport going though immigration and visa formalities, our native Bhutanese guide receives you for the drive to Bhutan capital at Thimphu, an interesting ride of two hours through lovely countryside dotted with farm villages of typical Buddhist cultured villages. On reaching Thimphu transfer to respective hotels, a modern city of Bhutan the one and only city in this world without traffic lights, all the traffic controlled by traffic police with a whistle. Afternoon with time for interesting walk around Bhutan capital and witness its great culture and traditional life of Bhutanese.

After breakfast our guide will take you around Thimphu’s memorial stupas, indigenous hospital, where traditional medicine is still practiced and traditional painting school. Afternoon visit includes Changangkha Lhakhang, the oldest temple of valley with short scenic drive to large and recently built Buddha statue, with wonderful view of entire Thimphu valley, after an interesting tour return back to hotel with afternoon free for individual activities.

Our second day in Bhutan begins with morning visit to traditional Hand Made Paper Mill, School of Arts and Crafts where students learns 13 different ways of arts used predominantly in Bhutan. Here visit Folk Heritage Museum, National Library and Traditional Institute of Medicine. Drive to the Zilukha nunnery where you can interact with nuns. After lunch a short and wonderful drive to Punakha via Dochu-la pass at 3,200 m, with wonderful views of Bhutan’s highest mountains Chomolhari / Jumolhari including other peaks. Walk around 108 stupas then continue drive to warm semi tropical valley at Punakha, on arrival hike to the temple of Chimi Lakhang, the temple of fertility associated with religious art of phallus.

At Punkakha a short hike of less 2 hrs to reach at famed Tashigang Hongtso Monastery, located in a clearing on the edge of forested area overlooking town of Hongtso, Tashigang has been one of our favorite visits for well over a decade. In the surrounding buildings are pilgrims practicing silent meditation, and a peaceful calm pervades the area. The monastery houses about 40 orphans, who receive language, religious and general education from the monks an interesting tour of the Gompa (monastery), observe a private ceremony with chanting using ceremonial instruments in the main temple room, here you can interact with head lama. A nice drive at the top of Dochu-la for superb views of Himalaya peaks, including the unclimbed peak Gangkhar Puensum, 7570 m (24,836 feet). Then back to Punakha Valley for drive to Jakar and towards Paro with superb scenery of Bhutan countryside and villages. On reaching Paro transfer into a nice hotel for overnight with rest of the afternoon at leisure for short walks around the market.

Morning after breakfast tour around Trongsa town visit of majestic Trongsa Dzong (Fortress), an earlier royal resident and the unique watchtower which houses a newly converted museum after a nice tour drive towards Yotong La pass at 3,425m and on route stop over the weaving place, beside the road where "Yatha" (wool weaving) is done which the valley of Bumthang is famous for and then continue drive to Jakar on arrival transfer into a nice local lodge / guesthouse.

Starting the morning with a visit of Jampay Lakhang, one of the first two Buddhist temples built in the country. Tour of Kurjey lakhang Temple, the site where royals are cremated, from here walk across the suspension bridge visit the village of Parar and Tamshing or drive there and then concluding the day with a walk passing by the Swiss farm. Most of the activities can be done on foot. Evening stroll in Jakar town and try some local pancake and noodles.

After a great time around Jakar, drive to isolated valley of Phobjikha. The valley protected for endangered and rare Black Necked Cranes visits Bhutan every winter (early Nov to end of February). The drive is very scenic and exciting with everlasting views, on reaching at Gangtery visit the famous old Gompa (monastery), the only Ningma-pa sect of Buddhism monastery and largest around western Bhutan. Phobjikha valley is a paradise for trekkers and hikers with afternoon at leisure for short walks.

Morning starting with an interesting drive to Trongsa leading past Wangdi province and short tour around the ruins of Wangdi Dzong (Fortress), which has been destroyed by fire recently. From here continue drive to Trongsa over Pelela Pass at 3m300 m which forms the part of Black Mountain range that divides the country from east and west. On route this picturesque journey with short break for a hike to remote village of Rujubji. On reaching at Trongsa after a good drive of 5 hours or more with tours in between drive relax and refresh in the local nice hotel.

Morning starts with short drive to visit Punakha Dzong a fortress with interesting temple which is a fine example of Bhutanese rich art and architecture. After a nice morning tour of Punakha, afternoon drive back to Paro with few interesting stops to visit 1927-29 AD fort built by King Shabdung Ngawang Namgyal, who unified the Kingdom of Bhutan. After a pleasant drive and interesting tour reaching at Paro, with time for short visit of Paro Fort ‘Simtokh Dzong’.

Morning after breakfast, a pleasant short drive with an hour climb to Bhutan’s most famous landmark to old Taksang Monastery famous as “Tiger's Nest”. This is place for retreats and meditation of Buddhist monks and high priests, the monastery perched in an overhanging rock cliff with views of Paro town and distance peaks, from here after descend a short drive to 17 th centaury Ta-Dzong, later converted as the National Museum in 1967, afternoon at leisure for walks around Paro shops and markets.

Depending upon flight time to Kathmandu or connecting with other Indian cities, our guide transfer you to Paro international airport for the flight back to Kathmandu, or flight to Delhi and respective destinations. For those flying back to Nepal on reaching Kathmandu airport our staff transfer you back to hotel.

Day 14: Depart for international flight home ward bound or to respective countries

Last day in the country of high beautiful Himalayas as per your international flight transfer to Kathmandu international airport for homeward bound or to next port of call after a wonderful and mesmerizing time in Bhutan Classic tour and in Nepal with grand service of Tramping Himalaya Adventures