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Happiness Country Tour 17Days

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Duration : 16 Nights / 17 Days

Destination Covered : Thimphu, Paro, Wangdue Phodrang, Punakha, Trongsa, Mongar, Bumthang, Samdrup Jongkhar, Trashigang

Tour Activities : Museums, Sightseeing

Tour Themes : Hill Stations & Valleys, Religious & Pilgrimage, Culture & Heritage

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Thimphu, Paro and Wangdue Phodrang Tour Overview

Bhutan is lauded as the land of happiness. And perhaps it is. Life in Bhutan is little slow with bountiful fresh air and living in harmony with nature.

You will not see skyscrapers, Disneyland or high speed train, or not even traffic lights in Bhutan. That’s because we choose not to have them. We have realized that there is more to life than having these facilities. We take the adage are Life is short’s seriously. And to live this short life meaningfully, we crave for happiness.

Maps
Your excursion will start after we receive you at the Paro International Airport. We shall make visits to so many places of interest within short distances. You will get to see the magnificent fortress, the Paro Dzong. You will be taken to Drugyel Dzong which is in ruins perched on a hilltop. This dzong was built a symbol of victory of Bhutanese forces against Tibetan armies in 1649. You will also witness breathtaking beauty of Jhomolhari Mountain which is one of the highest peaks in Bhutan. You will then visit temples and culture sites where you will see the people deeply absorbed into spirituality and Buddhism.

Thimphu, Paro and Wangdue Phodrang Tour Itinerary

Day 1

Paro

We will extend you a warm welcome to Bhutan at Paro airport. With a sumptuous taste of Bhutanese lunch the afternoon will spend exploring stunning and awesome places at Paro. The guest will be taken to see the ruins of the old fortress built in 16th century to mark the victory of Bhutanese forces against the invading Tibetan forces. Another interesting trip will be to see a 7th century temple still preserved in its originality with scared relics belonging to that past. In the evening the guests will be taken to Thimphu.

Day 2

Thimphu

This day will be spend exploring the various attractions in and around the capital city of Bhutan. Guests will be taken to various tourist spots like the zoo where national animal of Bhutan is kept, the largest Buddha statue of its kind in the world, the memorial temple in the heart of the town, and drive away to see the 108 temples at Dochula pass which is two hours journey. In the evening you can stroll down the busy Thimpu street to see the local culture and buy some souvenirs for your loved ones back home.

Day 3

Punakha

Punakha is two hours away from the capital city. On the way you will enjoy natural scenic beauty traveling through the highest pass between Thimphu and Punakha. On this pass are built 108 temples as a tribute to brave King and his armies who drive away the foreign militants residing in within our borders. In Punakha you will see the magnificent Dzong with a male and female rivers flowing on either sides of dzong. Other attractions include the famous temple of Chimi Lhakhang where a Buddhist saint nicknamed ‘The Divine Madman’ subdued the demon who was in the form of a dog. This temple can bless you with special powers especially women who suffer from infertility and needs a child. Talo is another place to visit were you will see traditional farm houses with villagers leading a rustic and undisturbed lives.

Day 4

Trongsa

We return to Trongsa town. This day will take you to see the longest dzong in Bhutan: Trongsa Dzong. This dzong was used as the central administrative building before formal monarchy was instituted in the country. The governor of the dzong called Trongsa Penlop was considered most powerful authority in the country then. Today every crown prince should assume the post of Trongsa Penlop before he is crowned the king. Above the dzong is Ta Dzong which is museum housing the old treasures and artifacts. We can also visit the Thruepang Palace which was residence to first and the second kings.

Day 5

Bumthang

While in Bumthang tourists will be taken on short tours to visit sacred Buddhist sites and beautiful rural settlements around the valley. Tourists will visit The Burning Lake at a place called Tang. This is the lake from where the great Buddhist saint, Pema Lingpa, discovered treasures hidden under the water. Around Tang, we can also see Ugyenchioling Palace that once belonged to Trongsa Penlop (governor) Tshokey Dorji. Tourists can see amenities and provisions of the powerful people back then. Coming back to Bumthang town, tourists will visit Jambay Lhakhang, the old monastery built by the Tibetan king in 7th century. Near this monastery are three monasteries that make Kurje Lhakhang built on sacred places where Guru is said to have meditated and left his imprints. Jakar dzong is nice treat for visitors which is built in 16th century.

Day 6

Mongar

It will be an interesting journey to Mongar crossing the highest road point in Bhutan called Thrumshingla Pass (3750 meters a.s.l.). As we descend the pass the tourists will start to see the glimpses of the eastern Bhutan culture and landscapes. The fields in the villages are used to grow maize which is the staple food for eastern people. In the evening we will reach Mongar town. You will see the Mongar town developing to cluster of concrete buildings with the dzong overlooking the town.

Day 7

Trashigang

Trashigang is two hours drive from Mongar. On the way tourists will drive up to the Drametse Lhakhang known for its unique mask dance called Drametse Nga Chham, featured into the UNESCO heritage site. The towering Trashingang dzong on the high ridge will greet you coming to its town. In the afternoon, tourists will be taken to Rangjung town. There is a famous temple on the hilltop in the middle of the town which is a seat of Buddhist master Dungse Garab Dorje Rinpoche.

Day 8

Gomkora/Tashi Yangtse

The next tour will be to Gomphu Kora which is a sacred site blessed by Guru Rinpoche in 7th century. Tourists will see various impressions left by this great Buddhist saint which are worshipped not only by local people but also pilgrims coming from neighboring Indian towns. We shall then drive away to Trashiyangtse town which is the extreme northeast corner of Bhutan. Tourists will see beautiful valley of Trashiyangtse and the people living in harmony with nature. Tourists will spend the night at Trashigang.

Day 9

Tashigang

On this day tourists will explore other parts of Trashigang. Traditional lifestyles and intact culture of eastern Bhutan can be seen in places like Rangshikhar which used to be the seat of a Buddhist master Rangshikhar Lam. Villagers lead simple life cultivating crops and in harmony with nature. Further drive will take tourists to the Yonphula, which is a high pass on domestic airport is built. The journey to his place will pass through Sherubtse College which is the first college in Bhutan built by a Canadian Jesuit in 1966.

Day 10

Samdrup Jongkhar

On this day tourists will descend to the southern foothills of Bhutan. They will be taken to the town of Samdrup Jongkhar which is located at southeast of Bhutan. This town is gateway to eastern Bhutan for visitors coming by road from India or from nearest Indian airport of Guwahati. History has it that people from all over eastern Bhutan will come this town for shopping and trading in olden days.

Day 11

Pema Gatshel

The uphill journey will take to Pema Gatshel town. Tourists will visit the most famous temple in eastern Bhutan called Yongla Gonpa. It was built by a disciple to honour his teacher some centuries ago. The temple is believed to very sacred which provided much needed impetus and help during the Bhutan’s Duar Wars with the then British India forces in 1865. Tourists will also see elegant Pema Gatshel dzong. Tourists will also visit another famous Buddhist temple called Kheri Goemba built by Kuenga Wangpo, one of the sons of the treasure discoverer Terton Pema Lingpa.

Day 12

Tashigang

Next day will be drive up to Trashigang. Tourists will visit nearby places and villages. They will witness the traditional way of grinding the maize into smaller particles by using two big round stones. And also see villagers crushing maize into hardened flakes which is eaten as snacks by eastern people.

Day 13

Bumthang

The return journey to capital starts by going back to Bumthang town. Tourists will remember and recapture beautiful and breathtaking views and scenes along the way. One of the notable sightseeing will be Ura valley. This cold place is riddled with so many interesting myths and places.

Day 14

Wangdue

Tourists will reach Wangdue town. They shall witness the reconstruction of the Wangdue dzong which was destroyed by fire in a tragic accident in 2012. The dzong was built in 1638. The dzong houses several sacred relics and precious items belonging to Buddhism.

Day 15

Thimphu

After two continuous journey tourists will reach back to capital city of Thimphu. In the afternoon, tourists will visit Simtokha Dzong, which is also one of the oldest monasteries in Bhutan built by Zhabdrung situated at south of the city. In the evening, tourists will get free time to do shopping.

Day 16

Paro

The last day in Bhutan will be spent at where you first landed: Paro valley. The day will be spent exploring people, culture, architecture, places, and interesting attractions in the valley. A trip to Taktshang Monastery can be arranged if tourists wish to go. This is a most famous trip that most tourists coming to Bhutan dares to make.

Day 17

Departure.

It will be a sad day to see you all leaving us. However, we shall treat you with grand breakfast and painfully drop you till the airport. We shall present you a traditional scarf which will be a token of remembrance given to you.