Day 1| Kathmandu

Highlights [top]

• Possible to assist to different Village festivals, depending on dates.
• Bhutan: the country with the best preserved Buddhist culture.
• Original easy trek of 2 days to discover the hermitage of Tharphaling.

Description [top]

Bhutan: a preserved and living cultural heritage.

We explore Bhutan, the land of the Dragon. A country built around global national happiness, a remarkable politic!!! But not the only original thing to notice about it. Bhutan is furthermore amazing for its strong will to protect cultural heritage. During this travel, you will be able to understand its meaning and enjoy its profit while visiting the Dzongs, like in Paro or Punakha and the yearly festivals and holy dance, Tsechu happening there.

Real diving through buddhist culture, each Tsechu is based on ritual dances and is a real initiation for monks and seculars. From Dzong to Dzong, village to village, through a wonderful natural environment at feet of top of the world, you will attest the reality of a unique country. The trip finishes with a flight to Kathmandu, good opportunity for a great mountain flight.

Tour Map [top]

Enlarge Map

Days detail [top]

Day 1 | Kathmandu, Bagmati, Nepal

Arrival in Kathmandu. Rest and free time to visit Katmandu.
Accommodation: Hotel

Day 2 | Paro, Paro, Bhutan

Morning flight to Paro. Visit Paro.
Accommodation: Hotel

Day 3 | Paro, Paro, Bhutan

Climbing to Taksang, the tiger denn, hermitage hanging on a cliff where meditated the famous yogi Padma Sambhava who established tantric Buddhism in Bhutan (VIIIth century) then we back to Paro (3 hours).
Accommodation: Hotel

Day 4 | Punakha, Punakha, Bhutan

Way to Thimphu, capital of Bhutan (2 hours). Lunch in Thimphu then drive to Punakha passing pass and getting wonderful sightseing on whole Himalayan range by fair weather (3 hours).
Accommodation: Hotel

Day 5 | Punakha, Punakha, Bhutan

Visit Punakha dzong then excursion to Chime Lhakang monastery, small temple built on top of hill dominating the river. This newly restored building was erected in XVIth century by famous yogi Drukpa Künleg whose amazing and often saucy stories still belong to popular and religious heritage of Bhutan. It is still an important pilgrimage for sterile women (2 hours).
Afternoon visit Wangdipodrang Dzong.
Accommodation: same Hotel

Day 6 | Tongsa, Tongsa, Bhutan

Long driving (4 hours) through rhododendrons covered black hills that divides western and central part of Bhutan the Pele La pass (3350 m). We reach Tongso and its impressive Dzong appears in front of our way.
Afternoon visit of Tongsa Dzong and the new museum opened in the watch tower (Ta Dzong).
Accommodation: Hotel

Day 7 | Tharpaling, Bumthang, Bhutan

Short drive till the village.(1 hour)
Start hiking(5 hours walking) following the edge of hills to reach the monastery of Tharpaling, highspot for meditation belonging to Nyingmapa school.
- Walking time: 5 hours
- Accommodation : camping next to monastery.

Day 8 | Bumthang, Bumthang, Bhutan

Climb a pass up to the monastery and down in Bumthang's valley (4/5 hours), probably one of nicest valley of Bhutan and famous for its many monasteries and wooden roofed houses.
- Walking time : 4/5 hours
- Accommodation : Hotel in Bhumthang.

Day 9 | Bumthang, Bumthang, Bhutan

3 hours hiking in valley of Bumthang. Visit of Kurje Lhakhang, impressive monastery complex built on the cave where Padmasambhava meditated and let bodyprint and then visit Thamshing built in XVth century by Péma lingpa and which frecos are considered to be oldest of Bhutan and then Jambay Lhakhang, erected in VIIth century considered as oldest temple of whole Bhutan.
- Walking time: 3 hours
- Accommodation: Hotel in Bumthang

Day 10 | Gangtey, Wangdi Phodrang, Bhutan

Drive to Gangtey, small quite village built around the Nyingmapa(elders) monastery which is a monastery held by meditating seculars wearing robes but living in surrounding houses. In this valley, black headed cranes can be seen migrating from Tibet, nearby.
- Accommodation : Hotel

Day 11 | Thimphu, Thimphu, Bhutan

Morning drive to Thimphu (4 hours). Lunch there and visit the capital of Bhutan whole afternoon, especially the Tashicheu Dzong.
- Accommodation : Hotel

Day 12 | Kathmandu, Bagmati, Nepal

Morning transfer to Paro Airport (2 hours) and fly to Kathmandou (1:15 hour). Probably one of nicest mountain flight, following Himalaya from Kanchenjunga to Everest.
Arrival in Katmandou.
Afternoon, transfer for international flight.

Trip notes [top]

Period [top]

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec

Included [top]

• All journey in Bhutan from Paro to Paro in full board, hotel and camp.
• All transport by private car.
• 1 night in Manaslu Hotel in Kathmandu in B/B and one day use in same hotel.
• Transfert Airport/hotel 4 times in Kathmandu.
• 1 english speaking bhoutani guide for all the stay in Bhutan.
• Collective equipment for camping
• During trek, transport of luggage by mule.
• Visa for Bhutan

Not included [top]

• Drinks, tips.
• Meals and visit in Kathmandu.
• Personal equipment for trek.
• International airport taxes.
• International air Faire.
• Repatriation insurance (compulsory: to be purchased with your international plane ticket)
• Compulsory supplement: 304 euros for Flight Kathmandu/Paro two ways on Druk Air (this price is subject to sudden changes according to price of Kerosene.

Notes [top]

• The international back flight from Kathmandu to destination must be chosen carefully: it must be a night flight.
• Supplement Single: 295 euros.
• Possible to organize whole program for 2 people on following base: 1745 euros/pax
• Possible to organize whole program for 1 people on following base: 1840 euros/pax
• Only visa for Bhutan is needed. You can stay 3 nights in Nepal without visa but if you wish to stay longer time in Nepal, you need to apply for visa, 2 identity photos and 30 $ required.

Equipment [top]

• Good and solid trekking shoes.
• Cloths according to the season.