Tripology

An Exciting Interview with Arthur Frommer

11-Days Thimphu festival

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Detailed Trip Description

This tour will introduce you to Bhutan and its unique culture and tradition. The highlight of this tour will be the Thimphu festival which is celebrated once annually and different from any other festivals celebrated in and around the country. The songs, the mask dance, the folk dances, actually the whole event will amuse you.

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Trip Itinerary

Day 1 - Paro

 
Arrive Paro from Bangkok-Delhi-Kathmandu.
Commercial Flight

The flight to Paro crosses the Himalaya Mountains, affording spectacular views of the awesome peaks, including the sacred Jumolhari and Jichu Drake peaks in Bhutan.

Airport Transfer

Upon arrival in Paro, you will be greeted by our representative and transferred to your hotel.

Sightseeing

In the afternoon you can visit the Paro Dzong. It was built in 1646 and now houses government offices and religious institutions, as do all the dzongs (forts) currently. You can then tour the National Museum, formerly the watchtower for the dzong. It now houses a collection of fine arts, paintings, thankas, statues, and antiques.

Sightseeing

Afterward you will visit Kyichu Lhakhang, the oldest temple in the country.

Sightseeing

In the evening you can stroll through the Paro town.

Hotel

Overnight in Paro.


Day 2 - Thimphu

 
Paro - Thimphu.
Hiking

After breakfast hike to Taktsang (Tiger's Nest) Monastery, which is Bhutan's most famous monastery. Guru Rinpoche is said to have flown on the back of a tigress from Singye Dzong in Lhuntse to meditate in a cave where Taktsang Monastery now stands. It is perched on the edge of a steep cliff, about 900 meters above Paro Valley. The hike to reach the viewpoint to the monastery makes for a nice half-day excursion.

Performing Arts

After lunch, attend the festival.

Hotel

Overnight in Thimphu.


Day 3 - Thimphu

 
Thimphu (festival).
Performing Arts

Whole day at the Thimphu festival.

Hotel

Overnight Thimphu.


Day 4 - Thimphu

 
Sightseeing

In the morning attend the Thimphu festival.

Hiking

Afternoon hike to Tango. It will be a good half day hike to the monastery.

Hotel

Overnight Thimphu.


Day 5 - Bumthang

 
Thimphu- Bumthang.
Private Car Service

You will begin the day by driving to Gantey.

Sightseeing

You'll pass through dense forests of oak trees and rhododendrons and arrive at Gantey village, where you'll visit Gantey Gompa, the only Nyingmapa monastery in western Bhutan. From there you'll head to Bumthang. The route is along a spectacular winding road, crossing 3,300-meter-high Pele La and 3,500-meter-high Yutong La (pass). Along the way you will stop at a yethra (textile weaving) factory, where the yethras are designed with patterns unique to Bumthang, and you can even watch some of the weavers at their looms.

Hotel

Overnight in Bumthang.


Day 6 - Bumthang

 
Bumthang sightseeing.
Sightseeing

After breakfast, you will tour the beautiful region and visit sights including Jakar Dzong, the administrative center of the valley; the Udee woodcarving factory in Jakar; Jambey Lhakhang, one of the oldest monasteries in Bhutan, dating from the introduction of Buddhism in Bhutan; and Kurjey Lhakhang, one of the most sacred places, because Guru Rinpoche left his body imprint on the cave when he was meditating. After lunch you will have a chance to tour Tamshing Lhakhang, which houses interesting religious Buddhist paintings, and you will make a stop at the Swiss cheese factory.

Sightseeing

You will also see Mebar Tsho (Burning Lake), where some of Guru Rinpoche's treasures were found in the 15th century by the famous treasure discover Pema Lingpa. It's a good place to meditate.

Sightseeing

You can spend the evening strolling through Bumthang town.

Hotel

Overnight in Bumthang.


Day 7 - Wangdi Phodrang

 
Bumthang - Wangduephodrang.
Sightseeing

You'll begin the day at the Bumthang market, and then head to Wangduephodrang, with a brief stop in Trongsa to visit the Ta Dzong and Trongsa Dzong.

Shopping

In Wangduephodrang, you can stroll through the town and visit the shops.

Hotel

Overnight in Wangduephodrang.


Day 8 - Thimphu

 
Wangduephodrang - Punakha - Thimphu.
Sightseeing

After breakfast you will drive to Punakha, the former capital of Bhutan, and visit Punakha Dzong, which is noteworthy both for being one of the most beautiful dzongs in Bhutan and also for having been built by the first Shabdrung in 1637. You will then visit Khamsum Yulephelma Chorten in Punakha.

Sightseeing

On the way back from Punakha, you will stop at Metshina Village and take a 20-30 minute walk through the rice fields to Chimi Lakhang, which is a fertility temple.

Hotel

Overnight in Thimphu.


Day 9 - Thimphu

 
Thimphu sightseeing.
Sightseeing

After breakfast you will visit the King's Memorial Chorten (built in memory of the third King of Bhutan who reigned from 1952-1972), Changgangkha Monastery, the radio tower (for a great view of Thimphu Valley and the Thimphu Dzong), and the zoo, which contains the national animal of Bhutan: the takin. From there you will visit the nunnery temple, the National Library (which houses ancient manuscripts), and the School of Arts and Crafts (also known as the painting school).

Sightseeing

After a relaxing lunch, you will visit the National Institute of Traditional Medicine, the Folk Heritage Museum, a traditional paper factory, and the Simtokha Dzong (the oldest fortress in the kingdom).

Hotel

Overnight in Thimphu.


Day 10 - Paro

 
Thimphu - Paro.
Hiking

After breakfast, you can hike to Tango Monastery, which was built in the 15th century. It's a center of study for monks, and it affords a great view of the Thimphu Valley.

Sightseeing

In the afternoon, you will head to Paro. In the evening you can visit a traditional farmhouse.

Food and Dining

If you wish, enjoy a hot-stone bath and a typical Bhutanese dinner.

Hotel

Overnight in Paro.


Day 11 - Paro

 
Depart Paro.
Airport Transfer

Depart.


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