Bhutan East West Tour (12 Days & 11 Nights of Bhutan Cultural Tour)

Following early breakfast, transfer to Satsam Chorten for excursion to view & visit the spectacular Takshang Monastery. “Takshang” literally means Tiger’s Nest. The Monastery is believed to have been built in 1684 on the spot where Guru Rimpoche (founder of Buddhism in Bhutan) flew on the back of a Tigress and meditated to subdue the demons in Paro valley. The trail to the Monastery climbs through beautiful pine forest, many of the trees festooned with Spanish moss and an occasional grove of fluttering prayer flags. This incredible Monastery clings vertically to the edge of a granite rock cliff that plunges 900 meters above the valley floor.

• Lunch at Takshang Cafeteria.
• Later visit Taa Dzong, the national museum of Bhutan.
• Walk down through the cantilever bridge to visit Paro town.
• Dinner and overnight Hotel

Early breakfast, and transfer to Thimphu & sightseeing:

• Visit the National Memorial Chorten, a huge Stupa built in memory of the third king of Bhutan HM Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, who reigned the Kingdom from 1952-1972; the building of this landmark was envisaged by him as a monument to world peace and prosperity.
• Visit Zorig Chosum (commonly known as the Painting School), where students undertake a six year course on the traditional arts and crafts of Bhutan.
• Visit National Library, which holds an extensive collection of Buddhist texts and manuscripts, some dating back several hundred years, as well as modern academic books, mainly of Himalayan culture.
• Visit the National Institute of Traditional Medicine (outside only) followed by visit to Zilukha Nunnery & Dupthop Lhakhang.
• Lunch at a local restaurant.
• Continue sightseeing with a visit to the Bhutanese Hand Made Paper factory.
• Handicrafts Emporium.
• Crafts Bazaar.
• Buddha’s Point.
• Takkin Preservation Center.
• Tashichhodzong, the central secretariat building that houses the office and throne room of the king.
• Evening at leisure in town.
• Dinner & overnight at Hotel.

Early breakfast and drive to Punakha across the Dochula Pass (Alt.3050 M). If the weather is clear, you will have spectacular view of the snowcapped Himalayan mountain peaks from the pass. The colorful 108 Chortens on top of the pass is spectacular to look at. Continue drive to Punakha; and check in at the hotel. After lunch visit:

• Punakha Dzong, a historic Dzong that was once the central secretariat building of Bhutan until the time Punakha was the old capital of Bhutan. This Dzong looks like a floating ship between two rivers Pho Chu and Mo Chu.
• Later visit Khuruthang town and walk around the valley.
• Dinner & overnight Hotel.

• Following early breakfast, a short climb up hill to visit the Khamsum Yulley Monastery; it is a gentle climb up hill for app 45 minutes and the view of the valley is spectacular from the top of this monastery.
• Continue sightseeing with a visit to Chimmi Lhakhang; a temple popularly known as “The Temple of Fertility” that is regarded as a pilgrimage site for barren couple in Bhutan.
• Later transfer to Trongsa; Enroute visit Wangduephodrang Dzong.
• Evening a leisure time in town
• Dinner & overnight Hotel

Following breakfast, visit :

• Trongsa Dzong and the Monarchy’s Museum, which has a huge collection of antiques; later transfer to Bumthang.
• Check-in at hotel and after lunch visit :
• The Swiss farm & Cheese factory; later explore the valley on foot.
• Dinner & overnight at Hotel

Full day sightseeing – visit:

• Jambay Lhakhang.
• Kurjee Lhakhang..
• Kenchosum Lhakhang.
• Afternoon visit
• Jakar Dzong, the administrative building of Bumthang valley and the Yatha Weaving Center.
• Evening at leisure in town.
• Dinner & overnight Hotel

Following early breakfast, transfer to Mongar across the Thumsingla Pass, alt.3750 Mtrs. It takes about 7 hours to cover this 192 kms distance from Bumthang to Mongar. You will also cross through Ura valley which is 48 kms from Bumthang. Ura is an interesting village with about 40 packed houses at an altitude of 3100 Mtrs. Bhutan’s highest mountain Mt.Gangkharpinsum is also visible from the pass on a clear weather. You will also descend to a low altitude at 570 Mtrs. At Kuri Zampa; from here the road climbs up through cheer pine forest and cultivated field for about 25 kms to reach Mongar town. Evening visit Mongar Dzong, built albeit quite recently, the Dzong still maintains the architectural traditions followed by a leisure time in town. Dinner & overnight at Hotel

After breakfast, drive across Kori la pass (2450 Mtrs.), the place marked by a pretty Chorten and a stone wall. The first part of the journey is through leafy forest filled with ferns. Later road descends rapidly through corn fields and banana groves until you reach the famous zigzags of Yadi, which is a recent settlement. About 40 kms onwards lies Trashigang at 1000 Mtrs. Trashigang is center of the biggest and most populated districts in the country. Visit Trashigang Dzong, standing extreme end of the spur, overhanging the Gamri River; the Dzong is the administrative seat of the district. Evening at leisure in town. Dinner & overnight Hotel

Day excursion to Trashiyangtse, a district that borders to the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. Sightseeing includes visit to the temple of Gom Kora, set on a small alluvial plateau, overlooking the river, 24 km from Trashigang. You will continue on down the road to Doksum village, where you can see women busily weaving traditional Bhutanese fabric, and a chain-link swing bridge dating back to the 15th Trashiyangtse is now a rapidly growing town and is famous for its wooden containers and bowls, attractive and handy souvenirs of a visit to this remote region. Later visit Trashiyangtse Dzong, which overlooks the town. Continue visit the dazzling white Stupa of Chorten Kora on the riverbank below the town, and the nearby Institute for Zorig Chosum, where students are trained in Bhutan’s 13 traditional arts and crafts; evening drive back to Trashigang. Picnic lunch on the way. Dinner & overnight Hotel.

Morning drive along the Sherubtse College, visit the Blind School and Weaving Center at Khaling and drive down to the eastern Gateway of the country, Samdrup Jongkhar. There is a change of vegetation from alpine to sub-tropical and the weather Evening at leisure in town. Dinner & overnight at Hotel

Following breakfast, transfer to the Indian city of Gauwhati, which is 110 kms. and is around 3 hours drive; your Indian Agent will take you through this route for your onward journey.