Meet at Bangkok Airport this morning for your flight to Paro. Upon arrival you are introduced to Bhutan’s history and culture on a visit to the National Museum in the Ta Dzong, a 17th-century fortress. The Paro Valley, with its' rivers, forested mountains and brightly trimmed wooden houses, offers a bucolic welcome to the kingdom.

A drive to the top of Chele La, the 13,000-foot pass atop Bhutan’s highest paved road, offers spectacular views of Chomo Lhari, its' most sacred peak. You will also visit Dzongdrakha, a tranquil village of farmhouses and temples, and revered Kyichu Lhakhang, a temple dating to the 7th century. In Buddhist mythology it holds down the left foot of an ogress whose body is so large it covers Bhutan and part of Tibet.

Today drive to Punakha, the kingdom’s former capital. En route you traverse Dochu La, a 10,000-foot pass marked by fluttering prayer flags and a stunning view of the entire eastern Himalayas. You descend through evergreen oak and rhododendron forest to the Punakha Valley, green and fertile with rice, oranges, bananas and guavas grown in abundance.

Straddling the confluence of the Po and Mo rivers, the Punakha Dzong, built in 1637, was the seat of government until the 1950s and home to Bhutan’s religious establishment. It remains the monks’ winter residence, and you may be granted access to its temple-filled courtyards. Stop for a picnic at Khamsum Chorten, an exquisite shrine with intricate carved wood detailing.

Your destination is Phobjikha, a high glacial valley that is the winter nesting grounds for the endangered blacknecked crane. Fewer than 6,000 remain in the wild, migrating each winter from the Tibetan Plateau to the marshes of this little-visited region.

Rise early this morning to see the cranes and visit Gangteng Gompa, one of the largest and most influential monasteries in Bhutan. At Trongsa view the sprawling stucco and woodtrimmed dzong built in 1644, the ancestral home of Bhutan’s royal family.

A short drive from Trongsa takes us through rice-terraced hills to Kuenga Rabten Palace, the winter residence of Bhutan’s second king. If you are lucky you may see Ward’s Trogan, endangered rufous-necked hornbills and golden langur monkeys.

Today cross Pele La, your third high pass, before dropping dramatically to the village of Wangdiphodrang. Arrive late this afternoon at your hotel on the banks of a rushing river. In the subtropical forests look for orchids and a variety of abundant bird life.

Return over Dochu La to Thimphu, Bhutan’s capital. It is surrounded by mountains and ancient monasteries, and the only one without traffic lights. Visit the Bhutan Heritage Museum and you may make other visits to the royal silver and goldsmiths, handmade paper factory, handicraft emporium, thangkha painting school or archery grounds

Drive back to Paro where your trip concludes with an impressive finale: Taktshang, or “Tiger’s Nest,” a complex of 17th-century temples clinging to the side of a precipitous cliff over 2,000 feet above the valley floor. The Guru Rimpoche is believed to have flown from India on the back of a tigress to the site, where he then meditated in a cave for three months. You must hike to reach a viewpoint opposite the monastery, but your effort is well-rewarded with unsurpassed views of the monastery, mountains and valley below.

Depart for Bangkok and onward.
PLEASE NOTE:
This itinerary is likely to change slightly - indeed we can supply permutations of this trip, please ask.

Accommodations in Bhutan were chosen for their character and comfort. They range from traditional Bhutanese guesthouses powered by generators and heated by wood burning stoves to beautiful, modern hotels. For example, Zhiwaling, where you stay at the start of your journey, combines the sensibilities of a fine Bhutanese guesthouse with modern amenities. Elaborate hand-carved wooden cornices and masterful stonework coexist beautifully with newer features such as Swedish underfloor heating, comfortable furnishing and excellent cuisine. There is also a spa which offers all the amenities of a modern fitness center: sauna, steam room, gym and a traditional Bhutanese outdoor hot-stone bath. Dewachen, whilst more rustic, has pine paneled walls and brightly colored Bhutanese textiles, yet conveys the feeling of a Swiss mountain lodge!

Walking about 2-4 miles at altitudes up to 11,000 feet sometimes over rough terrain is required to participate in all activities. Travellers are not required to participate in every activity.

We have pre booked spaces for our guests on flights from Bangkok to Paro. The schedules are not currently confirmed. You should plan on arriving in Bangkok a day prior to your tour and depart on your final day after 6pm. We recommend you book another night in Bangkok on your last day.