Days 01 : 

Arrive Paro drive to Thimphu
Your journey begins with Bhutan’s National airline to Paro Valley at 1110am. If you are lucky, you will have a glorious view of the Snowcapped Himalayas including Everest, the icon of the Himalayan range. The remarkable and steep descent into the Paro valley is an awe-inspiring beginning to an adventure of a lifetime. After visa formalities and collection of baggage, you will meet the representative from Bhutan Journeys, who will drive through Paro valley for lunch at one of the local restaurant. Afternoon we will take a 2-hour leisurely drive towards the Capital of Bhutan, Thimphu. Enroute you will view Tachogang monastery, (the monastery of the Excellent Horse) built by Thangthong Gyalpo (Iron chain builder in Bhutan), before reaching to Chunzom. At the confluences of Paro/ Thimphu River, here you will see three forms of Chortens in different styles i.e. Nepalese, Tibetan and Bhutanese. The drive then follows the Thimphu River upwards passing through several villages. Upon reaching Thimphu, you will be taken to one of the best hotel available in the country. After checking in at the Hotel, you will have a free to stroll in Thimphu Main Street. Welcome Dinner and Overnight: Hotel

Days 02 :

Thimphu Sightseeing
This morning we will visit following places of cultural interest. First visit to the National Memorial Chorten with its golden spines shining in the sun, its tinkling bells built in honour of Late King of Bhutan. This Chorten is centrally located and you will see many elder people circling around it. The Folk and Heritage Museum: lets you experience the Bhutanese way of living. The Arts and Craft Institute: This is a vocational training institute where the art of painting, woodcraft and sculpturing are taught to students with the objective of preserving the rich and pristine heritage. The National Library: This repository houses ancient religious and historical texts. The Indigenous Hospital: The hospital manufactures traditional medicines from various raw materials collected from varying altitudes within the country. Bhutan Post (Post Office): As the sole postal organization of Bhutan, Bhutan Post offers you the finest collections of stamps and post cards. You can purchase the finest stamps and cards as a souvenir. Lunch will be served at one of the local restaurant in town. Afternoon will visit the Textile Museum: displays the fine art of weaving from various regions of Bhutan. You will be able to see the different fabrics used for this art and there will be a brief audiovisual program on textiles of Bhutan. Thereafter we drive to Sangjay Gang to have a “Birds Eye View” of Thimphu valley and en-route visit the zoo to see the National Animal “Takin”, and then we will visit the Drubthob Gompa Nunnery: Nuns with sport short hair, who play a vital role in the religious affairs of the local community are enrolled here and then drive onto Tashicho Dzong, the main secretariat which houses the summer residence of the central monk body and main seat of government. Its majestic architecture in finely balanced proportions is complemented by artistic decorations and paintings and followed by visit to the Handicraft shop and return to your hotel. Dinner and Overnight: Jhomolhari Hotel / Pedling Hotel

Days 03 :

Thimphu – Punakha
This morning we depart for Punakha, the drive takes about 3 hours, and the route passes through the horticulture centre in Yusipang before reaching the 10,000ft Dochula pass. On a clear day you will be able to see a spectacular view of the Eastern Himalayas from this pass. The pass is also dotted by many colorful prayer flags and chortens. We will have light refreshment at the Dochula cafeteria. Thereafter we descend through the forest of rhododendrons and magnolia. After several stops on the way, you pass the village of Lumitsawa; Thinleygang and reach the fertile valley of Lobesa. Drive for another 30 minutes to your hotel for check in. After settling down you will have some lunch. Afternoon you will visit Punakha Dzong which is one of the most architecturally impressive Dzong in the country. It is ideally located between two rivers Pho Chu (male) and Mo Chu (female). It is the winter residence for the Jey Khenpo (Chief Abbot) and the central Monk body. Then on time availability, we can drive towards the north of Punakha Valley to be close at the country side and view Khamsum Yulley Chorten perched on the hill, overlooking the stunning valley. Dinner and Overnight: Zangdopelri Hotel

Days 04 :

Punakha – Trongsa
After breakfast we visit the Punakha Dzong which is one of the most architecturally impressive Dzongs in the country. It is ideally located between two rivers Pho Chu (male) and Mo Chu (female). It is the winter residence for the Jey Khenpo (Chief Abbot) and the central Monk body. We drive to Wangdue district, on the left side of the Wangdue; you can see a typical Bhutanese farm village in Rinchengang. After passing through Wangdue town with a view of its Dzong perched on a cliff we drive through the tropical vegetation to Nobding and over the Phelela pass 3350m (11,000ft). Throughout your trip you will see the ever changing beautiful sceneries of rural Bhutan, with scattered settlements far from the road. A picnic lunch will be served enroute. As we descend through the open meadows and valley via the Chendebji Chorten we will see the occasional yak herd and several other villages. From here another 2 hours drive will take you to Trongsa, offering impressive view of Trongsa Dzong enroute. Overnight: Hotel

Days 05 :

Trongsa – Bumthang
After your breakfast, we will visit the monumental architecture, “The Trongsa Dzong”. The Dzong has played a vital role in shaping the political history of Bhutan. After the Dzong, we stop at Trongsa town and stroll for sometimes. We shall drive towards Bumthang valley over the Yotung la pass (11,800ft). En route we shall visit the Yathra weaving center at Zugney. Upon reaching and checking in at your hotel in Bumthang, you will be served with your lunch. Afternoon you will have fee time to relax or walk in Jakar town. Swiss Guesthouse

Days 06 :

Bumthang – Local Sightseeing
Today’s sightseeing in Bumthang includes visits to:Jambay Lhakhang: built by the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo in the 7th Century. Kurjey Lhakhang: legend has it that the body imprint of Guru Rimpoche was left behind while meditating in a cave in this temple. We will then make a short walk to Tamshing Monastery built by Terton Pema Lingpa. Lunch will be served at your hotel.

Afternoon you will visit Jakar Dzong, castle of the white bird, which houses the administrative center and monastic centre of the valley and the Karchu Dratshang private monastic institute under His Eminence Namkaha Nignpo. Finally we will go to the Membartsho (flaming lake) where Saint Pema Lingpa discovered the religious treasure hidden by Guru Rimpoche. Evening at leisure. Overnight & Dinner: Swiss Guest House

Days 07 :

Bumthang Sightseeing
We depart for an excursion drive to Tang valley passing through several villages and hike to visit Ugyen Choling monastery to visit the private Museum. Brief historical account of Ugyen Choling begins with a visit of the great Tibetan master of Buddhism, Longchen Rabjam (1308 -63). He is the most celebrated writer and philosopher of Nyingmapa School of Tibetan Buddhism and is regarded as the synthesizer of the doctrine and methods of Dzongchen “school of great perfection". Ugyen Chloing was never so much a seat of political power but played a vital role as a religious center. It is the only structure of its size and history that still exist and used by a family with direct historical links to it. With its size and magnitude of the complex has initiated to house as a historical museum to ensure its continuity with the following commitments:
Preserving and maintaining Ugyen Choling as a religious and cultural legacy.-
Continuing the traditional religious observance and rituals
Providing a place for religious studies, research and solitude
- Reviving and enhancing traditional skills and providing an outlet for local handicrafts.
We will visit the Museum and walk in the village and enroute visit Rimochen Monastery. Enroute visit Membartsho (flaming lake), where Terton Pemalingpa discovered the hidden treasures. Drive back to your Hotel: Dinner and Overnight: Swiss Guesthouse / Gongkhar
OR
Depart for an excursion to URA valley over Shethrang la (11,810ft). We pass through several villages along our journey and while URA; we will visit the URA monastery and take a walk through the village. We drive back to road head to Tang valley and Lunch served at your Hotel. Dinner and Overnight: Swiss Guesthouse / Gongkhar

Days 08 :

Tuesday, Bumthang – Wangdue
We will take 7-8 hours long drive to Wangdue. Lunch will be served at Chendebji Chorten. Continue your journey to Wangdue and after crossing over Phele La pass (11000ft), we will retrace our steps and follow a road that heads to Phojikha valley over Tashi La Pass. After about an hour you will see Phobjikha valley. It is a wide open glacial valley, where Gantey Gompa is ideally located on a hill over looking the valley. It is also the winter habitat for the Black necked cranes migrating from Tibet and you will see no electric cables built in this valley for protecting the cranes. You will have the opportunity to see the graceful birds during late November till February and drive back to your hotel at Kyichu Resort. Dinner and Overnight: Kyichu Resort / Dragon Nest

Days 09 :

Wangdue – Thimphu – Paro
In morning we drive to Lobesa and take a short walk the Chimme Lhakhang through the farm houses and rice fields. This monastery is built in 15th Century and dedicated the famous saint Drukpa Kuenley or divine mad monk. Lunch will be at Dochula Cafeteria or in Thimphu depending on time schedule. Afternoon explore the remaining highlights in Thimphu and late afternoon drive to Paro. Enroute visit Simtokha Dzong, first Dzong built in Bhutan in 1629 by Shabdrung, but at present it is going under renovation where you see people at work. Continue your journey to Paro. Overnight and Dinner: Kyichu Resort / Olathang Hotel

Days 10 :

Paro – Taktsang Excursion
This morning will be a very special day, with an excursion to visit the spectacular Taktsang (Tiger Nest). Monastery. After breakfast we take a short drive to the north of Paro Valley to Ramthankha, from where we start our hike to the Taktsang monastery (Tiger’s Nest). The trail climbs through beautiful pine forest, many of tress festooned with Spanish moss and an occasional grove of fluttering prayer flags. Visitors are permitted to hike up to the viewpoint from where you can see the monastery hanging on a cliff. We will obtain a special permit to allow you to visit the monastery. Legend has it that Guru Rimpoche, founder of Buddhism flew from Eastern Bhutan on a tigress, bringing Buddhist teachings and meditated here in this cliff. This is one of the most venerated and sacred of all Buddhist sights around the world. We can arrange a horse ridding till the cafeteria, if you feel that you would prefer to have take are horse ride. After visiting the monastery, we will walk down to Taktsang cafeteria for lunch. Walk downhill to the road and drive on to visit the Drugyel Dzong (now in ruins), which reveals the ancient architecture. Finally on time availability, we will visit Kyichu Lhakhang, one of Bhutan’s oldest and most sacred monasteries dating from the introduction of Buddhism in the 8th century. Farewell Dinner and Overnight: Kyichu Resort / Olathang Hotel

Days 11 :

Drive to Paro Airport for your onward destination…………