Wangdue-Phodrang-Festival

DAY 1: ARRIVE AT PARO- PARO SIGHTSEEING (55Km/1.5Hrs)

The flight into Bhutan takes you close to the great Himalayas, offering dazzling scenic views of some of the world’s highest glacial peaks. As you enter Paro valley, you will sweep past forested hills with the silvery Pa Chu (Paro river) meandering down the valley below. Paro Dzong (fortress) and Ta Dzong (watchtower) on the hills above the town will be a fine sight. Our representative will receive you and will drive to Thimphu with sightseeing along the way.

Paro is a beautiful valley located in Western Bhutan with an area of 2800 Sq. Kms. Breathtaking Lhakhangs and monasteries are perched on mountain hills. Two sacred rivers with its respective source at Jumolhari and Chumo phug mountains, makes their way through Paro valley enhancing its beauty and grandeur.

• National Museum of Paro, once a watchtower, built to defend Rinpung Dzong during inter valley wars of the 17th century, Ta Dzong was inaugurated as Bhutan's National Museum in 1968. It holds fascinating collection of Arts, relics, religious thangkas paintings and Bhutan's exquisite postage stamp.
• Paro Rinpung Dzong meaning the fortress on the heap of jewels or the fort of Paro.

Later you can visit Namgay Artisanal Brewery set in the authentic Bhutanese style and enjoy different flavor of Bhutanese Beer

In the evening you can take a traditional hot stone bath  & later try a hand on local archery game.

Overnight at Hotel in Paro

DAY 2: PARO TAKTSHANG (4-5 HOURS)

Today you will be hiking to one of the famous sites called as the Tiger’s Nest (Taktshang) perched at 900m above the Paro valley.

It is a pilgrimage site which the Bhutanese try to visit at least once in a lifetime. It is believed that Guru Rinpoche flew on the back of a tigress from eastern Bhutan to this site and meditated in a cave here for 3 months, hence its name, ‘Tiger’s Nest’. The site, which has long been regarded as the sacred place, was visited by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel in the 17th century approximately in 1646. The Lhakhang of the present monastic complex dates from 1692. The main structure was severely damaged by fire in 1998, but with the help of the local people and the government it has been put back to its glory.(Cameras are not allowed inside the monastery).

In the evening we can move to Thimphu. On the way we can stop at Tachogang Lhakhang

Overnight at Hotel in Thimphu

DAY 3: THIMPHU -WANGDUE (70KMS/ 3HOURS) - WITNESS WANGDUE FESTIVAL

• Drive via Dochu-la pass (3,088m/10,130ft) stopping briefly here to take in the view and admire the 108 chortens, mani wall, and prayer flags which decorate the highest point on the road.

If skies are clear, the high Himalayan peaks towards the north east will be revealed in all their glory. On a clear day, the following peaks can be seen from this pass (left to right): Masagang (7,158m), Tsendegang (6,960m), Terigang (7,060m), Jejegangphugang (7,158m), Kangphugang (7,170m), Zongaphugang (7,060m) a table mountain that dominates the isolated region of Lunana, and finally, Gangkar Puensum, the highest peak in Bhutan at 7,497m.

• On the way stop at Lobesa for Lunch.

Festivals- Witness Wangdue festival

Festivals in General in Bhutan are rich and happy expressions of its ancient Buddhist culture. These festivals are held in all districts and most of them are in honor of Guru Rinpoche, the saint who introduced Buddhism to Bhutan in the 8th century. Tshechu take place on auspicious days in the Bhutanese calendar, and lasts for several days in which a series of colorful masked dances and rituals are performed.

The Tshechus are a rich form of oral tradition where the Bhutanese pass on values, mythology and spiritual beliefs through the dance dramas.

The festival is held in Wangduephodrang and is observed for three days in the autumn season. The Tshechu is well known for the Raksha Mangcham or the Dance of the Ox. Many different kinds of mask dances are performed during the festival. It concludes with the unfurling of the Guru Tshengye Thongdroel (large tapestry).

Overnight at Hotel in Punakha

DAY 4: PUNAKHA SIGHTSEEING - THIMPHU (130 KMS/ 3-4 HOURS)

• Today, after Breakfast in the morning we can begin the day with hike up through fields of rice along the banks of the Mo Chhu to the upper end of the valley to the Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten, a stunning monument recently built by the Queens and consecrated in 1999.
• Hike to Chimi Lhakhang through a nice walk along the rice field and through farm houses. The temple was built by Lama Ngawang Chogyel in 1499 and is today a popular temple where barren women come to pray for a child. The temple is popularly known as the Fertility Temple.

• Visit Punakha Dzong, a massive structure built at the junction of two rivers. Punakha was Bhutan’s capital until 1955 and Punakha Dzong still serves as the winter residence of the central monk body. Bhutan’s first king, Ugyen Wangchuck, was crowned here in 1907. The fortress has withstood damage from fire, earthquake and flood over the centuries. The latest flood, in October, 1994, caused great damage to the fortress but miraculously spared its most holy statue.

• Pho Chhu Suspension Bridge - The 160 meters Pho Chhu Suspension Bridge is known for the longest suspension bridge in Bhutan, which gives you spectacular views of Punakha Dzong and the Pho Chhu Valley.

After the day excursion to Punakha valley we will move to Thimphu

Overnight at hotel in Thimphu

DAY 5: Thimphu Sightseeing

• Drive to Kuenselphodrang where world’s tallest Buddha Statue (169 feet) sits overlooking the Thimphu Valley. Enjoy the spectacular view of Thimphu city.

If energetic we can take a hike through a pristine pine forest from Kuenselphodrang to Changangkha Lhakhang

• Visit National Memorial Chorten

• Visit Thirteen Traditional Arts & Crafts

• .Visit Postal Museum where you can have stamps made with your own photo images on stamps & go back in time of postal era.

• Today’s Last destination is the Thimphu Dzong(Trashi Chhoe Dzong), the largest religious building in Thimphu which also houses the offices of the king & offices of the Bhutan’s Central Government.

• Evening you can visit the Craft Bazaar where you can buy some Bhutanese souvenir

Overnight at  hotel in Thimphu

DAY 06: DEPARTURE

Our Team will pick you up early in the morning and drop you off to Airport