Itinerary for 9 Nights and 10 Days (Via Bagdogra)

Detailed Itinerary

Day-1 (Arrive at Bagdogra Airport and transfer to Phuentsholing)

Arrive at Bagdogra Airport and drive towards Phuentsholing which falls under south Bhutan which takes five hrs drive at the maximum via road and check-in into the Hotel and overnight stay at Phuntsholing.

Day-2 (Transfer to Thimphu (CAPITAL) (Approx 155 kms – 4/5 hrs drive).

After completion of immigration formalities escorted by Professional license holder guide or any company representative (Saturday, Sunday & Government holiday, it remains closed). You can take a leisure view of some places like Kharbandi Gonpa in Phuentsholing which is a highway towards Thimphu, the capital City of Bhutan with a population of roughly one hundred thousand. Enrooted drive through Local towns of Gedu, Chukha and Chuzom. Check-in to the hotel and overnight stay at Thimphu.

Day-3 ( Thimphu Sightseeing)

After breakfast, we should proceed for sightseeing which includes some extremely beautiful places like:

Buddha Dordenma statue - Visit Buddha Dordenma statue also locally named as Buddha point (height of 169ft) to offer your prayers to the largest Buddha statue in the country and walk around to enjoy the great view of Thimphu valley below.

Simply Bhutan(Museum)- Is a museum where you will be escorted by professional guide and there you will get to know about many tradition and culture of Bhutan like life histories of ancient times, cultural songs and dances, traditional or national games and also get to try some beautiful handmade woven traditional dresses of Bhutan.

The National Library- housing an extensive collection of priceless Buddhist manuscripts. The National Institute of Traditional Medicine (outside only), where Bhutan’s famed traditional herbal medicines are compounded and dispensed.

The Institute for Zorig Chusum- (commonly known as the Painting School) where students undergo a 6-year training course in Bhutan’s 13 traditional arts and crafts.

The National Folk Heritage Museum- to get an insight into the typical Bhutanese way of life.

The Textile Museum- to get an understanding of the beautiful hand woven Bhutanese textiles.

Takin Preserve- which houses the national animal- takin which is found only in Bhutan. Takin is an extremely rare member of goat family.

Craft Bazaar- where artisans and craftsmen from across the country come to sell their products.

Overnight stay at Thimphu

Day-4 ( Thimphu to Punakha 1300m which takes 2 to 3 hrs drive)

After breakfast, drive to Punakha via Dochula pass. An hour’s drive from Thimphu will take you to this pass (3140 m) where one can have a superb view of the Eastern Himalayas on a clear day with a powerful binocular telescope. Visit the beautiful 108 chortens built on the hill by Her Majesty Ashi Dorji Wangmo for the security and well being of His Majesty the King of Bhutan. Also visit Druk Wangyel Temple which was built to honor His Majesty, the fourth king Jigme Singye Wangchuck. The past and future appear to merge in the details of the temple that tells the story of a supreme warrior figure whose vision pierces the distant future.

Drive onto Punakha, the old capital of Bhutan and presently the winter residence of the central monk body. Visit the Punakha Dzong, located on the island of the Pho-Chu (male) river and the Mochu (female) river.

In the evening, walk through the Metshina Village and take a 20-minute walk through the rice fields to the Divine Madman’s Monastery-Chhimi Lhakhang, famously known for its fertility shrine, where couples unable to conceive come here for blessing.

Overnight at hotel in Wangdue/Punakha.

Day-5: ( Punakha to Bumthang Valley 2550 M from seal level/ 6-7 Hrs Drive)

About eight hours’ drive from Punakha to Bumthang, we enter the central district of Trongsa, the ancestral home of Bhutan’s royal family. We get to see the resplendent Trongsa Dzong in the valley center. Its labyrinth of temples, corridors, offices and living quarters for the monks add up to a masterpiece in Bhutanese architecture. We also get to visit the Chendebji Chorten. This large white chorten is patterned after Swayambhunath temple in Kathmandu. It sits at a lovely spot by a river confluence.

Overnight stay at Bumthang Hotel

Day-6: ( Bumthang to Phobjikha Valley 2950 M from seal level/ 2-3 Hrs Drive)

After the breakfast drive to Phobjikha valley to visit below sightseeing:

Today we travel to Phobjikha (Gangtey) Valley known as the winter home of the black-necked cranes (Grus nigricollis), you can see 600 of these elegant, shy birds that migrate here from Tibet between November and March. This bowl-shaped valley is also a wildlife preserve, so you might also see the other native animals to Bhutan, including muntjac, sambar, serow, or yak. We will also visit the Gangtey Goemba - which is a 17th-century monastery that sits on a hill, overlooking the entire Gangtey valley.

Overnight stay at Phobjikha

Day-7: (Phobjikha to Paro which takes 4-5 hrs approx and 2200 Metres from the sea level)

After reaching visit the below sightseeing:

Paro Dzong (Fortress 15 Century): Paro Dzong is also well known as Rinpung Dzong which is house monastic Body and government admistrative offices of Paro Dzongkhag/District.

National Museum: National Museum is also well know as Ta-Dzong( Watch Tower) locally build in 1967 it is serving as the National Museum of the country and holding fascination collection of art, artifacts , thangkha paintings and Bhutan’s exquisite postage stamps.

Overnight stay at Paro hotel.

Day-8 Paro Sightseeing (Tiger Nest hike/Taktshang at 2200 m)

After breakfast, take a hike to Taktsang Goemba, popularly known as ‘Tiger’s Nest’ Monastery. The hike upto the view point will take about 2 hours and from the view point you will enjoy the spectacular view of the monastery clinging to the side of a high cliff. Stop for a refreshment at the Cafe at the view point. Then hike further to the monastery which will take about 1 1/2 hours. It was first built in 1692, around the Taktsang Senge Samdup, a cave where Guru Padmasambhava is said to have meditated for 3 months in the 8th century. It is believed that Guru Padmasambhava flew to this location from Khenpajong, Tibet on the back of a tigress and subdued a demon. He then performs meditation in one of the caves here and emerged in 8 incarnated forms (8 manifestations) and blessed the place. Subsequently, the place came to be known as ‘Tiger’s Nest’.

After visiting the monastery, walk back down to the view point and stop for lunch at the cafe at the view point. Then walk further down to the road and then drive to your hotel in Paro visiting Kichu temple on the way. The temple was built in 7th century. The temple is a reservoir of peace and you will really feel at peace at this temple.

In the evening, relax after a tiring day. Overnight at hotel in Paro.

Day-9 ( Paro to Phuentsholing )

After breakfast, transfer to Phuntsholing with the best memories of Bhutan.

Day-10 (Depart for Bagdogra (Approx 164.6 kms – 4/5 hrs drive).

After breakfast and leisure, rest drive towards Bagdogra which takes about 4/5 hours to reach. Your trip will end here with an amazing experience and beautiful memories to cherish throughout your life.