Phobjikha & Haa valley Tour

Your guide will meet you at your hotel in the morning to begin your city tour of Kathmandu. You will visit the Boudhanath temple, the largest Buddhist stupa in Nepal, Pashupatinath, a Hindu pilgrimage site, and possibly view cremation ceremonies along the banks of the Bagmati River and continue drive to Patan Durbar Square to take in ancient Nepalese architecture and end your tour after a lunch. Then, you will visit the Patan museum. Overnight in Kathmandu.

After breakfast you will be transferred to Tribhuvan International Airport for the flight to Paro. After completing the visa formalities at the Paro airport you will be received by our Bhutan’s representative and transferred to the hotel. While driving through the picturesque Paro valley with its quaint clusters of hamlets amid terraced paddy fields you will see the sight of white-domed peak of the sacred Mt. Jhomolhari that looms overhead. The rest of the day is at leisure to explore the town of Paro and its markets. Dinner and overnight in hotel.

The Taksang Monastery is in Paro and considered one of the holiest places in Bhutan. The monastery is mounted on a high granite cliff with a sheer drop of nearly 800m and overlooks the Paro valley and the Chu river. It is said that this monastery was built in the second half of the 8th century, Guru Padma Sambhava known as the second Buddha in Bhutan, meditated at the spot where the monastery is now situated having alighted there on the back of a flying tigress. It’s an ideal place for a short trek.

This is a relatively new destination in Bhutan. Apart from the natural beauty of the Haa valley, you will also find some temples and fortresses around here. The route over Chelela Pass will take you to Haa Valley which is surrounded by three giant hills looming overhead. After lunch we walk down to Paro and drive through the winding road beside the Paro Chu (Chu means river or water) downstream to its confluence with the Wang-Chu then up the valley to Thimphu capital (2hrs). Dinner and overnight at hotel in Thimphu.

After breakfast we visit to the National Memorial Chorten built in honour of the late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk We then visit the National Library, stocked with ancient Buddhist manuscripts, and the Painting School where traditional art is still kept alive through instructions of painting Thangkas (sacred Buddhist religious scrolls). After lunch we drive to the Traditional Medicine Institute where medicines are prepared according to ancient practices and to Lungtenzampa to observe the Royal silver smiths and Bhutanese paper factory at work. Other highlights include a visit to the Tashichho Dzong, seat of the national government and the Central Monastic Body, including the summer residence of the Je Khenpo (Chief Abbot of Bhutan) and finally visit the Handicrafts Emporium followed by shopping for souvenirs in the shops of Thimphu. Overnight in Hotel.

It is around 6 hours drive from Thimphu. The drive through the remote countryside areas of the Himalayan kingdom is mind-blowing. In late April/early May you will see the mountains being covered with Rhododendrons and on the route you will also have a glimpse of everyday life of the rural people. Phobjikha is one of Bhutan’s few glacial valleys, and considered winter home of black necked cranes migrating from the Tibetan plateau. The valley is one of the most beautiful in Bhutan. Overnight at hotel in Phobjikha.

Today you will spend the day exploring the Phobjikha Valley, including a visit to the Phobjikha Sanctuary with an opportunity to view the majestic black necked cranes (Nov-Mar only) and Gangtey Gompa (Monastery), dating back to the 16th century and the only Nyingmapa monastery in western Bhutan. In the afternoon enjoy one of the many walks available traversing the stunning surrounds of this spacious valley. Overnight at hotel in Phobjikha.

Today we return to Paro via Wangdue. En route you will visit Vangdi Dzong, built by the Shabdrung in 1636. After lunch we will continue our journey and again we stop on the way and visit Tamchoe Monastery built in 15th century by Thangtong Gyalpo (Iron chain builders). This afternoon you may be interested to visit the handcraft for some souvenirs of your trip.

After the spectacular flight back to Kathmandu the rest of the day you are free to relax in Kathmandu or to go shopping.