Jambay Lhakhang Drup Festival

Arrive at Paro airport and transfer to restaurant for lunch. After lunch, you will be taken to Thimphu, capital of Bhutan. Check into hotel on arrival and take an orientation walk in the town.

Enjoy some sightseeing in Thimphu with a visit to King’s Memorial Chorten (which was built in honor of late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck), School of Arts and Crafts (also known as the painting school), National Institute of Traditional Medicine, Buddha Point, and Motithang Takin Preserve. In the evening, visit the Tashi Chhoedzong, known as the “Fortress of Glorious Religion”.

Enjoy scenic drive to Punakha. Stop at Dochula pass (3150 meters) where on a clear day you can get spectacular views of the Himalayas. When you arrive at Metshina Village, you can take 20-minute walk through rice fields to Chimi Lhakhang, the Divine Madman’s temple popularly considered to be a temple of fertility. Take lunch in one of the restaurants and continue drive to Punakha. On arrival, visit Punakha Dzong, which is noteworthy for being one of the most beautiful Dzongs in Bhutan.

The journey to Bumthang takes you through dense forests of oak trees and rhododendrons. Throughout the journey you will come across the beautiful sceneries of rural Bhutan with scattered settlements far from the road, which makes for good photographing. Lunch will be served at Trongsa. After lunch, visit Trongsa Dzong, the masterpiece of Bhutanese architecture. You will then proceed to Bumthang, which is often described as the spiritual heartland of the kingdom. Just before reaching Bumthang, you will come across Yathra (hand-woven woolen cloth) weaving centre and you can spend some time interacting with the weavers. You may visit local shops in the evening.

Enjoy full day of festival dances and celebrations with the people of Bumthang and nearby villages. Today you will stay awake till midnight to catch an unusual naked dance and fire ceremony.

A full day tour in Bumthang may include the historic Jakar Dzong, Kurjey Lhakhang (associated with Guru Rimpoche, who bought Tantric Buddhism to Bhutan and Tibet) and Tamshing Lhakhang (built in 1501 by the Buddhist saint Pema Lingpa). In the afternoon, you can walk around in Bumthang town and interact with locals.

Today, you will drive to Wangdue. Lunch will be served at Chendebji which has a Chorten built in Nepalese style with eyes painted at four cardinal points. Make numerous stops on the way for photographs.

Drive back to Paro, crossing the Dochula Pass and enjoying stunning views of the Himalayas. Stop in Thimphu for lunch and then continue drive to Paro. In Paro, visit local archery ground and watch locals playing archery.

Hike up to the Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest) monastery, the most famous pilgrim site, which clings to the rock at 3180m. According to the legend, it is believed that Guru Rimpoche, the 8th century Spiritual Master, flew to this location on the back of a tigress to meditate. Lunch will be served at Cafeteria Restaurant halfway up on the mountain. Explore the monastery and hike back to Paro.

You will drive to the airport for departure. Our representative will bid you farewell.