Paro Festival Tour

Our representative will receive you from Paro airport and transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon, you will visit Kichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest and the most sacred shrine in the country. Next, you can stroll in Paro town.

Attend full day of the Paro Festival, the most popular festival in the country. It offers the best opportunity to mingle with local people who come out with their best dress to witness the festival.

Attend festival in the morning. Afternoon, you will drive to Thimphu. Evening is free to stroll in Thimphu City.

Enjoy some sightseeing in Thimphu, which includes 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), Folk Heritage Museum, giant Buddha Statue, 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. 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.

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), Jambay Lhakhang (dating from the 8th century) 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. After long exhilarating drive passing through two spectacular high passes, you will arrive Wangdue.

Drive back to Paro via Dochula pass. Stop in Thimphu for lunch. If it is weekend (Friday-Sunday), visit the weekend Market in Thimphu. This is perhaps a good opportunity for photography and to mingle with locals who come from the nearby villages to sell their farm products. You will then continue drive to Paro.

Embark on a vigorous 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.

Our representative will bid you farewell at the airport.