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Duration :
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14 Days |
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Max. Elevation:
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5000Meters. |
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Trekking option:
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Camping Only. |
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Season:
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September-November,
February-May. |
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Grading:
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Challenging |
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Access :
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Kathmandu / Delhi /
Bangkok |
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A trip that incorporates an exploration of the historical
and cultural highlights of Bhutan and a short trek,
which reveals Bhutan 's natural beauty and visits
several remote villages and monasteries.
Days 01-02 : Flying into Kathmandu is an unforgettable
experience with the Himalaya spread out before you.
You will be met at the airport on arrival and transferred
to your hotel. In the morning of day 2 a half-day
city tour will introduce you to some of the highlights
of Kathmandu .
Day 03 : The flight from Kathmandu provides
a most dramatic view of the Himalaya as you fly alongside
the world's highest mountain range. The tiny town
of Paro is bursting with colour and tradition overlooked
by a dramatic dzong. Fields, cover most of the valley
floor, while hamlets and isolated farms dot the countryside
- the houses here are considered to be among the most
beautiful in the country. Paro is believed to be one
of the first valleys to have received the imprint
of Buddhism. In the afternoon visit the National Museum
(Ta-Dzong) and Paro Rinpung Dzong.
Days 04-05 : Thimphu lies in a wooded valley,
sprawling up a hillside on the west bank of the Thimphu
River . Quiet and peaceful, w ith its streets lined
with traditional shop fronts, this town seems almost
too small to be a capital - it is often said to be
the only one without traffic lights. Beautiful textiles
in wool, silk and cotton, basketwork, silver jewelry,
thangkas and other traditional crafts of the Kingdom
are available in various Handicraft Emporiums.
Sights include the Memorial Chorten (built in memory
of the third King of Bhutan), the Textile Museum ,
The Arts and Crafts School , the National Library
where ancient manuscripts are preserved, Trashichho
Dzong is the Secretariat building, which houses the
Chief Abbot and central monastic body. It also houses
the Throne Room. Thinphu's oldest fortress, Semtokha
Dzong, still houses a few monks and is also the center
for Cultural and Language Study.
Day 06 : The road to Punakha and Wangdue crosses
the Dochula Pass (3150 m), offering a great view of
the Eastern Himalayan Mountains.
Wangdue Phodrang Dzong is perched on a spur at the
confluence of two rivers, completely covering the
spur it commands an impressive view over both the
north-south and east-west roads. The main road climbs
the length of the spur and on the left, across the
river, comes the first glimpse of the picturesque
village of Rinchengang whose inhabitants are celebrated
stonemasons.Punakha Dzong is the winter residence
of Bhutan 's spiritual leader, the Head Abbot, and
the Central Monastic Body. The Dzong is built between
two rivers known as "Phochu" ( Male River
) and "Mochu" (Female River).
Day 07 : Retracing the route towards Trongsa and
Wangdue the road diverts to Gangtey Valley. Descending
through fields of bamboo a glacial valley on the western
slopes of the black mountains. The valley is a designated
conservation area and borders the Black Mountains
National Park. Because of the large flock of black-necked
cranes that winters here, it is one of the most important
wildlife preserves in the country. In addition to
the cranes, there are also muntjacks (barking deer),
wild boars, sambars, Himalayan black bears, leopards
& black foxes in the valley and surrounding hills.
To the Bhutanese, going to Gangtey is like going back
in time, an interesting perspective given that they
themselves live in a country not rushing towards modernization.
Gangtey Goemba overlooks the large green expanse of
the Phobjikha Valley. The extensive complex consists
of the goemba and several other buildings, which include
monk, quarters, meditation centers, school and small
hotel. In the front of the yellow roofed goemba is
a Tibetan style chorten with a wooden roof.
Day 08 : Trek through juniper and rhododendron
forests, gently ascending to the Tsele Pass. Gogona
Lakhang houses statues of Chenresig, Atish and manifestations
of Guru Rinpoche and the walls are covered by elaborate
paintings. Camp in a green valley near Dangchu, a
pretty village where women weave lovely carpets.
Day 09 : It is a 2-3 hour climb through lovely
forests to the Shobe Pass. The it is down hill, often
crossing a small road used by tractors to transport
the timber logged in this region, via a rock, said
to be a demon, where the marks made when Guru Rinpoche
beat it with a stick are still visible.
Above the quiet, rustic village of Kokotkha are the
large new Rinchenling Monastery and Dolay Goemba.
Day 10 : Pass by the top of the Tashila Ropeway,
which brings rice and building supplies up and carries
lumber down. From here it is a steep, but lovely,
descent through one of the finest bird watching areas
of Bhutan. From the bottom of the trail it is only
a short drive to Wangdue Phodrang.
Days 11-12 : Drive to Paro. Taktsang is the
most famous of all Bhutanese monasteries. It is perched
on the side of a cliff 900 m above the floor of the
Paro valley, where the only sounds are the murmurs
of the wind, and water and the chanting of the monks.
The name Taktsang means 'Tigers Nest'; the Guru is
said to have flown on the back of a tigress to the
site of the monastery where he meditated in a cave
for three months. Nearby Paro are the ruins of Drugyal Dzong, a site
of great historical significance. It was from this
fortress that the Bhutanese repelled many Tibetan
invasions. The name means the victorious Bhutanese.
It offers a magnificent vista of Mount Chomolhari
, "Mountain of Goddess" (7329 m). A short
distance south of the road is Kyichu Lhakhang. This
temple is said to be one of the 12 great geomantic
temples ordered built by King Songtsen Gampo of Tibet
in the 7 th century. It holds down the left foot of
an ogress whose body is so large that it covers Bhutan
and most of central Tibet.
Day 13 : The early morning flight back to
Kathmandu leaves the rest of the day free for shopping
and sightseeing.
Day 14 : Depart
Tour Cost & Inquiry:
askinfo@enet.com.np or
info@nepaltravels.com
Individual Price: High Season US$ 190.00 pp
Each Day Low Season: US$ 180.00 PP Each Day
Price Includes
Climate : Days are normally warm. Nights can
at times be (general) very cool and in winter even
below the freezing point. Monsoon showers in summer
(heaviest in July, August) and sometimes even in spring
and autumn.
Group condition:
We organize minimum 1 Person, 2 persons; it is recommended
to travel minimum three to customize the price. If
group consist more than three, surcharge does not
apply.
Personal Clothing : Practical and comfortable
clothes are appropriate (according to season). Preferably
cotton for summer. Woolen clothing for the evenings
and winter.
For Trekking : Warm sleeping bag, strong
comfortable trekking boots, several pairs of socks
and vests, warm clothing (especially a down jacket
for higher altitudes) for the evenings, rain coat
or umbrella, torch (flashlight), water flask, a hat
or head scarf, sunglasses, sunscreen lotion, disinfectant
tablets for water, insect repellent, antibiotic ointment
and antihistamine cream for insect bites (summer).
