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Day 1:
ARRIVE PARO INTERNATIONAL ARIPORT PARO:
During the journey, the
traveler will experience from the left side of the plane
a spectacular view of Mt. Everest, and other famous
Himalayan Mountains including the sacred Mt. Jhomolhari
and Mt. Jichu Drake in Bhutan. On arrival at Paro
International Airport you will be received by your
Bhutanese friend from Makalu Adventure Lunch at
the Hotel. Discuss the Tour Programme with the Tour
Guide. Afternoon sight seeing.
Overnight: Hotel in Paro.
Day 2:
PARO A DAY EXCURSION TO Taktshang MONASTERY
Drive up to Satsam Chorten
(10 km from Paro town) and from there walk up to
Taktshang Monastery. The name Taktshang means Tigers
Nest ". The Monastery clings to a vertical granite cliff
drop of nearly 4000 ft. and overlooks the Paro valley
and the river. It is said that in the second half of the
8th century, Guru Padma Sambhava known as the second
Buddha in Bhutan meditated on this spot where the
Monastery is situated having alighted there on the back
of a flying tigress.
Picnic lunch at the Taktshang cafeteria. The round hike
takes about 4 Hr.
Overnight: Hotel in Paro.
Day 3:
PARO PUNAKHA
After breakfast you will
drive or ride on bikes on to Punakha, the journey takes
about 5 & half hours through Dochula Pass (3150m). On
the way stop for a photo stop at Dochula Pass which is
26km away from Thimphu valley, and for lunch and to
enjoy the most spectacular view of eastern Himalayan
snow capped Mountains and also the great view of Gasa
Dzong at a distance (If weather is clear). Lunch at
Dochula Pass.
After lunch start biking downhill from the Dochula Pass
till you reach Punakha. It is an exhilarating ride.
Over night: Hotel in Punakha valley.
Day 4:
PUNAKHA SIGHT SEEING
After breakfast visit
Punakha Dzong (the summer residence of mink bodies).
After that ride on bikes for about 12 km to reach
Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten, which is situated on a
beautiful hillock, called Nizergang. It houses the
paintings that belong to Nyingmapa Traditions. Ride back
to Punakha for lunch. After lunch drive to Metshina
Village and walk across the rice field for about 20
minutes to visit Chime Lhakhang (the Temple dedicated to
Devine Madman).
Over night: Hotel in Punakha.
Day 5:
PUNAKHA RAFTING
After break fast, hike
through a forest of pines and farmlands along the bank
of Pho Chu River for about 2 hours till you reach
Samdhingkha. Your rafting crew will be waiting there for
you. Then start rafting along the Pho Chu River coming
across stretches of Class II and IV rapids. Upon
arriving at a beach-like stretch of sand, some distance
from a Chorten, you will be served lunch on the sandy
embankment. The post-lunch rafting session will continue
till you reach the relatively placid section of the
river below the Punakha Dzong. After tea, drive to
Gangtey through the forests of oak, rhododendron, and
bamboos.
Over night: Hotel in Gangtey.
Day 6:
GANGTEY
- GOGONA (15 km, 6/7 hours) Trek starts
Trek commences today. The
trail winds up on a slow climb through meadows and
fields and then ascends the Tselela pass (3,400m), which
is also your lunch stop. Then it descends gradually for
some time through forests of junipers, bamboo, magnolias
and rhododendrons. After the last short climb, you reach
Gogona village. The people of Gogona were originally
nomads and they speak a language called Bjopkha
(language of nomads).
Over night: Camping.
Day 7: GOGONA - KHOTOKHA
(16 km, 6/7 hours)
The trail winds up gently
above Gogona village, climbing into a forest of firs,
oaks, spruce, rhododendron, cypress and junipers. Along
and gradual climb leads to Shobjula pass (3,400m), later
the path leads down to a wide valley of Khotokha, a
summer place of people of Sha (Wangdiphodrang district).
Over night: Camping.
Day 8: KHOTOKHA CHAZAM -
TRONGSA (12 km, 5 hours) Trek ends
A short ascend leads to a
pass then the path descends steeply through ever
changing vegetation till the bridge in Wangdiphodrang.
Your trek ends here. Your car will be waiting here for
transfer to Trongsa.
Over night: Hotel in Trongsa.
Day 9: TRONGSA -BUMTHANG
In the morning you'll visit
Trongsa Dzong, the masterpiece of Bhutanese
architecture, and you'll also see Ta Dzong, the
watchtower built to defend this Dzong. After lunch,
you'll proceed to Bumthang, the religious heartland of
the nation, with lush valleys and hilly forests. After
crossing a high pass, guests can bike all the way to
Bumthang. The road is broad and all downhill after the
pass. You can spend the evening strolling through
Bumthang town.
Over night: Hotel or guest house in Bumthang.
Day 10: BUMTHANG -
SIGHT SEEING
Day excursion to Ura Valley
. Ura valley is the most remote valley in Bumthang, and
this will make a nice enjoyable excursion. You'll make a
stop in Ura valley for picnic lunch and will have a
chance to visit the Ura monastery and explore the
village. On the way back to town, you will see Mebar
Tsho (Burning Lake), where some of Guru Rinpoche's
treasures were found in the 15th century by the famous
treasure discover Pema Lingpa. It's a good place to
meditate. You will also have a chance to tour Tamshing
Lhakhang, a treasure house of interesting religious
Buddhist paintings. In the evening visit Jambay Lhakhang,
the monastery built in 7 th century by Tibetan King
Songtsen Gampo, Tamshing Lhakhang, located on opposite
side of the river is important place to visit, housing
interesting religious paintings.
Over night: Hotel or guest house in Bumthang.
Day 11:
BUMTHANG THIMPHU (9hours drive)
Drive to Thimphu with lunch
at Chendebji.
Over night: Hotel in Thimphu.
Day 12:
THIMPHU EXCURSION TO TONGO MONASTERY
In the morning you can hike
to Tango Monastery, which was built by the "Divine
Madman" in the 15th century. It's a center of study for
monks, and it affords a great view of the Thimphu Valley
. On the grounds of the monastery is a "sin-testing"
tunnel--it is said that if you have sinned, you will get
stuck in the tunnel, and if you are without sin, you
will go through with ease! After lunch, you can hike to
Cheri Monastery, which was built in 1620 and housed the
first monk body. The Shabdrung father's ashes are
contained inside the monastery.
Over
night: Hotel in Thimphu.
Day 13:
THIMPU - PARO
You can spend the morning
shopping in Thimphu . If it's the weekend, you can
stroll through the market to see the variety of food of
the country, including basket upon basket of fiery
chilies, fresh cheese, and mangoes. In addition, many
stalls contain Bhutanese handicrafts and household
items. It's fun to wander the aisles, taking in the
bustling atmosphere of the market. In the afternoon, you
will drive to Paro. You will tour the National Museum,
which was formerly the watchtower for the Paro Dzong. It
now houses a collection of fine arts, paintings,
thangkas, statues, and antiques. In the evening you can
visit a traditional farmhouse and, if you wish, enjoy a
hot-stone bath and a typical Bhutanese dinner.
Over night: Hotel in Paro.
Day 14:
PARO-PARO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT for Departure
Early morning drive to Paro
International Airport and your Bhutanese friends from
Bhutan Bigfoot Trekking will accompany you to bid
farewell as you embark on your onward journey to back
home. |