Others

Thimphu - Welcome dinner Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer Thimphu - National Library Thimphu - National Textile Museum Thimphu - National Memorial Chorten Thimphu - Takin Conservation Park Thimphu - Voluntary Artists School Thimphu - Buddha Dordenma Thimpu - Simply Bhutan Heritage Museum Punakha Valley - Chimi Lhakhang Dochula Pass - Druk Wangyal Chortens Thimphu - Simtokha Dzong Punakha - Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten Punakha - Punakha Dzong Punakha - Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Nunnery Phobjikha - Gangtoe Goemba Phobjikha - Black Necked Crane Information Center Phobjikha - Valley hiking Paro - Kaja Throm Market Visit Paro - Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest) Monastery hike Paro - Home-cooked dinner Paro - Complimentary Departure Transfer

Meals

8 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 8 dinners

Guide

All group trips are accompanied by one of our group leaders. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Premium leaders are Intrepid’s most experienced, with in-depth knowledge and extensive local networks to make it a trip of a lifetime. Your leader will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. When not already included in your trip, your leader will be able to recommend a local guide service who can share more detailed or specialised information at specific sites should you be interested in delving deeper.

Hygieneprotocol

All Intrepid travellers 18 years and older and Intrepid leaders will be required to be fully vaccinated. Travellers must provide proof of vaccination to the leader at the group meeting on day 1 of the trip. All children 5 and above must provide proof of vaccination, proof of recovery or a negative COVID-19 test. Any high-risk customer who is unable to be vaccinated for medical reasons can apply for an exemption. Exemptions will be assessed on a case by case basis. Customers must provide a medical certificate from a medical professional.

Transport

BHUTAN: Whilst there are approx 8000km of roads in Bhutan, the quality varies greatly depending on proximity to the major towns of Thimpu and Paro. As such, even short distances can take longer than expected. Bhutan is currently upgrading a lot of its road network and delays are common. Roads are narrow and speeds are slow. Landslides are common, particularly after rain and occasionally trips are diverted due to debris blocking roads. Thimpu is also famous as the worlds only capital city without a traffic light. Private vehicle

Accommodation

The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation. Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we’re arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn’t always possible which means we won’t be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available. Hotel (6 nights), Paro Feature Stay (2 nights)

Not included:

Others

Entrance fees Pre and post-tour accommodation Tipping Other meals, snacks and drinks

Flights

As we have travellers from all over the world, flights before and after the tour are not included in the tour price and you need to arrange these separately by yourself once your tour is guaranteed. As we specialise in organising the best tours around the world for you, we are unable to advise on flight prices or book flights on your behalf. We recommend that you do not book your flights until your place on the tour has been confirmed.

Optional

Optional experiences are available on this tour for an additional cost and will be provided to you with your finalised travel documents. Please contact our team of Travel Experts for more information.

Insurance

Insurance is not included. Please make sure you are adequately covered. TourRadar has partnered up with XCover so that you can travel with peace of mind. You can add TourRadar Travel Protection on the booking page for your tour.

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Day 1 Day 1: Paro - Thimphu
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Paro - Thimphu

Jen Pa Leg Sho! Welcome to Bhutan. When you arrive at the Paro airport, you’ll be met by a local representative and transferred to Thimphu (2736 m) – Bhutan’s capital city. After settling in, meet your small group and local leader for a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. Join your leader for an orientation walk to get acquainted with Thimphu’s main street and visit the National Memorial Chorten – a stupa built in honour of Bhutan’s third king, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. After the meeting, join your group and leader for a welcome dinner at a restaurant that’s a common favourite with the locals. Learn about the rich history of Bhutanese cuisine as you tuck into a traditional feast, including seasonal vegetables and the country’s signature dish – red rice with tasty chilli cheese. You may like to try some Bhutanese peach wine or some Ara, the national spirit, served neat and hot.
Day 2 Day 2: Thimphu
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Thimphu

After breakfast, you’ll explore Thimphu. Stop off at Buddha point, named after its giant gilded Buddha statue, and take in panoramic views of the city. Take a short hike through pine trees where your leader will help you spot takin (a goat-antelope type creature) – the national animal of Bhutan. Pass by the fortress and monastery of Tashichho Dzong, sitting on the banks of the Thimphu Chhu River. After lunch, your leader will weave together the cultural heritage of Bhutan during visits to the National Textile Museum, Simply Bhutan Heritage Museum (where you can try your hand at the national sport of archery), and the Voluntary Artists School in Thimphu – an institution where young people receive formal education in the art of traditional painting, sculpture and woodcarving. Thimphu has an excellent range of handicrafts, most notably woven cloth, wooden masks, thangkas, silverware, jewellery and bamboo crafts from all over Bhutan.
Day 3 Day 3: Punakha
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Punakha

This morning, visit Desho Paper Factory to see a traditional method of making paper by hand. Next, travel to the castle-monastery of Simtokha Dzong, built to guard against a demon that’s said to have escaped into the nearby rock. Next, drive the winding Dochula pass (3100 m), marked by more than a hundred chortens built in memory of Bhutanese soldiers killed fighting Indian insurgents in 2003. Continue to Punakha, stopping at a local village along the way where you’ll take a short walk to the Chimi Lhakhang – The Temple of Fertility. Your leader will explain how people from all corners of the country visit the Lhakhang to seek a blessing from Drukpa Kuenley, also known as the ‘Divine Madman’. A revered womaniser and drinker, this wandering preacher taught that sexual freedom was at the centre of Truth. On the walk through the village of Sopsokha to the temple, you’ll notice the phallic symbols painted on walls – a symbol of fertility and protection from evil. Arrive at your resort in Punakha, which features great views of the valley.
Day 4 Day 4: Punakha
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Punakha

Begin the day with a short drive to the base of a hill where a ridge-top monastery sits. In this almost sub-tropical valley, you’ll head out on a hike at a suspension bridge that crosses the Mo Chu River and pass through paddy fields before the climb to a moderately inclined trail to the Kahmsum Yulley temple. Built by the Queen Mother, the temple is a classic example of Bhutan’s fine architectural and artistic traditions. From the top you can take in sweeping views across the valley. After lunch, you’ll visit the white-walled, red-roofed Punakha Dzong, the administrative and religious centre and winter retreat of His Holiness, Je Khenpo – the chief abbot of Bhutan. The Dzong boasts intricately carved woodwork, prayer halls and beautiful religious paintings on walls and doorways. End the day at the Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Temple and nunnery, where you’ll arrive in time for evening prayers.
Day 5 Day 5: Phobjikha
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Phobjikha

This morning, pass through lush forests and vegetation as you make the scenic drive to Phobjikha. Here, you’ll find a valley rich with wildlife – keep an eye out for serows (a goat-like animal), and muntjacs, also known as barking deer. Make an afternoon visit to Gangte Goemba – an expansive monastery with magnificent views of the valley. This hilltop complex is one of Bhutan’s two main centres of the Nyingmapa school of Buddhism. Your guide will provide a local perspective on the subjects of Buddhism and happiness – the two most important pillars of Bhutanese culture. With happiness at front-of-mind, the Bhutanese government employ a Gross National Happiness index to measure the wellbeing of its people and to convey the importance of non-economic factors such as sustainability, culture and community vitality.
Day 6 Day 6: Phobjikha
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Phobjikha

Start the day with a visit to the centre of the Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN) where you’ll learn about the vulnerable, black-necked cranes that fly to Bhutan each winter. The Phobjika Valley receives more of these visitors than any other part of the country, and the RSPN has taken special measures to protect them, as well as 13 other vulnerable species. Read informative displays on the cranes’ habitat and behaviour and use the centre’s spotting scopes to search for cranes in the valley. Wild cranes will only be visible during the winter months, but if you visit outside this period, you may still have the chance to see black-necked cranes that are being rehabilitated in the centre. In the afternoon, join your leader on a gentle 2-hour hike around the valley and learn about the flora and fauna that call this preserve home.
Day 7 Day 7: Paro
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Paro

This morning, begin the journey to Paro. When you arrive, enjoy some free time to wander Paro town before making your way to your Feature Stay accommodation – a hotel conveniently located in the heart of Paro Town that blends classical Bhutanese architecture and modern comforts, offering views of the surrounding valley. In the afternoon, visit Kaja Throm – a local farmers market – before enjoying dinner with your group.
Day 8 Day 8: Paro
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Paro

Balanced 900 m above the valley floor sits Taktsang, or the Tiger’s Nest – a beautiful monastery and Bhutan’s most recognised building. After breakfast, begin a hike through pine forests, passing beneath thousands of brightly coloured prayer flags. Your leader will guide you up into the mountains for a closer view of the temple, sharing the legend of its history along the way. Reach a small teahouse and stop for lunch and refreshments while taking in truly unforgettable views. For those interested, it’s possible to get a closer look at the Tiger’s Nest by hiking another hour each way to reach the temple. Anyone not interested in hiking further can relax at the teahouse and soak it all in. Back in Paro, immerse yourself in traditional Bhutanese culture as you visit a farmhouse for a home-cooked final dinner.
Day 9 Day 9: Paro
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: Paro

After breakfast, your driver will transfer you to the airport for your onward flight. Please check with your leader about the exact departure time from the hotel. Please note that your leader may not be with you as the group may leave on different flights.

9 days tour

Premium Bhutan

This tour includes:

Not included:

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Itinerary of your trip Premium Bhutan

Day 1: Paro - Thimphu

Day 2: Thimphu

Day 3: Punakha

Day 4: Punakha

Day 5: Phobjikha

Day 6: Phobjikha

Day 7: Paro

Day 8: Paro

Day 9: Paro

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