Bhutan East to West Adventure
10 Nights/11 Days
Trip Highlights
peldenchoeda@yahoo.com
+975 17613637
Changzamtog near flyover bridge, Thimphu, Bhutan
Itinerary
Day 01: Arrival in Gauwahati-Samdrupjongkhar
Our team will be there to receive you at Guwahati airport and transfer you to Samdrupjonkhar. You will be driving through small villages, bicycles, and buses overcrowded with passengers. You will pass through the famous Assam tea garden. Check-in the hotel in Samdrupjonkhar and your free time in the town. Overnight in hotel.
Day 02: Samdrup Jongkhar-Trashigang
After breakfast drive to Tashigang, passing through several villages. Leaving behind the plains and you will be climbing towards the foothills of the Himalayas; you will be rewarded with the stunning landscape, rich tropical forest, and possibilities of sighting some wild lives. En-route visit hand loom (weaving center) in Khaling and then visit blind School. Continue drive to Tashigang, Vividly colored handloom cloth and end silk spun from cocoons bred from castor oils plants are local specialties. The dominant language of the region is Sharchopkha instead of Dzongkha. Trashigang is used as the market place for the hill people from Merak & Sakteng, who are known for their exceptional features and for their costume made of Sheepskin and Yak wool. The hat they wear is unusual but has a significance of its own. We might be able to meet a few of these people. Overnight in hotel.
Day 03: Trashigang-Merak
After breakfast drive up to Jigmeling for approximately 3 and a half hours. The hike up to Merak village takes 1 hour. Lunch at Merak. In the afternoon visit Merak village and mingle with the locals. Evening dines with the people of Merak followed by native dances of Merak and Sakteng – Achulamoa Cham and folk dances which is worth witnessing. Overnight at local guest house.
Day 04: Trashigang-Mongar
After breakfast drive to Mongar. En route stop to visit Drametse monastery- founded by Ani Choten Zangmo, Pema Lingpa’s granddaughter, who fled from Bumthang to escape a proposal of marriage from the local king. She fled east and when she found a place ideally suited for meditation and practice she named it ‘Drametse’ which literally means ‘the peak where there are no enemies’. Ani ChoetenZangmo’s kudung (remains) is preserved to this day in the monastery as the most important relic. Continue drive to Monger. After lunch visit Mongardzong which is built in keeping with tradition by not using any drawings or nails and then visit yaggang Lhakhang. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 05: Bumthang-Halt
In the Morning drive to visit Jampa Lhakhang, a ten-minute drive from Jakar town. Walk from Jampa Lhakhang through fields and meadows to Kurjey Lhakhang. On the way, you will pass a beautiful Chorten and the newly built temple, Zangdo Palri. The trail continues past a water source, Kurjey Drupchhu (Holy water). After crossing a suspension bridge, will take it to Padmasambhava Lhakhang. After lunch visit Tamshing Lhakhang – This temple is also known as Tamshing Lhendrup Chholing (Temple of the Good Message). Continue on to visit the lake of Mebartso (The Lake of Fire) later visit Khonchosum Lhakhang.Overnight in hotel.
Day 6: Bumthang-Gangtey
After Breakfast drive to Phobjikha via Pele la Pass at the altitude of 3,150 meters, a wonderful opportunity for photographs. En-route stops at Chummy village to visit Yathra weaving central. Yathra is made into colorful scarves, bags, blankets, and sweaters. Continue to drive to Phobjikha a bowl-shaped valley on the western slopes of Black Mountain, visit
Gantey Goenpa as it is a major attraction with an old monastery date back to the 16 century. Later walk around the valley which is also the winter home to the rare black-necked cranes, which migrate, from remote parts of Tibet, China and Siberia during winter to this valley. Overnight will be at the hotel.
Day 7:Punakha-Thimphu
After breakfast, drive to Thimphu-approximately 3-hour drive through picturesque valleys and mountain slopes dotted with typical Bhutanese villages. From the Dochula pass, at over 10,000ft, vast panoramic views of the high snowcapped peaks of the Bhutanese Himalaya can be enjoyed on a clear day. Lunch will be served at the Dochula cafeteria. And you even have an opportunity to take a picture of Dochula, 108 stupas. Continue drive to Thimphu. After reaching Thimphu, Visit Buddha Point and stroll freely at Thimphu town for shopping. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 8: Thimphu-Paro
After early breakfast drive to Paro and check-in at the hotel. Later drive up the Pa Chu to Drukgyel Dzong, the ruined Fort (destroyed by fire in 1950.) which once defended this valley from the Tibetan invasion. From here one can have the view of sacred Mt. Jhomolhari on clear days. Drive back to visit Ta Dzong former Watch Tower which now houses the National Museum and then visit Rinpung Dzong which houses the monastic school and the office of the civil administration walk down passing close by the Paro Dzong, crossing the Bhutanese typical wooden roofed bridge. Lunch will be served in the hotel. Later in the afternoon walk stroll around Paro town. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 9: Paro – Hike to Taktsang Monastery ‘Tiger’s Nest’ (3120m)
After breakfast drive towards the base camp of Taktsang for the hike up to the Taktsang Monastery-Tiger’s Nest. The trail is broad and the walk of approximately 2 hours uphill. From this point, enjoy the spectacular view of the monastery, The view of Taktsang Monastery built on a sheer cliff face 900 meters above the valley floor is a spectacular sight. The Monastery is also an important pilgrim site for the Buddhists. The great Guru Rimpoche is said to have flown here on the back of a tigress when he brought the teachings of the Buddhist Dharma to Bhutan in the 8th Century. He then mediated in a cave there for
three months where the monastery was later built. The cave is said to be the origin of Buddhism in Bhutan. In the afternoon drive to the almost fully reconstructed Drukgyel Dzong. In fine weather, the towering peak of the sacred Mount Jomolhari (7314m) appears as a stunning backdrop. On the return drive to Paro, afternoon sightseeing around Paro, including a visit to the Ta Dzong Museum and Rimpung Dzong visit other sights in Paro valley. Overnight at your hotel in Paro.
Day 10: Departure
Breakfast in the hotel then drive to the airport for a flight to your onward destination. Tashi Delek!