• Duration : 8 days
• Max Elevation: 3480 M
• Difficulty : Moderate
• Start: Challing; End: Phongmey
Cultural Tour:
Sightseeings from East to West of BhutanVisit Dzongs, Mona-stries,Lhakhangs, Museums, Textiles houses and sightseeing from east to West of Bhutan
Day 2 ( 27th March; 2017): Drive to Trashi Gang (1070 m, 180 Km,6 hrs.)
Day 3 ( 28th March; 2017):Trek Starts here.Hike to Damnonchu (3070 m, 7 hrs.)
Day 4 ( 29th March; 2017 ):Trek to Merak (3480 m, 5 hrs.)
Day 5 ( 30th March; 2017 ): Trek to Miksa-teng (2850 m, 7-8 hrs.)
Day 6 ( 31st March;2017): Sakten (2985 m, 3-4 hrs.)
Day 7 ( 1st April; 2017 ) Halt at Sakten:
Day 8 ( 2nd April; 2017 )Trek to Jyongkhar; (1850 m, 6-7 hrs )
Day 9 ( 3rd April; 2017) Trek to Phongmay (1812 m) and then drive to Mon-gar (1600 m, 91 Km, 3.30 hrs )
Day 10 ( 4th April; 2017 )Drive to Bumthang ( 2580 m,198 Km, 6 hrs)
Day 11 ( 5th April; 2017):Halt in Bumthang; Pilgrimage Tour.
Day 12( 6th April; 2017): Drive to Wangdue-Phodrang ( 1240 m, 129 Km, 4.30 hrs) via Trongsa ( 2180 m) and Pelela Pass.
Day 13 ( 7th April; 2017); Drive to Thimphu ( 2320 m, 76 Km, 2.30 hrs )
Day 14 ( 8th April; 2017);Halt in Thimphu, Sight-seeing; ( Dinner with the Proprietor )
Day 15 (9thApril; 2017 ), Thimphu to Paro (2280 m)
Day 16 ( 10th April; 2017): Paro Tshechu.
Day 17( 11th April; 2017); Halt in Paro.
Day 18( 12thApril, 2017), Paro
Day 19 ( 13th April; 2017), Paro; Day of Throngdrel ( A big Thanka )
Day 20 ( 14th April; 2017) Depature.
Arrive at Samdrup-Jongkhar (220m) and it is 110 Km and 3 hour drive from Gowahati.
You will be received by our guide and enter the country at Samdrup Jongkhar which is the boarder area of Bhutan and India.you have to collect the stamp in your passport from the Bhutanese traditional gate and enter the country.we will be welcomed by the members of the hotel over a The night will be in a hotel. Hotel Mountain or similar.
Day 2 ( 27th March; 2017):
Drive to Trashi Gang (1070 m, 180 Km,6 hrs.) After breakfast we will drive 180 Km upward to Trashigang. We will pass through the town of Dewathang, Tshelingkhor, Wamrong, Khaling, Kanglung and then reach Trashigangcross the fields of corns and potatoes. The night will be in a hotel Deothjung or similar.
Day 3 ( 28th March; 2017):
Trek Starts here.Hike to Damnonchu (3070 m, 7 hrs.) After breakfast we will drive along a feeder road through village of Challing where the trek starts. It is a steady climb on a slippery footpath through forest.We will pass through Mindrula pass (10880 ft). The lunch will be served nearby. then we will walk to reach Damnonchu (3070 m) where we have our camp.
Day 4 ( 29th March; 2017 ):
Trek to Merak (3480 m, 5 hrs.).The trail leads through a series of gentle ups and downs along a stream. Then we will ascend into the village of Merak. We will have a beautiful views of the mountains and the village. Camp will be just before the village. We will be welcomed by the Merak people.They will offer you with the local wine (aara) and the beaten maize. In return we will have to tips them.
Day 5 ( 30th March; 2017 ):
Trek to Miksa-teng (2850 m, 7-8 hrs.). After breakfast the trek starts. The route will take us through the Nachung la pass and then the route descends to a river. The lunch will be served nearby a river. We will follow a river for sometime and then have a steep for some-time to reach Miksa-teng. The camp will be surrounded by rhododendrons. Expect a warm welcome from the Brokpas with the local wine and flattened corn.
Day 6 ( 31st March;2017):
Sakten (2985 m, 3-4 hrs.) It will be an easy day walk through the beautiful woods. If you are lucky we will see a red panda along the ways. The campsite will be on the side of the village where we can view the beauty of the village and the mountains. You will enjoy the amazing culture of the local people.
Day 7 ( 1st April; 2017 )
Halt at Sakten: We will halt at sakten and explore the unique culture. Explore on the history, culture and the living standard. The village has a school, Basic Health unit and other facilities too. You will have pain to leave the village the next day.
Day 8 ( 2nd April; 2017 )
Trek to Jyongkhar; (1850 m, 6-7 hrs ).After the breakfast we will leave the village. The route will mostly downhill along the plain path to the village of Jyonkhar.
Day 9 ( 3rd April; 2017)
Trek to Phongmay (1812 m) and then drive to Mon-gar (1600 m, 91 Km, 3.30 hrs )
This is the last day of the trek. It passes through the village of Radi. it is also known as the village of rice bowl. Radhi is famous for its woollen textiles. If time permits we will visit Mongar Dzong and make some sight-seeings. The night will be in Thridangbe Farm House or similar.
Day 10 ( 4th April; 2017 )
Drive to Bumthang ( 2580 m,198 Km, 6 hrs).Our destination is Bumthang. The roads are narrow and have to take many turnings along the rural scattered settlement. We willcross Yongko la and Thrimshing La and then reach Ura village. We will be welcomed by the members of River lodge hotel over a dinner or similar.
Day 11 ( 5th April; 2017):
Halt in Bumthang; Pilgrimage Tour. After breakfast we will drive to visit Jakar Dzong, Jambay Lhakhang, Kurjey Lhakhang, Tamshing MonastryThangbi Lhakhang and some historical places where we will find the body prints of Guru Rimpoche and other great saints who were in these places to subdue the demons and bring religion to these places. We will also have a short hike along the villages.
Day 12( 6th April; 2017):
Drive to Wangdue-Phodrang ( 1240 m, 129 Km, 4.30 hrs) via Trongsa ( 2180 m) and Pelela Pass. After early breakfast we will drive to reach Trongsa. We will visit Trongsa Dzong, Ta Dzong ( museum) and Karma Drubday Nunnery and drive through Chendeje chorten. We will have a tea or coffee in the guest house here and know about the chorten. we will pass through Pelela Pass (3390 m ).Then we will drive to Wangdue Phodrang. The night will be in hotel Kuen-galing or similar.
Day 13 ( 7th April; 2017);
Drive to Thimphu ( 2320 m, 76 Km, 2.30 hrs ). A day starts with an early hike to Chhimi Lhakhang. you will receive a blessings of Lama Drukpa Kuenley ( mad man )and you will enjoy the story which your guide will narrate to you. Then we will drive to visit Punakha Dzong which was built in-between the two rivers. It is the winter residence of the monastic body and it has been a capital of Bhutan till 1964. The main relic of Bhutan is stored in this Dzong and you will find many buddhist Lhakhangs inside the Dzong. We will also visit Do-ja ga lam Lhakhang and Hike to Khamsum Yuelley Namgyel Chorten. It is 30 Meter tall chorten and it is dedicated to our 5th king and serves to protect the country.
After Lunch we will drive to Thimphu passing through Dochu la pass. In Do-chula we will have a visit at 108 chortens and Druk Wangyel Lhakhang which were built for the memory of a boarder war in 2005. if the weather is clear we will also see the mountains around and the view of a valley of Pu-nakha. We will drive down to reach Thimphu. The night will be in a hotel Phuntsho Pelre or Similar.
Day 14 ( 8th April; 2017);Halt in Thimphu, Sight-seeing; ( Dinner with the Proprietor )
We will start our visit form the memorial Chorten, drive up hill to visit world’s largest sitting Buddha (50 m tall), Chang-Gangkha Lhakhang, Mountain Takin zoo, Zulukha Nunnery, Dechen Phodrang Monastry, Trashi Chhodzong, National Institude of Traditional medicine, Folk Heritage Mu-seum, National Library, Textile Museum and Zangdo Pelri and the vegetable market.
Day 15 (9thApril; 2017 ),
Thimphu to Paro (2280 m). Early morning we will drive to Dodena (19 Km from Thimphu) and climb a hill to visit Chhari Monastry. It has all meditators and we are not suppose to enter the boundary but we can enter the monastery and the lhakhangs and get blessings. Then we will drive to Simtokha in the south of Thimphu valley to see the first Dzong built in Bhutan by Zhabdrung Rimpoche.
After the visit we will drive to Paro via Chhudzom where Paro River and Thimphu River meet at the confluence. This place is also a Junction to the 4 main towns of Bhutan ( Phuntsholing, Haa, Paro and Thimphu). The night will be in hotel in Paro.
Day 16 ( 10th April; 2017):
Paro Tshechu. After breakfast we will walk over a traditional bridge ( Nyamai Zam ) and walk to the Dzong where we will see many Bhutanese come to attend the fes-tival in their beautiful festive dressed and ornaments. It is the 2nd day tshe-chu. The mask dances are performed by the monks of Paro after a week of rituals performance inside the Lhakhang. The mask dance has a story behind which your guide will narrate to you. You will enjoy the dramatisation of life and death. you will also enjoy the culture practiced there and compare with the culture of the Sakten people. The night will be in a Hotel or in a local house.
Day 17( 11th April; 2017); Halt in Paro. After early Breakfast, we will drive 15 Km towards the north to reach the base of Taktsang Monastry. We will have to hike 2-3 hours to reach the clinging Monastry in the cliff. This Monastry is the Jewel of Bhutan and one must visit this. This is an important place of pilgrimage. According to legend Padmasambhava arrived here on the back of a tigress and meditated there. After going down we will visit the ruins of Drugyel Dzong, Kitchu Lhakhang, Paro Rimpung Dzong and the museum.
We will also look around the town and visit the temples in the town. You will enjoy the beauty of the village.
Day 18( 12thApril, 2017), Paro. After breakfast we will cross a traditional bridge ( Nyamai Zam ) and walk towards the Dzong to attend the festival. It is the 4th day tshechu. The mask dances are performed by the monks of Paro after a week of rituals perfor-mance inside the Lhakhang. The mask dance has a story behind which your guide will narrate to you. You will enjoy the dramatisation of life’s sufferings after death. you will also enjoy the culture practiced there and compare with the culture of the Sakten people. The night will be in a Hotel or in a local house.
Day 19 ( 13th April; 2017), Paro;
Day of Throngdrel ( A big Thanka ). Early morning at around 3:00 am we will drive to the Dzong to witness the chibdrel ceremony for the display of the Guru Rimpoche Throngdrel ( Big Thanka ). The Throngdrel is displayed so that people get blessings and make their path to Nirvana by seeing once. The Throngdrel will be lifted before the sun raises. We will also meet the King and the Queen of Bhutan in this event.
Then we will drive to the hotel for the breakfast and again we will be back in the Dzong to witness the eight magnificent dance of Guru Rimpoche and oth-er dances.
Day 20 ( 14th April; 2017) Depature. After food we will drive to the Paro International Airport to see you off. We will bid bye bye and wish you a safe Journey and pray for your safe journey home.
Number of days of walk: 7days
Accommodation: Camping, hotel, home-stay
Dates: 26th March 2017 till 14th April 2017;
Price: $ 4750/- for Tour in Bhutan.
From our guests
Annie Harriz
It was very satisfying trip to Bhutan. We were welcomed by the guide Gasay Lhendup in the airport and provided a royal service throughout the trip. Both the driver and the guide were very helpful, efficient, attentive, expert, courteous ++++ Both of them were with a big smile throughout the trip. The food is different and spicy. May be we were too french.Guibert Nicolle Dominique Henriette
It was perfect: Sangay is a careful driver, always in a good mood. Gasay gave us all the explanation we needed and made sure everything is ok for us.