Bhutan is the Himalayan kingdom replete with myths and legends, where the best of traditional culture thrives and the latest global developments are enthusiastically embraced.
Our tour starts from the west Bhutani.e Paro and ends at the same. We will make a cultural tour in the west and attend the annual festival in the central Bhutan.
Jambay Lhakhang Drub:
Jambay Lhakhang is one of the oldest temples in the kingdom. It was founded by, Songtsen Gampo, a Tibetan King in the 7th century AD. The king was destined to build 108 temples known as Thadhul- Yangdhul (temples on and across the border) in a day to subdue the demoness that was residing in the Himalayas. The temple is one of the two of the 108 built in Bhutan. A second is located in Paro, the Kichu lhakhang also built on the same day.
Legend has it that Guru Rimpoche visited the site several times and deemed it ex-ceptionally sacred. Chakhar Gyab, the king of the Iron Castle of Bumthang renovated the temple in the 8th century AD.
The first king of Bhutan, Gongsa Ugyen Wangchuck constructed the Dus Kyi Khorlo (Kala Chakra- Wheel of Time) inside the temple, to commemorate his victory over his rivals Phuntsho Dorji of Punakha and Alu Dorji of Thimphu after the battle of Changlimithang in 1885. Later, Ashi Wangmo, the younger sister of the second king of Bhutan, built the Chorten lhakhang.
The main relics include the future Buddha, Jowo Jampa (Maitreya) from whose name the present name of the temple is derived. The lhakhang also houses more than one hundred statues of the gods of Kalachakra built by the first king, in 1887.
One of the most spectacular festivals in the country, called Jambay lhakhang Drup is hosted here. The festival lasts for five days (check with your tour operator to confirm these dates). The highlight of the festival is the fire ritual that is held in the evening where crowds gather to witness the ritualistic naked dance
Festival Tour & Cultural Tour
Accommodation: Hotel and home-stay
Dates: 31st October to 8th November 2017
Days: 8 nights 9 days tour only. Day 1: 31st October 2017:Arrive atParo (2280 m )
Day 2 : 1st Nov. 2017: Paro sightseeing and drive to Thimphu (2340 m, 65Km, 1.30 hrs)
Day 3 : 2nd Nov.2017:Sightseeing in Thimphu and drive to Punakha ( 1250 m, 74 Km, 2.45 hrs. )
Day 4 : 3rd Nov.2017:Sightseeing in Punakha.
Day 5 : 4th Nov.2017: Drive to Trongsa ( 2180 m, 129 Km, 4.30 hrs )
Day 7 : 6th Nov. 2017:Jambay Lhakhang Necked Dance, Bumthang.
Day 8 : 7th Nov. 2017: Drive from Bumthang to Thimphu.
Day 9 : 8th Nov. 2017: Drive from Thimphu to Paro for departure
TRASHI DELEK Day 1: 31st October 2017:Arrive atParo (2280 m )
Arrive at Paro International Airport. You will be welcomed by our guide by offering Trashi Khadhar. We will drive to the hotel for a welcome tea and refreshment.
If time permits we will visit Paro Rimpung Dzong, Museum and town. The night will be in a hotel or home-stay in Paro.
Day 2 : 1st Nov. 2017: Paro sightseeing and drive to Thimphu (2340 m, 65Km, 1.30 hrs) After early Breakfast, we will drive 15 Km towards the north to Satsham Chorten where we will view Taktsang Monastry clinging in the cliff. This Monastery 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. It is 3-4 Hours walk uphill. If you are interested and if you can walk we will make a hike. Then we will visit the ruins of Drugyel Dzong and Kitchu Lhakhang.
Then we will drive to south of Paro and visit Tamchu Lhakhang and then drive to Thimphu via Chuzomsa confluence. it is an hour drive where we will be welcomed in a hotel in Thimphu.
Day 3 : 2nd Nov.2017:Sightseeing in Thimphu and drive to Punakha ( 1250 m, 74 Km, 2.45 hrs. )
After breakfast we will visit the Memorial chorten which was built in the memory of 3rd King, Kuensel Phodrang where tallest sitting Buddha of the world is. We will drive to visit Changangkha Lhakhang, Motithang zoo and Trashichhodzong.
After Lunch we will drive to Punakha via Hongtsho and reach Dochula Pass ( 3140 m ). We will make circumambulation to108 chorten and visit Druk Wangyel Lhakhang. Your Guide will narrate an history of this lhakhang and chortens. We will drive via narrow Thinleygang valley, Mitsena valley and Lobesa valley and reach Punakha. We will rest in a hotel over the night.
Day 4 : 3rd Nov.2017:Sightseeing in Punakha.
After breakfast we will drive towards Punakha Dzong. We will walk over a tradi-tional bhutanese bridge to enter the Dzong. t 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. The Dzong lies in-between the two big rivers ( Pochu river and Mochu river ). We will enjoy the art and the architecture of the Bhutanese.
After Lunch we will drive along the side the Mochu river to visit Do jaga lam Lhakhang and view Khamsum Yuellay Namgyel Lhakhang which was built dedicated to our 5th King to serve the nation and protect the country. Then we will visit the town and the lhakhang in the town. We will drive to Chhimi Lhakhang which has a legend of Mad man Lama Drukpa Kuenley. You will be blessed with children if you pray and wish for. The night will be in a hotel in Wangduephodrang.
Day 5 : 4th Nov.2017: Drive to Trongsa ( 2180 m, 129 Km, 4.30 hrs )
A day starts with a drive through Wangdue Phodrang via chele la pass ( 3420 m ). We can view Jhomolhari Mountain, Jichu Drakey and Kangbum mountains. We will drive via Chendeji Chortens to reach Trongsa. We will visit Trongsa Dzong, Museum and other places.We will be welcomed by the members of Tashi Ninjay Hotel or similar.
Day 6 : 5th Nov.2017:Drive to Bumthang ( 2580 m, 68 Km, 2.30 hrs )Attend 2nd day Praker Festival or 3rd day Jambay Lhakhang Drub.
We will drive to Bumthang via Yotongla Pass and Chhumey village. We will attend the 2nd day Praker Festival or we will attend 3rd day Jambay Lhak-hang Drub.We will be welcomed by the members of River Lodge.
Day 7 : 6th Nov. 2017:Jambay Lhakhang Necked Dance, Bumthang.
Attend Jambay Lhakhang Drub or 3rd day parkar Drubchen. In the afternoon we will visit Bjakar Dzong, Jambay Lhakhang, Kurjay Lhakhang, Wangduechholing Palace, Yathra weaving centre and Thangbi Lhakhang. The night will be in a hotel in Bumthang. In the night if our guest are interested we will witness the necked dance at Jambay Lhakhang which is considered as special event ( terdha Chham )
Day 8 : 7th Nov. 2017: Drive from Bumthang to Thimphu.
Attend last day Jambay Lhakhang Drub and drive to Thimphu. We will return our journey to Thimphu where we will sleep in a hotel in Thimphu.
Day 9 : 8th Nov. 2017: Drive from Thimphu to Paro
We will drive to Parointernational airport and bid farewell to your home.
TRASHI DELEK Total time: 9 days & 8 nights
Accommodation: Hotel and home-stay
Dates: 31st October to 8th November 2017
Days: 8 nights 9 days tour only.
Price: $ 2000/- ( US$ Two Thousand only ) for one person.
West-East Tour (Paro Tshechu)
Nature of program:
Cultural Tour: Complete crossing from west to east visiting all the im-portant places, Monastries, lhakhangs, and very important historical places.
Festival Tour:
Paro Tshechu starts from 31st March 2015 till 4th April 2015. It is held in Paro Dzong with the mask dance perf ....readmore
Thimphu Tshechu
One of the biggest festivals is the Thimphu Tshechu, held in the capital city for three days starting from 10th day of the 8th month of lunar calendar. Before the actual tshechu that is being witnessed by thousands of people from the capital city and the nearby Dzongkhags, days and nights of prayers ....readmore
Wangdue Tshechu
Wangduephodrang in central Bhutan is known for the Lozeys or the ornamental speeches. Some of the notable lozeys are the sorrows of Gaylong Sumdar Tashi, who was sent as a monk and that of Pemai Tshewang Tashi who served as an official at the Dzong. The Dzong serves as the administrative centre and ....readmore
Punakha Tshechu
Punakha is located in the western part of Bhutan and it is the winter home of Chief Abbot of Bhutan, the Je Khenpo. Punakha played great importance in the history of Bhutan during the time of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel in 17th century. Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal is known as the unifier of Bhutan as a ....readmore
Trongsa Tshechu
Trongsa, the sacred and the temporal heart of the country is a two days journey from Thimphu. Situated in central Bhutan and once the seat of power over central and eastern Bhutan, both the first and second kings of Bhutan ruled the country from this ancient seat. All four kings were invested as Tro ....readmore
Lhuntse Tshechu
Lhuentse is one of the easternmost districts in Bhutan that borders with the autonomous region of Tibet. It is the ancestral home of our Kings and hosts a number of important and sacred monuments. The most important amongst others is the Dzong that sits majestically on a ridge overlooking the Kurich ....readmore
West-East (Tashigang & Mongar Tshechu)
Nature of program:
Cultural Tour: Complete crossing from west to east visiting all the im-portant places, Monastries, lhakhangs, and very important historical places.
Tashigang Tshechu:
The monks perform ceremonial ablution or thrue before the tshechu begins. 1st day is rehearsal in preparati ....readmore
Background of the program
1. Thimphu Domchen :
The 5th day of the 8th month of the Bhutanese calendar is marked as Thimphu Domchen. It is the day when the dance of the Palden Lhamo ( The deity of Bhu-tan )is shown to the public after a month of religious performance inside the lhakhang by the C ....readmore
West-East Tour (Ura Yakchoe)
Nature of program:
Cultural Tour: Complete crossing from west to east visiting all the im-portant places, Monastries, lhakhangs, and very important historical places.
Ura Yakchoe:
Ura Village in Bumthang is known for the famous dance known as the Ura Yakchoe. During the festival a sacred and ....readmore
West-East (3 Festivals in Bumthang)
Nature of program:
Cultural Tour: Complete crossing from west to east visiting all the im-portant places, Monastries, lhakhangs, and very important historical places.
Jambay Lhakhang Festival: One of the most spectacular festivals in the country. The festival lasts for five days. The highlight ....readmore
PARO TSHECHU AND WESTERN BHUTAN TOUR
Paro Tshechu: ( Festival )
Paro Tshechu starts from 10th day till the 15th day of 2nd month of the Bhutanese calendar. It has a sin washing mask dances and the dramatisation of the life and death performed by the monks to entertain and educate the people.
Paro is the most beautiful valley of the c ....readmore
CHORTEN KORA, GASA TSHECHU AND PARO TSHECHU
East to west Tour:
Bhutan is an independent country lies between India and China. It is the buddhist country and also the Gross National Happiness country. Our tour in Bhutan starts extremely from east (Samdrup Jongkhar) and ends in the west ( Paro).
Chorten Kora:
Chorten Kora was built in 17 ....readmore
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.