- Tour Details Tour Name: Experience Marshland
- Tour Tour type: Cultural tour
- Duration: 9Days/8Nights
- Grade: Easy Season: All year round
- Date: Flexible Place: Thimphu, Punakha, Phobjikha valley, Haa and Paro
- Tour Highlights
✓ Majestic Fortress and Buddhist monasteries
✓ Extraordinary scenery and scenic Himalayan passes
✓ 360-degree aerial view of 108 Buddhist stupas
✓ Visit old capital of Bhutan (Punakha)
✓ A pleasant walk in the longest suspension bridge of Bhut
- Itinerary Overview
Day 01: Arrival at Paro and drive to the capital Thimphu.
Day 02: Thimphu local sightseeing
Day 03: Thimphu to Punakha
Day 04: Punakha local sightseeing
Day 05: Punakha to Phobjikha sightseeing
Day 06: Phobjikha to Paro sightseeing
Day 07: Tiger nest hiking
Day 08: Day excursion to Haa valley
Day 09: Departure
Day 01: Arrival at Paro Airport, drive to the capital city Thimphu
Your flight to Paro will be the eye-catching sight of the highest mountains in the world. You will see great Himalayan peaks such as Everest, Kanchenjunga, and Makalu. You will have the first glimpse of Gross National Happiness country. On arrival at Paro International Airport, you will be welcomed and escorted by your company representatives from Bhutan Travel Light Tour. You will then be driven to the capital city (Thimphu). On the way to Thimphu, you will stop at Tachog Lhakhang to see the ancient iron chain bridge. Depending upon the arrival time, if time permits you will have a visit to Tashichho Dzong (The castle which serves the seat of the king and government).
Day 02: Thimphu Sightseeing
In Thimphu, your day will begin with a visit to Buddha’s point (gigantic bronze Buddha Dordenma statue) located on the mountain overlooking the southern approach of Thimphu town. You will take a short hike to see a panoramic view of the statue. Later you will join the Buddhist devotees performing their daily rituals and prayers at the whitewashed semi-spherical Memorial Chorten. After this, you will visit the painting school where you will see the students specialize in painting (furniture and thangkas). On the other side stands a folk heritage museum which gives you a glimpse of the traditional Bhutanese lifestyle. You will have a walk from Norzin lam street to see the clock tower of Thimphu, interestingly here you will see the traffic police signaling in the heart of the town junction, but you will continue your walk till handicraft market where varieties of Bhutanese souvenirs are displaced and bought for a reasonable price. Then your day will end up after visiting a handmade paper factory that produces the
authentic Bhutanese paper.
Day 03: Thimphu to Punakha
On this day you will drive to Punakha (the old capital of Bhutan). On a way to your destination, you will stop at Dochula pass to see the panoramic view of most astounding highest snow-clad Himalayan peaks of Bhutan. It is the best place for photographers to take a picture of a 360-degree aerial view of 108 Stupas and snow-clad Himalaya’s peak. After half an hour you will walk to Chime Lhakhang (The fertility temple). This temple is dedicated to a 15th-century famous saint called Lam Drukpa Kuenley, also known as “The Divine madman”, who flourished Buddhism through outrageous and scandalous sexual exploits. In addition, your tour guide/monk will let you know more of his crazy wisdom upon your interest. Soon afterward you will visit Punakha Dzong (the most beautiful fortress in Bhutan through traditional cantilever bridge). This fortress is covered with high whitewashed walls and towers. Flowingly you will take a break to see the longest suspension bridge of Bhutan.
Day 04: Punakha Sightseeing
Today, in the morning you will start with a short hike from white water rafting point to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten which stands regally on the hillside above Punakha valley. You will take walk-through paddy fields with a wonderful view of Punakha valley. Later on, if you are interested to do water rafting
at your own cost, we will arrange the rafting crew to make your trip a memorial one. Then, you will visit Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup nunnery, (The Buddhist College for nuns). Here you will see Buddhist nuns in their crimson robes.
Day 05: Punakha to Phobjikha
Today, you will have an early morning drive to Phobjikha valley, a u-shaped glacial valley in central Bhutan (2½ hour). Reaching Phobjikha, you will visit Gangteng monastery bound on the west side by the Black Mountain and the main seat of Terton who is a discoverer of ancient hidden texts. Here you will enjoy Bhutanese authentic food at local farmhouse. In the afternoon, you will start for Gangtey Nature Trail, Distance 4km at Elevation of 2900m. You will take a walk around the potato field to pine forest; here hikers come across the best marshland in Bhutan. This marshland is famous for winter home to the rare black-necked cranes. Here, cranes can be seen in the late autumn and winter (November to February). When cranes arrive, they circle around the Gangtey Monastery roof three times before landing on the marshland of Phobjikha valley. Again, when the time comes for their departure, they repeat the same process and leave for Tibet back in March. You will also visit the Black Neck Crane information center to know more about this rare migratory bird through documentary video. If you happen to visit in the last week of October, you can see these cranes too. You can also try a hot stone bath at your own cost
but note that it needs to be booked beforehand. Then our day will end by going back to the hotel.
Day 06: Phobjikha to Paro sightseeing
Today you will move back to Paro, the point where you took your land in Bhutan. You will walk through Nyima Zam Bridge to Rinpung dzong, the castle as well as a monastery. It is one of Bhutan’s tentative sites in the UNESCO plan list for future World Heritage Sites. This is a place where Bernardo Bertolucci’s film ‘’little Buddha”’ was shot. Just above the Dzong stands Ta dzong (watchtower fortress), now converted to National Museum of Bhutan. Subsequently, on the way to town, you will stop at the iron bridge maker temple. Then your day will end up exploring elegant traditional style houses of Paro town.
Day 07: Tiger nest hiking
Today you will get prepared earlier than before, for an exciting and a little tough 5 hrs hiking visit in the top icon of Bhutan sitting more than 800 meters above Paro valley, perched on a cliff face of the mountain stands most heart touching ‘Taktsang’ (Tiger nest monastery). It is renowned in the outside world for its
uniqueness and spectacular position.
Day 08: Day excursion to Haa valley
Today, early morning you will drive to Chele La pass at an altitude of 3980m, which is the highest motorable point in Bhutan between Paro and Haa valley. From Chele La pass (3980m) you will descend to Haa valley (2700m). After reaching Haa, you will make a visit to famous old two Buddhist temples
called Lhakhang Kharpo (White chapel) and Lhakhang Nagpo (Black chapel). Haa valley is one of the picturesque tourist hotspots in Bhutan. You will explore and enjoy the stunning nature of the Haa valley. After completing your sightseeing, you will return back to Paro.
Day 09: Departure
On this day you will be driven to Paro airport where your tour guide and driver will bid you goodbye. It was nice meeting you and we hope you enjoyed the beauty of our country. We expect you to visit again for a longer duration.
Tashi Delek and have a safe flight back home!
- A sustainable tourism Royalty (SDF) to the Royal Government of Bhutan which goes towards the economic developmental works such as in the education , health, roads, etc.
- Bhutan Visa
- Accommodations in 3- star properties. (Can be upgraded to 4 & 5-star with additional Premium)
- All Meals (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
- Certified English Speaking Bhutanese Guide.
- All ground transportationAll internal taxes and charges including Entry Fees
- Mineral Water while traveling
- Complimentary from company : Traditional Hot Stone Bath
- Airfare ( Can be arranged with us)
- Travel Insurance
- Any Expenses of Personal Nature
- Tips for the guide and driver