12 Days Tour

  • Tour Details
    Tour Name: Medieval Bhutan Tour
    Tour type: Cultural tour
    Duration: 12Days/11Nights
    Grade: Easy
    Season: All year round
    Date: Flexible
    Place: Thimphu, Punakha, Trongsa, Bumthang, Phobjikha, Wangdue, and Paro

Tour Highlights 

  • ✓ Best sights of central and western Bhutan
  • ✓ Explore Bhutanese lifestyle 
  • ✓ Visit winter home of migratory bird
  • ✓ Pristine landscape of extraordinary scenery 
  • ✓ Majestic Fortress and Striking Buddhist monasteries 
  • ✓ 360-degree aerial view of 108 stupas and scenic highest Himalayas peaks
  •  ✓ Visit old capital of Bhutan, Punakha 
  • ✓ Visit longest suspension bridge
  •  ✓ Hike to Tiger’s nest monastery 
  • ✓ Experience traditional hot stone bath 

  • Itinerary overview
    Day 01: Arrival at Paro airport, drive to Thimphu.
    Day 02: Full day Thimphu sightseeing
    Day 03: Thimphu to Punakha
    Day 04: Punakha sightseeing
    Day 05: Punakha to Trongsa
    Day 06: Trongsa to Bumthang
    Day 07: Bumthang sightseeing
    Day 08: Bumthang to Phobjikha Valley
    Day 09: Phobjikha Valley to Paro
    Day 10: Day excursion to Haa valley
    Day 11: Tiger nest hike
    Day 12: 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 Tours. You will then be driven to the capital city (Thimphu). After your arrival in 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).

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 is 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.

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.

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.

On this day you will be driven to Trongsa over Pele-la pass (3300m), a boundary between western and eastern Bhutan. You will take a break to watch the scenic environment. Further drive will lead you to the gateway of central Bhutan. En route to Trongsa, you will see Chendebji Chorten patterned with eyes
painted at the four cardinal points similar to Boudhanath stupa in Kathmandu, Nepal. But then you will continue your travel till Trongsa viewpoint to see the largest fortress of the country. This is a place in Bhutan where our royal dynasty has emerged. Moreover, it was the seat of power over central and eastern
Bhutan. Indeed, the first two hereditary kings ruled from this fort and our tradition still dictates that the crown prince should serve as Trongsa Penlop before acceding to the throne. Next, you will visit the Ta Dzong (watchtower fortress) overlooking the Trongsa dzong which is a house that fascinates the
museum of our country. Overnight you will stay in Trongsa.

Start your drive from Trongsa, as you ascend up you will come across Yutong La Pass (3400m), one of the beautiful, chilly and picturesque passes you will find before reaching to Bumthang and from there gradually descend into Chumey valley (the first valley of Bumthang). Visit the palace used by the past
king as a summer residence. Next, a short hike takes you to Prakar Goemba (white monkey temple), a picturesque valley in Chumey perched on the small plateau. According to legend, white monkeys helped to build this temple, the founder of this temple worked during day time while monkeys continued the
work at night. Therefore, it was named ‘’Prakar Goemba’’ meaning ‘’white monkey temple’’. Later, you will make a stop at the Yathra weaving center. Depending upon the time, if time permits do local sightseeing or else take a drive to the hotel directly and get rest

On this day your day will start by visiting Jakar Dzong, a castle of the white bird at a picturesque location overlooking Chamkhar valley. You will take a drive to Jambay Lhakhang, the first-ever built temple in the country. You will continue further to reach Kurjey Lhakhang, a complex consisting of three
beautiful temples and it is a place where the remains of the first three kings is kept. You will enjoy your picnic lunch in riverside. In the afternoon you will take a short hike to Tamshing Lhakhang just across the river from Kurjey Lhakhang. For art and painting connoisseur, this site must be visited because this is the place where you can wipe your sins by carrying the chain bar smith of the great saint known as Terton Pema Lingpa. You will then drive towards Tang valley to see Mebar Tsho (the burning lake), the most sacred sites inside Bhutan that relates to the renowned religious treasurer Terton Pema Lingpa who discovered treasure from inside the lake. You will stop at Red Panda Brewery and Cheese factory owned by swiss national who got married to Bhutanese. Subsequently, you will explore the town and drive back
to the hotel.

Today your journey will be quite hectic due to long hour traveling, but it is worth a lot. Your driver will drive you back through the same way, as you ascend up from Bumthang on the twisting mountain road point, you will see the habitat of red panda and other animals. Then, from Yutong la pass, the road descends down to Trongsa. Subsequently, you will continue your drive, and again you will get the last opportunity to see Chendebji Chorten. After crossing Pele La pass, now it’s time to see the most beautiful marshland of Bhutan. First, you will make a visit to Gangteng Monastery, the main seat of Terton who is a discoverer of ancient hidden texts. Now, you will start Gangtey Nature Trail, Distance 4km at Elevation of 2900m. You will take a walk around potato fields to the pine forest. Here hikers will come across the best marshland in Bhutan. This marshland is famous for its winter home of rare black-necked cranes. Here, cranes can be seen in the late autumn and winter (November to February). As said, when cranes arrive here, 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 can also try a hot stone bath at your own cost but note that it needs to be booked beforehand. Then the day will end by going back to the hotel to have rest.

If you happen to visit here during the arrival time of cranes, you will be awakened by the call of cranes. After having breakfast, you will be driven back to Paro, the point where you took your land in Bhutan. You will take a drive to Rinpung dzong viewpoint, walkthrough Nyima Zam bridge to Rinpung dzong,
which is a 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. On the way down to town, you will stop at the iron bridge maker temple. And then your day ends up exploring elegant traditional style houses of Paro town.

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.

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.

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. 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