Day 01: Arrive Paro by Druk Air
On arrival at the airport you will be received by our representative and transfer to hotel. After quick freshen up drive to Kichu Lhakhang, among the 108 temples built in a single day in 649 AD/ Drugyel Dzong built in 1646 to commemorate victory over Tibetan invaders, led by Mongolian warlord Gushri khan --- Ta Dzong, the National Museum of the Kingdom. Originally built as Watch Tower, since 1967 it is acting as the National museum which displays ancient paintings, stamp collection, and artifacts of Bhutan. Paro Rinpung Dzong built in 1646 by Zhabdrung, which now houses monks and administrative office of Paro
Overnight at Paro.

Day 02: Paro - Thimphu (64 Km)
After early breakfast drive Thimphu the capital city for sightseeing. Visit Takin zoo --- school of 13 arts and crafts of Bhutan ---- handmade paper factory --- National Library which has vast collection of ancient Buddhist texts and manuscripts --- Folk Heritage Museum, showcasing the Bhutanese living during the 17th century/Simtokha Dzong the 1st Dzong built by Zhabdrung in 1626 --- Memorial Chorten, the Stupa built in the memory of Bhutan's Third King who is also known as the Father of modern Bhutan --- if time permits visit some other olden temples around Thimphu In evening after governments office hour visit Tashichho Dzong, the beautiful medieval fortress housing Government's office and King's Throne room it is also the summer residence of Je Khenpo, the Chief Abbot.
Overnight at Thimphu

Day 03: Thimphu - Punakha (75 Km)
After breakfast drive to Punakha, reroute you will be passing by Dochula (pass) (3,050m), where there is 108 Stupa all together. After Dochula you drive downhill to Punakha Dzong, built in 1637 by Zhabdrung. The Dzong is regarded as one of the beautiful Dzong and it is winter residence of Je Khenpo, the chief Abbot. After lunch drive Wangdue to see Wangduephodrang Dzong built in 1638 by Zhabdrung. It is the only Dzong in Bhutan with typical Bhutanese roofing. --- In evening after the Dzong do the hike to chimed Lhakhang meaning "no dog temple". The temple is also regarded as "temple of fertility" as lot of couple without child comes here to wish for one. The hike is gradual climb for about 45 minutes, through paddy or wheat field.
Overnight at Punakha

Day 04: Punakha - Trongsa (75 Km)
After breakfast drive uphill to Trongsa passing through Wangdue town until you reach Pelela (pass) (3200m) which divides the east and west Bhutan. From there you drive downhill and stop at Chendipjee to see the Chendipjee Chorten, built in around 19th century by lama Sidha. The Stupa is styled similar to Swayambhunath Stupa in Katmandu, Nepal. It takes another hour until you reach Trongsa. / visit Ta Dzong the watch tower of Trongsa Dzong.
Overnight at Trongsa.

Day 05: Trongsa - Bumthang (70 Km)
After breakfast drive uphill towards Bumthang, until you reach Yotongla (pass) (3425m). From there you drive downhill for around 1.5 to reach Bumthang, the holiest place in the country. Bumthang is sometime compared as Switzerland of Bhutan. After lunch start sightseeing. Visit Jakar Dzong built in around 1667 --- Wangdichholing palace built in 1857 on the site of battle field of Trongsa Penlop, Jigme Namgyel. It is the 1st palace to be built in Bhutan. Ugyen Wangchuk the 1st king also the son of Jigme Namgyel used the palace throughout his reign. --- Jamba lhakhang built in 659. It is among the one of 108 temples build by Tibetan king Tsongtsen Gampo to pin down the ogresses. --- Kurje lhakhang, where guru Padmasambhava in 7th century meditated and left body imprint on the rock inside the temple. The whole temple building is surrounded with 108 Stupa. --- Tamshing temple built in around 1501 by Pema Lingpa the one who discovered lot of treasures hidden by guru Padmasambhava. In side the temple you will see the paintings which are really old and also the iron chain jacket made by Pema Lingpa himself.
Overnight at Bumthang

Day 06: Bumthang
After breakfast drive towards Tang valley to visit Ugyencholing Palace, en route visit Mebartsho the burning lake, from where Pema Lingpa discovered treasure. Then continue driving to Ugyencholing. It is around 2 hours drive from Bumthang. From the point where road ends you start you hike uphill for around 1.5 hours to the palace. The place dates back to 16th century and it now houses museum. After lunch walk back to the car and drive to Bumthang. --- If time permits do some more sightseeing.
Overnight at Bumthang

Day 07: Bumthang-Mongar
The journey continues eastwards, winding through more rugged terrain. The drive to Mongar takes about 6 hours, with spectacular views en route. We will drive up into the hills above the valley and then past Ura village, before climbing sharply to the highest point on Bhutan’s motor able road network, Thrumsing-la pass (4,000m/13,125ft).

From here, the road gradually descends to the alpine valley of Sengor, with wonderful views of cascading waterfalls and the hills of eastern Bhutan along the way. Vegetation changes from alpine to subtropical with the loss of height, and bamboos and luxuriant ferns overhang the road as we drop down to the valley floor. The descent stops at 700m/2,300ft, where we cross the Kuri Chu (river). We ascend again through pine forests, maize fields and eastern hamlets to reach Mongar town, high on a gentle slope above the valley. Picnic lunch at a scenic spot en route to Mongar.
We visit Mongar Dzong, built in the 1930s and one of Bhutan’s newest dzongs, but constructed in the same way as all previous Dzongs, without either plans or the use of nails. Overnight at the lodge in Mongar.

Day 08: Mongar-Trashigang
This trip of about 96 km. takes only 3 hours. The first part of journey is through leafy forest filled with ferns. After driving through the Kori-la pass (2,450m/8,040ft), marked by a pretty Chorten and a Mani wall, we descend rapidly through corn fields and banana groves to reach the famous road zigzags just below Yadi, a fairly recent and now fast-growing settlement.
After zigzagging down the hillside, the road east runs along the Gamri River. A turnoff on the left leads up to Drametse. The temple, perched on top of a steep hill above the village, was founded by Choeden Zangmo and is the most important monastery of eastern Bhutan. This is the place of origin of the famous Drametse Nga Chham, a masked dance with drums. About 30 km. onwards lies Trashigang (1,100m/3,610ft), which clings to a steep hillside above the Gamri river. Trashigang is the principal township of the biggest and most populated district in the country.
After lunch, we will visit Trashigang Dzong, standing at the extreme end of a rocky outcrop far above the river gorge. It serves as the administrative seat for the district and part of the Dzong is occupied by the local monastic community. Overnight at the lodge in Trashigang.

Day 09: Trashigang (Trashiyangtse excursion)
After breakfast we visit the temple of Gom Kora, set on a small alluvial plateau, overlooking the river, 24 km. from Trashigang. Gom Kora is a famous place, as Guru Rinpoche is said to have subdued a demon here, trapping it in a rock. We continue on down the road to Doksum village, where you can see women busily weaving traditional Bhutanese fabric, and a chain-link swing bridge dating back to the 15th century. The road turns into the hills here, running up the side of a winding river valley to Trashiyangtse.
In former times, Trashiyangtse was an important center because it lies on one of the caravan routes leading from western and central Bhutan. Trashiyangtse is now a rapidly growing town and the administrative center for this district. The area is famous for its wooden containers and bowls, which make inexpensive, attractive and useful souvenirs of a visit to this remote region.
We will visit Trashiyangtse Dzong, which overlooks the town and was built in the late 1990s when the new district was created. If time permits, we will also visit the dazzling white Stupa of Chorten Kora on the riverbank below the town, and the nearby Institute for Zorig Chusum, where students are trained in Bhutan’s 13 traditional arts and crafts. In the evening we return to Trashigang. Dinner and overnight at the lodge in Trashigang.

FROM HERE YOU CAN OPT TO RETURN THE SAME WAY BACK TO PARO AIRPORT

Day 10: Trashigang- samdrupjongkhar
The Trashigang – Samdrupjongkhar road was completed in 1965, and the journey down it to the Indian border takes about 6 hours. Along the way, we pass by Sherubtse College in Kanglung, which was founded in 1978 and is a degree-granting institution affiliated to the University of Delhi. We also visit the nearby Zangtho Pelri temple representing Guru Rinpoche’s paradise, built in 1978 by the late Minister of Home Affairs. We then drive on to Khaling, home of the National Institute for the Disabled and the Weaving Centre. Visits to these may be arranged by prior request only, before leaving Thimphu. From here, it is a further 80 km. to Deothang, which is remembered in history as the site of a famous 19th century battle fought during the Duar Wars, in which the forces of Jigme Namgyel defeated the British. The road then descends fairly rapidly to the plains through dense tropical forest with an abundance of teak, bamboo and ferns. Overnight at the lodge in Samdrupjongkhar.

Day 11: Samdrupjongkhar -Gauwahati
After breakfast, drive to Gauwahati, the capital town of the Indian north-eastern state of Assam, for flight to Delhi/Kolkata or onward program in that region.
Some times, for security reasons, the route from Trashigang to Samdrupjongkhar may be closed. Please check with Bhutan Holiday Tour before booking your tour.

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