Day by day itinerary
Day 01: Arrive in Paro International Airport, transfer to hotel.
Day 02: Paro - Sightseeing.
Day 03: Paro - Thimphu.
Day 04: Thimphu - Sightseeing.
Day 05: Thimphu - Trongsa.
Day 06: Tongsa - Bumthang.
Day 07: Bumthang - Halt.
Day 08: Bumthang - Nganglhakhang.
Day 09: Ngang Lhakhang - Ugyen Choling.
Day 10: Ugyen Choling - Jaker.
Day 11: Jaker - Tongsa.
Day 12: Tongsa - Thimphu.
Day 13: Thimphu - Paro International Airport.
Detail Itinerary
Day 01 Arrive in Paro International Airport.
During the journey, one will experience breathtaking views of Mount Everest, Kanchenjunga and other famous Himalayan peaks, including the sacred Chomolhari and Mount Jichu Drake in Bhutan. On arrival at Paro International Airport, you will be received by representatives of Sakten Tours and Treks Ltd. who will escort you to the Hotel where arrangements have been made for two night's halt.
Day 02 Paro - Sightseeing.
Drive to Drugyel Dzong (ruined fortress - 16 KMS away from Paro Town). Although in ruins, This Dzong is of great historical importance. It was here that the Bhutanese finally defeated the invading Tibetans and drove them back. From here, the peak of Chomolhari "Mountain of the Goddess" can be seen on a clear day (Alt. 7,329 m /24,029 ft.). On the way back, you visit a typical Bhutanese farmhouse. After lunch, at the hotel, take a leisurely stroll around the compound. Overnight in Hotel
Day 03 Paro - Thimphu.
This morning drive along the winding road along the Paro Chu (Chu means water or river) downstream to the confluence with the Wang Chu then turn upstream and travel along the Wang Chu to Thimphu, the Capital. Lunch will be served at the Hotel. In the afternoon, visit the Memorial Chorten, dedicated to the Late Third King of Bhutan, His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. Overnight in the Hotel.
Day 04 Thimphu - Sightseeing.
Visit Tashichho Dzong, the main Government Secretariat building, where the government ministries, the Office of His Majesty the King and the Throne Room, and the offices and living quarters of the monk body and the Chief Abbot are housed. Wander in the town, visit shops and the Handicrafts Emporium, where Bhutanese textiles and other handicrafts are available. Visit the workshop where the handicrafts are made. Visit the painting and wood crafts schools, where traditional painting and other arts are kept alive. Visit the National Library and see the ancient manuscripts preserved there. Visit the Simtokha Dzong (6 Kms From Thimphu), the oldest Dzong in Bhutan built by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel in 1629 AD, overnight Hotel
Day 05 Thimphu - Trongsa.
The journey to central Bhutan begins today. The drive to Trongsa takes about 7 - 8 hours from Thimphu. A packed lunch will be arranged. Lunch stop at Chendeji Chorten. Overnight at a Hotel in Trongsa.
Day 06 Tongsa - Jaker (Bumthang).
Drive to Jaker which takes about 2 1/2 hours from Trongsa - a pleasant drive through scenic forests and countryside. You also cross one of the highest passes named Yotongla (Alt. 17,000 ft.) along the East - West Highway on this drive. Bumthang (the "Plain of Ghosts'') is a land of mysteries and mystics and tales of the great Guru Padmasambhava who performed formidable feats and miracles in historical time in this place still hold sway. A beautiful sighting of Jakar Dzong ('' Castle of the White Bird") can be seen from the View Point. Lunch will be served in the Hotel. Afternoon, a hike up to Lame Gompa, a temple built by the First King of Bhutan for his two nun sisters. Outside Lame Gompa one can see a workshop for traditional Bhutanese paper-making. Overnight halt in Hotel.
Day 07 Bumthang - Halt.
Visit the Dairy Farm, Swiss cheese Factory and Apple Juice Factory. Walk around Bumthang valley in preparation for the excursion to Nganglhakhang.
Day 08 Bumthang - Ngang Lhakhang.
Distance - 20 Kms. About a 5 - 6 hours’ journey. Altitude of Ngang Lhakhang 9500ft. The route follows the Chamkharchu, a river known for trout fish. Stop for lunch at Thangbi Lhakhang. From here the trek enters the Ngang Yul (Land of the Swan) at the centre of which lies the Nganglhakhang (Swan Temple). In by-gone days, the valley was populated by swans, hence the name Ngang Yul. Overnight halt in camp.
Day 09 Ngang Lhakhang - Ugyen Choling.
Distance 23 Kms. About a 7 - 8 hours’ journey. Altitude of Ugyen Choling 9300 ft. The trek starts with a gradual climb to Phephela Pass at an altitude of 3353 m, the highest point of the trek route. The trail passes through beautiful forested areas where many stops can be made to enjoy the natural beauty of the place. Along the way, the Ugyen Choling Palace can be seen. Overnight halt in camp.
Day 10 Ugyen Choling - Joker.
Distance - 10 Kms. About a 2 - 3 hours’ journey. Altitude 9000ft. The trail follows the Tang Chu, another trout-filled river. On the bank of the river is the Tang Rimpoche Lhakhang. The trek will pass the Membar Tsho (Flaming Lake). From Panshing, the group will be picked up by transport and driven to Jaker. Overnight halt in Wangdicholing Lodge.
Day 11 Jaker - Tongsa.
Drive to Trongsa along the East - West Highway. Stops can be made along the way to enjoy the scenery. Lunch at Hotel in Trongsa. Afternoon, leisurely stroll around Trongsa town. Overnight in the Hotel.
Day 12 Tongsa - Thimphu.
Drive back to Thimphu along the East - West Highway. Picnic lunch will be arranged at Wangdi Guest House. Overnight halt in a Hotel in Thimphu.
Day 13 Thimphu - Paro International Airport.
Drive to Paro International Airport, for your own way.
Useful information related to this trip.
Please click on title to read details
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Passports and visa
Passports and visa
A valid passport is required by all nationals. It is worth noting that the Bhutan government has been known to refuse entry to those wishing to visit for mountaineering, publicity and other research activities.
Entry to Bhutan: There are two ways of entering Bhutan; by air to Paro Airport or by road to the Bhutanese border town of Phuentsholing. Samdrup Jongkhar is used for exits from Bhutan by land. All travelers entering the country by road must ensure that they have the necessary documentation for transiting through that part of India to Phuentsholing. Visitors are advised to contact their nearest Indian embassy or high commission to check exactly what special permits or other documents may be necessary, as these regulations are subject to change at short notice.
Independent travel is not permitted in Bhutan; visitors are required to book with a registered tour operator, which can be done directly through an affiliated travel agent abroad. Visitors are also required by immigration to bring two passport photos with them for use on arrival.
You cannot purchase air tickets to Bhutan without visa clearance. Visas are only issued to tourists booked with a local licensed tour operator, or through a foreign travel agent; all applications are submitted through the tour operator. Visas are issued (stamped in passport) on arrival at Paro Airport or at Phuentsholing check post.
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Accommodation, Foods & drinks
Accommodation, Foods & drinks
Traditional hotels, cottages and guest houses approved by the Department of Tourism are usually comfortable with hot and cold running water, electricity and sometimes room telephones, though international calls may be via reception. There are a few luxury hotels, but these do not come cheap. Accommodation is booked by Tour Operators. Expect a surcharge on the basic rate for up market resorts and be aware that at festival time, hotels are booked long in advance, so you may need to be flexible.
There is a fair choice of restaurants in Paro and Thimphu, but most tourists eat in their hotels, where hygiene is good and chefs temper the spicy Bhutanese dishes to suit Western tastes. Rice is the staple (sometimes flavored with saffron or of the red variety) apart from in central Bhutan where the altitude makes rice cultivation difficult. Buckwheat is more common here. The country is replete with apple orchards, rice paddies and asparagus, which grows freely in the countryside and there are over 400 varieties of mushroom including orchid mushrooms.
Specialities:
• Datse (cow's milk cheese), sometimes served in a dish with red chillies (ema datse).
• Tshoem (curry), usually served with rice.
• Eue chum (pink rice), a nutty-flavoured variety unique to Bhutan.
Things to know: Meals are often buffet-style and mostly vegetarian. Meat and fish are now imported from nearby India, and Nepali Hindus living in Bhutan are licensed to slaughter animals. Usual precautions apply.
Regional drinks: The most popular drink is tea, sweet or Tibetan style with salt and butter. Ara is a spirit distilled from rice.
Chang (a kind of beer, cereal-based and generally home-brewed).
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Shopping in Bhutan
Shopping in Bhutan
Markets are held regularly, generally on Saturday and Sunday, and are a rich source of local clothing and jewellery, as well as food. The Handicraft Emporium on the main street in the capital is open daily and offers a magnificent assortment of hand-woven and handcrafted goods. Some hotels have a souvenir shop. Silversmiths and goldsmiths in the Thimphu Valley are able to make handcrafted articles to order. Bhutanese stamps are collectors' items. Shopping is otherwise limited and bargaining is not customary. Phuentsholing has a small department store, the only one of its kind in Bhutan.
Shopping hours: Mon-Sun 0800-2000 for most shops.
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Weather & climate
Weather & climate
Best time to visit:
The climate varies with altitude, with the highest temperatures and rainfall occurring in the south which bears the brunt of the monsoon between June and September.
Temperatures drop dramatically with increases in altitude, though days are usually very pleasant with clear skies and sunshine. Nights are cold and require heavy wooden clothing, particularly in winter. Generally, October, November and April to mid-June are the best times to visit - rainfall is at a minimum and temperatures are conducive to active days of sightseeing. The foothills are also very pleasant during the winter.
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Required clothing:
Required clothing:
Lightweight cottons in the foothills, also linens and waterproof gear, light sweaters and jackets for the evenings. Upland areas: thick, warm clothing for evenings, particularly during the winter months.
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Geography:
Geography:
Bhutan is located in the eastern Himalayas, bordered to the north by China and to the south, east and west by India. The altitude varies from 180 m (590ft) in the narrow lowland region to over 7,300 m (23,950ft) in the Himalayan plateau in the north, and there are three distinct climatic regions. The foothills are tropical and home to deer, tigers, leopards and the rare golden langur monkey as well as much tropical vegetation, including many species of wild orchids. The Inner Himalaya region is temperate; wildlife includes bear, boar and sambar, and the area is rich in deciduous forests. The High Himalaya region is very thinly populated, but the steep mountain slopes are the home of many species of animals, including snow leopards and blue sheep.
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Health and Ricks
Health and Ricks
Full medical insurance is strongly advised. Medical facilities are good but not always close at hand. Officials in Bhutan have reported repeated outbreaks of bird flu during 2012.
Food and drink: Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilized. Mineral water is widely available. Milk should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.
Other risks: Hepatitis E occurs; hepatitis B is endemic. Giardiasis is common. Meningitis is a sporadic risk and vaccination is advised. Tuberculosis exists. There is a small risk of Japanese encephalitis in southern lowland areas. Altitude sickness may be a problem. Rabies is present. For those at high risk, vaccination should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay.
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Currency & Money
Currency & Money
Currency information: 1 Ngultrum (BTN; symbol Nu) = 100 chetrum (Ch). The Ngultrum is pegged to the Indian Rupee (which is also accepted as legal tender). Notes are in denominations of Nu500, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of Nu1, and 50, 25 and 20 chetrum. Smaller denomination notes and coins have been discontinued but are still in circulation and are legal tender. US Dollars are also widely accepted.
Credit cards: Most cards have limited acceptability. ATMs only accept Bhutanese bank cards.
ATM: ATMs only accept Bhutanese bank cards.
Travellers' cheques: These can be exchanged in any branch of the Bank of Bhutan or at all BTCL hotels. Travellers' are advised to take traveller's cheques in US Dollars.
Banking hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1500, Sat 0900-1200.
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How can I book a trip?
How can I book a trip?
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