Bhutan The Himalayan Jewel

Day 1 UK

• Depart London Heathrow on British Airways for overnight flight to Delhi

Day 2 Delhi

• On arrival private car transfer to hotel
• Stay at the Le Meridien Hotel

Day 3 Delhi - Paro - Thimphu

• Depart hotel for flight to Paro
• On arrival private transfer to Thimpu, the capital town of Bhutan. Thimpu is the center of government, religion and commerce for this small mountain kingdom
• Stay at the Phuntsho Pelri Hotel

Day 4 Thimphu

• Sightseeing tour of Thimphu which includes the National Library, Institute for Zorig Chusum (commonly known as Painting School), Textile and Folk Heritage Museum, National Memorial Chorten, Trashichhodzong fortress/monastery and the Handicrafts Emporium
• Stay at the Phuntsho Pelri Hotel

Day 5 Thimphu - Throngsa

• Morning drive and sightseeing at Dochu-la pass
• Continue tour reaching Wangduephodrang town in time for lunch
• Afternoon continue drive to Trongsa across Pele-le pass the traditional boundary between east and west Bhutan
• Stop en route at Chendbji Chorten
• Arrive late afternoon stay at the Yankhil Resort

Day 6 Trongsa - Bumthang

• Morning visit to Trongsa Dzong. Built in 1648 it was the seat of power over central and eastern Bhutan
• Continue tour with drive to Bumthang, 68 km from Trongsa, a journey of about 3 hours, over the Yutong-la pass
• Stay at Wangdicholing Resort

Day 7 Bumthang

• Morning sightseeing tour of Bumthang. Bumthang is the general name given to combination of four valleys - Chumey, Choekhor, Tang and Ura. It is home to many of prominent Buddhist temples and monasteries
• Sightseeing visit to Kurje Lhakhang, the Jambey Lhakhang (7th century temple), Tamshing Lhakhang (housing some of the oldest wall paintings in Bhutan) and Jakar Dzong (administrative center of the region)
• Stay at Wangdicholing Resort

Day 8 Bumthang - Gangtey - Phobjikha

• Depart hotel for drive to Gangtey / Phobjikha.
  Explore Gangtey village, the great monastery of Gangtey, established in the 17th century and Phobjikha valley
• Stay at the Dewachen lodge

Day 9 Phobjikha - Punakha

• Depart hotel for morning drive to Punakha
• On arrival check into the Hotel
• Visit to Punakha Dzong, the dzong was built in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal to serve as the religious and administrative center of the region. Bhutan's first King, Ugyen Wangchuck, was crowned here in 1907
• Continue tour to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten, the newly built stupa
• Stay at the Zangtho Pelri Hotel

Day 10 Punakha - Paro

• Morning drive to Paro. En route visit Simtokha Dzong. This dzong, built in 1627 is the oldest in Bhutan. It now houses the Institute for Language and Culture Studies
• Afternoon visit to Ta Dzong, which in the past served as watchtower for Paro Dzong (Rinpung Dzong) and now houses the National Museum
• Continue tour with a walk down the trail to visit Rinpung Dzong, built in 1646 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the first spiritual and temporal ruler of Bhutan, the Dzong houses the monastic body of Paro, the office of the Dzongda (district administrative head) and Thrimpon (judge) of Paro district
• Stay at Tenzinling Resort
   

Day 11 Paro

• Morning after breakfast at the Hotel, drive up the valley to Drukgyel Dzong, built in 1647 by the Shabdrung to commemorate the Bhutanese victory over the Tibetans in war of 1644
• Sightseeing visit to Drukgyel Dzong built in 1647 by the Shabdrung to commemorate the Bhutanese victory over the Tibetans in war of 1644
• Continue tour to Taktshang Monastery the most famous of Bhutans monasteries which is perched on the side of a cliff 900m above the Paro valley floor
• En route visit Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest and most sacred shrines of the Kingdom, built in the 7th century by the Tibetan king, Songtsen Gamp
• Stay at the Tenziling Resort Hotel

Day 12 Paro - Delhi

• Departure transfer to Paro airport for flight to Dehli
• Afternoon combined city tour of Old & New Delhi visiting the Red Fort, the most opulent Fort and Palace of the Mughal Empire, Raj Ghat, the memorial site of Mahatma Gandhi and Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India. New Delhi visiting Qutub Minar and Humayun's tombs, the imposing India Gate and Parliament House
• Stay at the Le Meridien Hotel

Day 13 Punakha - Paro

• Flight from Delhi to London Heathrow on British Airways

All tours are based on a minimum of 2 people