Bhutan Honeymoon Tour

Today we explore a fascinating full day tour to see the best of Thimphu city at an altitude of 2,300 m. First stop is at the National Memorial Chorten, built in memory of the third King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk. Next, visit the 13th century Changgangkha Temple and the Folk Heritage Museum, a showcase of the Bhutanese artefacts used in rural households. Later, drive up to the Kuensel Phodrang (Buddha Point) offering a panoramic view of the Thimphu valley. After lunch, visit the Mini Zoo for Takin (national animal of Bhutan) and continue to the Centenary Farmer’s Market on the banks of the Wangchhu River selling farm produces, local arts and crafts, etc. Overnight in Thimphu.

Today we explore a fascinating full day tour to see the best of Thimphu city at an altitude of 2,300 m. First stop is at the National Memorial Chorten, built in memory of the third King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk. Next, visit the 13th century Changgangkha Temple and the Folk Heritage Museum, a showcase of the Bhutanese artefacts used in rural households. Later, drive up to the Kuensel Phodrang (Buddha Point) offering a panoramic view of the Thimphu valley. After lunch, visit the Mini Zoo for Takin (national animal of Bhutan) and continue to the Centenary Farmer’s Market on the banks of the Wangchhu River selling farm produces, local arts and crafts, etc. Overnight in Thimphu

After breakfast, we drive a distance of 68-km for about 2 hours to Bumthang passing through Yotong La Pass at an altitude of 3,300m. You can have early lunch as there are lots of important places to visit: the Jakar Dzong, the Jambay Lhakhang, built in the 7th century by the King Songsen Gampo of Tibet, the Kurjey Lhakhang, built in 1652 and named after the body imprint of Guru Rinpoche who introduced the Buddhism in Bhutan, the Tamshing Lhakhang, built in 1501 and the most important Nyingma temple in Bhutan. Overnight in Bumthang at an altitude of 2,600m.

This morning we will travel a distance of 188-km for about 5-6 hours to Gangtey via Trongsa. Phobjikha valley is one of the winter roosting grounds of the rare Black-necked Cranes, where they come in hundreds after spending their summer in Tibet and then migrates to the Himalayas of Bhutan to spend their winter – they arrive in the months of September and October and fly back to Tibet between February and March. The evening is at leisure to relax and enjoy, we have allowed some time for this and also to explore the delightful surroundings of Gangtey in Phobjikha valley. Overnight in Gangtey.

After breakfast, visit the picturesque Gangtey Gonpa, the only Nyingma monastery on this side of the Black Mountains. Later, we drive a distance of 65-km for about 3 hours to Wangdue Phodrang first and will photo stops along the highway as there are loads of breathtaking views during the journey. Continue into Punakha for a distance of further 13-km journey at an altitude of 1,800m. Overnight in Punakha.

This morning visit the Punakha Dzong, (also known as the Pungthang Dechen Phodrang Dzong), which is located at the confluence of the Phochhu (male) and Mochhu (female) Rivers. Today the dzong serves as the administrative centre of Punakha Dzongkhag (district) and as well as the winter residence of Bhutan’s Central Monastic Body led by His Holiness the Je Khenpo (Chief of Abbot). Punakha, at an altitude of 1,300m, was once the old capital of Bhutan and the seat of government until 1955. No visit to Bhutan would be considered as complete without a trip to the famous Chimi Lhakhang (temple) esp. for honeymooners. The temple is located near Lobesa on a round hillock and is popularly known as the “fertility symbol” built by Lama Drukpa Kinley, the “Divine Madman” who was fond of women and adopted unorthodox ways of teaching Buddhism. He is also the saint, who advocated the use of phallus symbols as paintings on walls and as flying carved wooden phalluses on house tops at four corners of the eves. Legend has it that the couples wishing to have a baby from across Bhutan and occasionally from overseas are blessed with a child after visiting the temple – Japanese and several American couples visited this temple and were blessed miraculously with children. Couples who visit the Lhakhang are blessed by a replication of the iron bow and arrows of Drukpa Kinley, his scriptures and the phallus, which is the symbolic representation of fertility. Then drive to Paro, which is one of the beautiful valleys in Bhutan and home to the famous Paro Taktshang (also known as Tiger’s Nest), National Museum and Drukair (Royal Bhutan Airlines). Spend the night in Paro.

This morning you’ll take a hike to Paro Taktshang Monastery (Tiger’s Nest). No visit to Bhutan would be complete without a trip to Taktshang. The monastery is perched on the edge of a steep cliff, about 900m above the Paro valley and takes about a 2-hour climb on a well-maintained trail through beautiful pine forest, trees festooned with Spanish Moss and fluttering prayer flags. Legend has it that Guru Rimpoche flew to Paro Taktshang cliff in the form of Guru Dorji Drolo, mounted on a flaming tigress in the 8th century. Afterwards, there may also be time to visit the Ta Dzong (ancient watch tower), which now houses the National Museum of Bhutan and then walk down a hillside trail to visit the Paro Dzong (also known as Rinpung Dzong), built in 1644 that today serves as the civil administrative centre and the local monk body of Paro. Your last overnight in Paro.

Our representative will bid you farewell at the airport.