CULTURAL EXPOLRATION Offered year round, except during rainy season in July and August, this tour is designed to explore and experience the Bhutanese way of life by traveling through valleys, villages and towns, visiting monasteries, museums, cultural centers and scenic panorama of the country.

Day 01: Arrival, Paro
Flight into Bhutan is an experience on its own. It is a mesmerizing flight across the highest peaks in the world including amazing mountain aeronautical feat that offers an exciting descent into the Kingdom.

On arrival at Paro airport, after immigration and custom formalities, our representative and your guide for the whole trip will receive and transfer you to a hotel.
After a short rest, in the late afternoon or evening, take a stroll around the town of Paro. Later, a welcome dinner and introductory talk by your guide before you resign for the night.

Day 02: Paro Halt
After breakfast, visit Ta Dzong, the National Museum - a circular watchtower, which stands at a commanding height overlooking the Paro Dzong, which it defended during civil wars of the 17th century. In 1967 it was converted into the National Museum. In its six floors, it holds a rich collection of art, relics, religious paintings and Bhutan’s famous postage stamps. A visit here will serve as a good introduction to Bhutan before you delve deeper into the country.

Then take a short walk down to Rinpung Dzong. It was built in 1646 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the first spiritual and temporal ruler of Bhutan; the Dzong continues its age-old function as the seat of the district administration, district court and the monastic body. The southern approach to the Dzong has a traditional roofed cantilever bridge called Nemi Zam. A walk across the bridge offers a wide view of splendor of the Dzong’s architecture and an opportunity to tread the same path as the ancient warriors.

In the afternoon visit historical Drukgyel Dzong with a delightful village nestling at its foot. It was built in 1646 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal to commemorate victory over the marauding Tibetan and Mongolian invaders. This was part of the first glimpse of Bhutan as featured to the outside world in 1914 National Geographic Magazine. Although destroyed in a fire accident in 1951 it still retains its majestic glamour. Take a walk around the dzong and witness the ingenuity of Bhutanese defense architecture.

On the drive back, stop at the elegant Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest and most sacred shrines in the Kingdom, dating back to 8th century. The other is Jambey Lhakhang in Bumthang. They are two surviving temples in Bhutan commissioned by King Songtsen Gampo of Tibet who took upon himself to build 108 temples in Tibet and other Himalayan regions. The complex consists of three temples with latest one built in 1968 by H.M. Ashi Kesang, the Queen Mother of Bhutan. The older temple contains a replica of the Buddha Maitreya of Jokhang in Lhasa and the new one houses a giant statue of Guru Rimpoche.

The last stop for the day will be visit to a local farmhouse to witness the life of local farmers. Due to popularity of tradition architecture and now by decree of the government all houses strictly follow indigenous rules. Houses in Bhutan are two to three floors, built of timber with stone or rammed mud. They are generously decorated with motifs, carvings and paintings. The ground floor in the past was commonly used as granary or animal shelter. The first floor was used as a living space including kitchen. The top floor usually housed the family chapel and guest rooms. Paro offers many great examples of Bhutanese farmhouses.
Overnight in Paro.

Day 03: Paro – Thimphu (60 km, 2 hours)
After breakfast drive to Thimphu, the modern capital town of Bhutan. En route, take a break at Chuzom, the confluence of Paro and Thimphu rivers, where you can see three styles of chortens or stupas prevalent in Bhutan - the Tibetan, Nepali and Bhutanese styles.
Before entering Thimphu, visit Simtokha Dzong, the first fortress built in 1627 by the great dzong builder and unifier of the country, Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. It was built to guard the two approaches, from southwest and east, as Shabdrung worked to establish stability and control during his early years of governance. It saw its share of action up until the civil war of the 19th century.

Until recently it housed the School of Language and Cultural Studies, which has since expanded beyond the dzong’s capacity and moved on the slope above. It now houses a monastic school. The main temple of the dzong contains beautiful statues of Buddha Sakyamuni and eight Arhats. The temple is surrounded with finest examples of slate carving.

In the afternoon after checking into a hotel and lunch in Thimphu, visit the Memorial Chorten, built in 1974 in memory of the third King, His Late Majesty, King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, lovingly known as the Father of Modern Bhutan. It is a rare stupa that has an inner sanctum of temples. There are intricate paintings and statues representing tantric reverence and practice. A very popular religious monument in the city, there are always numerous devotees circumambulating or turning the giant prayer wheels.

Next stop, the Textile Museum. Established in 2000, this is one of the new theme museums in the city. It is dedicated to the rich skill of Bhutanese weaver, primarily women. Literally, women were ones who clothed the family before the availability of machine made fabrics. The museum has a good collection of sample including rare pieces and antiques, some belonging to the royal family. Since its establishment, the museum has organized competitions to encourage weavers as well as pay tribute to the rich old tradition and skills.

After offices close at 5 pm, visit Trashichhodzong, the beautiful medieval fortress/monastery. The massive fortress, whose name translates as the fortress of glorious religion, was initially a smaller structure in 1641 but took the present form after expansion/reconstruction commissioned by Late Majesty King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk in 1965. Besides being the summer seat of Je Khenpo, Head Abbot, and the central monastic body, it houses some ministries, the secretariat, the Golden Throne of the King of Bhutan and His Majesty’s office. The National Assembly Hall initially in the dzong has since 1993 moved to a new location directly across the river.

Before dinner stroll around the town visiting handicraft stores and watching the people go about their evening. Overnight in Thimphu.

Day 04: Thimphu Halt – Punakha (75 km, 2.1/2 hours)
Continue sightseeing in Thimphu starting with the Institute of Traditional Medicine. Bhutan has long and rich tradition of medicine based on natural remedies derived mainly from plants and earth, and some animals. This institute has facility for out patients, training, research and production of traditional medicine. The courses to become traditional doctors, called drungtsho, entail six to eight years of strenuous study after high school. The institute has an exhibition room that imparts excellent look into the tradition.

Next briefly stop at the School of Traditional Arts and Crafts. The school offers an eight-year course in the techniques of traditional art in religious and secular paintings, woodcarving, clay sculpture and traditional mask making. One can see students working through progressive levels practicing precise rules of Bhutanese art. The school also has a showroom from where student works are sold at very reasonable price compared to town for same quality of work.

Then visit the Folk Heritage Museum. Established in 2001, this is an interesting museum housed in a very old traditional house. The museum is a walk through the fast changing rural tradition, habits and skills, and those of the past. They organize special exhibitions annually on select subject pertaining to Bhutanese heritage. Demonstrations of traditional way of extracting oil, brewing traditional spirit, husking rice etc. and a buffet of traditional food items can be arranged with prior notice.

Lastly, before lunch visit the National Library. Since dzongs where seats of monastic schools, in the past all texts and scriptures including historical references were stored there. Over many centuries most dzongs suffered fires and natural calamities resulting in loss of many valuable records. Historically an oral society loss of any written record was a great loss. So in 1967 the National Library was established as a repository of Bhutanese history and religious texts. It has copies of almost all texts relevant to Mahayana Buddhism and a rich collection of lithographs from whence scriptures and prayer flags where printed in the old days. Besides the ancient texts and manuscripts, the library has built a fair collection of modern academic books related to Bhutan and the surrounding regions.

Start the afternoon with Jungshina Handmade Paper Factory. Here you can see the traditional way of making papers from bark of Daphne plants. Bhutan in ancient days was the biggest supplier of paper in the Himalayan region for printing religious scriptures and prayers. Even to this day handmade paper continues to be favored for the same, although mass machine printing of prayers is inconvenient due to its rough texture. It has also seen a new use in modern arts and artifacts.

Next, visit the 15th century Changangkha Lhakhang perched on a hill with a commanding view of Thimphu city. It was built by Lama Dawa Zangpo, one of the sons of Phajo Drugom Shigpo. Phajo Drugom Shigpo was a lama-ruler of the valley before Shabdrung’s arrival. Recognizing the advantage of protection under a strong ruler, many valleys invited Phajo’s sons to become their ruler and many local nobles in different valleys trace their ancestry to these sons.
The central statue in the temple is Avaloketesvara, Buddha of compassion, in his manifestation with 11 heads, thousand hands and eyes. Your guide will explain the symbol of the manifestation.

Lastly, before sunset drive up to Sangaygang hill above Thimphu for a fabulous view of the city. The hill is popular for people to put up flags and the hill is a hue of multi-colored prayer flags fluttering in the wind.

Day 05: Thimphu – Wangdue Phodrang – Gangtey (140 km, 5 hours)
After breakfast start the drive to Gangtey via Wangdue Phodrang. The road first climbs to Dochula pass (3,050m), which heralds the most enchanting views of Bhutan’s Himalaya peaks. Some of the peaks you can see from here on a clear day are, Gangchen Ta (6840M), Gangkha Puensum (7541m), Jejekangphu (7100m), Masang Gang (7165m), Teri Gang (7300m), Tsenda Gang (7100m) and Table Mountain (7100m).

From here the road descends through blooming giant magnolias, fields of rhododendrons and many other flowers during the right season. It is also a paradise for bird watchers.
The road finally reaches the bridge to Wangdue Phodrang. The bridge was once an impressive cantilever cum drawbridge, which was washed away in flood a few decades ago. You can still see the main support tower of the old bridge in the middle of the river.

Sitting right above from the bridge is the dzong of Wangdue Phodrang, town’s most visible feature. When Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal was scouting for a place to build a dzong at this strategic place, he came across a boy building sand castles by the river. On enquiring his name the boy replied, “Wangdue”. Shabdrung took this as a good omen and built the dzong naming it Wangdue Phodrang.

After a short break and visit to the dzong, drive through dense forests of oaks, rhododendrons and other evergreen forests reaching Gangtey Goemba in Phobjikha valley. Often you will come across pack of monkeys and grey langurs passing overhead through the tress or resting by the roadside. Overnight at camp or a Guest House.

Day 06: Gangtey – Trongsa (120 km, 4 1/2 hours)
After breakfast, before starting the day’s journey, visit the great monastery of Gangtey, dateing back to the 17th century. Since the western part of country is predominantly Kagyu School of Buddhism this monastery holds a unique position of being the only Ngyingma monastery in the west. The present lama, Gangtey Trulku is an incarnate of the famous Terton Pema Lingpa of Bumthang.

The wide valley of Phobjikha below the monastery is a winter home of Black-necked cranes that migrate from Siberia and Tibetan plateaus to take refuge from the harsh winter. (Note: Birds remain until early April).

Crossing Pele La pass at 3,300 meters drive to Trongsa for lunch. After lunch visit Trongsa dzong before heading on for Bumthang, a little over two hours away.

Trongsa dzong dominates the entire vista of the town. It stretches on a ridge leaving the only way to traverse the valley, in old days, through the dzong. This gave a unique advantage in keeping control over what passed between the valleys, especially during the time of civil strife ending in the 19th century. Of course, the road is now carved into previously inaccessible cliffs.

Initially built in 1648 and expanded in later years, it was the seat of the most powerful governor in the country with influences that stretched all the way to east. Both the first and second King ruled the country from this ancient seat. The Dzong is a labyrinth of temples, stairways, corridors and district offices; it has 21 temples. It is built on many levels following the contours of a ridge.
Before Bumthang, stop in Chhumey at a weaving center run by a local family. They have an array of famous local sheep-wool textiles. Overnight at a lodge in Bumthang.

Day 07: Bumthang Halt
Bumthang is a general name given to combination of four valleys – Chumey, Choekhor, Tang and Ura with altitude varying from 2,600m to 4,000m. It is home to many prominent Buddhist temples and monasteries.

Start the morning with visit to Jambey Lhakhang, the other temple built by Tibetan King, Songtsen Gampo, in the 7th century. It was here that Guru Rimpoche conducted his first sermon on Tantric Buddhism for his host King Sendha, the local ruler, his family and subjects. The alcove above the entrance to the inner temple where Guru Rimpoche sat during the sermon can be still seen to this day. The then governor of Bumthang carried out the last known major renovation in 1905.
Next visit the Kurjey Lhakhang complex. It consists of three temples. The one on the right was built in 1652 on the rack face where Guru meditated in the 8th century. The body imprint of the great master can be distinctly seen in the rock cave enshrined in the temple. Your guide will explain the fascinating stories connected to this place.

Second temple was built in 1900 by the first king when he was still the governor of Trongsa. The third temple was built in 1990 by Ashi Kesang, the Queen Mother. A wall of 108 chortens surrounds the entire complex.

After lunch drive up the hill to visit the Jakar Dzong. Founded by the great-grandfather of the first Shabdrung, the Dzong was initially a small hermitage in 1549. It was expanded the Shabdrung 1646 to help consolidate his expanding power into the eastern region. Scouting for a place for the dzong a small white bird was seen perched on a hill, which was taken as an auspicious sign, and hence the name Jakar, meaning white bird. As others the Dzong is now the seat of district administration and monastic body of Bumthang valley.

The last stop for the day will be Tamshing Lhakhang, located in a village across the river from Kurjey Lhakhang. It is the seat of Bumthang’s famous son saint Pema Lingpa. He built it himself in 1501. A skilled tantric master and an artist he sculpted the main statues and painted the frescoes, which can be seen even today, mostly in original state. There is also a chain mail made by Pema Lingpa that devotees carry and circumambulate the inner sanctum. The throne from which he performed the consecration ceremony is preserved in a small temple outside the main hall. The physical structure surrounding the main inner temple was restored at the end of the 19th century. Pema Lingpa’s expansive skills in building, painting, sculpture and metal work can still be seen in mostly original state.

Tantric Buddhists believe in the tradition of treasure finders or terton. Treasures are various forms of relics hidden by Guru Rimpoche to be discovered by the future generation, to aid religion in times of degenerate age or changing times. Pema Lingpa is the first of five main tertons. He is also revered as the incarnation of Guru Rimpoche himself.
On the way back to the hotel stop in the local town.

Day 08: Bumthang – Punakha (197 km, 6 hours)
Today, you will retrace your journey back. Picnic lunch will be served at Chendebji Chorten, a stupa designed after Swayambunath in Katmandu. Lama Shida built it in 18th century, to supposedly suppress remains of an evil spirit subdued at the spot. Overnight at a hotel in Punakha.

Day 09: Punakha – Thimphu (77 km, 2 ½ hours)
Morning will be spent sightseeing in Punakha. First visit the Punakha Dzong. It was the second dzong built by Shabdrung, in 1637, on a strategic junction at the confluence of Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers. The Dzong has played a hallowed role in the history of Bhutan. It served as the seat of Shabdrung’s government, several foreign delegations were received here in 18th and 19th century, the election and coronation of the first King was observed in 1907 and the Third King convened the first National Assembly in the Dzong. The central monastic body continues to reside here in winter. The embalmed bodies of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal and Terton Pema Lingpa are housed on the top floor of the main tower.

Damaged by four catastrophic fires and an earthquake, the Dzong has been fully restored by the present King from the latest fire in 1987. The Dzong is open for visitors during Punakha festival and in summer months when the central monastic body moves to Thimphu.
Next, visit Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten in the northern part of the valley. Newly built, it is a more elaborate version of the Memorial Chorten in Thimphu. It has an astounding work of frescoes and intricate statues. Arrive lunch drive to Thimphu for overnight stay.

Day 10: Thimphu – Paro
After breakfast drive to Paro and check into your hotel. Soon after, hike up to visit Taktshang Monastery. One of the most famous monasteries of Bhutan, especially to the outside world, is perched on a cliff 900 meters above the Paro valley. Guru Rimpoche is believed to have arrived here on the back of a tigress and remained in meditation for about three months. Revered as one of the most sacred place many great saints from both Tibet and India traveled here on pilgrimage. In addition to few other places, this is one where every Bhutanese wishes to visit at least once in their lifetime. The cave in which Guru Rimpoche meditated is open to public once every year. On 19 April 1998, a fire severely damaged the main structure of building but the reconstruction is almost complete. The temple itself is closed to tourists but the hike up to the viewpoint is worth every step. It takes a little less about hour and half one way. Return after lunch at the viewpoint cafeteria. The afternoon can be spent in leisure.

Day 11: Paro Depart
Your journey into the Dragon ends. After an early breakfast in the hotel, your guide will see you off at the airport.