Complete Bhutan
A tailored trip of 9 nights to Bhutan. Including 1 night in Thimpu valley, 2 nights in Punakha valley, 2 nights in Gangtey village, 2 nights in Bumthang valley and 2 nights in Paro valley. Travelers will enjoy the amazing Aman Lodges in the valleys: Amankora Lodges.
Day 01
Arrival to Paro valley and welcome by a private english-speaking guide. Transfer by road to the city of Thimpu (90 minuts), capital of the Kingdom of Bhutan and arrival to our accommodation the Amankora Thimpu Lodge. Lunch included on arrival.
Travelers will enjoy the wonderful views of the valley and the spectacular Dzong Trashi Chhoe, followed by the opportunity to visit the statue of the Buddha Dordenma, Chorten National Memorial and the Folk Heritage Museum. Dinner included in the hotel.
Day 02
We will depart by road to Punakha, continuing our journey through the winding local roads, ascending to 3000 m above sea level of the Dochu La pass, which offers beautiful views of its more than 108 images of Budha, with an incredible mountain landscape, especially on clear days. Picnic lunch included.
Travelers will continue down the valley with a short walk through the farms and rice paddies to reach Chimmi Lhakhang, a fifteenth-century fertility temple dedicated to Drukpa Kuenley, a Tibetan Buddhist saint, perhaps better known as the “Divine Fool”. This site has long been a pilgrimage for couples who want to start a family. After arrival at our spectacular accommodation: the Amankora Punakha Lodge there will be time to rest. Dinner included.
Day 03
Full day of exploration through the exuberant valley of Punakha, which at 1,200 m above sea level always has a warmer climate and in which, among others bananas and oranges are easily grown.
The morning begins with a short walk through the farms and farmland to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten, a sanctuary recently built by the royal family. Return walk to the lodge with lunch included.
Going deeper into the valley, Punakha Dzong appears. The fortress, built in the XVII century by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal (who founded the Kingdom of Bhutan), once was house of the government of the country and is now the winter home of Je Khenpo, the chief abbot of Bhutan, along with a retinue of 1,000 monks.
Return to the hotel for a free afternoon, where you can rest and enjoy the spectacular scenery or practice the national sport of the country, archery. Dinner included in the lodge.
Day 04
Journey of approximately two and a half hours by road towards the east of the country, in the direction of the Phobjikha valley. The journey first follows the course of the Mo Chhu (Male river) and then the course of the Dang Chhu (Dang River), in a very beautiful landscape of forests with imposing oaks. Crossing the Pele La pass and beginning to descend to the heart of the valley, where our lodging will be located: the Amankora Gangtey Lodge.
Lunch included on arrival with stunning views of the entire valley.
In the afternoon, time to explore the village of Gangtey, where we will visit Gangtey Goemba, which is a Buddhist monastic school, as well as an important monastery with hundreds of years of history.
Return to the lodge and free time before dinner.
Day 05
Great experience day in Gangtey. Travel will hike through wooded paths and pine forests, before ascending to a spectacular viewpoint over the mountain, which will offer us incredible views of the entire Phobjikha Valley. The 3 hours hike is medium-high level, elevation of almost 3,500m at the highest point, being possible to tailor the ride in coordination with the private guide, to reduce the hardness of the route and shortening the itinerary.
Lunch included in the lodge upon return.
The afternoon will bring us a quieter activity, after the morning’s effort, visiting the Black Necked Cranes Conservation Center, which migrate to the valley during the winter and are protected species in the region. Return to the lodge to rest followed by dinner.
Day 06
Private transfer to the Bumthang valley, the tour will take us all day by road. Visiting on route the spectacular village of Tronsa, one of the most important valleys of antiquity, with incredible views of all area. Picnic lunch included.
Continuing our route, we will reach the Yatang La pass, which will allow us to enter the Chhume valley, home to the most famous looms in the country, the Yathra looms, where we will have time to observe how some of the country’s most traditional costumes are made.
Travelers will arrive at the Bumthang Valley, where our accommodation will be located: the Amankora Bumthang Lodge that also shares gardens with the former Royal Palace of Wangdichoeling. Time to rest and enjoy the lodge’s facilities after a long day on the road. Dinner included at the lodge.
Day 07
Visit to Jambay Lhakhang, where at the beginning of the winter some of the most important festivals that bless the local population are organized. Kurjey Lhakhang, considered one of the most sacred places in the country, one of the first Buddhist temples in the country and the place where Guru Rinpoche, the main defender of Buddhism in the country lived. Gentle walk that will take us to the Tamshing Monastery. After this, we will cross the Bumthang River on our way to Bumthap, where we will have the chance to enjoy a lunch based on very traditional food, in the kitchen from a local family.
In the afternoon, we will have the opportunity to visit the local brewery Red Panda. As well, as learn about the different local cheese making processes, used in most of the typical dishes of the country, such as Ema Datshi: a mixture of cheese and chili, with potatoes and beans accompanied by white rice.
Return to the lodge at sunset, with time to rest. Dinner included at the lodge.
Day 08
Transfer to the Bumthang local airport, for a 45 minutes domestic flight to Paro valley.
Upon our arrival to Paro, we will cross the entire valley until we reach our accommodation in the exclusive Lodge Amankora Paro that has a spectacular location in a lush pine forest. Lunch included at the lodge.
In the afternoon, we can enjoy the facilities of the lodge, or have the option to take a bike ride through the valley. We can also try our luck with archery, taking advantage of the lodge’s private shooting range.
At sunset, we can enjoy the spectacular view of the ruins of the Dzong Drukgyel and we may be able to see in the distance the snow peak of Mount Jomolhari, whit 7.326 m and separates Bhutan and Tibet. Dinner included at the lodge.
Day 09
The historic Paro Valley is the center of the activities of our last day of visits, which culminates with a visit to the ‘Tiger’s Nest’, also known as the Taktsang Monastery, one of the most important architectural pieces of Bhutan. According to legend, this cliff is where Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) landed on the back of a flying tigress, taking Buddhism to Bhutan from Tibet.
The journey starts early to avoid the heat of the sun during the two-hour climb to the “Tiger’s Nest” viewpoint, a steep walk past a waterfall and ending between beautiful murals at the main entrance of the monastery. After lunch (included, either a picnic or in a traditional local house) we will return to the lodge and enjoy a well-deserved rest after the physical effort of the morning.
Dinner included at the Lodge.
Day 10
Last day of visits, time to explore the National Museum, which brings together one of the largest collections of antiquities in the country.
Next, we will visit the Dzong de Paro, which offers beautiful views of the valley, before the private transfer to the airport for the return flight.
