Luxury Bhutan and Festival Thimphu Tsechu

The flight to Paro is one of the most spectacular mountain flights in the world, with a constantly changing panorama of some of the highest mountains on earth. Meet your private guide and start your journey to Thimphu, the city with population of 35,000 and no traffic lights. Along the way, visit to the Ta Dzong Museum housing many religious relics, works of art and handicrafts offering a great orientation into Bhutan’s historical, cultural, and religious past. Next, visit the Rimpong Dzong to see the painting of the great saint Milarepa, considered as the master of meditation by the Bhutanese and believed to have attained enlightenment in a lifetime. Dzong’s are large monasteries and district administrative centres, which were once strategic forts.

Drive to the capital, Thimphu (1.5 hours) following the Pachu River. Thimphu, the only capital city in the world without traffic lights! Check in and refresh for your dinner in the hotel. There will be an orientation on Bhutanese etiquette by your guide before dinner.

Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Taj Tashi

After breakfast, drive to Tashichhodzong to attend the Thimphu festival. You will see locals dressed in their finest clothes who have walked from miles around to attend the festivities. They come to watch masked dances, to pray, and to feast. While the underlying purpose of the festival is spiritual, dances are more often like plays, telling stories where good triumphs over evil, or depicting significant historical events, especially surrounding the life of Bhutan’s patron saint, Padmasambhava (also known as Guru Rinpoche).
There is inevitably a great deal of socialising as well. Mingle with the locals. Most Bhutanese believe in having peace of mind, inner satisfaction and simple, easy way of life. Life is not complicated in this country. Tashichhodzong, ‘the fortress of the glorious religion’. Initially erected in 1641 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, it was rebuilt in the 1960s during the reign of Bhutan’s third king in the traditional style, without plans or nails. Tashichhodzong houses some ministries, His Majesty’s secretariat, and the central monk body.

For dinner, tonight you will visit a traditional restaurant Bebesa Village. Renowned for their fiery, chilli-based flavors, Bhutan’s culinary staples include ema datshi, a spicy stew of cheese and chillies, and distilled rice wine ara. Note: traditional seating on the floor.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Hotel Taj Tashi

This morning, a private yoga session will be arranged for the group. HEALING FOCUS – A place for perfect contemplation. Simply gaze across the valley the morning you awake. Sense a powerful spiritualism in the way people live. After breakfast, enjoy a morning of sightseeing, including a visit to 12th century Changangkha Temple, and the National Memorial Chorten depicting the Buddhist faith in the form of paintings and statues. This temple was first initiated by the Third King as a protection from the negative elements of modernisation, and as a monument to world peace. The Royal Queen Mother completed it as a memorial
In the afternoon, we will visit Changlingmithang National Stadium for an archery shoot-out! Brush shoulders with the everyday Bhutanese at the Centenary Farmers Market and the craft bazaar. Take a tour of the National Institute of Traditional Medicine and Folk Heritage. Dinner in the hotel

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Hotel Taj Tashi

Drive over the Dochu-La pass (3,100 meters), which on a clear day offers an incredible view of Himalayan peaks before descending into balmy Punakha valley (about 3 hrs total driving time). The drive through the countryside affords a glimpse of everyday life in this most remote of Himalayan kingdoms. In the Dochu-La area there are vast Rhododendron forests that grow to tree size and bloom in late April/early May covering the mountains in a riot of glorious spring colour. Punakha was the ancient capital of Bhutan. On arrival, visit Punakha Dzong, the “Palace of Great Happiness” built in 1637 by the Shabdrung, the ‘Unifier of Bhutan’. It is situated at the confluence of the Mo Chu and Pho Chu (Mother and Father Rivers) and is the winter headquarters of the Je Khenpo and hundreds of monks who move en masse from Thimphu to this warmer location. The three story main temple of the Punakha Dzong is a breathtaking example of traditional architecture with four intricately embossed entrance pillars crafted from cypress and decorated in gold and silver.

After lunch, enjoy a walk to Chimi Lhakhang, temple of the Drukpa Kuenly who is also known as the Divine Madman. He inherited the Divine Madman title since he revolted against the orthodox Buddhism in his time. He taught the people that religion is an inner feeling and it’s not necessary that one should be an ordained monk. He is also considered a symbol of fertility and most childless couples go to his temple for blessing.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Dhensa Punakha

In the morning drive to Yabesa village and hike to through rice fields and up to Khamsum Yueley Namgyal Chorten, built by her majesty the queen Ashi Tshering Yangdon Wangchuk. Perched high on a hill on the bank of the river, the Chorten houses paintings belonging to Nyingmapa Traditions.
Drive back to Thimphu where you will visit The National Library housing the collection of Bhutanese scriptures dating back to the 8th century and a fascinating replica of a medieval farmhouse at the Folk Heritage Museum. You will also have an opportunity to visit handicraft and souvenir stores. If your visit to Thimphu coincides with the weekend, you can walk through the Thimphu Market to see the variety of food of Bhutan, including basket upon basket of fiery chillies, fresh cheese and a variety of fresh greens. In addition, many stalls contain Bhutanese handicrafts and household items.

Afterwards proceed to Paro, check in to hotel. We will have dinner at Bukhari in the hotel -a lavish restaurant, Bukhari, a uniquely semi-circular space, takes its name from the traditional Bhutanese fireplace that dominates the beautiful restaurant

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: UMA Paro ( Forest view)

After breakfast hike to Taktsang Monastery. The trail is broad and the walk of approximately 2 hours uphill takes you almost a kilometre above the Paro valley floor (for those who cannot hike we will arrange a horse for transfer up to the viewing point at additional cost). The view of Taktsang Monastery built on a sheer cliff face 900 metres above the valley floor is a spectacular sight. The Monastery is also an important pilgrim site for the Buddhists. Nearby there is a teahouse where you can stop for refreshments.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: UMA Paro (Forest View)

As the departure is early, we will arranged a packed breakfast and drive to the airport for flight to your onward destination. Tashi Delek!