Day 1 | Arrival in Phuentsholing ( 153 Kms from Siliguri )
*Paro: 293 meters
Reach Phuentsholing border, our team will meet you here, we cross the border after all formalities ( you have to get vehicle entry permit here ).
Overnight stay at Phuentsholing.
Day 2 | Phuentsholing – Paro (185 kms )
*Paro: 2200 meters
After breakfast we get our vehicle permits issued and continue with the drive to Paro. Day free on arrival for leisure.
Overnight stay at Paro.
Day 3 | Hike to Taktsang (Tiger Nest) Monastery in Paro (900 meters above Paro Valley)
*Paro: 2200 meters
After driving for around 35 minutes, the Taktsang hike (also famously called as “Tiger Nest”) will begin early in the morning as it will be cool. You will begin the hike at the Taktsang base where a shopkeeper and horseman can be found. Your walk will be through a forest for almost one hour and 30 minutes, and soon, you will reach Takstang cafeteria. Sip some tea while enjoying a very spectacular view of Taktsang Monastery.
After visiting drive towards Paro to visit Drukgyal Dzong, although it is now mostly in ruins and under construction.
Day 4 | Paro – Thimphu ( 49 kilometers )
*Thimpu: 2,320 meters
After breakfast drive to Thimpu the capital city of Bhutan. In Thimpu visit the giant statue of Buddha Dordenma statue and the Takin Park ( Motithang Takin Preserve )
Overnight at Thimpu
Day 5 | Thimphu – Punakha – Phobjika (142 kilometers / 89 miles)
*Altitude: 3000 meters
After breakfast we start our drive towards Phobjika. The road is 100 percent tarmac and double lane. Before reaching Punakha, you may visit Chimi Lhakhang and Punakha Dzong if you wish. We can also take a trip to the longest suspension bridge and enjoy the views if you want. After visit continue with drive to Phobjika valley Upon reaching Phobjikha, we can visit Gangtey Goenpa, the Black-Necked Crane Information Center, and Phobjikha Valley. You will stay overnight at Phobjika in a Farmhouse or homestay.
Day 6 | Phobjikha
*Altitude: 3000 meters
After a leisurely breakfast at the hotel, you begin today’s tour with an excursion to Tangjey Lhakhang (3,050-meter distance, 10 to 12-kilometer duration, 4 to 5 hours). You set out on a day’s hike toward the southeast direction through a vegetation of dwarf bamboos that adorns the Phobjikha Valley. This valley is where the rare black necked cranes reside during the winter season, beginning November until mid-March.
After an hour of an easy hike, you reach the small settlement of Kilkhorthang village. You take a short rest to enjoy the dramatic landscape of the valley before continuing towards Tangjey, passing through vegetable fields and orchards. Tangjey Lhakhang (temple) is dedicated to Lord Buddha and its local protective deity Yeshi Gempo. The original foundation of the temple dates back to 1517-1554. After an enjoyable visit to the temple, you head back to the hotel crossing a wooden bridge over a crystal clear river. Your day can be ended, if you wish, with a little celebration of locally distilled traditional drink.
Day 7 | Phobjika – Trongsa – Bhumthang (220 kilometers / 137 miles)
*Altitude: 2800 meters
After breakfast, you take a short nature walk in the vicinity of the hotel and then after, you drive to Bumthang, crossing Pele La pass (3,300 meters / 10,830 feet) via Trongsa. Pela La is marked by a large white chorten with prayer flags. There is an abrupt change in vegetation at this point where the mountain forest trees are replaced by high altitude dwarf bamboos. You stop, en route, at Chendebji Chorten which is patterned on the Kathmandu’s Swayambhunath Stupa, with eyes painted at four cardinal points. It was built in the 18th century by Lama Shida from Tibet. The stupa’s purpose was to cover the remains of an evil spirit that was subdued at this spot.
Also, en route to Bumthang, you visit Trongsa Dzong. The dzong is a massive structure with many floor levels, sloping down the contours of the ridge on which it was built. You will also visit Ta Dzong, a cylindrical stone watchtower rising five stories. It was built in 1652 by Chogyal Minjur Tempa. Further 68-kilometer drive across the Yutong La pass (3,400 meters / 11,155 feet) will finally bring you to the wide open cultivated Bumthang Valley.
Day 8 | Bhumthang
*Altitude: 2,800 meters
After breakfast, you proceed on your tour of the Bumthang Valley. Bumthang is the general name given to the combination of four valleys (Chumey, Choekhor, Tang, and Ura with altitude varying from 2,600 to 4,000 meters). There are many prominent Buddhist temples and monasteries in the Bumthang valleys. You will also visit Kurjey Lhakhang. It is a temple where the saint Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche) subdued a local demon and left his body imprint on a rock.
Later in the afternoon, if time permits, you visit Wangdicholing Palace (visitors allowed from outside only)
Day 9 | Bumthang to Mongar. (193 km)
Crossing the winding road to the high Thumshing la pass ( 3752 meters ) , this drive will offer breathtaking views of Gangkar Phuensum, Bhutan’s highest unconquered mountain. The views of the Himalayas here will take your breath away! You will ride through national parks at Ura and Thrumshing la on inner forest roads that are serene, green and downright amazing! You will also cross the Sertang la pass ( 3,573 meters ). This is a day you will get to enjoy the ride to the fullest with views that change with every second.
Overnight at Mongar
Day 10 | Mungar to Trashigang (92 km)
After Breakfast drive to Trashigang, the drive takes us across the Chazam or the iron bridge and the Kori-la pass ( 2450 meters ). We will be staying at Trashigang and will enjoy local delicacies.
Overnight at Trashigang.
Day 11 | Trashigang to Samdrup jongkhar (176 Km). /Guwahati. ( 273 kms )
After breakfast drive to Samdrup Jongkhar the border crossing between Bhutan & Indian. This six hour drive is just amazing. There’s a reason why everyone calls this road the “Heavenly route”. This curvy road passes through the breathtakingly amazing Himalayan mountain road from Kharula to Menlong Brak via Yongphu La moving towards Narphunggang. On Reaching Samdrup Jongkhar our tour ends on entering Indian. You can either drive towards Gauhati ( 97 Kms ) for overnight stay or start the journey back on same date.
Tour end