Bhutan Walking Hiking Tour

Day01: Arrive to Paro – Transfer to Thimphu

The flight into Paro is a befitting introduction to the spectacular beauty of our country. In clear weather, magnificent views of the world’s highest peaks like Gangkar Puensum, give way to the lush green Paro valley as you land. Your Bhutanese guide and driver from Authentic Bhutan Tours will warmly welcome & greet you on arrival, who will remain with you all through out your journey across Bhutan.  Then we will drive to Thimphu. Lunch will be served at Thimphu. After lunch we will visit to Memorial Chhorten – built in 1974 in the memory of third king late Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, and the temple inside gives good examples of tantric Buddhist and its philosophy and then we will visit to Big Buddha Statue – this gigantic statue of Shakyamuni measures in at a height of 51.5 meters, making it one of the largest statues of Buddha in the world. From here will walk towards  Depsi. This trail was constructed by Nature Recreation and Ecotourism Division (NRED) of the agriculture ministry, as a biking trail in the capital Thimphu. We can also use this trail as hiking/biking to Depsi. This hiking is more or less very easy and plain walk through the forest of Pine, Rhododendron and Oak trees.  The hike will take about 1-hour 30 mins. We can see Thimphu city, Thimphu River (Wangchhu) and other adjacent towns through this hike. We can also take some fluttering prayer flags (Lungta) and hang them between two to three trees that will bring fortune, happiness and good health to every one in this world including your enemy.  Lungta – Prayer Flag, represents Peace, Compassion, strength and Wisdom. You will really enjoy and will have amazing experiences hiking this trail. Evening stroll around Thimphu town. Dinner and overnight stay at Thimphu Hotel.

Day02: Thimphu Stay

Today after breakfast, we will do Tango Monastery Hike. ​Tango monastery was once the abode Pajo Drujom Zhipo and his descendants.Our car will take us until Dodedr and from there will hike to Monastery. The hike will take about 1hr 30mins. Visit the monastery and walk back. Our car and driver will wait for you at the road end. Lunch will be served here at Thimphu. After lunch we will visit to Drupthop Dewachen Nunnery, this nunnery was founded in 1976 by Rikey Jadrel, who is considered an emanation of Thangtong Gyalpo and then Takin zoo, to see the national animal of Bhutan. Evening visit to Trachichho Dzong, it is an architectural delight and houses the throne room, and the office of His Majesty the king and the ministries of home affairs and finance. Then stroll and explore around Thimphu town and do some shopping in Bhutan. Dinner and over night stay at one of the hotel in Thimphu.

Day03: Thimphu – Punakha

After our breakfast, we will drive to Punakha/Wangdi. The road climbs steeply through forests of pine, hemlock spruce and rhododendrons. At Dochula Pass (3150m) you will have a breathtaking panoramic view of the Eastern Himalayan Mountain ranges on clear days. The pass is adorned with 108 small stupas and many kinds of prayer flags. From here we will do Lungchuzekha Goenpa/Lhakhang  Hike. This is one of the best hiking trails in Thimphu. Beautiful forest and a spectacular view from the Lhakhang are unforgettable. It is about 3-4hrs hiked altogether. The trail is through Juniper, Hemlocks, Birch and Rhododendron Forest.  The trails go up & down. You also pass by the yak herder’s camp in the winter. On clear days the views from the goenpa lhakhang are fantastic and stunning. All major mountains of Bhutan can be seen: to left the summits of Jhomolhari (7,314 m), Kang Bum (6,500 m), and Gangchhenta (Great Tiger Mountain, 6,840m; the shape of a tiger) appear above nearer mountains. Straight ahead, Masang Gang (7,165 m) towers over Gasa Dzong (2,700m). Further to the right are the high peaks of Lunana: Tsenda Kang (7,100 m), Teri Kang (7,300 m), Jejekangphu Gang (7,300 m), Kangphu Gang (7,212 m), and Zongphu Gang (Table Mountain, 7,100 m). Further to the northeast Gangkar Puensum, Bhutan’s highest mountain and the highest unclimbed mountain in the world (7,541 m). Behindthese mountains lie the plains of Tibet. The Black Mountains stretch along the eastern horizon. Your picnic lunch will be served here at the Lahkahanga and then return to Dochula and drive to Punakha.

Day04: Punakha Stay

After our breakfast, we will hike to Khamsum Yule Namgyel Chhorten – a shrine  built by the royal family.This ornate and elaborate structure has a rainbow of Guru Rinpoche images and superb views. This hike is through the farmer’s field and then through the pine forest. The hike is about 1 hour up steep climb. On your way back, you can take through the fields of Kabesa Village along the riverside. Lunch will be served as picnic lunch or at hotel. On our way becak we will visit to Punakha Dzong, the most beautiful dzog in Bhutan. Then we will drive to Lobesa and hike to Chhimi Lhakhang – the temple of fertility.  It has long been a pilgrimage spot for couples hoping to start a family. Dinner and over night stay at Punakha Hotel.

Day05: Punakha – Paro

Drive to Paro. The road will ascend up to the great Dochula Pass.  On the way back to Paro offers another chance to view the amazing Himalayan ranges. Stop along the way to take photos wherever you find the best spot for the photography. Lunch will be served at Paro. After lunch we will visit to Paro National Museum – It holds fascinating collection of arts, relics, religious Thangkha painting and Bhutan’s exquisite postage stamps. Then we will do Zuri Dzong hike – Zuri dzong is one of the oldest dzong in Bhutan. It was built in 1352 as a fort. It was a residence for Paro Penlop (governor) and home to the valleys local protector gods. Hike towards Zuri dzong takes about 1hour from the Paro Ta dzong till Uma resort. Zuri dzong hike is considered one of the best hikes in Bhutan as it takes provides the wonderful views of the valley and adjacent villages and a peaceful place to stare and wonder for hours. Our driver will pick us up near from Uma Resort. Then drive to Paro town and stroll around the town for some shopping. Dinner and overnight stay at hotel Paro.

Day06: Paro Stay

After the breakfast we will drive till the Ramthangka, where the hike to one of the Bhutan’s most dramatic monuments, the Tiger’s Nest (Taktshang Monaster). We will use pony till the Taktshang cafeteria. From cafeteria, we have to hike up to monastery about 1hr 30minutes. Even from the cafeteria, we can see the spectacular views of this most scared monastery in the Buddhism world. Some of you, if you cannot hike from cafeteria, we can sit and enjoy the view of the monastery, which is perched on the rocks, 900m above the valley floor. Our lunch will be served here at cafeteria. On our way back to hotel, we will visit to Kyichu Lhakhang, it is one of the two most sacred and the oldest temples in Bhutan, built in 7th century by Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo (the 33rd Tibetan king, who is also the manifestation of avoloketeshivara, commonly known to Bhutanese as Chenrize). Evening stroll around the Paro vally, the valley of surpassing Beauty.
Dinner and over night stay at Paro hotel. Le Meridian

Day07: Paro- Paro International Airport (Departure)

After our breakfast, we will drive to Paro International Airport for your onward flight. Our guide and driver will bid you farewell here at the airport. We wish you a very safe and pleasant flight for your onward destinations.