The Bhutan travel starts from the town Samdrup Jongkhar. This tour will take you to the great east of the nation driving through six districts & six passes. Some of the attractions of this cultural journey are the drive through windy roads and high passes taking you through different vegetative region.
When you reach the advance eastern part of Bhutan, you will see the street fall in a long series of bend, through dark pine forests, wild green meadow, and a range of fruit orchards, some gushing waterfalls all enclosed by the striking blend of wild flowers and always changing vegetation. You will also visit the center district of Lhuentse, the ancestral residence of the royal family, which is famous for its “Kushuthara” weaves..
Travelers occasionally visit this area and yet it is rich in cultural and architectural assets, and full of amusing surprises. While in traveling through the six districts you can see the variation in the social-cultural life of the Bhutanese citizens. You will also visit significant historical and cultural places of interest.
This tour can be taken any time of the year unless you opt to coincide with the festivals of the region or decide to take the trek.
DAY 1:
ARRIVE AT SAMDRUP JONKHAR (200m)
Bokar Tours will receive you at Guwahati International airport in Assam, India. From Guwahati it is about three-hour’s drive to the border town of Samdrup Jongkhar, Bhutan.
The small town of Samdrup Jongkhar sits on small strip of land just where the foothills begin and sharply rise up to the mountains. You will welcome and greet to Bhutan and escort to hotel, after Bhutan entry visa formalities.
(Dinner) Overnight stay at Hotel, Samdrup Jonkhar.
DAY 2:
DRIVE TO TASHIGANG (1151m) 180KM/APPROX 6HR
Today you begin your East to West road journey from Samdrup Jongkhar. You will pass through thick tropical vegetation as you gradually ascend to the small township of Dewathang and pass by small villages.
Lunch will be served at Wamrong, about 100 kms from Samdrup Jongkhar. Here, you can visit the charming little private Gompa (monastery) before continuing to Khaling (1,829m) that is home to the National Hand loom Development project.
After crossing Yonphu La pass (2,500m) you will see the picturesque town of Kanglung, home to the country’s oldest liberal college, set among temperate forests.From Kanglung,
it is a 22km drive to Trashigang town, the district headquarters of the eastern district of Trashigang.
In the past, it was once center of busy trade with Tibet. Today it is the junction of the east west highway. The Trashigang Dzong, built in 1658, now serves as the administrative seat for the district as well as the district monk body.
(Breakfast, lunch & Dinner) Overnight stay at Hotel, Tashigang.
DAY 3:
EXCURSSION TO RANGJUNG: 26KM/APPROX 30MIN
Today you drive to the small township of Rangjung, which sits at the base of seven villages and is the seat of the well-known Rangjung Yoedselcholing Monastery.
From Rangjung, you take a three-hour exploratory walk to Radhi village, one of the rice bowls of the east, which is famous for its raw silk weaves.
You will pass through tracts of maize and paddy plantations as you walk to Radhi village where you can observe women weaving on back strap looms. You can also visit the nunnery monastery and meet the nuns.
In the evening drive back to Trashigang town and visit Trashigang Dzong that sits on a rocky spur overlooking the Gamri River. The dzong commands a remarkable view of the surrounding countryside. Built in 1658 it is practically impregnable, protected on three sides by the river and ravines, and from behind by the mountains.
(Breakfast, lunch & Dinner) Overnight stay at Hotel, Tashigang.
DAY 4:
TRASHIGANG TO TASHIYANGTSE (1830m): 54KM/APPROX 1 1⁄2 HR
Today you drive to Trashiyangtse district, which shares borders with the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh.
On the way you will stop at Gomphu Kora, a site where Guru Rinpoche meditated and subdued a demon that dwelt in a big rock. A temple was then built at the site. Continue drive to Chorten Kora with a stop at Duksum the small town where many villagers coming for shopping.
Chorten Kora, is similar to the stupa of Boudhanath in Nepal and was built in 1770. During the second month of the Bhutanese lunar calendar an interesting celebration known as “kora” takes place here and people from neighboring Arunachal Pradesh also join in the festivities. The area is also known for its exceptional woodcraft.
(Breakfast, lunch & Dinner) Overnight stay at Hotel, Tashiyangtse.
DAY 5:
TRASHIYANGTSE TO MONGAR (1620m): 135KM/APPROX 5HR
Today you drive to the neighbouring district of Mongar and stop en-route to visit the Drametse Goempa that was founded in the 16th century by a nun.
The Drametse Goempa is the largest and most important monastery in the Eastern Bhutan. Drametse offers beautiful views of the countryside in this part of the region.
The drive to Mongar follows the river and up to the well known “Yadi loops”, which is a series of ten bends gradually ascending to Yadi village. After reaching Yadi, you will drive past Zalaphangma village from where you can see the striking Sherichhu waterfall.
The highest point on the drive to Mongar is Kori La pass (2,378m), which is marked by fluttering prayers flags and the chortens (stupa). From here you descend through a deep fern- lined forest of rhododendrons and and blue pines filled with exotic orchids to Mongar town (1620m).
(Breakfast, lunch & Dinner) Overnight stay at Hotel, Mongar.
DAY 6:
EXCURSSION TO LHUNTSHE (1524m): 76KM/APPROX 3HR
You will visit Lhuentse one of the most isolated districts in Bhutan. The landscape is spectacular, with stark cliffs towering above river gorges and dense coniferous forests.
The region is famous for its weavers, and their distinctive textiles are generally considered to be the best in the country.
The Kurtoe region of Lhuentse is the ancestral home of the monarchy. A statue of Padmasambhava 148 feet high on 30-foot high lion throne and 17-foot high lotus seat in the form of Guru Nangsi Zilnoen is being built in Takela, Lhuentshe, to bring peace and harmony to the world as prophesied by Lord Buddha.
(Breakfast, lunch & Dinner) Overnight stay at Hotel, Lhunthse
DAY 7:
MONGAR TO BUMTHANG: 198KM/APPROX 7HR
After an early breakfast and a brief visit to Mongar Dzong you will start your journey to Bumthang, the spiritual heartland of Bhutan. As you descend to Lingmithang you will see the ruins of 12th century Zhongkhar Dzong, once the residence of most powerful of eastern Bhutan’s feudal lords.
At Lingmithang (770m), the vegetation changes to semi-tropical and temperatures could be feeling like the Indian plains. From here you start to ascend gradually passing through the clumps of bamboo and large cultivated fields of corn as well as of rice. Picnic lunch will be served at Namgling Dra (cliff) above the Namling waterfall.
You ascend sharply from here and enter a forest stretch were the road clings precariously to a sheer mountain until you reach a plateau at Sengor (2957m).From Sengor you will drive to the high point of the day, Thrumshing La pass (3780m). Then it is a descent to Ura village through conifer and rhododendron forests, over Sherteng La (3596m), and then to Bumthang valley.
(Breakfast, lunch & Dinner) Overnight stay at Hotel, Bumthang.
DAY 8:
BUMTHANG (2600– 4000m)
Explore Bumthang, the spiritual heartland of Bhutan. Bumthang loosely means the valley of 100,000 spirits.
The visit to sacred places and monuments will include Jambay Lhakhang, built in 7th century by the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo followed by Kurjey Lhakhang, which consists of three temples surrounded by 108 chortens (stupa) symbolically representing the joints of the human body.
A short hike across the suspension bridge will lead you to Tamshing Lhakhang built in 1501 and known for its ancient religious paintings of One Thousand Buddhas and Twenty One Taras (female form of Bodhisattavas). After lunch visit Jakar Dzong, known as the ‘Castle of the White Bird’.
(Breakfast, lunch & Dinner) Overnight stay at Hotel, Bumthang.
DAY 9:
BUMTHANG TO PHOBJIKHA VALLEY (3000m): 125KM/APPROX 5HR
Today you will drive to the glacier valley of Phobjikha is one of the most important wildlife preserves in the country, the large flock of black-necked cranes that roost here in winter. The valley also has a very interesting Nyingmapa monastery dates back to the 17th century.
On the way you will stop at Chendebji Chorten, patterned on Katmandu’s Swayambhunath stupa, with eyes painted at the four cardinal points. It was built by Lama Shida in the 18th century to cover the remains of an evil spirit that was subdued at this spot.
En route you will visit Trongsa Dzong, built in 1648. It was seat of power over central and eastern Bhutan. Both the first and second kings ruled the country from this ancient seat. Bhutan’s monarchs are invested as Trongsa Penlop (Governor of Trongsa) prior to ascending the throne. Presently it serves as the headquarters of the district’s religious and civil administration.
Perched above the Trongsa Dzong is the ancient watchtower, which has now been restored from ground up and converted into a state of the art museum presenting the historical and religious heritage of the fortress.
After lunch you will further drive to Phobjikha valley. You can do a short walk leading downhill from mani stone wall just north of Gangtey Goenpa to the Khewa Lhakhang.
The trail descends to Semchubara village and keeps straight at the Chortens into the edge of the forest, before descending to a square Chorten and the Lhakhang. From there you can cross over the bridge to place where our car is waiting to pick you.
(Breakfast, lunch & Dinner) Overnight stay at Hotel, Phobjikha.
DAY 10:
PHOBJIKHA VALLEY TO PUNAKHA (2320m): APPROX 5HR 95KM
Before driving to Punakha, the old capital of Bhutan we will visit the Crane information center.
En-route you can visit the Wangdue Dzong, which is being restored, and visit Chimi Lhakhang the auspicious fertility monastery dedicated to Divine Madman. It is a 20 minute walk through rice fields from the road head.
(Breakfast, lunch & Dinner) Overnight stay at Hotel, Punakha.
DAY 11:
PUNAKHA TO THIMPHU: 77KM/APPROX 3HR
After a sumptuous breakfast visit Punakha Dzong which stands at the confluence of the Pho Chu and Mo Chu rivers. The Dzong was first built in 1637 by the founder of Bhutan and has been witness to defining moments of Bhutanese history. It is a fine example of Bhutan’s highly refined architectural skills.
Continue drive to Thimphu. En-route stop at Dochu La pass for lunch and visit the Druk Wangyal Lhakhang. Continue drive to Thimphu, In the evening freely stroll through Thimphu and catch its sights and sounds.
(Breakfast, lunch & Dinner) Overnight stay at Hotel, Thimphu.
DAY 12:
THIMPHU(2320m)
Today’s exploration of Thimphu will take you to visit National Memorial Chorten, a stupa dedicated to world peace and prosperity in 1974 in memory of the Third King of Bhutan, drive above Thimphu city to see 51m tall Buddha which is perhaps the largest in the world gilded with gold, the Kingdom’s rich culture at the National Library, the National Institute of Zorig Chusum where students undergo training course in Bhutan’s thirteen traditional arts and crafts, Simply Bhutan, which will provide an insight into traditional Bhutanese farm house and rural past through exhibits and documentation of rural life.
It is worth to visit Changangkha Lhakhang, a fortress likes temple, which lies perched on a ridge above Thimphu. Visit Takin Preserve to see the rare national animal of Bhutan. This animal is chosen as the national animal of Bhutan for its uniqueness and its association with the country’s religious history and mythology.
Visit to Tashichho Dzong or “the fortress of the glorious religion” which is Bhutan’s administration and religious centre and houses the throne room of His Majesty the King of Bhutan, other Government offices. It is also the summer residence of Je Khenpo or Chief Abbot.
(Breakfast, lunch & Dinner) Overnight stay at Hotel, Thimphu.
DAY 13 :
PARO (2280m)
Drive to Paro valley and hike to Taktshang or “Tiger’s Nest” one of the holiest Buddhists sites in the Himalayan region. The monastery clings to a sheer rock face, almost 900 metres above the valley floor.
The uphill hike from the road point takes around 3 – 4 hours at a moderate pass. The trail passes through beautiful pine forests adorned with Spanish moss as you go further up. Take rest for a while and light refreshments at the Taktshang cafeteria.
Legend has it that Guru Padmasambhava, the tantric mystic who brought Buddhism to Bhutan in 747 AD, flew here on the back of flying tigress and meditated for three months. Later visit Kitchu Lhakhang, by the Tibetan king Songtshen Gampo in 659 A.D. The drive north to ruin Drugyel Dzong the imposing fortress that kept at bay invasions from the north.
Afternoon drive to the Ta-Dzong (watch tower), which now serves as the national museum. The museum highlights various aspects of Bhutanese culture and history dating back to the 7th century. A short walk downhill takes you to the imposing Paro Rinpung Dzong which serves as the district’s administrative and religious centre. Walk further down and cross a traditional bridge into Paro town.
(Breakfast, lunch & Dinner) Overnight stay at Hotel, Paro.
DAY 14
PARO DEPARTURE
You will drive to the airport for your onward journey. (Breakfast)