Bhutan Classic Culture Tour

Upon arrival at Paro International Airport, your friendly Bhutanese tour guide will be waiting to greet you and drive you to Punakha and Wangdue. En route, you will stop at Chunzom, where the Pachu and Wangchu Rivers meet. These two rivers are considered the cradle of Bhutanese civilization and flow through Paro and Thimphu valleys, respectively.

Next, you’ll visit the 14th-century Tachog Lhakhang, located on the base of a mountain across the Pachu River on the Paro-Thimphu highway. This ancient temple was built by the legendary architect Thangtong Gyalpo and houses unique and precious statues. To reach the temple, you’ll cross a thrilling but safe iron chain bridge over the Pa Chu River.

After crossing Chunzom, the drive will continue along the Wangchu River up to Simtokha, and finally, you’ll arrive at Punakha after crossing the Dochula Pass (3,140 m). Here, you’ll witness a breathtaking panoramic view of the majestic Himalaya Range and the gorgeous flower-clustered valley below.

The bus will make a temporary stop at the amazing 108 chortens built by Her Majesty Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck (The Queen mother of Bhutan) for the safety and wellbeing of His Majesty (The king of Bhutan). After lunch at the Dochula Pass, the bus will take you to Punakha, one of the most beautiful and historically significant regions of Bhutan. Once the capital of Bhutan from 1637 to 1955, Punakha hosted the 1st National Assembly.

You’ll also visit Metsina Village and receive a fertility blessing at Chhimi Lhakhang, commonly known as the Devine Madman’s Monastery, regarded as the fertility shrine by locals for a long time. Then visit the Punakha Dzong, situated on the island of Pho Chu (Male River) and Mo Chu (Female River), to appreciate the highest state of wood crafts. In the evening, you can enjoy stunning views of Punakha and Wangdue valleys after visiting the Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendup Lhakhang Nunnery.

Dinner and overnight stay at a hotel in Punakha.

On the second day of your Bhutan itinerary, you will leave Punakha early in the morning after having breakfast and head straight to Thimphu. The driving distance between the two places is approximately 71 kilometers, and it takes around 2.5 hours to reach Thimphu.

Once you reach Thimphu, you will check-in at the hotel and start your sightseeing tour. Thimphu is the capital city of Bhutan and has a lot of cultural and historical significance. You will visit the following places in Thimphu:

1.Traditional Arts and Crafts Painting School:

You will visit the painting school where students receive a six-year course on the 13 different traditional arts and crafts. This is a great opportunity to learn about Bhutan’s traditional art and craft techniques.

2.National Textile Museum:

This is an amazing museum that keeps the traditional art of weaving preserved and exhibits a good collection of ancient colored textile in various forms. You can find out how the exquisite exhibits are woven by locals giving a spot operation with intricate tools.

3.Bhutan Postal Museum:

Bhutan Postal Museum presents all the periodical achievements and evolutions that Bhutan has made in communication and postal system. Moreover, you can get the postage stamps with your own photos printed on them before pasting them on the postcards and send to your families and friends.

4.Centenary Farmer’s Market:

This market is held by the side of Wangchu River and is a trade center for city residents and valley dwellers to do their businesses. A wide range of foodstuffs and local arts and crafts can be found in the market. It is open from Thursday to Sunday, and you can try bargaining with the locals and enjoy the lively atmosphere.

5.Takin Preserve:

You will visit the Takin Preserve and get a closer look at the housed national animal Takin that is only found in Bhutan. These endangered species are found in herds at a very high altitude of approximately 4,000 meters and can weigh as much as 550 pounds.

6.National Memorial Chorten (Stupa):

National Memorial Chorten was constructed in memory of the third King of Bhutan, King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, in 1974. The King was generally regarded as the father of modern Bhutan and widely esteemed by the Bhutanese. “Chorten” in Bhutan literally refers to the “seat of faith,” and Buddhists often call such monuments the “Mind of Buddha.”

7.Kuenselphodrang (Known as Buddha Point):

This is an iconic site in Bhutan where the country’s largest Buddha statue is perched. From the hill, you can overlook the Thimphu valley and the stunning distant view of mountain peaks.

8.Tashichhoe Dzong:

This was a once glorious religious fortress built in 1641 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel and was reconstructed into the present structure by the late king and the central monk body.

9.Craft Bazaar:

This is a unique shopping site to get an in-depth knowledge of Bhutanese cultures and buy handicrafts with Bhutanese characteristics that you are interested in. At this bazaar, craftsmen and artists from the country display and sell their handicrafts in some handicrafts stores you can choose to visit.

In the evening, you will take a walk around the Thimphu town and visit local handicraft shops. You will stay overnight at a hotel in Thimphu.

On the third day of your Bhutan tour, you will drive from Thimphu to Paro in the early morning after breakfast. The distance between Thimphu and Paro is about 54 km and takes around one hour by car.

Upon arrival in Paro, you will embark on a one day hike to Taktsang Ghoempa, also known as the Tiger’s Nest Monastery. The hike will take you through a scenic trail with beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.

After about 1.5 hours of hiking, you will reach a viewpoint where you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the monastery clinging to the side of a sheer vertical cliff. Take some time to rest and refresh yourself before continuing the ascent to the monastery.

It takes around one hour to reach the monastery from the viewpoint. The Tiger’s Nest Monastery is one of the most iconic and sacred sites in Bhutan. It is believed that Guru Rinpoche, also known as Padmasambhava, flew on the back of a tiger to this site and meditated here for three months.

After exploring the monastery and taking in the amazing scenery, you will begin your descent back down to Paro. You will then have some time to explore the city and visit some of its famous landmarks, such as the Rinpung Dzong and the National Museum.

In the evening, you can take a leisurely stroll around the city and enjoy some local cuisine before retiring to your hotel for the night.

Thank you for choosing Himalayan 360 as your travel agency for your Bhutan tour. On the last day of your trip, our tour guide will transfer you to Paro International Airport for your departure flight. We hope you had a wonderful time exploring the beautiful and peaceful country of Bhutan.

If you would like to extend your journey in the Himalayan region, we would be happy to help you plan a trip to Nepal or Tibet from Bhutan. As a professional travel agency with years of experience in the region, we can offer you a wide range of services, including customized itineraries, transportation, accommodations, and local guides.

Please let us know if you are interested in exploring more of the Himalayas and we will be more than happy to assist you in planning your next adventure. Thank you for traveling with us and we hope to see you again soon.