8 days Bhutan tour itinerary

Free to stroll in the town for shopping and photography.

In the morning, visit to:

• National postal museum where you can print your pictures on the official Bhutanese stamps.
• Textile museum.
• School of 13 arts and crafts.
• Simply Bhutan. You can enjoy Ara (local alcohol), visit folk museum and witness the cultural show and many more.

Afternoon – witness the archery match at Changlimithang stadium.

In the evening, visit Tashichho dzong, the royal secretariat. In early autumn, the grand Thimphu festival is held here.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

In the morning, drive to Punakha.

Punakha was the ancient capital of Bhutan until the rule of second king of Bhutan, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck.

On the way, visit the beautiful Dochu La Pass (3140 m).

Just few kilometers below is Chimi lhakhang built in 1499 to honor Drukpa Kuenley or “The divine madman”. The temple is also popularly called The temple of fertility. He was known as The divine madman for his unorthodox ways of teaching Buddhism often with sexual overtones.

After lunch, visit to the majestic Punakha dzong built in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal.

Then hike to the beautiful Khamsum Yulley monastery built by Her Majesty Tshering Yangdon Wangchuck.

In the evening, walk across the longest suspension bridge in Bhutan (160 m) across Pho chu river. You can enjoy the view of Punakha valley below.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

In the morning, drive to Gangtey and Phobjikha. A short stop on the way to view Wangdue Phodrang dzong.

Note: The lower part of the valley is called Phobjikha and upper part is Gangtey.

The Gangtey monastery is perched on a hillock overlooking the beautiful Phobjikha valley. It is the roosting ground for the rare black necked cranes in winter.

– Visit Gangtey Gompa monastery built in 1613 by Gyaltse Pema Thinley. The annual black necked crane festival is held here.

– Then visit the crane information center.

In the evening, walk around the beautiful Phobjikha valley.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

In the morning, drive to Thimphu.

We occasionally stop on the way to take pictures.

In the afternoon, visit to:

• Witness archery match at Changlimithang stadium.

Then free for shopping.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

In the Morning, drive to Paro and visit to Ta Dzong, the National Museum of Bhutan.

Then visit Rinpung dzong built in 1646 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. It is the finest illustration of Bhutanese architecture and craftsmanship you’ll see.

In the afternoon, excursion to the beautiful Cheli La pass (3988 meters). You can enjoy the beautiful view of the Himalayas. The Cheli la pass boasts of the highest motorable road in Bhutan.

Drive back to Paro. On the way, visit to the Kila Gompa nunnery which houses around 90 nuns. It was initially started as a meditation center in the 9th century.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

In the morning, drive to Satsam chorten and 2 hour hike till the Tiger’s nest monastery (Paro Taktsang – highlight of 8 days Bhutan tour itinerary).

– Probably the most photographed monument in Bhutan – it is a world heritage site. It is believed that Guru Rinpoche flew here on a back of a tigress.

Afternoon – visit to Drugyel dzong built in 1646 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal.

– Then visit Kichu lhakhang, the oldest monasteries in Bhutan built in 659 AD by the Tibetan king Srongtsen Gampo. He built 108 temples in a single day across the Himalayan region to subdue an ogress. Six of them are in Bhutan and most prominent of them are Kichu in Paro and Jambay lhakhang in Bumthang.

In the evening, visit to a typical Bhutanese farmhouse.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

After breakfast, drive to the airport and farewell (End of 8 days Bhutan tour itinerary).