15 Days Chorten Kora Festival
8th April 2020 | Venue: Chorten Kora, Trashiyangtse.
The Chorten Kora is the most popular festivals in eastern Bhutan. ‘Kora’ means circumambulation. The biggest activity of the festival is circumambulating the Chorten Kora. It also attracts people from the neighboring Indain state of Arunachal culture such as mask dances, the rich textiles and brocades worn by the locals and the triumphant atmosphere of the festival itself.
Sketch Itinerary:
Day 01. Arrive Paro.
Day 02. Paro – Bumthang (Flight).
Day 03. Bumthang sightseeing.
Day 04. Bumthang – Mongar.
Day 05. Mongar – Tashigang.
Day 06. Chorten Kora Festival.
Day 07. Chorten Kora Festival.
Day 08. Tashigang – Mongar.
Day 09. Mongar – Bumthang.
Day 10. Bumthang – Trongsa – Gangtey (130 kms – 5 hours)
Day 11. Gangtey – Punakha (74.7 kms. – 4 hours)
Day 12. Punakha – Thimphu (76 kms – 3 hours)
Day 13. Thimphu Sightseeing.
Day 14. Thimphu – Paro (56 kms. 1 hour)
Day 15. Departure.
Detail Itinerary for 15 Days Chorten Kora Festival
Day 1. Paro: Arrival Paro. Meet & Greet.
- After lunch, visit to the Ta Dzong, the National Museum.
- Paro Rimpung Dzong built in 1646 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the administrative centre of Paro district.
- Evening, free to stroll in the town for shopping and photography.
- Dinner and overnight in Hotel.
Day 2. Paro – Bumthang: After breakfast, DRIVE TO THE PARO AIRPORT FOR FLIGHT TO BUMTHANG. Meet & Greet at the Badbalathang Airport.
After lunch, visit to:
- Jakar Dzong built in 1667.
- Jambay Lhakhang built by King Srongsen Gampo of Tibet in the year 659 on the same day as Kichu Lhakhang in Paro.
- Tamshing Lhakhang (Temple of the good message), established in 1501 by Pema Lingpa.
- Kurjey Lhakhang, where you can see the body print of Guru Rimpoche.
- Kencho Sum Lhakhang.
- Dinner and overnight in Hotel.
Day 3. Bumthang (2750m altitude) – After early breakfast
- Drive to the Kurjey and witness the festival (Full day).
- Membarstho or “The Burning Lake” where Pema Lingpa discovered the treasures hidden by Guru Rimpoche in the 14th
- Dinner and overnight in Hotel.
Day 4. Bumthang – Mongar (184 km – 7 hours drive)
- Drive early from Bumthang, lunch will be served on the way.
- Stay for a while at Thrumsingla Pass (3780m altitude) mid way to Mongar
- Visit to The Jarung Khashor Chorten located in Lingmethang next to the bridge over the Kurichu River.
- Dinner and overnight in Hotel at Mongar.
Day 5. Mongar to Trashigang – (90 kms – 4 hours)
- After breakfast visit to Mongar Dzong
- Drive towards Trashigang.
- Stay for a while at Korila Pass (2400 m in altitude) mid way to Trashigang.
- Dinner and halt in Hotel at Trashigang.
Day 6. Chorten Kora Festival
After early breakfast drive towards Tashiyangtse to Witness Festival.
Day 7. Trashigang Local Sightseeing
- After breakfast visit to Gomphu kora Chorten, in Trashiyangtse District, 23 kms from Trashigang Town.
- Afternoon back to Trashigang Festival.
- Chorten Kora – 54 kms – 2 hours.
- Dinner and overnight stay in Hotel.
Day 8. Trashigang – Mongar (90 kms – 4 hours)
After breakfast drive towards Mongar
- Visit to Buddhist College at Kilikhar village, 5mks from Mongar town.
- Walk around the local market in Mongar Town, OR
- Visit a school
Day 9. Mongar – Bumthang (184 kms – 7 hours)
- Drive early from Mongar, lunch will be served on the way.
- Stay for a while at Thrumsingla Pass (3780m altitude) mid way to Mongar
- Visit Sengor village on the way and take pictures at Namling Cliff.
- Dinner and overnight in Hotel at Bumthang.
Day 10. Bumthang – Trongsa – Gangtey (130 kms – 5 hours)
- Gangtey Gompa Monastery – Gyaltse Pema Thinley, the grandson and mind reincarnation of Pema Lingpa founded the Temple in 1613, and Tenzin Legpai Dhendup, the second re-incarnation, built the temple. The present Abbot, Kunzang Pema Namgyal is the ninth re-incarnation.
- Explore Phobjikha valley, the most beautiful glacial valley in the Himalayas and the roosting ground of the Rare Black- necked Cranes.
- Dinner and overnight in Guest house.
Day 11. Gangtey – Punakha (74.7 kms – 3 hours):
After breakfast drive towards Punakha.
- On the way visit Wangdiphodrang Dzong built in 1638 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal (razed by fire in 2012), & under renovation at present stage.
- Chimi Lhakhang also called the “Temple of Fertility” built by Lama Drukpa Kuenley in 15th century who was also popularly known as “Devine Mad man”. Lama Drukpa Kuenley (1455 – 1529) was one of the Bhutan’s Favourite Saints who was born in Tibet, trained at Ralung Monastery and was a contemporary and a disciple of Pema Lingpa. He Travelled throughout Bhutan and Tibet as a “Neljorpa” (Yogi) using songs, humour and outrageous behavior to dramatise his teachings of Salvation through sex.
After lunch, visit to:
- Punakha Dzong built in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. Punakha is the winter residence of Je-Khenpo and King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk convened the First National Assembly here in 1952.
- Beautiful Khamsung Yulley Namgyal Choling Monastery (short hike 45 minutes.
- Dinner and overnight in Hotel.
Day 12. Punakha – Thimphu (76 kms – 3 hours): After early breakfast, visit to:
- Longest suspension bridge in Bhutan across the Pho Chu River.
- Royal Botanical Garden at Lamperi.
- 108 stupas at Dochula pass and view Higher Himalayas.
After lunch at Dochula, visit to:
- The weekend vegetable market.
- Witness archery match at Changlimithang stadium.
- Dinner and overnight in Hotel.
Day 13. Thimphu Sightseeing:
After breakfast, visit to:
- National Postal Museum.
- The National Memorial Chorten (1974) built in honour of our 3rd King, late His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuk (The Father of Modern Bhutan).
- Tallest Statue of Buddha, Changangkha Lhakhang, Takin Preserve center, Sangaygang view point, and the Dupthop Lhakhang one of the few surviving nunneries in Bhutan.
After lunch, visit to:
- Folk Heritage Museum.
- Painting School.
- In the evening, free to stroll in the town for shopping and photography.
- Dinner and overnight in Hotel.
Day 14. Thimphu – Paro (Hike to the Tiger’s Nest) (56 kms – 1 hour):
After early breakfast, visit to:
- Tamchog Monastery built by Thangthong Gyalpo (Popularly known as Lama Chazampa, which literally means, the Iron Bridge builder) in the 15th Thang Thong Gyalpo (1385 – 1464) was a wonder working saint from Tibet who came to Bhutan in 1433 looking for Iron Ore. He built 108 bridges across Tibet and Bhutan, out of which 8 were built in Bhutan. His only surviving bridge is in Duksum (Tashi Yangtse in Eastern Bhutan).
- Hike to the Tiger’s Nest (Taktsang Monastery).
After lunch, visit to:
- Drukgyal Dzong built in 1647 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal.
- Kichu Lhakhang, built in 659 A.D by the Tibetan king Srongsen Gampo, who built 108 Temples in a single day to pin the Ogress to the earth forever.
- Free to stroll in the town for shopping and photography.
- Dinner and overnight in Hotel.
Day 15. Paro: Departure
- Hot stone bath.
Practicing Archery
- Cycling around Paro valley.
- Practice Archery.
- Bhutanese cooking class.
- Bhutanese cultural show featuring various mask dances and folk dances.
- Talk on Gross National Happiness / Buddhism.
- Consulting an Astrologer.
- Practice Dart.
- Performing religious ceremony.
- Marriage ceremonies.
Please contact us for the price.
Tour Cost Includes:
a. All Meals [Breakfast /Lunch/Dinner]
b. Accommodation [Twin Sharing] Single Room Supplement Extra.
c. All transportation within the country including airport transfers.
d. Royalty & Govt. Taxes.
e. Entrance fees for Museums and Monuments.
f. Visa Fee.
g. English speaking Local guide.
h. Sightseeing.
i. Bottled water.
Tour Cost Excludes:
a. Drukair fares.
b. Insurance Premiums
c. Payments for service provided on a personal basis.
d. Cost for any services not mentioned in the “Cost Include head”.
e. Cost incurred due to mishaps, strikes, political unrest etc.
f. Personal expenses such as laundry, soft drinks, Camera Charges, Incidentals, Portage, Bellboy charges tips or any other services.