Detail Itinerary for 9 Days Gangtey Goenpa Festival
Day 01. Arrive Paro – Thimphu: (2320 m) (Distance: 54 km, 1 hr drive).
Meet and greet Airport and drive to Thimphu. On the way,
- View 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).
- Visit Tashichho Dzong, seat of the national government and the Central Monastic Body, including the summer residence of the Je Khenpo (Chief Abbot of Bhutan). Dinner and overnight in Hotel.
Day 02. Thimphu Sightseeing:
After breakfast, visit to:
- National Postal Museum.
- 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,
- Hike to Cheri Monastery (18 kms).
- In the evening, free to stroll in the town for shopping and photography.
- Dinner and overnight in Hotel.
Day 03. Thimphu – Punakha: (Altitude 1310 m) (76 Km, 3 hrs drive).
After breakfast, drive to Punakha.
- Visit Dochula pass with its 108 stupas and the beautifully arranged Himalayan mountain ranges.
- The Royal Botanical park, a nature reserve rich in flora and fauna and beautiful in itself. The recorded species are the monal pheasants, blood pheasants, musk deer, tiger, leopard, red panda and the leopard cat. A Rhododendron garden with 46 species of the plant is the theme of the botanical garden. Located 30 KMS from capital, the park has numerous view points, a lake and a canteen. At this park, you can indulge yourself amongst these rich biodiversity.
- Chimi Lhakhang, which was built by Lama Drukpa Kuenley (Popularly known as “The Divine Madman”, in the year 1499. The Temple is also called “the Temple of Fertility”. 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.
- Walk the Suspension bridge across Pho Chu River. The longest Suspension bridge in Bhutan.
- Dinner and overnight in Hotel.
Day 4. Punakha – Gangtey: (Altitude 3120 m) (128 km, 4 hrs).
- Visit the Wangdiphodrang Dzong built in 1638. (Razed by fire in 2012), now in ruins & under construction.
- Gangtey Gompa monastery.
- Black Necked Crane information center.
After lunch:
- Explore the beautiful Phobjikha valley (Upper part of the valley is called Gangtey and lower part is called Phobjikha.
- Dinner and overnight in Guest house.
Day 5. Gangtey Festival:
After breakfast:
- Witness the festival (Full Day).
- Dinner and overnight in Hotel.
Day 6. Gangtey – Thimphu: (128 kms – 6 hours).
After breakfast, drive to Thimphu.
- Lungchutse hike (3 hours): This is a beautiful hike and you can see a very good view of the Himalayas including Gasa Dzong and Mt. Masagang and other mountains.
- Dinner and overnight in Hotel.
Day 7. Thimphu – Paro: (56 kms – 1 hour).
After breakfast visit to:
- Chelila pass to view the beautiful Himalayas, with highest Motorable road in Bhutan at 3856 meters above the sea level.
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 8. Paro Sightseeing: (Altitude 2280 m).
After breakfast:
- Hike to Taktsang Monastery or the Tiger’s Nest built in 1684 by the Penlop of Paro Gyaltse Tenzin Rabgay.
- Drukgyal Dzong 16 km up the valley built in 1647 by the great Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal,
- Kichu Lhakhang built in 659 A.D by the Tibetan king Srongsen Gampo.
Day 9. Departure: After breakfast, departure.
