Haa Summer Festival

Meet and greet at the Paro International Airport and drive to Thimphu.
A short stop on the way to view Tamchog monastery built in the 15th century by Thang Tong Gyalpo.
In the afternoon, visit to:
– National memorial chorten (1974) built in honor of the Third King, Late His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck.
– Craft market where you can buy Bhutanese handicrafts and art works.
In the evening, visit to Tashichho dzong, seat of the national government and the central monastic body.
Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

In the morning, visit to:
– Tallest statue of sitting Buddha in the world (51.5 meters) at Kuensel Phodrang.
– Changangkha lhakhang, one of the oldest temples of Thimphu valley built in the 12th century by Phajo Drugom Shigpo.
– Takin preserve center (Takin is the national animal of Bhutan).
– Sangaygang view point.
– Dupthop lhakhang, one of the few surviving nunneries in Bhutan.

Lunch at Simply Bhutan museum, where you can enjoy typical Bhutanese dishes and witness Folk dances.
In the afternoon, visit to:
– National postal museum where you can print your photos on the official Bhutanese stamps.
– School of 13 arts and crafts (Painting school).
In the evening, free to stroll in the town for shopping and photography.
Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

In the morning, drive to Punakha.

On the way, visit to:
– Dochu la Pass (3140 m) with 108 stupas and view the beautiful Himalayan mountain ranges.
– Chimi lhakhang built in 1499 by Lama Drukpa Kuenley, popularly known as “The divine madman”. The temple is also called “The Temple of fertility”.
In the afternoon, visit to:
– Punakha dzong built in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. It was also an ancient capital of Bhutan until the rule of second king of Bhutan.
In the evening, hike to Khamsum Yulley monastery built by Her Majesty the Queen Tshering Yangdon Wangchuck.
Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

In the morning, drive to Gangtey.
– On the way, a short stop to view Wangdue Phodrang dzong built in 1638 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal.
Note: Upper part of the valley is called Gangtey and lower part is called Phobjikha.
While in Gangtey, visit to:
– Gangtey Gompa monastery built in 1613 by Gyaltse Pema Thinley, the grandson of Pema Lingpa.
– Crane information center.
In the evening, explore Phobjikha valley, the roosting ground of the rare black necked cranes in winter.
Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

In the Morning, drive to Paro.

We occasionally stop on the way to take pictures.
In the afternoon, visit to:
– Ta dzong built in 1649, an ancient watch tower which now houses the national museum of Bhutan.
– Rinpung dzong built in 1646 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. The dzong presently functions as the administrative centre of Paro district.
In the evening, free to stroll in the town for shopping and photography.
Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

After early breakfast, drive to Haa valley. We stop on the way at Chele la pass (3988 m).
You can see the beautiful view of the Himalayas including Mt. Jomolhari. The pass boasts of the highest motorable road in Bhutan. The Chele la pass divides Haa from Paro valley.
While in Haa valley, witness the Haa summer festival 2024 (Full day).
In the evening, visit to:
– Lhakhang Karpo built in the 7th century by Tibetan King Srongtsen Gampo (One of the 108 monasteries). He built Lhakhang Karpo and Lhakhang Nagpo in the Haa valley.
Then drive back to Paro.
Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

In the morning, drive to Satsam Chorten and 2 hour hike till the Tiger’s Nest monastery (Paro Taktsang).

– The primary monastery was built around Guru Rinpoche’s meditation cave in the year 1684 by Gyaltse Tenzin Rabgay.

In the afternoon, visit to:
– Drugyel dzong built in 1647 by the great Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. It served as a defense post against the Tibetan forces in the ancient times.
– Kichu lhakhang built in 659 A.D by the Tibetan king Srongtsen Gampo. He built 108 temples in a single day to pin the ogress to the earth. Six of these temples lie in Bhutan; most prominent of them are Jambay lhakhang in Bumthang and Kichu lhakhang.
Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

After breakfast, drive to the airport and farewell (End of Haa summer festival tour).