Detail Itinerary for 8 Days Hot Spring Trekking Bhutan Tour
Day 01. Paro 2280 meters: Your Guide from Yak Holidays will receive you at the Airport and transfer to the hotel.
After lunch, visit Ta Dzong (built in1656 and renovated in 1968), an ancient watchtower, which now houses the National Museum. Below the museum is the Paro Rimpung Dzong (literally meaning “Heap of Jewels”, built in 1646 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the centre of civil and religious authority in this valley. A short walk takes you to the base of the dzong and across a traditional cantilevered, covered bridge.
Dinner and overnight at Tashi Namgay Resort.
Day 02. Paro sightseeing 2280 meters: After breakfast, drive to Paro and hike to Taktsang Monastery: a short drive takes us to Satsam Chorten, from there a 2 hour walk till the viewpoint point of the monastery. The trail climbs through beautiful pine forest, many of the trees festooned with Spanish moss, and an occasional grove of fluttering prayer flags. We stop for a rest and light refreshments at the Taktsang Jakhang (cafeteria) and then walk a short distance until we see, clearly and seemingly within reach, Taktsang monastery. The primary Lhakhang was built around Guru Rimpoche’s meditation cave in the 1684by the Penlop of Paro Gyaltse Tenzin Rabgay, this incredible monastery clings to the edge of a sheer rock cliff that plunges 900 meters into the valley below. Legend has it that Guru Padmasambhava, the tantric mystic who brought Buddhism to Bhutan, flew here on the back of a flying tiger, Dorji Drolo, said to be his favourite consort.
After lunch, visit Kichu Lhakhang, built in 659 A.D by the Tibetan king Srongsen Gampo. In the evening, visit to a farm house. Dinner over night in Tashi Namgay Resort.
Day 03. Paro – Thimphu 2320 meter: After breakfast, 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 century.
- 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).
While in Thimphu, visit to 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, Takin Preserve center.
After lunch, visit the Painting School where traditional art is still kept alive through instructions in the art of painting Thangkas (sacred Buddhist religious scrolls) and Folk Heritage Museum. In the evening, visit to the 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 Migmar or similar.
Day 04. Thimphu – Punakha: (Altitude 1310 m) (76 Km, 3 hrs drive). After breakfast, drive to Punakha via Dochula pass. We stop for a while at Dochula pass to view Higher Himalayas. Drive further down and visit the Royal Botanical Garden at Lamperi.
- The Royal Botanical park, also known as the Rhododendron Garden at Lamperi is about half and hour drive towards Punakha/Wangdue. With your spirits still high from the visit to the awesome sites of Dochula Pass with its 108 stupas and the beautifully arranged Himalayan mountain ranges, you will descend down to Rhododendron Botanical Garden, 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.
Drive further to Punakha. On the way, view Chimi Lhakhang, which was built by Lama Drukpa Kuenley (Popularly known as “The Divine Madman”, in the year 1499. He subdued the demons with his “Magical Thunder bolt” and built the temple on top of a hillock. The Temple is also known as “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 Punakha Dzong built in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal and is situated between Pho Chu (Male River) and Mo Chu (Female River). For many years until the time of the second king, it served as the seat of the Government. The construction of the Dzong was foretold by Guru Rimpoche, who predicted, “…a person named Namgyal will arrive at a hill that looks like an elephant”. There was a smaller building here called Dzong Chu (Small Dzong) that housed a statue of Buddha. It is said that Shabdrung ordered the architect, Zowe Palep, to sleep in front of the statue, while Palep was sleeping; the Shabdrung took him in his dreams to Zangtopelri and showed him the palace of Guru Rimpoche. From his vision, the architect conceived the design for the new Dzong, which in keeping with the tradition, was never committed to paper. The Dzong was named Druk Pungthang Dechen Phodrang (Palace of Great Happiness). The war materials captured during the battle with Tibetans are preserved here. Punakha is still the winter residence of Je-Khenpo and King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk convened the First National Assembly here in 1952. Dinner and overnight in Meri Puensum Resort or similar.
Day 05. Punakha – Trongsa – Bumthang (2800 m): We start early today. After breakfast drive to Bumthang. Enroute sightseeing in the valley of Wangdiphodrang, it includes: visit to Wangdiphodrang Dzong (from outside) built in 1638. Legend relates that as the people were searching for the site of the Dzong; four ravens were seen flying away in four directions. This was considered auspicious sign, representing the spread of religion to the four points of the compass. The Dzong is situated at the confluence of Mo Chu and Tang Chu rivers.
After lunch, visit Trongsa Dzong, the most impressive dzong in Bhutan, built in its present form in 1644 by Chogyal Minjur Tempa, the official who was sent by Shabdrung to unify eastern Bhutan and enlarged at the end of the 17th century by Desi Tenzin Rabgay. Trongsa Dzong is the ancestral home of the present Royal Family and first two hereditary kings ruled Bhutan from this Dzong. Then Visit Ta Dzong, an ancient watch tower. The chapel inside the Ta Dzong is said to be dedicated to the Trongsa Penlop Jigme Namgyal and drive to Bumthang. Dinner and overnight in Swiss Guest House or similar.
Day 06. Bumthang Sightseeing 2800 meters: After breakfast, visit Jakar Dzong, which literally means “The Castle of White Bird”. The current structure was built in 1667 and visit Jambay Lhakhang said to have been built by King Srongsen Gampo of Tibet in the year 659 on the same day as Kichu Lhakhang in Paro. The temple was visited by Guru Rimpoche during his visit to Bumthang and was renovated by Sindhu Raja after Guru Rimpoche restored his life force. Under the temple is said to be a lake in which Guru Rimpoche hid several Terma. In October one of the most spectacular festival, “Jambay Lhakhang Drup” is staged here. After lunch we visit Kurjey Lhakhang that is named after body print of Guru Rimpoche, built in 1652 by Minjur Tempa. Visit Tamshing Lhakhang (Temple of the good message), established in 1501 by Pema Lingpa and is the most important Nyingmapa temple in the kingdom. Dinner and overnight in Swiss Guest House or similar.
Day 07. Bumthang – Gorsum: (Distance 18 Km, about 6- 7 Hrs, 3120 meters) After breakfast, the transport will reach you up to the trek point just below Kurje Lhakhang, one of the most renowned temples. The Trek route leads you along the Chamkhar Chu, a river known for its richness in Trout. The Trek trail for Bumthang to Gorsum is rather gradual. Over night in Camp.
Day 08. Gorsum – Lungsum: Distance 12 Km, about 5 hrs. Alt. 3160 Meters. Today you will be walking through dense forests of Spruce, hemlock, Cypress, Juniper and Maples. The Trail is more or less muddy and ascends gradually till you reach to your campsite. Over night in Camp.
Day 09. Lungsum – Tshochenchen: Distance 15 Km, 6-7 hrs. Alt. 3100 m. The vegetation is dense from Tshochenchen all the way up hill to the Julila Pass, which is about 4700 m. The vegetation from Lungsun to Tshochenchen is more or less the same till you reach near to your campsite. The camp will be above tree line. Over night in camp.
Day 10. Tshochenchen – Dur Tshachu: Distance 17 Km. About 7 hrs. Alt. 3400 m. The Trek from Tshochenchen is uphill till you reach the Julila Pass at about 3400 m. From here if the weather is clear, surrounding mountains can be viewed. After crossing the pass, the Trek trail descends till you reach the campsite. Musk deer, herds of Blue sheep and Himalayan Beers may be seen enroute. Over night in camp.
Day 11. Dur Tsachu (Halt): After a late breakfast, relax in the hot spring or hike in and around the camp. Over night in Camp.
Day 12. Dur Tsachu – Tshochenchen: Distance 17 km, about 7 hrs. Alt. 3100 M. The Trek trail from Dur Tsachu is uphill till Julila. After crossing the pass the trail descends till you reach the campsite. Over night in Camp.
Day 13. Tshochenchen – Gorsum: Distance 17 km. about 9 hrs. Alt.3120 m. Today the trek begins early, as the trail is long. The trail drops gradually down for about 2 hrs till you reach campsite. Over night in Camp.
Day 14. Gorsum – Bumthang (2800 meters): From Gorsum, descend down hill till you cross the Dur Village bridge then follow the new motor road till you meet up with transport. After lunch, Leisure time. Dinner and overnight in Swiss Guest House or similar.
Day 15. Bumthang – Thimphu (2320 m) (Distance: 274 km, 10-11 hrs): After breakfast, drive to Thimphu. Lunch will be served on the way. Dinner and overnight in hotel Migmar or similar.
Day 16. Thimphu – Paro: Departure: Early Morning, drive to Paro airport and farewell.
