Essence of Bhutan

On your fight into Bhutan you will have breath-taking views of the High Himalayan peaks. At Paro airport you will be greeted by our representative.

We begin with a visit to Paro Ta Dzong, the 17th century monastery. Its 7 storey watchtower houses the Bhutanese National Museum Paro Dzong. The central tower incredible wood carvings.

After a late lunch in Paro, we continue driving east to Thimphu (2 hrs) on well maintained roads, through the beautiful Paro valley. Check in to your Thimpu hotel.

An early morning drive to Kuensel Phodrang Nature Park, with its huge bronze statue of Buddha Dordenma and magnificent panoramic views of the valley. Back in Thimphu, visit the Memorial Chorten built in 1974 in the memory of Bhutan’s third King. The paintings and statues inside the monument provide a deep insight into Buddhist philosophy.

The Zorig Chusum, is the school of 13 arts. Here, we will hand block silken material and watch students practise their arts. Based on time and your preferences, you may also visit the Textile museum, Folk Heritage museum, paper and incense workshops, the Post Office for traditional and unique Bhutanese stamps, the National Library and Institute of Traditional Medicine.

Before returning to the hotel, we’ll visit a private house to see the intricacy of Bhutanese silk on silk weaving, followed by a final stop at the national archery ground where we hope to see the Bhutanese practicing.

An early morning drive (3hrs) east to the milder and warmer climate of Punakha climbs through apple orchards and forests of blue pine before entering pristine mixed forests. The pass at Dochu La (3,116m), is an awe-inspiring sight; with prayer flags strewn across its width. Sip warm tea until dawn breaks over the snow-capped Himalayan peaks. Proceed down to the green terraced fields, famous for growing red rice around Punakha. A gentle walk to the temple of Chemmi Lhakhang; perhaps in time to hear the monks at prayer in this tranquil rural landscape. In the afternoon walk around Punakha Dzong (1637). This pristine environment is also a nature-lovers paradise where we may catch sight of the rare and endangered White-bellied Heron.

Punakha Dzong is considered to be one of the most beautiful Dzongs in Bhutan. Inside the dzong is the Kuenrey, a beautiful temple housing the ‘hundred-pillar’ assembly hall with exceptional murals, enormous 18th century golden statues, and most surprising of all is the high ceiling, exquisitely painted with hundreds of dragons. We have chosen the afternoon when the light is perfect to bring the richness of the paintings and a quieter time to enjoy the ambience of this remarkable dzong.

Today we visit Punakha Dzong for a commemorative battle re-enactment. The 17th century was a turbulent time and many battles were fought between the Bhutanese and Tibetan armies. On many occasions the Tibetan forces invaded trying to seize a very precious relic, the Rangjung Kharsapani. However, Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel devised a plan and duped the Tibetans, allowing the Bhutanese soldiers to be victorious.

The Punakha Drupchen is the commemorative re-enactment of the battle. In this elaborate ceremony, villagers dress in red and black representing the local military men (pazaps) and their commanders (magpoens), enact the events that took place. The ceremony ends with the unfurling of the Punakha Thongdrol (thangka). This master piece is 83ft x 93ft in size and required over 50 artist two years to create the image on almost 6,000m of brocade. Watching the spectacular enactment helps the visitor understand how religion, culture and heritage are interwoven in everyday Bhutanese life.

We travel east though through beautiful oak and rhododendron forests, to Phobjikha valley (3.5hrs) on the western slopes of the Back Mountain National Park.

Phobjikha is the biggest wetland in the country where approximately 270 globally endangered, black-necked Cranes arrive each winter to feed in the farmlands. Walking in the valley will give you an insight into rural life and, as the endangered Black-necked Cranes fly overhead it is truly a spectacular event.

Locals consider these magnificent birds an auspicious sign and eagerly await their arrival in late October from their breeding grounds on the Qinghai – Tibetan Plateau in China.

After check-in at our hotel, we’ll visit the Black-Necked Crane Information Centre, which has informative displays about the cranes and the valley environment. Here there are powerful spotting scopes for you to use. As time permits we will walk in the valley to have a closer look at the cranes before they return to their roosting nests.

Following breakfast we will follow one of the trails through the wetlands where the black-necked Cranes forage.

Then proceed to Gangtey Goempa, one of the oldest Buddhist monasteries in Bhutan. It has recently been renovated using traditional skills enabling Gangtey to become the centre for wood-working skills, with many little shops now centred on sales of this intricate craft. The monastery is an inspiring building with many intricate paintings and carvings. We will spend time exploring the beautiful Goemba and the town before continuing through the pristine forests up to Lawa La at 3,360m, where we might see yak grazing on clumps of dwarf bamboo – their favourite food.

Gangtey to Punakha is a dramatic journey as from 3,360m at Lawa La the road twist and turns through mountains dense with oak and rhododendron forests, a pristine landscape that is home to yak, barking deer and red pandas, down through the little hamlet of Nobding to Punakha and our hotel for the night.

Situated at the confluence of the Punatsang Chhu and Dang Chhu, Wangdue is an ideal spot for walking, birding and photography, so we will spend a little time exploring here. Then we drive out of Wangdue through more pristine landscapes up to Dochu La.

Following lunch, visit the impressive ruins of Drugyel Dzong, commemorating a victory over a Tibetan invasion in 1644. This picturesque ruin stands on a hillside above the lovely village of Drugyel with imposing views of Jhomolhari (7,219m). It is a photographer’s dream where we can spend a little time.

Proceed one of the oldest and most important religious sites: Kyichu Lhakhang. The temple has many relics which date from the 7th century, the oldest of which is the statue of Lord Buddha Sakyamuni.

Today, we visit the Taktsang Monastery, Tiger’s Nest! This is probably the most iconic Bhutanese image. We will walk up the steep uphill walk through the shade of dappled woodlands for approximately 1½-2hrs to reach the cafeteria and have refreshments before continuing to the top. Should you not wish to continue to the top, you will be able to wait in this area. There are mules available if you wish to ride to the top, but you’ll have to walk down on foot.

A further half hour’s ascent above the tea house brings you to another viewpoint directly across from the monastery. The final section of the walk takes you from this viewpoint steeply down 100m/330ft into the gorge that separates you from the monastery and then climbs back up to reach the gate – Taktsang was designed to be isolated!

The monastery has four main temples and several buildings to house monks. Painted white with golden roofs, with interconnected steps carved into the rock and balconies with breath-taking views. The temples are extremely impressive with gold-plated domes, flickering light that dances off the golden images of Buddha, the paintings and sculptures of the Bhutanese saints. Perhaps the most impressive of all is the Hall of One Thousand Buddhas, carved into the rock with a large statue of a tiger, the respected symbol of Taktsang and the legend of that this location was chosen by the tigress that brought the Padma Sambhava to the country.

Returning to the tea-house, we will stop for lunch and enjoy the magnificent view of Taktsang before continuing down through the wooded hillside to our waiting vehicles and drive into Paro town where you will have some free time to wander around quaint shops that sell everything from groceries to textiles.