Cultural Trip of Bhutan

There are a good many things to see in the capital which has a very relaxed, laid-back feel about it. Thimpu is relatively small having a population of approximately 80,000 people and the streets are wide and tree-lined. You will almost certainly visit the Late King's Memorial Chorten, the National Library, Drubthob Nunnery, Folk Heritage Museum, the handmade paper factory, the school of arts and crafts where young students learn the traditional arts and crafts (Zo Rig Chusum – the thirteen crafts), Gold and the Silver Smiths workshop, Zangtopelri Lhakhang, and the Handicraft Emporium and the local handicraft centers to see the weavers at work and also varieties of textiles, Thangkha paintings, masks, jewelry, etc Late afternoon, you will drive to Punakha  (the former capital of Bhutan), with a stop en route for tea at Dochu La (3,100 meters), where on a clear day you can get spectacular views of the Himalayas.

After breakfast visit Punakha Dzong, which is noteworthy both for being one of the most beautiful dzongs in Bhutan and also for having been built by the first Shabdrung in 1636. After visiting Punakha, drive to Gangtey (Phobjikha). It is one of the few glacial valleys in Bhutan and a chosen home for Black Neck Cranes which migrate from the Central Asian Plateau to escape its harsh winters. Explore Phobjikha valley and also visit Gangtey Monastery, the only Nyingmapa monastery in Bhutan.  In the evening, you will return to Wangdiphodrang for an overnight stay, or you may stay in Gangtey if you choose.

Today we drive along the winding mountain road to Paro. Afternoon, a tour of Bhutan's national museum, a fascinating place housed in an old watchtower above the huge Paro Dzong (monastery/fortress). The museum holds a fantastic collection of Bhutanese national treasures ranging from ancient armor to textiles and thangka paintings. Then, we drive to the head of the valley and visit Drukgyel Dzong built in a location that was chosen for its control over the route to Tibet. A spectacular view of Mount. Jumolhari (23,996ft /7314m) can be visibly seen from here. Visit Rinpung Dzong and a typical Bhutanese farmhouse.

After breakfast, hike to Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest) Monastery, which is Bhutan’s most famous monastery. It is perched on the edge of a cliff, about 900 meters above the Paro Valley. The hike to reach the viewpoint of the monastery makes for a nice half-day excursion. After lunch, you can visit other important sites that you could not complete in previous days.