Punakha Festival Tour

Experience the excitement and celebration of a festival in Punakha, and witness centuries-old traditional Buddhist festivities with the local people and monks. Punakha is the former capital of Bhutan, and the current winter residence of the chief abbot and monks. You will also visit Haa Valley, one of Bhutan's most unspoiled areas. It was just recently opened to visitors and is unmarked by tourism.

Day 01: Arrive Paro
The flight to Paro crosses the Himalaya Mountains, affording spectacular views of the awesome peaks, including the sacred Jumolhari and Jichu Drake peaks in Bhutan.
Arrive Paro international airport and our representative will meet / assist you at airport
After visa and other formalities transfer to hotel

In the afternoon you can visit the Paro Dzong. It was built in 1646 and now houses government offices and religious institutions, as do all the dzongs (forts) currently. You can then tour the National Museum, formerly the watchtower for the dzong. It now houses a collection of fine arts, paintings, thankas, statues, and antiques. Afterward you will visit Kyichu Lhakhang, the oldest temple in the country, and Drugyel Dzong. In the evening you can stroll through Paro town. Overnight in Paro.

Day 02 : Paro to Thimphu, with hike to Taktsang (Tiger's Nest) Monastery
After breakfast hike to Taktsang (Tiger's Nest) Monastery, which is Bhutan's most famous monastery. Guru Rinpoche is said to have flown on the back of a tigress from Singye Dzong in Lhuntse to meditate in a cave where Taktsang Monastery now stands. It is perched on the edge of a steep cliff, about 900 meters above Paro Valley. The hike to reach the viewpoint to the monastery makes for a nice half-day excursion.

After lunch, drive to Thimphu. In the evening you can explore Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan, and absorb the lifestyle of the people. You can also visit some interesting handicraft shops. Overnight in Thimphu.

Day 03 : Thimphu
Breakfast at hotel
Sightseeing of Thimphu including the King's Memorial Chorten (built in memory of the third King of Bhutan who reigned from 1952-1972), Changgangkha Monastery, the radio tower (for a great view of Thimphu Valley and the Thimphu Dzong), and the zoo, which contains the national animal of Bhutan: the takin. From there you will visit the nunnery temple. After a relaxing lunch, you will tour the School of Arts and Crafts (also known as the painting school), the Textile Museum, the Folk Heritage Museum, the National Library (which houses ancient manuscripts), Tashi Chho Dzong (Thimphu Dzong), and the Simtokha Dzong (the oldest fortress in the kingdom). Overnight in Thimphu.

Day 04 : Thimphu - Punakha (3-hour drive)
After breakfast you will drive to Punakha.
The drive takes you across the Dochula Pass (10,230 ft) which is marked by a large Bhutanese chorten (Buddhist monument) and prayer flags. You will stop on the pass for tea, and if the weather is clear, you will take in beautiful views of the high peaks of the eastern Himalayas. The road to Punakha winds down from the pass, meandering through magnificent pine and rhododendron forests, giving you a glimpse of some of the most picturesque countryside in Bhutan.

After lunch at the hotel you will visit the Khamsum Yuely temple. Later you will walk to Chimi Lakhang (the Temple of the Divine Madman.). Overnight in Punakha.

Day 05 : Punakha Festival Tour
Breakfast at hotel
Today you will attend the Punakha Festival. Punakha Festival depicts one of such victories, which have resulted in what Bhutan is today. Our trip coincides with the sacred pageantry and dance festival, which commemorates the great victory over the invading Tibetan troops in the 17thcentury. The festival begins with colorful mask dances and ends with grand procession that dramatizes the Bhutanese troops marching into the battlefield against the Tibetan troops.

At the festival you will get to see Bhutanese from around the area gathered in all their finest clothing. There will be mask dances, music, feasting, and religious blessings. This trip allows the traveler to enjoy the daily life of friendly Bhutanese people. Visiting villages, temples, monasteries, gigantic fortresses, meeting people, enjoying the pristine forest with rare glimpse of wildlife and observing the ancient old traditions of arts and crafts.

Overnight in Punakha.

Day 06 : Punakha to Trongsa (5-hour drive)
After breakfast start day by driving to Gantey. You'll pass through dense forests of oak trees and rhododendrons and arrive at Gantey village, where you'll visit Gantey Gompa, the only Nyingmapa monastery in western Bhutan. From Gantey, you can see the picturesque Black Mountain range as well as Phobjika Valley, the winter habitat of the black-necked cranes. From there you'll head to Trongsa, the ancestral home of the royal family. The route is along a spectacular winding road, crossing 3,300-meter-high Pele La, and it's possible to see yaks along the way. In the evening you can explore the small town of Trongsa.

Overnight in Trongsa.

Day 07 : Trongsa to Bumthang (3-hour drive)
After braekfast in the morning you'll visit Trongsa Dzong, the masterpiece of Bhutanese architecture, and you'll also see Ta Dzong, the watchtower built to defend this dzong. After lunch, you'll proceed to Bumthang, the religious heartland of the nation, with lush valleys and hilly forests. Along the way you will stop at a yethra (textile weaving) factory, where the yethras are designed with patterns unique to Bumthang, and you can even watch some of the weavers at their looms. You can spend the evening strolling through Bumthang town. Overnight in Bumthang.

Day 08 : Bumthang sightseeing
After breakfast, you will tour the beautiful region and visit sights including Jakar Dzong, the administrative center of the valley; the Udee woodcarving factory in Jakar; Jambey Lhakhang, one of the oldest monasteries in Bhutan, dating from the introduction of Buddhism in Bhutan; Kurjey Lhakhang, one of the most sacred places, because Guru Rinpoche left his body imprint on the cave when he was meditating; and Tamshing Lakhang. You will also take a short hike to Thangbi monastery. You can spend the evening strolling through Jakar town. Overnight in Bumthang.

Day 09 : Bumthang to Wangduephodrang (6-hour drive)
You'll begin the day at the Bumthang market, and then drive to Wangduephodrang, where you can stroll through the town and visit the shops. Overnight in Wangduephodrang.

Day 10 : Wangdue to Thimphu, with afternoon hike to Tango Monastery
In the morning you will drive to Thimphu. After lunch you will drive 12km north of Thimphu to hike to Tango (Horse's Head) monastery. It will take about 45 minutes to hike to the monastery. Tango Monastery is a Buddhist college, and it's the residence of the Desi Tenzin Rabgye, a young boy who is the reincarnation of the 16th-century monk who built Tango. Overnight in Thimphu.

Day 11 : Thimphu to Haa to Paro (6 hour drive)
You will set out for Haa, one of Bhutan's most unspoiled areas. It was just recently opened to visitors and is unmarked by tourism. Haa is a pristine valley where the farmers grow wheat, barley, millet, and potatoes. On the way to Haa, you will pass through old-fashioned villages and thick conifer forests.

You will visit Lhakhang Karo and gain some insight into the valley's history. You will also visit the Wangchulo Dzong. A few minutes' drive from the dzong is the main town of Haa. You can take a walk to Katso Village from the main town and explore the area. After lunch you will drive to Paro over the Cheli La pass at 3,900m. Overnight in Paro.

Day 12: Paro to your home
Breakfast at hotel
Transfer to Paro airport for your flight to back home or next destination