The Road Less Travelled-Eastern Bhutan Tour

Day 01 : ARRIVE AT PARO, PARO SGHTSEEING

On arrival at Paro International Airport, after completing immigration and custom formalities, the representative from Bhutan Inbound team will receive you and transfer to hotel. After lunch we can visit some sightseeing which includes National Museum, Zuri Dzong and the beautiful Dzongdrakha monastery Lhakhang.

Stroll the town in evening.

Overnight at hotel in Paro

Day 02 : TIGER’S NEST HIKE, PARO - THIMPHU (55Km/ 1.5 Hrs)

After breakfast, drive to Ramthangka to hike up to the view point of Taktsang (Tiger’s nest) (2950m). The round trip will take about three hours. After a brief refreshment at Taktsang cafeteria, you can take a walk little higher to have a closer view point of Taktsang monastery, legend says that in the 8th century, Guru Rinpoche visited and meditated here for sometimes. The place now is one of the holiest pilgrim sites for the Mahayana Buddhist.

After lunch walk back to Ramthangka and drive to visit Drugyal Dzong. The Dzong though in ruins played a very important role in defending the valley from Tibetan Invasion and it was built to commemorate the victory over the Tibetan forces. If weather cooperates you can get a good view of Jumolhari Mountain.

Continue your journey to Thimphu.

Overnight at hotel in Thimphu

Day 03 : THIMPHU SIGHTSEEING

• Drive to Kuenselphodrang where world’s tallest Buddha Statue (169 feet) sits overlooking the Thimphu Valley. Enjoy the spectacular view of Thimphu city. If interested take a hike from Buddha Point to Changangkha Lhakhang, a 2hour hike through the forest of pine and birches.
• Visit Zilukha Nunnery for a chance to see what a Bhutanese nunnery looks like, speak with the sisters, and discover more about Bhutan's feminine culture.
• Dechenphodrang monastery where around 300 monks seek education
• National Painting School, where students are taught painting, calligraphy, embroidery, wood carving, sculpture.
• Evening, take a walk around town and soak in the atmosphere of this magical capital with its busy shops and bazaars. Also visit the archery ground where local teams demonstrate amazing skill with bow and arrow .

Overnight at hotel in Thimphu

Day 04 : THIMPHU- PUNAKHA ( 77KMS/3HOURS)

After breakfast, drive to Punakha via Dochula Pass (3150 m). The pass is marked by hundreds of fluttering prayer flags surrounding 108 small Chortens (stupas) and breath taking view of the eastern Himalayan Mountain ranges on the clear days. Then continue your journey, descending through magnolia and rhododendron forests on to tropical valley of Punakha.

On the way, visit Chimi Lhakhang ‘temple of fertility’, which is located on the hilltop. The hike will take you through Sopsokha village and the rice field about 30minutes from the main road.

If time permits we will visit Rinchengang Village, a small clustered village located opposite to  Wangduephodrang Dzong and is famous for its proficiency in traditional means of stone stonework. It is about 20 minutes’ walk uphill with great sight of the Dzong, valley and the river.

Overnight at hotel in Punakha

Day 05 : PUNAKHA - GANGTEY (2,860 M- 83 KMS/3 HOURS)

Early morning after breakfast :

• Visit Punakha Dzong, the former capital of Bhutan, now serving as the district administrative center and also the winter residence of the Je Khenpo (Chief Abbot). Punakha Dzong was built in 1637.
• Visit we will drive till Kabesa village to take the hike to Khamsum Yulley Namgyel Chhorten and drive back to hotel.
• Drive to Gantey. En-route visit Wangdue Phodrang (1350m) and continue your drive through the region of Oak and Rhododendron forests before finally reaching the valley of Phobjikha. Phobjikha is one of the few glacial valleys in Bhutan and also the winter homes of rare and endangered black necked cranes that migrate from Tibet to Bhutan in late autumn to escape its harsh winters. By mid- February, the cranes fly back to their summer homes in Tibet. Later, visit Gantey Goemba and later if time permits you may take a short walk in and around the Phobjikha valley.

Overnight at Hotel in Gangtey

Day 06 : GANGTEY – BUMTHANG (137KMS/5-6 Hrs)

After breakfast, drive to Bumthang via Pele – La Pass (3300m). This pass is traditionally considered the boundary between western and eastern Bhutan. Further down the road, you will see Chendebji Chorten (Nepalese styled Stupa).

On arrival at Trongsa, visit Trongsa Dzong, the most impressive Dzong in the kingdom. It was built in 1644 by Chhogyel Minjur Tenpa, the official who was sent by the Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal to unify eastern Bhutan.

After lunch, visit Ta Dzong (watchtower) on the hillside above the town, dedicated to the epic hero, King Gesar of Ling and continue your journey to Bumthang en-route cross Yutong-la pass (3,400m). The road winds steeply up to the pass and then runs down through coniferous forest into a wide, open, cultivated valley known as the Chumey valley and then finally to Bumthang.

Overnight at Hotel in Bumthang

Day 07 : BUMTHANG SIGHTSEEING

In the morning, visit Kurjey Lhakhang. It is named after the body print of Guru Rinpoche, which is preserved in a cave inside the oldest of the three building. From the Kurjey Lhakhang, a tarmac road heads south along the right bank of the river to Jambey Lhakhang. This temple was built by the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo in the 7th century, is one of the two oldest in Bhutan (the other being Kichu Lhakhang in Paro). After lunch, visit Tamshing Monastery, founded in 1501 by Pema Lingpa. It contains interesting and ancient Buddhist wall paintings.

Later visit Jakar Dzong (administrative center of the region) then take a stroll through local market area before returning to hotel.

Overnight at hotel.

Day 08 : BUMTHANG – MONGAR (193 KMS/8HOURS)

After early breakfast, drive eastward passing through Ura village before climbing sharply to the highest motorable pass in the Kingdom, the Thrumshing La pass (3,750m). From the pass, the road gradually descends to the alpine valley of Sengor, with wonderful views of waterfalls and the hills of eastern Bhutan along the way. Sengor is also very popular for birding .Vegetation changes from alpine to subtropical with loss of height, bamboos and ferns overhang the road as we drop down to the valley floor. The descend stops at 700m at Kuri Chu (river). We ascend again through pine forests, maize fields and eastern hamlets to reach Mongar town.

Visit Mongar Dzong, which was rebuilt in 1953, still, maintaining its architectural traditions of old Dzongs. Lunch – hot pack lunch.

Overnight at hotel in Mongar.

Day 09 : MONGAR –LHUNTSHI (77KMS/3.5 HOURS DRIVE)

Today, we will do a day excursion to Lhuntse, which is one of the most rural and isolated districts in Bhutan. The landscape is spectacular with stark cliffs and gorges, beautiful conifer and pine forests and remote villages. The Kurtoe region of Lhuntse is the ancestral home of Bhutan’s Royal family and this region is famous for its weavers, in dim light of their homes, make superb dresses called KISHU THARA.

On arrival at Lhuntse, visit Lhuntse Dzong built in the 17th century.

You can watch the women of Khoma Village weave silk into the intricate designs of Kishuthara. Khoma is also one of the few locations where you can observe silk being dyed using the traditional method. This ancient process uses various types of plants, leaves, tree bark and flowers to produce colorful and long lasting dyes.

We will also stop at Gangjur village which is famous for pottery and also pay a short visit to Takila and witness the largest statue of Guru Rinpoche.

There are also several households where you can see a home life style for a true taste of Bhutanese hospitality and the authentic rural lifestyle.

Evening drive back to Mongar.

Overnight at hotel in Mongar

Day 10 : MONGAR – TRASHIGANG (90 KMS/3 HOURS)

After breakfast, drive to Trashigang through the Kori la pass (2,450m), marked by a pretty chorten and a Mani wall. We descend rapidly down through Yadi village and further descending down towards the road finally crosses a bridge of Sherichhu (600m). A turnoff on the left leads up to Drametse Monastery (2400m), which is 12 Kms from Sherichhu. This temple is situated on the flat top of a hill, founded by Choeten Zangmo towards the end of 16th century and is the one of the most important monastery of eastern Bhutan. The famous masks dance with drums originated from here. After pack lunch, we will drive back to the main road to continue our journey to Trashigang (1150). Trashigang is the principal township of the biggest and most populated district in the country.

Overnight at hotel in Trashigang.

Day 11: TRASHIGANG- TRASHIYANGTSHE (53Kms/2Hrs)

Today we will do a day excursion to Tashi Yangtse. On the way, visit the temple of Gom Kora, set on a small alluvial plateau, overlooking the river (24km) from Trashigang. Gom Kora is a famous place, as Guru Rinpoche is said to have subdued a demon, trapping it in a rock. We continue our journey to Doksum village, where you can see women busily weaving traditional Bhutanese fabric and chain-link Swing Bridge dating back to the 15th century. The road turns into the hills here, running up the side of a winding river valley to Tashi Yangtse. In former times, Tashi Yangtse was an important centre because it lies on one of the caravan routes leading from western and central Bhutan. The area is famous for its wooden containers and bowls, which make inexpensive, attractive and useful souvenirs of a visit to this remote region.

Visit Tashi Yangtse Dzong, Which overlooks the town and was built in the late 1990s when the new district was created. If time permits, we will also visit the dazzling white stupa of Chorten Kora on the riverbank below the town and the nearby School of Traditional Art. Pack lunch will be served. In the evening return back to Trashigang .

Overnight at hotel in Trashigang

Day 12 :TRASHIGANG- RADHI(21Km/1Hr);RADHI-MERAK(40Km/3Hrs)

Morning drive to Rangjung (1,200m) and explore Radhi village, yet another place very famous for traditional hand weavings. Radhi is a well-known community in the east for the production of bura (raw silk) textiles.

Then head towards the village of Merak which is 40 Km drive through dirt road from Radhi.

Overnight at Homestay in Merak.

Day 13 :EXPLORE THE VALLEY OF MERAK

After breakfast, today the whole day will be devoted to visit in and around the Merak village. It involves visit to the local home,  interaction with people and delving deeper into their social, cultural and religious structure of this unique community. Merak is a large village with about 60 or so households, located at an elevation of 3480m.

Late afternoon return back to Trashigang

Overnight at hotel in Trashigang

Day 14: TRASHIGANG- SAMDRUP JONGKHAR (233M-180KMS-7Hrs)

After breakfast, drive to Samdrup Jongkhar. The journey passes through Sherubtse College in Kanglung.

We will also visit the nearby Zangtho Pelri temple representing Guru Rinpoche’s paradise, built in 1978.

We then drive on to Khaling via Yonphula pass (2300m). On arrival at Khaling (2100m), visit the National Institute for the Disabled and Khaling Weaving Center. The young girls are taught to keep our Textile Arts of Bhutan alive. They use the natural dyes in their textiles.

After lunch (pack lunch will be served) continue drive to S/Jongkhar passing through Deothang (870m).

Evening explore the small town of S/Jongkhar.

Overnight at hotel in Samdrupjongkhar

Day 15 : SAMDRUPJONGKHAR- GUWAHATI AIRPORT (INDIA)-3 Hrs

 Our guide and driver will bid you fare well and we hope to see you again in Bhutan. But to depart from Guwahati , you need to have a Indian visa.

Note :

You can choose to return from Trashigang (Yongphula) to Paro Via Domestic Flight and depart to your next destiny from Paro as well. By doing so you can shorten your Bhutan Stay to 13 Night & 14 Days