Day 1: Arrive Paro
Arrive Paro and received by our representative. After lunch, visit the National Museum (Ta-Dzong) and Rinpung Dzong, the seat of the district administration. Overnight at hotel in Paro.
Day 2: Paro -Thimphu
Morning hike to Tiger's Nest Monastery. After lunch drive to Thimphu. Overnight at hotel in Thimphu.
Day 3: Thimphu - Punakha
Morning visit Memorial Chorten, Changangkha Monastery, National Zoo, Painting School and Traditional Medicine. In the afternoon, drive to Punakha with stop at Dochula pass (10,500ft) to enjoy a spectacular view of the Eastern Himalayan mountain range. Rewarding photo opportunities. Continue drive to Punakha. Visit the Punakha Dzong, the ancient capital of Bhutan. Overnight at hotel in Punakha.
Day 4: Punakha - Bumthang
Drive to Bumthang with stop at Trongsa for lunch. Visit Trongsa Dzong, the ancestral home of the royal family. After lunch, drive to Trongsa. En route visit Yathra factory. Overnight at hotel in Bumthang.
Day 5: Tamshing Phala Festival
After breakfast, we hike to Tamshing and see the festival. Bhutanese from many different areas will gather to pay respect and to be blessed at this social gathering. Locals dressed in their finest clothes and jewelry. Attend this celebration of purification and religious blessings. Here we can truly appreciate the essence of Bhutanese people and a preserved steadfast culture. Arrays of colorful brocades whirl through the air as the dancers spin and dance the "thunderbolt step". Masks of glorious demonic demons and animals arouse your senses as you watch the purification take place. We will join the local people and sit around the temple for picnic lunch. Watch for the Atsara (clown). This dancer, unique in his own style, mimics dancers and entertains onlookers. Overnight at hotel in Bumthang.
Day 6: Bumthang
In the morning see the last day of the Festival. After lunch we will visit the visit the Ugyenchholing Palace, now housing the Family Museum, a place that will transport you to another world and time. You will view permanent exhibits recreated to capture the ambience of the lifestyle of the Trongsa Penlop (Governor) Tshokey Dorji and his household. In the evening, we return to Jakar valley. Overnight at hotel in Bumthang.
Day 7: Bumthang
Excursion to Ura valley. We will visit unique Ura Village and return to Jakar. Overnight at hotel in Bumthang.
Day 8: Bumthang - Gangtey
After an early breakfast, drive to Gangtey in Phobjikha Valley (6-7 hrs). This is the winter habitat for black-necked cranes. No electricity or telephones are here so to keep the valley pristine for these rare birds. Overnight at hotel in Gangtey.
Day 9: Gangtey - Gogona (Trek strats)
The trek leaves the valley at 9,283 ft and leads south, then west through meadows and fields. It then climbs through a mixed forest of juniper, bamboo, rhododendron and magnolia. The trail is rough and rocky and weaves through trees where pack animals have made their path. After crossing Tsela La (11,282 ft) the trail crosses several meadows and then descends through forest to Gangtey. It is then a short climb to the camp at Gogona. A beautiful hilltop site overlooking a long valley. Nearby is Gogona Lhakhang, and dozen of Poles with prayer flags fluttering…a thirty minute walk from camp you will come across a hamlet where you can buy wonderful Ara (a Bhutanese homemade drink guaranteed to make you forget those tired feet), as well as Bhutanese woven textiles and blankets. Here the nomadic Bhutanese people speak their own dialect, Bjop-kha.. Language of the Nomads. Overnight camp.
Day 10: Gogona - Khotokha
The trail winds gently up above Gogona village, past fields of sheep and ploughed fields. We climb into a forest of firs, Oak, spruce, dwarf rhododendron, miniature azaleas, cypress and Juniper. Daphne is found here in great supply. This plant is used for hand-made paper and may be identified by its yellow flowers. Upon return to Thimphu we will visit a unique handcrafted paper shop. Here you will see how paper is made. Like all Bhutanese products, this paper is of the highest. Makes a wonderful gift. A long but graduals climb leads to Shobju La (11,019 ft). The trail winding down from the pass is rocky and muddy, weaving through the forest and crossing streams (by now you have adopted your walking stick). The trail meets a rough road used to collect wood on. Following the road through the woods we go to the woodcutters camp at Dolonga (9,282 ft). A small coalmine and campsite for the miners is located above Dolonga. We continue down the trail which overlooks the broad Khothangkha valley and we eventually reach Chorten Karpo, where four chortens are dedicated to the four Je Khenpos who come from this area. We camp by a forest of large blue pine overlooking the small village of rustic houses, Khothangkha.
Day 11: Khotangkha - Tikke Zampa (Trek ends)
A short steep climb along a well-worn path takes you to Tashila. Here is the top of the cable car that transports wood down to Chhuzomsa. Continue lovely hike down through the beautiful forest, lush with rhododendrons, magnolias, ferns and dwarf bamboo. Experts claim this stretch of the trek is one of the finest bird watching areas in Bhutan. Watch for the rare Great Pied Horn Bill, they are here! Now our trail plunges down steep terraced wheat fields to a cluster of houses at Wachay. Continuing west we descend along a treeless ridge towards Wangdiphodrang, crossing the Tang Chhu. Overnight at hotel in Wangdue.
Day 12: Wangdue - Thimphu
Visit Dzong at Wangdue. Drive to Thimphu. If it is weekend, visit the famous weekend market. The marketplace is alive with fresh and organic fruits, rice, chilies, wonderful textiles, handicrafts, art and jewelry. Stroll freely in Thimphu Town. Overnight at hotel in Thimphu.
Day 13: Thimphu - Paro
After breakfast you may want to visit some local shops in Thimphu for purchase or crafts, art, textile or unique mask. If you are lucky, you will see local archers at play. Afternoon drive to Paro. Overnight at hotel in Paro.
Day 14: Paro Depart
Breakfast drive to Paro airport for your onward international connections.
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