Week
1 & 2 (9 days and 8 nights )
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Travelling
in winter is a unique experience in it's own way. The days are clear with
intensely blue sky and bright sunshine melting the nighttime frost. By
around 9 o' clock in the morning, the nippy chill is out of the air, and
a pleasant winter day in the mountains arrive. Bhutan awaits those seeking
a pampered getaway with the promise of discovery. Your YANA Travel
Team will help you share the country's many cultural and religious wonders.
Bhutan promises to charm you with an unspoiled ancient landscape and quietly
challenge your view of the world. Come discover it for yourself the YANA Travel way.
Day
1 |
The
flight to Paro is one of the most spectacular of all the mountain flights.
The first three gifts you will receive from Bhutan will be cool, clean
fresh air you feel as you step out of the plane. The second will be warm
welcome you will receive from the your YANA Travel Team. The third
- the enchanting Paro valley. After lunch visit the National
Museum. You will have time to admire the museum's collections of rare
Bhutanese artifacts and art, traditional weaving and other eclectic pieces.
After the museum you hike down to visit the Paro Dzong - who now house
the offices of the district administration and the district monk body. You will continue your hike down to the traditional cantilever bridge.
One of the scenes in the film little Buddha includes this bridge. Your
transport will pick you from the other side of the river. You return to
your traditionally styled hotel and relax with an orientation and welcome
of Asian/Bhutanese cuisine. Dinner and overnight at hotel. |
Day
2 |
Day
Excursion to Taktshang Monastery literally known as "Tiger's Nest." This is one of Bhutan's most
sacred places, and an important pilgrimage destination. You will walk along
a trail that slowly rises above the valley, taking you through fields and
past four large prayer wheels turned by a stream. Continuing across an
open meadow, you hike up a section of trail to a ridge where prayer flags
rustle in the wind next to a massive prayer wheel. Just beyond is the Taktshang
Cafeteria at 9,200 feet, where you stop to enjoy a hot drink and the striking
views of the Monastery across the valley. Depending on your energy level,
you may relax in the pleasant atmosphere of the cafeteria until lunch or
continue on for a mile of steep climbing to another dramatic viewpoint.
You return to the cafeteria for a delicious buffet of typical Bhutanese
food. You may want to try Emadatsi (A chili cheese dish), vegetables with
cheese sauce and other dishes. Overnight at hotel. |
Day
3 |
After
breakfast you will drive to Punakha. Tea-stop at the Dochula Cafeteria and an opportunity to enjoy the most spectacular view of the
high peaks of the eastern Himalayas. The road to Punakha descends from
the pass through the magnificent pine and rhododendron forests and wanders
through some of Bhutan's most specticular countryside. Punakha,
situated at an elevation of 1400 m served as the capital of Bhutan until
1955 and still serves as the winter residence of the Je Khenpo (Chief Abbot)
and the Central Monk Body. Blessed with temperate climate and fed with
the Po Chu (Male) and Mo Chu (Female) rivers, Punakha is one of the most
fertile valleys in Bhutan. The climate allows for two crops of rice to
be grown a year. And is also good for growing fruits with oranges and bananas
in abundance. Visit the Punakha
Dzong and admire the beauty of the Bhutanese art and architecture where
dzongs were built with no iron nails. Check in and lunch at your Bhutanese
home - a family run hotel. After lunch you will the Punakha Dzong built
in 1637 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal to serve as the religious and administrative
center of the region. Dinner and overnight at hotel. |
Day
4 |
After
breakfast you will do the easy hike to up to the Chimi Lhakhang (temple)
on a small hilltop. This temple is dedicated to the great Yogi of the 14th
century known as Drukpa Kuenley or popularly known as "Divine Madman" to
the westerners. It is believed that this temple blesses women who seek
fertility. After that you will drive to Wangdiphodrang Wangdi/Wangdue in
short). Wangdi is the last town before central Bhutan, which is like an
enlarged village with a few well-provided shops. This place is known for
it's fine bamboo works, slate and stone carvings. Lunch in Wangdi. After
lunch you will explore the Wangdi town. Evening at leisure. Dinner and
overnight at hotel. |
Day
5 |
After
breakfast you will drive to Thimphu - capital town of Bhutan. Upon arrival in Thimphu, you will visit the post
office, where you will have time to admire and buy some stamps - Bhutan
is well known among the philatelists and stamps constitute one of its most
delightful exports. Lunch at restaurant in town. After lunch you will visit
the National Library - a tall stately building in the traditional Bhutanese
style that is a repository of precious historical and religious manuscripts
written in gold. Next you will visit the Institute for Zorig Chusum - a
painting school where the traditional style of Thangka painting is passed
on to the next. You will then visit the Traditional Paper Factory followed
by a visit to the Textile Musuem, Government Handicrafts Emporium. Dinner
and overnight at hotel. |
Day
6 |
After
breakfast, you will attend the National Day Celebrations at the Changlingmithang
Stadium. You will then begin your sightseeing with a visit to the Memorial
Choeten, a stupa built in 1974 to honor the memory of the third king, His
Late Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. The stupa is one of the most elegant
and masterpiece built in the 20th century with its detail religious wall
painting and sculptures. Then we visit the 14th century Changangkha Lhakhang,
which is also a focus of daily worship for many Thimphu residents. Then we drive up to Sangaygang - the viewpoint. It is also known
as "Lover's Point," where young couples come to enjoy the bird's eye view
of the Thimphu valley. Then you will visit the Dupthop Monastery built
by the Dupthop Thangthong Gyalpo, also known as "Iron Bridge Builder" in
Bhutan's history. It is now a nunnery and it has more than 70 practising
nuns. Lunch in town. After lunch you will drive north of Thimphu valley
to visit the Cheri Goenpa - a monastery built by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal
in 1620. On route view the Dechencholing Palace where His Majesty King
Jigme Singye Wangchuck was born in 1955. Continue our drive further north
to the starting trail to the monastery. The trail starts by crossing a
lovely bridge that spans the Thim Chu, then climbs gradually to the Monastery.
Evening at leisure. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
NATIONAL
DAY: December 17 is celebrated as the National Day in Bhutan and it
commemorates the ascension to Golden Throne of Ugyen Wangchuck, the first
King of Bhutan at Punakha Dzong on 17 December, 1907. |
Day
7 |
Morning
at leisure - time for final shopping you may have - Bhutanese souvenirs
for your loved ones at home. Lunch in Thimphu. After lunch you will drive
to Paro. On route you will visit the Simtokha Dzong built in the 1627 by
Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. This is the oldest dzong in the kingdom and
it now houses the Institute of Language and Cultural Studies. Resume your
journey to Paro. Dinner and overnight at hotel. |
Day
8 |
Day
excursion to Haa valley. The visit to Lhakhang Karpo and Chundu Lhakhang
will give you an insight on the history of the valley. Will in restaurant
in Haa town. Return to Paro for our final night in the country. Farewell
dinner and overnight at hotel. |
Day
9 |
After
breakfast you will drive to Paro International Airport for your onward
destination. Your YANA Travel Team will assist you with check in formalities
and bid you farewell. |
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