Punakha Festival Tour

Day 1.Arrive Paro – Thimphu sightseeing | Altitude: 2334 m | 54 Km | Drive: 1 hour.
Meet and Greet at the Paro Airport and drive to Thimphu.

On the way, visit to:

Tamchog Lhakhang built in the 15th century by Thang Tong Gyalpo (1385 – 1464)
Afternoon, visit to:

Bhutan Postal Museum where you can print your photos on the official stamps of Bhutan.
Craft Bazaar.
In the evening, visit Tashichho Dzong, the Royal Secretariat and the office of King. In autumn, one of the most spectacular Thimphu festival is held here.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

Day 2.Thimphu Sightseeing | Altitude: 2334 m.
Morning, visit to:

National Memorial Chorten built in honor of Late His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck.
Tallest Statue of Buddha in the world (51.5m)
Changangkha Lhakhang, the oldest temple of Thimphu valley.
Takin Preserve center.
BBS tower view point.
Dupthop Lhakhang, one of the few surviving nunneries in Bhutan.
Lunch at Simply Bhutan Museum where you can have typical Bhutanese dishes, witness folk dances, practice archery, visit to the folk Heritage museum and many more.

The Painting school.
In the evening, witness the Archery match at Changlimithang.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

Day 3.Thimphu – Gangtey sightseeing | Altitude: 3000 m | 143 Km | Drive: 4 hours.
Morning – Drive to the beautiful valley of Gangtey. On the way, visit to:

Beautiful Dochu La Pass with its 108 stupas and explore the area. The annual Druk Wangyel Festival is held here on the 13th December.
Wangdue Phodrang Dzong built in 1638 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal.
Lunch will be served on the way.

While in Gangtey, visit the famous Gangtey Monastery founded in 1613 by Tenzin Legpai.

Then visit to the Crane information center.

Explore the beautiful Phobjikha valley famous for the rare Black necked cranes.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

Day 4.Gangtey – Witness the Punakha Tshechu Festival 2023 | 75 Km | Drive: 2 hours.
Morning – Drive to Punakha valley. On the way, visit:

Chimi Lhakhang built in 1499 to honor Lama Drukpa Kuenley, popularly known as “The Divine Madman”. The Temple is also known as “the Temple of Fertility”.
Afternoon, witness the Punakha Tshechu festival 2023 and visit the Dzong built in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal.

In the evening, walk across the Longest Suspension bridge in Bhutan (160 m) built across Pho Chu River.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

Day 5.Punakha – Witness the Punakha Tshechu Bhutan 2023.
Morning – Drive to the Punakha Dzong to witness Punakha Tshechu Bhutan 2023.

Later in the evening, hike to the beautiful Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Choling Monastery.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

Day 6.Punakha – Witness the Punakha Tshechu Festival | Altitude: 1242 m.
Morning – Witness the Punakha Tshechu festival 2023.

Afternoon – Drive to the beautiful Talo village and visit the monastery.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

Day 7.Punakha – Thimphu sightseeing | Altitude: 2334 m | 76 Km | Drive: 2 hours.
Morning – Drive to Thimphu.

Afternoon – hike to Cheri Monastery.

Free to stroll in the town for shopping and photography.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

Day 8.Thimphu – Paro sightseeing | Altitude: 2280 m | 54 Km | Drive: 1 hour.
Morning – Drive to Paro and hike to the Iconic Tiger’s Nest monastery (Paro Taktsang).

Afternoon, visit to:

Drugyel Dzong built in 1647 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. The dzong was destroyed by accidental fire and is under repair.
Kyichu Lhakhang built in 659 A.D by the Tibetan King, Srongtsen Gampo.
In the evening, free to stroll in the town.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

Day 9.Paro – Excursion to Chela la pass | Altitude: 3988 m | 40 Km | Drive: 1 hour.
Morning, visit to:

Paro Rinpung Dzong built in 1944 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal where the famous annual Paro festival is held in the Spring.
Ta Dzong, an ancient watch tower built in 1649 which now houses the National Museum of Bhutan.
Afternoon – Excursion to Chele la pass (3988 m). You can see the beautiful view of the Himalayan ranges bordering Tibet including Mt. Jomolhari.

On the way back, visit to the Kila Gompa nunnery. the oldest nunnery in Bhutan founded in the 9th century.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

Day 10.Paro – Departure:
After breakfast, drive to the airport and farewell. You also have the option to exit from Phuentsholing via Chhukha.