11 NIGHT SAMPLE ITINERARY

Paro Thimphu Punakha Trongsa Bumthang Tang Valley Gangtey Wangdi Paro

IDEAL MONTHS

march - june
Sept - nov

Map

PARO THIMPHU PUNAKHA WANGDI GANGTEY
VALLEY
TRONGSA BUMTHANG TANG
VALLEY
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Our journey begins

Paro

Thimphu

TAMCHHOG
LHAKHANG

paro-pin paro-pin
rrival in Paro.
Your tour guide will meet you and take you on a short one-hour drive along the Paro and Thimphu river valleys to Thimphu, Bhutan’s capital, at 2320 metres. You can stop on the way to take in the magnificent Tamchhog Lhakhang, the hereditary place of worship for Bhutan’s iron bridge builder. 

Tamchhog Lhakhang, Photo Credit - © Amp Sripimanwat, DoT Bhutan
Overnight in Thimphu
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Thimphu
BUDDHA
DORDENMA
NATIONAL
MEMORIAL
CHORTEN
CHANGANKHA
TEMPLE
FOLK
HERITAGE
MUSEUM
NATIONAL
TEXTILE
MUSEUM
NATIONAL
LIBRARY
SCHOOL OF
TRADITIONAL
ARTS & CRAFTS
TAKIN
RESERVE
ightseeing in Thimphu.
We can visit the weekly market, the National Memorial Chorten, the Buddha Dordenma, Changangkha Temple, Takin Reserve, the School of Traditional Arts and Crafts, the Folk Heritage Museum, and the National Library. Browse the striking collection of intricate textiles at the National Textile Museum and visit the craft bazaar. Discuss your preference for the day with the guide.

Buddha Dordenma, Photo Credit - © Amp Sripimanwat, DoT Bhutan
Overnight in Thimphu
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Thimphu to Punakha
Punakha Thimphu

PUNAKHA
DZONG

CHIMI
LHAKHANG

DOCHU LA
PASS

rive to Punakha via  Dochu La Pass, where we will stop for a hot drink and enjoy views of the Eastern Himalayan range.

In the afternoon visit  Chimi Lhakhang (Temple of Fertility), built in the 15th century by the ‘Divine Mad Man’ (Lama Drukpa Kunley) and  Punakha Dzong


Dochu La Pass, Photo Credit - © Marcus Westberg, DoT Bhutan
Overnight in Punakha
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Trongsa

TRONGSA MUSUEM

TRONGSA DZONG

rive from Punakha to Bumthang via Trongsa, the gateway to central Bhutan.

You can stop to visit the impressive Trongsa Dzong which commands the eye from miles away. Visit the museum in the watchtower dedicated to the Royal Wangchuk dynasty, which tells the stories of the Dzong and features personal belongings of the Kings and Queens of Bhutan. Continue your journey through some of Bhutan’s most beautiful landscapes to Bumthang.


Trongsa Dzong, Photo Credit - © DoT Bhutan
Overnight in Trongsa
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Bumthang

KURJEY
LHAKHANG

TAMSHING LHAKHANG

JAMBA LHAKHANG

SWISS CHEESE FACTORY
& RED PANDA BREWERY

JAKAR DZONG

day of sightseeing in the Bumthang valleys.

Your guide will take you on a fascinating tour of a variety of sacred sites including Jamba LhakhangKurjey Lhakhang and Tamshing Lhakhang. Visit Jakar Dzong (Bhutan’s largest) and you may be interested to see Bumthang’s famous Swiss cheese factory or the Red Panda Brewery.  


Kurjey Lhakhang, Photo Credit - © CD
Overnight in Bumthang
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Tang Valley

MEMBAR TSHO

UGYENCHOLING
PALACE

oday we take an excursion to the remote Tang valley.

Stop to visit Membar Tsho (the burning lake), which is one of Bhutan’s most important pilgrimage sites. Then on to Drangchel, Pema Lingpa’s birthplace. You will also see some picturesque villages and temples and can walk up to visit Ugyencholing Palace , which is now a museum and gives an interesting insight into life in an aristocratic family in the last century.


Ugyencholing Palace, Photo Credit - © CD
Overnight in Tang Valley
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Gangtey

GANGTEY GOMPA

tart your journey back west to Gangtey in the remote Phobjikha valley.

Visit Gangtey Gompa (one of Bhutan’s oldest monasteries and extensively renovated) and explore the valley where the villagers continue to live a traditional Bhutanese rural lifestyle. This is the site where black-necked cranes visit in their hundreds in November each year after spending the summer in Tibet.


Gangtey, Photo Credit- © CD
Overnight in Gangtey
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Phobjikha Valley
oday can be a day of leisure in this beautiful rural valley.

If it is winter you can view the black-necked cranes. If you like hiking your guide will suggest a day or half day hike in the valley.


Black-necked cranes, Photo Credit - © DoT Bhutan
Overnight in Gangtey
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Paro via Wangdi

SHOPPING

WANGDI DZONG

eturn to Paro via Wangdi.

Wangdi Dzong, built by the Shabdrung in 1638 on an auspicious site where four ravens were seen flying in four different directions, was badly damaged in a fire in June 2012 but has been painstakingly renovated over 12 years and is now open to visit. When you reach Paro you can visit the local handicraft shops for souvenirs of your trip.


Weaver, Photo Credit - © Amp Sripimanwat, DoT Bhutan
Overnight in Paro
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Paro

RINPUNG
DZONG

NATIONAL
MUSEUM

​DUMTSE
LHAKHANG

KYICHU
LHAKHANG

ightseeing in Paro.

Paro Rinpung Dzong, Photo Credit - © Amp Sripimanwat, DoT Bhutan
Overnight in Paro
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Paro

TAKTSHANG
MONASTERY

ake a day hike to the ‘Tiger’s Nest’, the sacred Taktshang Monastery.

You can stop at the Taktshang cafeteria viewpoint on the way up for a wonderful view of the monastery.


Paro Taktshang Monastery, Photo Credit - © Marcus Westberg, DoT Bhutan
Overnight in Paro
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Departure
epart from Paro International Airport with a full heart.
Customise your trip

Physical

Spiritual

Cultural

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    Day hikes

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    Rafting

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    Mountain biking

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    Playing archery

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    Trekking
    (with overnight in camp)

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    Attend a ceremony or blessing

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    Meet some monks

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    Visit a nunnery

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    Visit a pranic healing centre or take meditation classes

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    Meet a Lama (head monk) and listen to a talk on meditation, Buddhism or the Bhutanese philosophy on Gross National Happiness

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    Attend a cookery class

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    Visit a local farmhouse

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    Visit the weekly market

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    Watch an archery match

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    Try a traditional hot stone bath

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    Try your hand at traditional games such as khuru, degor and carom

Those activities marked with an asterisk attract an additional supplement - please ask for details

PRICING

The rules for visiting Bhutan changed dramatically in June 2022 and the old system that had applied since tourism first started in the 1970s was withdrawn. Under the new system visitors to Bhutan have to pay a sustainable development fee (SDF) of US$100 per person per night to the Bhutan government in order to be issued a visa. The SDF is intended to be used to promote carbon-neutral tourism, to support the building of a more sustainable tourism sector and to support the education and health of local citizens.

The price for the tour will be paid on top of the SDF and covers the cost of all the services Blue Poppy will provide for you including guide, driver, transport, standard (3 star) accommodation, food, sightseeing and festival visits. Additional supplements are payable for treks and some other activities and for accommodation upgrades. Our pricing is based on a “daily rate” which varies depending on how many in the group. Please contact us for a personalised quote.

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