In the morning drive to the old capital, Punakha, via Dochu La Pass at 3050 metres, where we will stop for a hot drink and enjoy spectacular panoramic views of the Eastern Himalaya 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.

Drive to Trongsa, the gateway to central Bhutan. Set amidst spectacular scenery, Trongsa Dzong commands the eye from miles away. Stop to visit the Dzong and then after lunch continue through some of Bhutan’s most beautiful landscapes to Bumthang.

Start with Bhutan’s largest Dzong (Jakar), with its picturesque location overlooking the Chokhor valley. Then your guide will take you on a fascinating tour of a variety of sacred sites including Kurjey Lhakhang and Tamshing Lhakhang. You can also visit Bumthang’s famous Swiss cheese factory and dairy farm or the Red Panda Brewery.

The road climbs past the trail to 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 Ugyenchholing Palace, which is now a museum and gives an interesting insight into life in an aristocratic family in the last century.

King Songtsen Gompo of Tibet is known for establishing 108 monasteries in one day in different provinces of Tibet and Bhutan in the 7th Century. The present Jambay Lhakhang is one of those 108 monasteries, located in the heart of Bumthang’s Chokhor Valley. It was in early times, when the world was in the hands of the barbarians fighting for power, that the Great Lord Jo-Jampa descended into this world from heaven and turned the people into a religious and peace loving lot.  At that time the valley of Chokhor was infested with disease and misery under the domain of evil spirits. The King of the valley, Sindhu Raja had no other choice for his people, but to invite Guru Padmasambhava (known as Guru Rinpoche) to the valley in the 8th century to subdue these evil spirits. 

This was achieved by the Great Guru performing the very dances that are performed today in the Jambay Lhakhang Drup Festival. Tantric Buddhism then flourished in the valley which later spread throughout the kingdom.  In the 14th century Terton Dorji Lingpa introduced the religious teachings of the Great Guru through this very festival.  Tulku Choeten Geompo, a descendent of Sindhu Raja, at that point ruled that the people of the valley must teach these dances and maintain this performance every year on the 15th day of the ninth month of the Bhutanese lunar calendar for the rest of time.

We will stop in Trongsa on the way to 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 to the Phobjikha valley where you can enjoy the views of the immense and remote valley and the black mountain ranges. Visit Gangtey Gompa (one of Bhutan’s oldest monasteries and extensively renovated).

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. After visiting the Dzong, continue on your way.

Visit Dumtse Lhakhang and the National Museum.  Then you can visit the impressive Paro Rinpung Dzong, one of the finest examples of Bhutanese architecture. Nearby you can also visit the 7th century Kyichu Lhakhang, a temple of historical significance and one of the most sacred shrines in Bhutan.

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