Local Journey to Bhutan - 11 Days

On arrival at Paro international airport, you will be received by HBT representative and transfer to Thimphu by taxi if you wish we can provide you private transportation throughout the trip. You may experience local if you travel by taxi. On arrival in Thimphu, join the modern Bhutanese family in the building apartment who lives in the city, you will be welcomed for everything, starting cooking, learning, etc. Later in the afternoon visit memorial Chorten and we will take a cap to Buddha’s viewpoint. Evening walks down and join the family or relax. Overnight in Thimphu, altitude 2400m.

We will do some city sightseeing before moving to Punakha, visit painting school, nearby folk heritage museum and national library. If time permits we may see little more like takin’s zoo and changangkha Lhakhang. Quick lunch at Thimphu will be served before catching the public bus to Punakha from the bus stand. Enjoy typical local luxury, chatting with them. By the time we are on board, we feel that we are already in Punakha. If you have any difficulty in creating a conversation with locals, your guide will translate for you. We will take a cap from the bus stand to the assigned farmhouse. Enjoy the evening with the family. Overnight in Punakha, altitude 1350m.

Today, we will join the seasonal farm works with farmers and try if we can help them in our own way. If not we will enjoy sharing stories, walking around and meeting people. if you wish we will organize white river rafting in Punakha. Overnight in Punakha.

Since we don’t get public transport easily from here until we get back to Paro, we will provide you a private cap. After our delicious breakfast, we will check out from the farmhouse Punakha and visit the most beautiful Punakha Dzong and hike to Chimi Lhakhang. The drive will accompany several stops until we reach Jakar, the valley of the white bird. The drive will pass through a few passes before reaching Jakar, namely Pelela at 3300m, Yotongla at 3400m and kikela. Overnight in hotel in Jakar, altitude 2650m, a service of complimentary massage will be given in the hotel.

Fully day to explore the Jakar, valley blessed with many religious sites, temples, farmlands and many more. We will join the typical Bhutanese family and join them for the rest of the day. This will be followed by an evening cultural program by the villagers at the farmhouse in their own traditional way. You may enjoy listening or join them in singing before going to bed. Overnight at the farmhouse in Jakar.

We will drive further to Tang, one of the four valleys which form Bumthang district. Tang is blessed with fertile farmland, unique tradition and the place where the only Bhutanese saint by birth was brought up. We still treasure his discoveries of many religious artifacts, teaching and spreading of Buddhism as far as to the eastern districts of Bhutan. Here we will enjoy archery and darts with locals learning rules of the games, how to play and the story behind it. Overnight farmhouse in Tang, altitude 2800m.

Check out from the farmhouse and drive to Trongsa. En-route, stop at mebartsho to offer a prayer for the wellbeing of all sentient beings in the world and most importantly ourselves, family, friends and you are national. We will stop at the Yatha factory in Chumey if you wish to try some woolen products. Our arrival in Trongsa will accompany visiting watchtower which is converted into a museum and visiting the ancestral home of our royals, the Trongsa Dzong. Evening relax at your hotel. Overnight in Trongsa, altitude 2200m.

We will checkout from the hotel after our delicious leisurely breakfast and drive to Phobjikha, the valley of black-necked cranes. The Black Necked Cranes are one of the endangered birds of the world. This large bird flies from Tibetan plateau to Phobjikha in the black mountain region every early winter and goes back in late winter. The valley is also blessed with many different varieties of rhododendrons found in the country. On arrival in the valley, we will join the typical Bhutan family and spending timing sharing Yeti’s story and many more. We will organize a complimentary hot stone bath here. Overnight in Phobjikha, altitude 2900m

Checkout from the farmhouse, take about 2 hours hike to the temple before proceeding to Paro. En-route, stop at Dochula and Thimphu, if you wish. On arrival in Paro, we will visit one of the most beautiful national museums which give in-depth knowledge about Bhutan. Check into your hotel, if you still wish we will organize farmhouse stay in Paro as well. The evening will let you experience traditional dress (Gho of men and Kira for women) and let you sit for delicious meals at the local restaurant. Overnight in Paro, altitude 2200m

We will take a cap from the hotel to Tiger nest temple hiking point. The walk to the temple and back will take almost our entire day. The evening will be followed by a wonderful complimentary massage at the hotel and a delicious local farewell dinner with all drinks available at a local restaurant/hotel in Paro town. We may fit in within the itinerary to make you visit a one-time Bhutanese disco party if that coincides with party day for interested members, else relax at your hotel. Overnight in Paro.