7D6N BUMDRA TREK
Paro - Thimphu - Punakha - Paro - Sangchoekor - Bumdra Trek - Paro
Day 1 Arrival In Paro, Paro - Thimphu,
Distance: 54km Estimated Driving Time: 1 hr
Upon arrvival in Paro airport our representative who will be your tour guide throughout your tour will receive you. Then travel to the capital city, Thimphu. Upon arriving in Thimphu, we will check-in to the hotel and let you settle in for some time. After lunch we will visit the following:
Kuensal Phodrang -Where the world’s largest 51m-tall sitting Buddha, massive three-story base houses a large chapel, while the body itself is filled with 125,000 smaller statues of Buddha. On our way down from Kuensal Phodrang we can stop by to see Bhutan’s national sport Archery. We will spot locals playing archery during weekends and public holidays.
Bhutan Postal Museum- The postal Museum was established in November 2015 to celebrate the 60th Birth Anniversary of His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo Jigme Singye Wangchuck. The main objective of the museum is to tell the story of Bhutan’s progress and development through the lens of the evolution of communications and postal system in the country. The story is told through anecdotes, artifacts and the rich assortment of stamps the country has produced over the years. You can also have your picture taken and affixed to an official stamp of this country, which can then be used to mail postcards, and letters back home to friends and relatives.
TrashiChho Dzong- Also known as “the fortress of the glorious religion”, it is the center of the government and religion, site of the monarch’s throne room and seat of the chief abbot the Je Khenpo. Trashichho Dzong was built in 1641 by the political and religious unifier of Bhutan, Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal
Evening relax in the hotel.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Thimphu. Altitude:2400m.
Day 2 Thimphu
Memorial Chorten- One of the most visible religious structures in Thimphu, and for many Bhutanese it is the focus of their daily worship. It was built in 1974 as a memorial to the third king, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck (1928–72).
Folk Heritage Museum- The restored three-story, rammed-earth and timber building replicates a traditional farmhouse and is furnished, as it would have been about a century ago to provide an interesting glimpse into rural Bhutanese life.
National Institue of Zorig Chusum- Commonly known as 'the painting school', operates four- to six-year courses that provide instruction in Bhutan's 13 traditional arts. Students specialize in painting (furniture, thangkas – painted religious pictures, usually on canvas), woodcarving (masks, statues, bowls), embroidery (hangings, boots, clothes) or statue making (clay).
National Textile Museum- Where collections of royal textiles and antique textile artefacts, exclusive to Bhutan are displayed.
Authentic Bhutanese Craft Bazaar/Market- The shops are made using the eco-friendly bamboo, and you will definitely get mesmerized with the vibrant colors on display. You can purchase craft items that can be taken home as souvenir gifts from Bhutan.
Centenary Farmer’s Market- Two story building with about 400 stalls that provides farmers around the country to display their produce and people a chance to support the local agriculture. Vendors from throughout the region start arriving on Thursday and Friday, and remain till Sunday night. The lower level of the building is where all the imported fresh produce is while the upper level is reserved for local harvest. You can find variety of fresh, organic produce at affordable prices.
Dinner and Overnight at the hotel in Thimphu.
Day 3 Thimphu to Punakha
Distance: 84 km Estimated Driving Time: 2hrs
Today after breakfast we will drive to Punakha through Dochula Pass. We will stop off at Dochula Pass along the way for pictures and to visit the Druk Wangyel Lhakhang. This popular tourist spot provides stunning 360-degree views of the Himalayas. It is also home to the 108 Druk Wangyal Chortens that were built on a small hill to memorialize the Bhutanese soldiers killed in 2003 battle with Assamese insurgents from India.
Before reaching Punakha we will stop to visit Chimi Lhakhang (Temple). The lhakhang is 20 minutes walk from the Sopsokha village. It is well known as “The Fertility Temple”, built by the Divine Madman also known as Drukpa Kinley with
whom the phallic symbol is associated and couples unable to bear children are said to be blessed with children after visiting the temple.
After lunch we will visit the majestic Punakha Dzong (fort), which was constructed by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal the unifier of Bhutan as a nation-state in 1637. It is the second oldest and second largest dzong in Bhutan and one of its most majestic structures. Few minutes’ drive from the Dzong is the Suspension Bridge. The bridge was built high on the river Po Chu (Male River), this arched wooden bridge connects the Punakha Dzong with Punakha town and the smaller villages scattered in the valley. A visit to this bridge is must if you are seeking a bit of thrill and a rush of adrenaline in your body while being in the midst of natural beauty.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Punakha. Altitude: 1350m
Day 4 Punakha to Paro
Distance: 125 km Estimated Driving Time: 3hrs
Today morning after breakfast, we will drive back to Paro. Before reaching Paro we will visit Tachog Lhakhang, which is located at the Paro- Thimphu highway on the base of the mountain across the Pa Chu. After the Tachog Lhakhang we will visit the following:
Ringpung Dzong: Ringpung Dzong is probably Bhutan's best known and most iconic Dzong. The imposing Dzong is perhaps the finest example of Dzong architecture existing in the world today; the massive buttered walls of the fortress dominate over the valley. The Rinpung Dzong's name translates to the " Fortress on a heap of Jewels".
Ta Dzong (watchtower): The Ta Dzong is a medieval watchtower situated above the Rimpung Dzong. The Ta Dzong was constructed in 1656 with a purpose to give advance warning to the Paro Dzong in case of an approaching army, in fact the word ‘Ta’ means 'to see' in Dzongkha. In 1968 the Ta Dzong was converted into the National Museum of Bhutan. The Museum houses a priceless collection of textiles, costumes, paintings, appliqué, wooden handicrafts, weapons, armour and jewelry.
If time permits, we will also visit Dumtse Lhakhang: Built by the iron bridge builder Thangton Gyalpo in 1422 to subdue a demoness and the pilgrim path winds clockwise up through the temple core, passing some of the finest murals in Bhutan, representing hell, earth and heaven on three floors.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Paro. Altitude 2200m.
Day 5 Paro - Sangchoekor - Bumdra Trek
Early morning after breakfast, drive to Sangchoekor where we will start our trek to Bumdra. The initial climb up from the temple through thick alpine forest takes about 3 hours to reach at the base of the old temple. The trail undulates for a while before the last steep pull up to the pretty temple that boast commanding views of southern Paro valley including airport. After a final 20 minutes climb through ruins and fluttering prayer flags, with a last glance southwards we plunge back into the ancient forest traversing for about 40 minutes then come out onto a high wide meadow dotted with sacred chortens and prayer flags. Our home for the night is tucked in under Bumdra Monastery (Cave of a thousand prayers) making the most of the awesome views of the Himalayan range.
If time permits, we can visit the monastery and also climb the peak to the north for even better views.
Dinner and overnight at Bumdra.
Altitude: 3500m.
Day 6 Bumdra – Paro (Trek end)
After a hearty breakfast in the jaw dropping landscape, it is time to either head straight back into the valley or linger a while soaking up the view and perhaps hang some prayer flags of our own. Eventually we have to drop back into the ancient pine and rhododendron forest on the monks’ zig zagging trail. After 1-2 hours of descent we catch glimpses of the golden roofs of temples below and soon come upon the first of many on our way back from the wilds. The path snakes across the mountainside between the monasteries and temples before reaching the gardens of Zhangtopelri (Heaven on Earth) from which you can bravely peer over the edge and straight down onto the ornate roofs of Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest) in the cliff far below.
After hours later we are at the gates of Taktsang looking across the gorge a steep descent to a waterfall then ascent on steps and you are passing into the Tiger’s Nest itself. Retracing our steps, we begin the final descent of about 45 minutes to reach our vehicle and drive back to hotel.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Paro.
Altitude: 2200m.
DAY 7 Depart Bhutan - End of the Tour
Your drive to Paro International Airport will be arranged accordingly to your flight schedule.