Traveling to Bhutan, which is known as 'Land of the Thunder Dragon' or 'Druk Yul' provides its visitors a golden time to get familiarized with Bhutan’s vibrant culture and landscape. On this 10 nights 11 days Bhutan Itinerary with Aman Kora you can visit major Bhutanese towns of Paro, Thimpu, Punakha and explore its magnificent landmarks.
Paro - Thimphu - Gangtey - Bumthang - Punakha - Paro
Paro Airport is Bhutan's only international airport. Before you even set foot in Bhutan you get to see what dramatic place this from an airplane. Of your windowpane, relish in the view of Bhutan as you enroll the Himalayas. At the airport Thimpu you will meet our representative, after baggage collection and immigration formalities undertaken in Paro airport.
After that start your journey to Thimpu. On the way, you can glance at Chuzom, the union of Thimphu and Paro rivers; along with the various styles of Stupas like Nepalese, Bhutanese, and Tibetian. On arrival, check into at Aman Kora Lodge.
Next, start your journey to the Buddha Point (Kuensel Phodrang). It is a short car ride up from Thimphu city center. From the Buddha point, travelers can get a wonderful glimpse of the Thimphu valley. You will be blessed to see the largest statue of Buddha at the point while offering your prayer.
On the first day of your tour, you will get the chance to stroll on the main street and shopping bazaars of Thimpu. Here you can buy hand-woven textiles, ceramics, jewelry, interesting items made from local materials. Get a prospect to enjoy dinner with other local families. Due to this, you will get an opportunity to understand the culture of the nation.
Return to the Aman Kora hotel of Thimpu and have a peaceful sleep overnight (Altitude 2320m)
After having breakfast, visit Pangri Zampa, the 16th-century monastery, situated just north of Thimphu. The building and architecture are great and the place oozes Buddhist history and charm. One among them is a monastic school where the Buddhist monks used to learn astrology and Lamaism.
After that, you will visit below interesting destinations in Thimpu:
Textile Museum : This museum insight into Bhutan’s one of the most distinct art forms. Its a living museum and studio encapsulating the cultural heritage of the Bhutanese people. It's one of the best opportunities for the visitors to relish the national art of weaving.
Institute for Zorig Chusum : Here you can see that students learn new skills. The 13 traditional arts of Bhutan offered by the institute to the students. The things they manufacture are also for purchase in the market.
Folk Heritage Museum : The gallery furnishes you a sight of the popular Bhutanese lifestyle, in enhancement to artifacts from provincial families; it also displays an extraordinary array of common family objects and accessories.
After lunch, you will be driven towards Memorial Chorten which is one of the best places to visit in Thimpu. This landmark was the idea of Bhutan’s third king, His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuk who has wished to erect a monument to world peace and prosperity. Inside the monument you can glance at the paintings and statues, which describes the Buddhist values
Later visit Changangkha Lhakhang. This temple is located above central Thimphu, built in the 12th century by Lama Phajo Drukgom Shigpo on a ridge overlooking the town. Neighborhood parents arrive here to perceive hopeful names for their newborns or to gain a blessing from the patron deity ‘Tamdrin’.
Wrap up the tour of the 2nd day by driving to Trashichhoe Dzong, “fortress of the glorious religion”. It is a Buddhist monastery that lies on the northern edge of the city of Thimphu in Bhutan.
Rest at the Aman Kora in Thimphu overnight (Altitude 2320m)
After breakfast drive up to Dochu-la pass (3,088m/ 10,130 ft). Bhutan is not the highest mountain pass, but it surely is one of the most beautiful passes in the world. Dochula Pass in Bhutan is also homey to the wonderful Druk Wangyal Lhakhang stupa constructed in recognition of His Majesty the fourth Druk Gyalpo, Jigme Singye Wangchuck.
After the lunch your journey will start to Gangtey, fleeting through the dark jungle where you can see oak and rhododendron trees. The valley of Gangtey is one of the most beautiful destinations in Bhutan. Placed near to the heart of Bhutan, Gangtey is in an especially beautiful glacial valley called Phobjikha. The area possesses several nature trails as well as a Crane Information Centre to train visitants.
Gangtey claims its major religious places such as the Gangtey Goempa Monastery, dwelled at the head of the valley, from where you can take in extraordinary views.
Overnight at the Aman Kora Lodge in Gangtey. (Altitude 3000m)
Before breakfast in the morning visit Monastic School to spectate prayer ritual. Later visit Gangtey Goempa hanging on an edge of the valley. It is under the control of Gangtey Tulku, the ninth recreation of Pema Lingpa—a renowned as a popular Buddhist teacher and saint.
After visiting Gangtey Goempa, take a pleasurable walk to Gangtey Nature Trail. It furnishes a lovely feeling for Phobjikha valley. From the little peak beating Gangtey Gompa, head downhill throughout flower pastures to Semchubara village and from here from side to side beautiful forests and into the open valley.
After having lunch discover charming Phobjikha valley. A beautiful bowl-shaped glacial valley located against a background of the Black Mountains of Bhutan. There you can find the river named Nakey Chhu which streams over the valley and arrives at the Punak Tsang Chhu.
Your initial stay in Phobjikha will be the information center of the Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN). It contains educational displays about the black-necked elevators and the valley ecosystem.
Stay at the Aman Kora Lodge in Gangtey overnight (Altitude 3000m).
After Breakfast transfer to Bumthang via Trongsa Yotongla Highway Trongsa is a town, and the capital of Trongsa District in center Bhutan - The name implies "new village" in Dzongkha. After Visit Chendebji Chorten, Trongsa Dzong, a village in the Himalayas of nation.
Take a short sight at Chumey, an extensive rich valley where several grains of vegetables are farmed like wheat, barley, potatoes, and buckwheat. It's chiefly recognized for its famed wool weaving called ‘Bumthang Yathra’. Enjoying tea or coffee with weaving family at the weaving center.
Check in to the Aman Kora Luxury hotel and overnight stay.
Bumthang Dzongkha has four principal valleys, Chumey, Ura, Choekhor and Tang. The spacious and beautiful valleys attract a huge number of travelers every year.
After breakfast, visit Jambey Lhakhang. It is said to be one of the 108 temples built by the Tibetan King Songtsen Goenpo in 659 AD on a single day to pin down an ogress to earth forever.
Then visit Kurje Lhakhang, consisting of three temples. Kurje is one of the holiest places in Bhutan as Guru Rinpoche contemplated here and devised the emblem of his body on a stone
Afterward, visit Jakar Dzong. a unique characteristic of the Dzong is the nearly fifty meters leading Utse or the Central pillar, which is different from other Dzongs in the country
After lunch visit Tamshing Lhakhang, the temple founded in 1501 by Terton Pema Lingpa, the re-incarnation of Guru Padmasambhava. The temples are exceptional for their direct link to the Bhutanese saint, Pema Lingpa, and his tulkus.
Then walk to Lhodrak Kharchhu Monastery. The monastery has to turn into part of a widespread attempt to conserve and refresh Tibetan traditions. The monk's normal set of courses contain reading, remembering the everyday prayer, learning dharma dances, sketching mandalas, seeking the piece of music of holy rites, ceremonial instruments and the art of creation sacrificial stuff, along with the fundamentals of thought and education on the dissimilar phases of tantra.
Sunset walk in the town, discovering local shops and bazaars. Overnight at Aman Kora in Bumthang. (Altitude 2600m)
After breakfast, leave Bumthang for the journey to Punakha. Later visit Ta Dzong, overlooks the entire Paro Valley and the driver mentioned that it was a watchtower for the Rinpung Dzong. The museum has been moved to the nearby building for repairs but they have maintained everything.
Lunch will be accomplished at a local restaurant. After that check into the Aman Kora. Relax for the day and overnight stay at Punakha.
After breakfast, visit Punakha Dzong or (Palace of Great Happiness). This dzong was the second to be built in Bhutan and it served as the capital and seat of government until the mid-1950s. All of Bhutan's kings have been crowned here.
Then a short excursion to Chimi Lhakhang. Chimi Lhakhang is one of the Temple or Monastery. It stands high on a large hillock in a community called Punakha. It is popularly recognized as the “Fertility Temple” and is frequently toured by many childless people around Punakha District. It has converted a famous traveler destination.
After lunch, tour to Talo village, which is speckled along the mount slopes, known for its sanitation among Punakha villages. The beautiful farmhouses of the village have their flower gardens. Spend time there visiting farmhouses and uniting with families, understanding the Bhutanese lifestyle of villagers.
After that drive to Nalanda Buddhist Institute is a small monastic college in Punakha district, Bhutan. Locals call this institute as ‘Dayana. Here you will get a chance to learn about Buddhism and meditation with the help of monks.
Overnight at the Aman Kora Lodge in Punakha. (Altitude 1,300m)
After breakfast, start excursion to Paro along the scenic road. On the way, visit Simtokha Dzong, the handsomely proportioned Simtokha Dzong was built in 1627. This oldest fort is now incorporate the institute for Buddhist education. After reaching Paro, rest in the Aman Kora Hotel.
After lunch, continue your journey to visit Ta Dzong, initially built as Watchtower, serves as a National Museum. Its collection of fine arts, paintings and bronzes are famous. There are also textiles, jewelry, and handicrafts sections as well as galleries of stuffed animals and butterflies from Bhutan. Ta Dzong has an extensive and interesting past tales.
Stay during the night at the Aman Kora in Paro. (Altitude 2,280m)
After breakfast, embark on an excursion to Taktshang Monastery or Tiger’s Nest (approx. 5 hours round trip walk). It is one of the most well-known of Bhutan’s monasteries. The history of this holy place goes back to the eighth century when Padmasambhava, an astonishing saint who established the Mahayana school of Buddhism.
In the afternoon, tour to the end of the Valley to the bottom of Drukgyel Dzong, a fortress of 17th century fired down in the ancient 50s. Here we can also view the beautiful farmhouses. They are very bright, ornamental and traditionally built without the use of the hand.
While starting to Paro town, stay at the Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the temples constructed in the Himalayas in the period of Tibetan King, Songtsen Gampo. The structure of this stupa signifies the initiation of Buddhism in Bhutan.
Evening for shopping or at leisure in Paro city center. While heading to Paro town, stop on the way in the seventh century Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the 108 sanctuaries worked in the Himalayas by Tibetan King, Songtsen Gampo. The structure of this sanctuary denotes the presentation of Buddhism in Bhutan.
A night for shopping or at relaxation in Paro city center. Overnight at the Aman Kora in Paro. (Altitude 2,280m)
After breakfast, depart from Paro to the airport.
