Bhutan Cultural Tour with Day Hikes, Festival, Homestay and Monastery Stay - 10 days

Flying into Bhutan offers you an amazing Himalayan experience. During the flight you will be able to view some of the highest mountains in the world. Paro Airport is the only international airport in Bhutan and one of the most popular gateways to enter the kingdom of the thunder, Bhutan, for most outsiders entering Bhutan.

Located in the midst of a narrow valley surrounded by green hills, paddy fields and traditional houses, this international airport is one of the most unique international airports in the world. Once your flight lands, you can complete the immigration procedure and head out to the airport’s terminal, where our representative and driver will be waiting for you. After a warm welcome and brief introductions, you will be driven to Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan. The drive, which lasts for about an hour, takes you past a scenic landscape filled with rolling green hills, pristine rivers, and small villages.

Upon reaching your hotel, you can check in and take a brief rest. Later in the afternoon you can visit the National Memorial Chorten and the local market. The Memorial Chorten is one of the most popular landmarks of the capital city and lies close to the city center. Built in memory of the late king of Bhutan, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, who is also known as the architect of modern Bhutan, the massive urn-shaped chorten is a stunning representation of the enlightened mind of Buddha. Inside the stupa are sacred Buddhist relics, statues of deities, and photographs of the late king.

After the tour you can explore the local market or return to your hotel.

Overnight in Thimphu.

Wake up early in the morning and prepare to hike to Wangditse Monastery. After breakfast at your hotel, you will be driven to the trailhead of the hike, which lies close to the Bhutan Broadcasting Station tower.

Follow your guide and begin your trek. The trail takes you past a path surrounded by pine and juniper trees. Smell the fresh air and scent of pine needles as you make your way to the monastery. It is an easy walk on a flat trail with some gentle inclines. The Wangditse Monastery hiking trail is beginner and child friendly, and your kids can easily do this hike, if you are traveling with your kids and family. En route you will enjoy glorious views of the Thimphu Valley and the grand Tashichho Dzong.

After walking for about forty-five minutes or an hour, you will finally reach the Wangditse Monastery. On reaching the gompa, you can explore the sacred site and enjoy sweeping views of Thimphu Valley, Buddha Point, and the mountains.

The shrine at the monastery is dedicated to the protective dieties including Palden Lhamo, and Tseringma. Another quirky exhibit at the main altar is a 300-year-old preserved fish. One of the oldest temples in Thimphu Valley, the Wangditse Gompa saw massive destruction during the earthquake of 2011. However, it has been completely restored and renovated with the efforts of Bhutan’s royal family.

After spending some time taking pictures and enjoying the views, you will retrace your steps and descend to the highway again. A vehicle will be waiting for you to take you to the next sightseeing destination, the Motithang Takin Preserve. The Takin Preserve provides a protective environment to Bhutan’s national animal, the takin, which looks like a cross between a moose and a mountain goat. You can also spot some barking deer, sambar and mountain goats while walking through the preserve.

Later you can visit the Buddha Dordenma, one of the biggest statues of the sitting Buddha in the world. This majestic gilded statue took almost a decade to complete and now stands tall looking over the entire Thimphu Valley. The 54-meter-tall bronze statue, which holds 125000 smaller statues inside its shell, was primarily built to usher peace and harmony throughout the world and to fulfill a prophecy. Savor the bird’s-eye view of Thimphu city and take pictures before being driven to your next destination.

Next you will head to Simply Bhutan, a living museum cum restaurant that offers visitors an immersive, hands-on experience of traditional Bhutanese life, architecture, crafts, and customs. While there, one can try different activities like wearing traditional attire, archery, tasting local food, and watching folk performances. The living museum recreates a medieval Bhutanese village with rammed-earth houses and traditional farming tools sourced from village homes, showcasing rural life.

Later you can visit the Textile Museum and Handicraft Emporium and learn more about Bhutan’s rich textiles and art of weaving. You can observe a number of women weavers weaving on their traditional looms.

After a long day of sightseeing, you will be driven to your hotel, where you can get a good rest.

Overnight in Thimphu.

After spending two days in Thimphu, it’s time to head to your next destination, Punakha. The drive to Punakha is filled with amazing views of the Bhutanese countryside. En route you can stop at the Dochu La Pass, one of the highest motorable passes in the Himalayas, and enjoy the mesmerizing view of the mountains. There are several (108 to be precise) miniature Buddhist chortens decorating the pass. These chortens are dedicated to the soldiers who laid down their lives fighting Indian insurgents at the Indo-Bhutan border. A few steps up from the memorial is the Druk Wangyel Café, where you can stop for refreshment. If weather permits, you can enjoy 360-degree views of the snow-capped Himalayan mountains like the Gangkhar Puensum, Masagang, Terigang, Zongaphugang, etc.

Later continue your journey towards Punakha. Located in a wide, fertile valley, Punakha was once the capital of Bhutan. One can see lush fields on the gentle hillsides and on the riverside as one enters the historic city. If you haven’t had your lunch on the way, you can stop for lunch before commencing your sightseeing tour.

First of all, you will visit the iconic Punakha Dzong. A traditional castle-fort dating back to the seventeenth century, the Punakha Dzong, also known as the Palace of Great Bliss, s one of the largest dzongs in Bhutan. This majestic fort sits at the confluence of two major rivers, Pho Chhu (Father River) and Mo Chhu (Mother River). You have to cross a wooden cantilever bridge built across the Mo Chhu river to reach the entrance of the dzong. After walking past a large wooden gate and climbing a staircase, you arrive at the first courtyard of the dzong.

Surrounded by beautiful chapels and traditional buildings painted with murals of Buddhist deities, you will be guided to two more courtyards. The wooden beams, doors, and windows are beautifully carved and painted in rich hues. The Utse, or the main chapel, holds the remains of the founder of Bhutan, Zhabdrung Ngawal Namgyal. Apart from the tourists, you will see a large presence of monks, as there is an active monastery inside the dzong.

After an insightful visit, you will walk across Bhutan’s longest suspension bridge and take pictures. Later you will visit the Chimi Lakhang Temple, or the Fertility Temple. Located in the village of Lobesa, you can either hike through the paddy fields or drive to reach the temple. Built in the fifteenth century, the Chimi Lakhang is dedicated to the maverick saint Drukpa Kuenley, who subdued demons and demonesses that used to terrorize the locals. This temple is said to fulfill the wishes of childless couples who wish to have a child.

After the temple visit, you can stroll around Lobesa village and shop for souvenirs. You will find many phalluses drawn on the walls of the village’s homes, as locals believe this will drive out evil spirits and negative energy. At the souvenir shops close to the temple, you will find souvenir items that include miniature wooden phalluses.

Later, head to local homestay and take a well-deserved rest. Staying with a local family will give you a glimpse of the daily life of a Bhutanese family and allow you to immerse yourself into Bhutanese culture. The host family will serve you hearty Bhutanese dishes which are not available in restaurants.

Overnight at a homestay in Punakha.

Your day will begin early with a short drive to Yebesa Village, where the trailhead of the Khamsum Yulley Chorten hike lies. A suspension bridge across the Mo Chhu river leads you to the wooded trail. The path leads you up a gentle ascent past terraces of paddy fields and local farms. Later you climb through a lush jungle of pine and juniper and reach the entrance of the Khansum Yulley Chorten.

After a brisk hike of about an hour, you will reach the gate of the chorten. The Khansum Yulley Chorten was built in 2004 to ward off bad energies from Bhutan. Beautifully designed and built in the traditional style, the Khansum Yulley Chorten is guarded by the wrathful Buddhist deities. Their statues can be seen adorning the entrance as well as the interior of the four-tiered chorten. You can enjoy a magnificent view of the surrounding valley, hills, and paddy fields from the terrace of the chorten.

Later you will walk back to the trailhead, cross the bridge, and drive onwards to a hill overlooking Punakha Valley, where the beautiful Sangchen Dorji Lhandrup Nunnery stands. The nunnery, though new, is built on an ancient and sacred site visited by several legendary Buddhist gurus, including Padmasambhava in the eighth century.

The nunnery has a temple, or lakhang, decorated with amazing Buddhist paintings and carvings. Inside is a massive bronze statue of Avalokiteshwara. There are also statues of Lord Buddha, Guru Padmasambhava, and Zhabdrung Namgyal, the unifier of Bhutan. Surrounding the lakhang are ancillary buildings and residences of the nuns. Right next to the nunnery is a beautiful white stupa, designed like the one in Boudhanath in Nepal.

You can interact with the nuns as you explore the nunnery and maybe buy some of the handicrafts they sell as a souvenir of your visit. In the evening you can attend the prayer ceremony at the prayer hall. You will spend the night at the nunnery’s guest house.

Overnight at the nunnery.

After a delightful stay, it’s time to bid goodbye to Punakha and head towards the scenic Phobjikha Valley. Enjoy the drive as the vehicle weaves past the gentle curves on the mountainous road. Abundant greenery surrounds the landscape, with solitary stupas and ribbons of colorful prayer flags adding color to the landscape at intervals.

After about 2-3 hours you will finally reach Phobjikha Valley.

Also known as Gangtey, the glacial valley is home to the endangered black-necked cranes whom the Bhutanese worship. Every year during winter these cranes make their long journey from Tibet to Bhutan to spend their winter in the valley. Locals consider the advent of the Black-necked Cranes as auspicious and believe that their migration to the Gangtey Valley portends a year filled with prosperity and happiness for the locals. The farmers in Gangtey look forward to the arrival of these endangered birds, as they believe that these birds bring with them good luck and good harvests for the coming year.

You will be driven to the ancient Gangtey Monastery, after your arrival. The gompa overlooks the village. You can spend the remainder of the day interacting with the monks and attending the prayer ceremony. You will stay overnight at the monastery’s guesthouse, which is quiet, comfortable, and cozy.

Overnight at Gangtey Monastery.

Today you will hike through one of the most picturesque hiking trails in Bhutan, the Gangtey Nature Trail. After breakfast at the monastery, you will begin your hike and walk down to the start of the trail. The trail descends down to a thick forest of pine and fir. After an easy downhill hike, you will find yourself in a village dotted with traditional farmhouses and potato fields fenced with stone fences. Whitewashed stone chortens decorate the path. After walking for a while on the village’s dirt road, you will leave the road and again enter a pine forest.

An easy walk later, you will reach a clearing with a viewpoint. In front of you will be the vast green Phobjikha valley with a stream flowing at the center of it. With gentle green hills and traditional villages hemming its side. Phobjika Valley looks gorgeous, like a scene from a postcard. A boardwalk, or a wooden walkway, has been built on the marshy ground for easy access for hikers to explore the valley.

The marshland of the Phobjikha Valley is a favorite nesting site for the Black-Necked Cranes, who spend their winters in the valley after migrating from Tibet. After the hike you can visit the Black-Necked Crane Information Center and learn more about these endangered birds.

Later you can get back to the town and explore it.

Overnight at Gangtey Monastery.

After a delightful stay, it’s time to bid goodbye to Gangtey and head to Paro. Like other overland journeys in Bhutan, the drive from Gangtey to Paro takes you past a beautiful landscape filled with verdant hills and rich conifer forests. Leaving Phobjika, you will head towards the Lawa La Pass, which offers amazing views of the mountains. Later the vehicle will descend to Wangdi Phodrang and again make a steep ascent to Dochula Pass. From here you will drive towards the outskirts of Thimphu and later take the road leading towards Paro from Chuzom. You will have lunch at one of the picturesque stops along the way.

On reaching Paro, head to the Paro Dzong and explore the ancient monastery fort. The Paro Dzong, which lies on a hill overlooking Paro, was built in the seventeenth century to defend the valley from Tibetan attacks. This grandiose dzong is a wonderful example of Bhutanese traditional dzong architecture. Built using traditional materials, without any metal or nails, the majestic Paro Dzong holds government offices, Buddhist chapels, and a monastery. The large courtyard of the dzong is the venue for Paro’s biggest festival, Paro Tshechu.

Explore the dzong and marvel at the rich and beautiful murals and scroll paintings adorning the interior of the shrines. Later you can walk up to the watchtower Ta Dzong, which lies above Paro or Rimpung Dzong. Built in a circular shape, the Ta Dzong is said to be one of the strongest buildings in Bhutan. Now converted into a museum (National Museum of Bhutan), Ta Dzong showcases several historical and cultural artifacts that give an insight into Bhutan’s history. The exhibits also include some unique items like a stone egg laid by a mule and a stone axe dating back to the Stone Age.

Later you will be driven to your hotel, where you can take a well-deserved rest.

Overnight in Paro.

Today you take a memorable hike to Taktsang Monastery, or Tiger’s Nest. The monastery, which is one of Bhutan’s most popular hiking destinations, stands on a steep rock face about 3180 meters above sea level. The Tiger’s Nest is also a sacred pilgrimage site for Bhutanese who believe that one should visit the Taktsang monastery at least once a year.

Your day begins early with breakfast at your hotel. Later you will hop on the waiting vehicle and make your way towards the trailhead of Taktsang Monastery with your guide. The trailhead lies about thirty minutes’ drive from the main city. On reaching the base of the hill where the monastery stands, your guide will purchase the entry tickets, and you will begin your hike.

Initially you will walk on a flat trail shadowed by tall cypress and fir trees. On the way you can see small prayer wheels spinning continuously, powered by water mills. Later you will make a gentle ascent up a densely wooded area. Enjoy the peace and harmony that walking in nature brings to you. Later the trail becomes steeper as you head higher. You will share the trail with local hikers, monks, pilgrims, and mule trains.

If you find it difficult to make the hike, you can rent a mule to the halfway point or till where the pack animals are allowed on the trail. However, the rental charge for a mule ride is not included in your package, so you will have to pay for it by yourself.

Small wooden benches have been built along the trail for hikers to rest, and you can sit on these to catch your breath as you head up. Ribbons of colorful prayer flags are strung along the route, adding color to the beautiful trail.

After hiking for about 3 hours, you will reach the Taktsang Cafeteria, where you will stop for a brief rest and refreshment. From the deck of the cafeteria, you can enjoy a fantastic view of the Taktsang Monastery standing precariously on the side of a rocky cliff. You can take pictures and videos while waiting for your food. This is the point till where the mules are allowed. They are not allowed to venture further from this point.

After fueling up, you will resume your hike and make a steep ascent. Later you will walk on a ridge and enjoy fantastic views of Paro Valley. Before reaching the monastery, you will come across a small traditional hut, which is built at the entrance of a cave where a learned Buddhist teacher, Geshe Guenden Rinchen, was born. Later you will descend a concrete staircase built on the side of a steep cliff and reach a viewpoint from where you can enjoy a majestic view of the monastery. After a steep descent you will again make a steep ascent and finally reach the entrance of the sacred monastery. You will have to deposit your camera and other belongings in a locker box before entering the monastery.

Taktsang Monastery, or Tiger’s Nest, is the cave where Guru Rimpoche, or Padmasambhava, meditated after arriving in Bhutan from Tibet. It is believed that he flew into this sacred cave riding a female tigress. He meditated at this cave for three years, three months, and three days before coming out and spreading Buddhism in Bhutan. Padmasambhava is also known as the Second Buddha and is the second important figure after Lord Buddha in Tibetan or Vajrayana Buddhism.

After spending some time at the monastery, you will make your exit and retrace your steps back to the trailhead. Board the vehicle and head to a farmhouse where you can enjoy a relaxing hot stone bath in a traditional wooden bathtub. The bathwater is heated using hot river stones and infused with medicinal herbs that release toxins from your body and help you relax. After a relaxing soak, you can enjoy dinner with the host family and head back to your hotel.

Overnight in Paro.

Your day begins early. After breakfast you will join your guide and driver and head south towards Chhukha. As you leave the city, you get to enjoy views of the international airport and the charming traditional houses. As per the nation’s rule, the buildings are not allowed to be taller than five stories. Thus, you will never see any tall skyscrapers or multi-storied buildings (more than 5 stories) in Bhutan. This means even while in the cities you will be able to enjoy unimpeded views of the hills and forests.

The Paro Chhu River flows gently beside the highway as the city passes by. The vehicle cruises along gentle curves while making its way on the hilly road surrounded by lush deciduous forests of oak, chir pine, and walnut. Chukkha is one of the most developed districts in Bhutan, with flourishing agriculture and hydropower stations. The town lies close to Phuentsholing, the border town on the Indo-Bhutan border.

Within an hour or two you will soon reach Chukkha. En route you can stop to admire the view of the Chukkha Dam, located deep in the canyon, before making your way to the Chukkha Ngedruptse Dzong. This majestic dzong lies on a hill overlooking the town. Built in 2012, the grand dzong is designed in a circular shape with a huge courtyard at its center. Traditional central towers, or utses, and wooden windows, doors, and beams that are intricately carved and painted adorn the dzong.

You can join the locals and enjoy the Chhukha Tshechu. Celebrated for three days, the festival honors the Second Buddha, or Padmasambhava. There will be masked dances (cham) performed by monks and Bhutanese traditional songs and dances by the local cultural troupe. On the last day of the festival, a large Buddhist tapestry, or thongdrel, is unfurled. Being present at the unfurling of the thoongdrel is said to cleanse one’s sins, according to local belief. The festival runs for three days, and you can attend the festival on any day as per your itinerary.

After spending a delightful time at the dzong enjoying the colorful dances and skits, you will leave Chhukha and return to Paro via the same route.

Overnight in Paro.

Today your Bhutan Cultural Tour with Day Hikes, Festival, Homestay, and Monastery Stay trip finally comes to an end. Your guide and driver will drop you at the international airport on time to catch your flight to your next destination. If you wish to continue your exploration of the Himalayas, please do let us know. Third Rock Adventures conducts tours in Nepal, Tibet, and India too.