Bumthang Nimalung Tshechu Tour - 11 days

The Bumthang Nimalung Tshechu Tour commences with a flight to the only international airport in Bhutan, the Paro International Airport. The flight to Paro is filled with picturesque vistas of the eastern Himalayas and the progressing hills. Upon reaching the architecturally stunning airport, you will be greeted by our Bhutanese guide, who will then take you to a local restaurant for an authentic Bhutanese lunch. From there on, you will take a drive to Thimphu for the stay. 

The drive from Paro to Thimphu takes you through the Paro-Thimphu Highway, passing by lovely chortens, farms, and the Pa Chhu and Thimp Chhu rivers. The travel crew will transfer you to your hotel in Thimphu city. After some refreshment, you will be oriented about the tour to follow. Then head out to discover the evening market. You can stroll around the Handicraft Emporium and local arts and craft shops. 

Overnight stay at a hotel in Thimphu. 

On this day, you will explore the famous tourist destinations and be amazed by the culture and nature of Thimphu. After breakfast, you will drive to some religious, economic, and nature bound landmarks as per your interest and permittance of time. 

Your first stop will be the King’s Memorial Chorten, situated in the prime location of Doebom Lam. It is thus regarded as the ‘most visible religious landmarks in Bhutan.’ With its golden bells and majestic architecture, the National Memorial Chorten was built in honor of Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, the third king of Bhutan and the father of modern Bhutan. 

To view the earliest history of the Land of Druk, you can take a short sightseeing tour of the National Museum in Thimphu. With the assistance of your guide, you can comprehend the historical use and significance of the preserved textiles, weaving tours, art, and craft found exhibited in the museum. 

The tour also permits you to observe the economic and administrative activities of the country. You can visit the School of Arts and Crafts, the National Institute of Traditional Medicine, a traditional paper factory, and the Bhutan Post Office Headquarters on the way.

You can visit the religious fortress of Tashi Chhoedzong in the city. It is momentous to house the secretariat, King’s office, throne room, and the central monk body. Built during the 16th century, it is called the ‘Fortress of Glorious Religion.’ There are over thirty temples, chapels, and shrines in the fortress. 

You can also opt to visit the Buddha Point or Buddha Dordenma, a 54m/177ft tall statue of Shakyamuni Buddha situated on the Thimphu District's northern side. Changankha Lhakhang is another religious site you can visit if you are up for some hiking adventure. Built in the 13th century, it is located atop a small hill. 

You can drive to Motithang and observe the Takin Preserve, a wildlife reserve for the national animal of Bhutan, Takin. 

Overnight stay at a hotel in Thimphu. 

After breakfast, you will be driven to the old capital of the country, Punakha. The drive to Punakha is filled with natural sceneries. Through the Sama Lam and Lungten Lam road, you will head to Semtokha. From there, you will take the road to Dochu La Pass. At the elevation of 3,140m/10301ft, it is an apt viewpoint for the panoramic vistas of the Eastern Himalayas. The pass is also prolific for hosting the Druk Wangyel Tshechu festival in the Druk Wangyel Lhakhang. You will also witness the 108 memorial chortens in the courtyard, which the Queen Mother built in 2004. 

From the pass, you will head on to the Thimphu Punakha Highway to Thinyelganag. Then you will eventually reach Metshina village with green rice fields. From there, you will take a short walk towards the Chimi Lhakhang temple, also called the Fertility Temple. It is festooned with phallus objects and paintings, which was promoted by the builder of the temple, Divine Madman/Drukpa Kuenley. His sublime life with bizarre ways of spreading Buddhism has been celebrated to date. You will then catch up with the car as you take a descend then head to Punakha. 

After refreshment at your hotel, you will head to one of Bhutan's most prominent and beautiful monasteries, the Punakha Dzong. It is known for housing the Government of Bhutan and the office of the Druk when Punakha was the country's capital until 1955. After the short excursion, you will head back to your hotel for the night. 

Overnight stay at a hotel in Punakha. 

On this day, you will be heading to Gangtey, situated in the Wangduephodrang district. Wangdue is the last town before reaching central Bhutan. You will be passing by farmlands and small settlements in Khuruthang, Pajo, and Sopsokha until you reach Wangduephodrang. Upon reaching Wangdue, you will be surrounded by buildings with amazing stone and bamboo works. You will also notice the distinct Getshi monks in their crimson gowns. 

From there on, you will continue your drive through lush green forests of bamboo via the Wangdue Phodrang – Nobding highway. Eventually, you will reach the Lawa La pass after crossing the zigzag road. The pass at an elevation of 3250m/10,662ft is adorned with rhododendron and dwarf bamboos. The views of mountains and hills can be seen from the vantage point. Taking a downhill road, you will ultimately reach the Gangtey Goempa. 

You will take the opportunity to visit the only Nyingmapa monastery in central Bhutan. It is known best for being the seat of Pema Lingpa tradition. It is also recognized to hold the annual Black Necked Crane Festival to welcome the majestic creatures in Phobjikha valley for roosting. The Phobjikha valley is a little far away from the Goempa. Driving down the road, you will observe the big pasture lands. 

Overnight stay at a hotel or guesthouse in Phobjikha Valley. 

A drive from Gangtey to Bumthang passes through lush rhododendron and oak tree forests. The scattered settlements will come to view on the way as you push into central Bhutan. You will cross the Chendebji Chorten, which you can visit later in the tour. Eventually, a sharp turn in the road will take you to Trongsa. You can make a brief stop at Trongsa to visit the Trongsa dzong. The 16th-century marvel is beyond any of your imagination. It is the largest dzong in Bhutan and seats the administrative body of the Trongsa District. 

From there on, you will continue your drive until you reach Zugney, where you will make a brief stop at the Yathra weaving center. You can make a short stop to interact with the women working on their looms to weave woolen cloths. You can even examine the material and buy some bags, scarves, and caps found in the local shops. You will then continue your drive to Bumthang. After the long drive, you will head straight to your hotel for some rest. You can observe the evening activities of the locals by strolling around the streets and shops. 

Overnight stay at hotel in Bumthang. 

Today, you will get to witness the Nimalung Tshechu festival in the Nimalung Monastery, one of the most special days of your tour. The monastery is located near Prakhar in Bumthang. Built in 1938 by Doring Trulku lama from Tibet, it is now home to 100 monks. You can witness the large thangka painting of Guru Rimpoche in the temple. Many Buddhist pilgrims come to see the Thangka with the belief that it will cleanse the soul of any sins. 

The Nimalung festival is celebrated in the 5th lunar month of the Bhutanese calendar, which often falls in June. The 3-day festival is celebrated in honor of Guru Rimpoche, the spiritual leader known to have introduced Buddhism and Vajrayana to Bhutan. Along with his followers, he is believed to have led the establishment of many temples and monasteries in Bumthang and Bhutan at large. The large Thangka will also be put on display in the courtyards of the monastery. 

During the festival, you will witness the masked dances and other rituals. Depending on the day when you will attend the festival, you get to observe the traditional dance of Guru Tshengye and Drametse Nga performed by the monks of the monastery. These monks are known particularly for their exceptional musical talents, which can be observed through folk songs and plays. Most of all, you can interact with the locals who have gathered in the monastery to witness the performances. The locals are seen dressed in their fine traditional dresses and ornaments. This celebration has been passed on from one generation to the next, knitted by ancient mythology, values, and beliefs. After enjoying the amazing performance, you will head back to your hotel in Bumthang late in the evening. 

Overnight stay at hotel in Bumthang. 

After breakfast, you will head to some of the most prominent cultural sites in the country's religious heart, Bumthang. 

Jakar Dzong is our first landmark tour for the day. Its establishment history dates back to the 15th century when a group of lamas searched for a site to build the monastery. When doing so, the lamas witnessed a large white bird fly and sat atop a hill taken as a positive omen, so Jakar Dzong was built there. It is thus called the ‘castle of the white bird.’ 

Kurjey Lhakhang is another excellent site you can visit, which will engulf you in Bhutanese mythology. As per the beliefs, Guru Rimpoche is known to have left his imprint in this temple’s vicinity when he visited its cave for meditation. Hence Kurjey was named so, translating to ‘Body Imprint.’ 

Tamshing Lhakhang, called the Temple of Good Message, is home to 95 monks. It is known for spreading the good message by teaching Dharma, a practice of serving the community. 

You can then visit the Jambay Lhakhang built in the 7th century by the Tibetan Emperor, Songtsen Gampo. The temple hosts the annual Jambay Lhakhang Tshechu Festival to establish the monastery and worship Guru Rimpoche. 

After the long sightseeing tour around Bumthang, you can head to the town to interact with the locals and understand their traditions and practices. 

Overnight stay at hotel in Bumthang. 

You will bid farewell to Bumthang and head back to Wangdue through the Trongsa Bumthang Highway. You will pass Jakar, followed by the Bumthang-Ura Highway towards Chendebji for lunch. You will visit the Chendebji Chorten, which is built in Nepalese stupa style during the 18th century. It is known to have restrained the body of an evil spirit of the Nagala demon under the Chorten. 

After the brief stop, the drive will continue towards Wangdue. There you will be transferred to your homestay or hotel. In the homestay, you will have a better chance of interacting with the locals and understanding their day-to-day lifestyle. From their distinct food to their homes, you will be offered the true Bhutanese experience. In the evening, you can set out to the scattered settlements for photography. 

Overnight stay at Hotel or Homestay in Wangdue. 

On this day, you will head to the valley town of Paro, taking the same road back. You will pass Sopsokha, then enter Thimphu district, and there you will cross the Royal Botanical Garden and take a winding path to the Dochu La Pass. A brief stop at the pass will offer you views of the Jomolhari and Jhichu Drake mountains and the Thimphu city. Following the same road back, you will pass the settlements of Semtokha, Sigyel, Khasadapchu, and Chokha, where you will spot the locals in their ethnic wear, strolling the streets. You will continue via the Paro-Thimphu Highway with the Pa Chhu river beside you. Upon arrival in Paro, you will be transferred to your hotel for refreshment. 

Then, you can head out for a short excursion around the town. You can first visit the Rinpung Dzong, which is known to be one of the largest fortresses in Bhutan. It is dubbed as the ‘fortress of the heaps of jewels.’ Then you can visit the religious Kyichu Lhakhang temple. In its vicinity, the Jowo temple is regarded as one of the oldest temples in Bhutan, built around the 7th century. As per Bhutanese Mythology, Guru Rimpoche is known to have blessed the area around the temple. From there, you can head to the nearby local archery ground to witness the professional archers playing. Archery is the national sport of Bhutan. 

After the short sightseeing tour, you can head back to the town's streets and buy some souvenirs from the local shops. 

Overnight stay at a hotel in Paro. 

After having breakfast, you will embark on an interesting visit to the cultural icon of the country; Tiger’s Nest monastery/Paro Taktsang. You will put on your hiking boots and hike through a lush pine forest to a hilltop. Situated on the edge of a high cliff, you will witness the majestic Tiger’s Nest Monastery. The mystical history and grandeur of the monastery and vistas of the hills and Himalayas from the cliff make the hike unusual. 

As per ancient mythology, Guru Rimpoche flew on his tiger’s back, landed on the cave of Thulo Phuk, and meditated in the Pel Phuk cave in the vicinity. This is the source of the monastery’s naming. Now pilgrims flock to the temple to worship Guru Rimpoche and get blessings. As for foreigners, the visit is nothing short of an adventure as you get to witness the ancient architecture and the natural beauty of Bhutan. 

The monastery is characterized by serenity with mild sounds of the monks humming prayers, prayer flags fluttering in the wind, and prayer wheels rotating swiftly. You can meditate in a secluded area in the vast monastery. After visiting all the temples, buildings, and monuments in the monastery, you will take a descend to the valley floor and drive off to your hotel. 

Overnight stay at a hotel in Paro. 

Following an amazing Bumthang Nimalung Tshechu Tour, you will bid farewell to the Himalayan Kingdom on this day. You will be driven to the Paro International airport for your flight homewards. On the way, you will recall the memories of visiting all the amazing monasteries and temples, villages, and valleys in the Land of Thunder Dragon. Most significantly, you will miss the enjoyment you had at the Nimalung Tshechu festival with the locals. 

After the wonderful and well-managed tour, you can remember us for more similar tours in Bhutan, Nepal, and India. If you wish to extend your tour or visit some other neighboring countries in the future, please contact us anytime.