Paro Festival Tour - 8 days

When you arrive at the Paro Airport in the Land of the Dragon, you will be greeted by our representatives. Following lunch, take a drive to Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan, for a sightseeing tour.

After dropping your luggage at the hotel in Thimphu, the guide will take you on a short drive around the city to witness the local's lifestyle and unique architectural homes and monuments.

Overnight stay in Thimphu.

In the morning, the guide will pick you up and take you on a drive around the most famous sights in Thimphu. The first is King's Memorial Chorten which was built in honor of the late king Jigme Dorji.

From there, we will drive to see the 50m tall Buddha Dordenma, which is one of the tallest sitting statues of Shakyamuni Buddha. Another exciting architectural beauty is the Tashichho Dzong which houses the seat of the national government.

Moreover, you can also visit the local handicrafts at the Crafts Bazaar, a perfect place to buy some souvenirs.

If time permits, you can try your hand at the national sports of Bhutan, Archery in the Archery Ground, or even witness professionals playing this sport.

Overnight stay in Thimphu.

On this day, you will drive from Thimphu to Punakha, known best for its rice fields and ancient fortresses. Enjoying the scenic view, you will make a brief stop at Dochula Pass (3,100m /10,170 ft) to observe the panoramic views of the Bhutanese Himalayas.

Driving downhill through rhododendron, fir, and hemlock forests, you will stop at the Metshina Village. A short 20-minute walk through the rice fields will take you to Chimi Lhakhang fertility temple, dedicated to a Divine Madman, known for his unorthodox Buddhist teachings.

Following lunch, continue your drive to Punakha. On arrival, unpack your belongings in the hotel, then visit the Punakha Dzong, the second oldest and largest Dzong in Bhutan, anchored between two rivers.

Overnight stay in Punakha. 

The day will begin with a drive to the Sangchen Dorji Lhuendrup Nunnery, where you interact with the nuns. You will understand their spiritual life and also get a chance to witness some activities that they engage in, including tailoring, statue making, embroidery, and Thangka painting.

After lunch, the guided tour continues to Wangdue Phodrang to have a glance of Wangdue Phodrang Dzong which sits on a beautiful ridge. The fortress caught on fire in 2012 and is in the rebuilding process, but the history surrounding it is iconic. After your time there, return to your hotel in Punakha and enjoy some Bhutanese cuisine.

Overnight stay in Punakha.

You will take a drive from Punakha towards Paro. On the way, you will cross the Dochula Pass and make a stop at Thimphu for Lunch.

After having lunch, continue to your hotel in Paro. As you will have the entire afternoon free, you can opt to visit the Dumtse Lhakhang, a rare Buddhist temple in the form of a chorten.

Then drive on to Kichu Lhakhang, popularly the oldest temple and the spiritual heart of Bhutan. It is one of the sacred places for Tibetan Buddhists, so you will witness many pilgrims there. 

Overnight stay in Paro. 

Early in the morning, get ready to attend the Paro Festival, the highlight of the entire tour. This significant festival celebrates the birth anniversary of Guru Rimpoche, Padmasambhava, who is known to be the second Buddha, as per legends. The celebrations start in the early morning at Paro Dzong. Driving to the Dzong, you will witness a swarm of pilgrims from different places inside and outside Bhutan.

The rich Bhutanese culture is depicted in the Masked Dances performed by the experts. There will be dances of the Heroes, Ging and Tsholing, Religious Songs, Eight Manifestations, and Sixteen Fairies. The folk songs, vibrant colors, chants, and hymns all combine to depict Bhutan's rich traditions perfectly. You might luckily get a chance to witness a vast Thangka (embroidery painting) hanging on the festival's final day.

After witnessing the festivities and getting the blessings, head back to the streets of Paro and then towards your hotel to relax.

Overnight stay in Paro.

Another exciting day of the tour, where you will set out to visit the famous Tiger's Nest Monastery. Known locally as Paro Taktsang, the monastery is situated about 3,180 m on a cliff top. The place is known to have claimed its fame from the legend suggesting that Guru Rimpoche visited two caves here. He is said to have flown on the back of a tigress and meditated in the caves.

You will be driven to the base of the hiking point, where you will begin your walk up the steep trail. Halfway up the trail, make a stop at a restaurant and have some lunch.

Then continue your hike to the monastery to witness the majestic views of the Paro valley from the top. In addition, make sure to check the thangka paintings, statues of Lord Buddha, and the large prayer wheel.

Overnight stay in Paro.

Our representatives will drive you to the international terminal with a warm farewell in hopes that you will visit again for other hiking, trekking, and tour adventures.