To some, this is earth’s last Shangri-La; a pristine jewel nestled in the Himalayas, east of Nepal, north of India and south of Tibet. Its landscape is dotted with a myriad of spiritual symbols. Chortens rise from the hillsides, prayer flags flutter in the breeze, and prayer wheels, turned by the rushing waters of mountain streams, stand like sentinels at the entrance of most monasteries.
Known for its culture and spiritual heritage – this is a land where its people are fiercely independent and proud of their traditions. Religious festivals and pilgrimages fuel the spirit of the Bhutanese and provide time for both rest and celebrations.
Day 01 Arrive Delhi.
Upon arrival meet assist and transfer to hotel. Overnight.
Day 02 New Delhi – Paro – Thimphu
This morning proceed to airport to board Druk Air flight for Paro. Please ensure to be at the airport atleast 2 hours prior to the departure of the flight. Request your seats on left side of the aircraft to get a better view of the Himalayan ranges.
Druk Air flight KB 205 will depart at 1220 hours from New Delhi and land in Paro at 1510 hours.
As the aircraft enters the Paro valley, look down and you will see the Paro Dzong on the hillside overlooking Paro Chu (river) with Ta Dzong, formerly a watchtower and now the National museum, above it.
On arrival in Paro, traditional welcome awaits you where in “Khadar”; a kind of scarf is put around your neck. You will be received at the airport by your guide/escort for the entire trip. Once you have settled down, drive on to Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan.
The drive is of approx. an hour and covers a distance of approx. 65 kms.
The road runs down through the valley, to Chuzom (Confluence) at the entrance to the valley, where the Paro – Thimphu rivers meet at Chuzom. Three Chortens on the riverbank at this place, each in different style, mark the confluence of two rivers. Shortly before reaching Chuzom, you will see on your left Tschogang Lhakhang, “the temple of the excellent horse”. It is a private temple, built in 15th century, as the result of visitation from Balaha, the excellent horse, a manifestation of Chenrezig, the compassionate Buddha. The road passes along a narrow valley with high, rocky cliffs on the left, and then the valley opens out into farmland on the approach to Thimphu.
 Upon arrival in Thimphu, check-in at the hotel of your stay and acclimatize as you have had an early day today.
We suggest you take the rest of the afternoon to acclimatize.
As it is a weekend and start of weekly market, we suggest you take a walk in the local market.
Dinner will be served in the hotel.
Stay overnight in Thimphu.
Day 03 Thimphu
This morning after the breakfast, proceed for the full day tour of Thimphu city. 
Start the tour with Memorial Chorten built in memory of the late King; Visit the handicrafts Centre School of Fine Arts (Thangka painting and other traditional arts) where the traditional arts are being revived by the government, also visit the Indigenous Medicine Hospital, where herbal medicine, acupuncture and the ancient art of healing that was passed down from Tibet is still being practised today. Visit the zoo and see the national animal of Bhutan, called “Takin”.
Lunch will be served in the hotel.
In the afternoon visit the Changgangkha temples; Drubthrob nunnery; Folk and Textile museums; and then visit the Tashichhodzong, seat of the Royal Government and Central Monastic Body, it was rebuilt in the early 1960's after a fire destroyed most of the building. The amazing thing about this building is that it was built without a single drawing or a single nail!
Dinner will be served in the hotel.
Stay overnight in Thimphu.
 Day 04 Thimphu – Dochula Pass – Punakha
Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel and then take a scenic drive to Punakha via Dochula – Pass.
Soon you reach Dochula Pass at 10,000 feet where a large Chorten and a forest of prayer flags greet you. On a clear day you can view an endless chain of Himalayan Peaks such as Gangar Punsum (24,000 ft), the highest unclimbed peak in the world, Ganchenta, Teri gang, Table Mountain among other all above 20,000 ft. From there you descend 5,500 ft through temperate forests coloured with rhododendrons and magnolias down to the semitropical zone of oranges, banana and cactuses.
Enjoy tea/coffee at Dochula Pass and admire the serene surroundings.
Upon arrival in Punakha, check-in at the hotel of your stay and proceed for lunch.
Thereafter, visit the Punakha Dzong, the winter residence of the Je Khenpo and the monks of Tashichhodzong. The Dzong is situated at the confluence of two mighty glacial rivers, the Mo Chu and Pa Chu, which descend from the lofty heights of the Himalayas, and was the capital of the kingdom in olden times.
Dinner will be served in the hotel.
Stay overnight in Punakha.
Day 05 Punakha – Wangdue – Punakha 
Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel.
Later hike on to Chhimi Lhakhang situated near the river on a small plateau. It was built by the famous "divine madman" Drukpa Kuenley; a famous pilgrim site for infertile women who wish to bear children.
Lunch will be served in the hotel.
Later drive down to visit the beautiful Wangdiphodran Dzong and its local market.
Dinner will be served in the hotel.
Stay overnight in Punakha.
 Day 06 Punakha – Semthoka Dzong – Paro
Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel and then proceed to Paro enroute stopping to visit Semthoka Dzong
Arrive at Semthoka Dzong. Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal was one of the greatest builders of Dzongs in Bhutan. To consolidate his newly acquired domain in western Bhutan and to defend himself from both the internal foes and external enemies he started constructing Dzongs, beginning with the Semthoka Dzong has a great historical significance. The present place where the Dzong stands is at the boundary common to three prominent western regions: Sha (Wangdiphodrang), Wang (Thimphu) and Pa (Paro).
Upon arrival in Paro, check-in at the hotel of your stay and relax.
Today, you will have a late lunch at the hotel.
Later in the evening take a short drive to northern part of the valley to visit to Drukgyel Dzong ruins that was once a strategic post to withhold invading Tibetan forces from the north.
Dinner will be served in the hotel.
Stay overnight in Paro.
Day 07 Paro
This morning after breakfast, we hike up to Taktsang monastery (The Tiger’s Nest), for people unaccustomed to the altitude it takes about three hours at an average walking speed to reach the temples. Enroute stop at teahouse for a refreshing drink and have an excellent view of the monastery. The path may at times appear to somewhat hair-raising but it is well defined and there is no danger whatever of falling off. Taktsang monastery is one of the most venerated pilgrim sites of the Himalayan world and it contains 13 holy places. Taktsang, the “Tiger’s Lair”, gets its name from the story of its foundation. In the 8th century, Guru Rinpoche came to Taktsang in a miraculous manner, flying on the back of a tigress from Khenpajong in the region of Kurteop. According to Bhutanese tradition, the tigress was a form taken by one of the Master’s consorts for the occasion. Guru Rinpoche meditated for three months in a cave at Taktsang and converted the Paro valley to Buddhism.
Return walk is all down hill and takes about one & half – hour.
Lunch will be served in the hotel.
Afternoon visit Ta Dzong, originally built as watchtower, which now houses National Museum. The extensive collection included antique Thangka paintings, textiles, weapons & Armor, household object and a rich assortment of natural and historic artifacts. Later visit the Paro Dzong.
Dinner will be served in the hotel.
Stay overnight in Paro.
Day 08 Paro -Delhi
Today, in time proceed to airport to board Druk Air flight for Delhi. On arrival meet assist and transfer to international airport to board flight for onward destination.
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