6-Day Bhutan Tour of Paro, Punakha and Thimphu with Hot Stone Bath

• Meet your local tour guide upon arrival in Paro for pick-up and transfer.

• Enter Paro Valley and sweep past forested hills, with the silvery Pa Chu (Paro River) meandering down the valley below. Paro Dzong (fortress) and Ta Dzong (watchtower) on the hill above the town are a fine sight.

• Visit Ta Dzong, which was built as a watchtower and converted into the National Museum in 1968. It boasts antique thangkhas, textiles, historic artifacts, and more.

• Proceed to Rinpung Dzong (Paro Dzong), a monastic fortress built in 1644. The fortress defended Paro Valley from many Tibetan invasions from the 17th-19th centuries. From the Dzong, walk down across Nyami Zampa, a traditional cantilever bridge, and then drive to town.

• Have lunch and visit Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the two oldest Lhakhangs in the country, built in 659 A.D. by the Tibetan King Songsten Gyampo.

Overnight at a hotel in Paro.

• Hike to Taktsang. The magical monastery known as Taktsang (Tiger's Nest) was built in the 1600s. It is a 3-hour walk uphill to the monastery. The view of Taktsang Monastery built on the cliff is a spectacular sight. It is also a great pilgrimage site for Buddhists.

• Drive to Drugyel Dzong, the ruined fortress built in 1649 to commemorate the victory over the Tibetan invasion of 1644.

• Indulge in a hot stone bath. This is very popular in Bhutan, as it is believed to cure many diseases, help you relax when you are tired, and soothe body aches.

Overnight at a hotel in Paro.

• Enjoy breakfast and drive to Punakha, which takes about 4 hours from Paro.

• Pass through Dochu-la Pass. The highest point on the road is marked by 108 little chortens and prayer flags fluttering on the hill. On a clear day, there is a breathtaking view over the high peaks of the eastern Himalayas from this spot.

• See the Punakha Dzong.

• Visit Chimmi Lhakhang, which takes a 20-minute walk from the road. It was built by Lam Ngawang Chogyal, the elder brother of Drukpa Kuenley, in the year 1499.

Overnight at a hotel in Punakha.

• Have breakfast, visit Wangduephodrang Dzong, and drive to Thimphu, the capital.

• See the school for arts and crafts, where children are taught to master the 13 types of arts and crafts of Bhutan.

• Continue to the post office, which has Bhutan's beautiful stamps.

• The National Library is another sight to see, with its collection of Bhutanese scriptures, some dating back to the 8th century.

• Visit the Folk Heritage Museum, which is a replica of a medieval farmhouse and is patronized by HM the Queen Sangay Choden Wangchuck to protect the textile heritage of Bhutan. There are old collections along with displays of vegetable dyes and materials used for Bhutanese textiles.

• Stop at the traditional paper factory, which displays the Bhutanese papermaking process. Stroll through Thimphu town.

Overnight at the hotel in Thimphu.

• Admire the Memorial Chorten, which depicts the Buddhist faith in the form of paintings and statues. This temple was first initiated by the Third King as protection from the negative elements of modernization. The Royal Queen Mother completed it as a memorial stupa for the Third King, who passed away in the year 1972.

• Go on an afternoon drive to Paro.

Overnight at a hotel in Paro.

After an early breakfast at the hotel, drive to the airport for your flight.