8-Day Bhutan Photography Tour from Paro with Punakha and Haa Valley

• The excitement begins today as you arrive in the small Bhutanese town of Paro. As you near Paro Valley, enjoy the lush and scenic surroundings with views of Paro Dzong and the National Museum.

• On arrival, check in to the hotel. Later, visit the archery ground, where you can photograph local archers.

• Enjoy an evening stroll around Paro town.

• Following breakfast, visit and photograph one of the iconic sights of Bhutan - Tiger's Nest Monastery, dramatically perched on a steep vertical slope. As we begin early, we will have plenty of time to see and shoot at the monastery before heading back on a slow drive to Paro.

• If time permits, stop at Drukgyel Village and Dzong on the way. The dzong, now ruined by fire, has a creepy atmosphere and was built as a strategic point on the route to Tibet.

Return to our hotel for an overnight stay.

• Following an early breakfast, head out towards Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan. It is a picturesque drive along the Paro Chu River, which joins the Wang Chu River at Chuzom. Drive past terraced rice fields and old houses along the way before reaching Thimphu.

• Check in to the hotel. Later in the afternoon, visit the National Institute of Zorig Chusum (13 traditional arts and crafts) to see artists creating religious Thangka paintings.

• Further, go to Trashichoe Dzong, a large complex that houses the central monastic body of Bhutan.

• If time allows this evening, wander the town with our cameras for interesting sights in the city.

• Following breakfast, visit the National Memorial Chorten in Thimphu for interesting insights into Bhutan's culture and plenty of food for the camera.

• Later in the afternoon, start the drive to Punakha Valley, passing through some of the most scenic landscapes Bhutan has to offer. An hour's drive up winding hilly roads will bring us to Dochu-La Pass at an elevation of 3,150 m, where we can see the snow-capped mountains in the distance on a clear day.

• After a leisurely lunch on the way, drive downhill and come across the terraced fields and homesteads of the Punakha Valley, a beautiful drive through pleasant rural landscapes.

• Stop after descending to the banks of the small river that waters the valley and walk across the fields to a small temple on a hillock dedicated to Drukpa Kunley, a much-revered monk dear to the people of Bhutan.

• Towards evening, stop at a viewpoint from where you can take perfect photographs of Punakha Dzong, with the mountains looming behind it and two rivers meeting in front.

• Following breakfast, we will visit Punakha Dzong this morning, crossing a lovely wooden bridge lined with prayer flags. We will spend some time exploring and photographing the dzong for most of the morning.

• In the latter half of the day, we will drive up the Punakha Valley to the west side of the Mo Chu River, passing through villages and farms.

• Cross the suspension bridge and take a short hike to Kham Sum Yuelley Namgyel Chorten through rice terraces and agricultural fields. From the temple, you can take as many good photos as you can of the Punakha Valley below with the Mo Chu River.

• Later in the afternoon, drive to Wangdue Valley and take beautiful pictures of the valley and the dzong.

• Following breakfast, drive back to Paro via the same road, crossing Dochula Pass. You will have a second opportunity to take photographs of the eastern Himalayan ranges, if you are lucky with the weather.

• Take a winding drive up the hills through alpine vegetation and carpeted, flower-decked fields to Chele-la Pass, a good viewpoint for the lush Paro Valley below. Chele-la is a windy pass filled with white prayer flags fluttering in the breeze. En route, we may encounter yak-herder huts and grazing yaks.

• Further, drive down to the picturesque Ha Valley and take a short walk to Chhundu Lhakhang, a temple dedicated to the local deity of Ha.

• Return to Paro in the evening via the same route.

• Following an early breakfast, drive to Paro International Airport.