5-Day Bhutan Sightseeing Tour through Paro, Thimphu and Punakha

• Landing at Paro offers a dramatic experience and, if the weather permits, views of the Himalayas as well.
• On arrival in Paro, meet your Bhutanese guide and proceed to Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan. The drive takes about 1 hour through the hamlets of Paro, alongside the Paro River and later the Thimphu River.
• Depending on convenience, begin sightseeing in Thimphu with a visit to the Memorial Chorten of the 3rd King of Bhutan.
• Visit Thimphu Dzong, the office of the 5th King of Bhutan and many government ministers.
• You also have the option to do a hike of about 6 km through the pine forests or enjoy some city sightseeing.

Overnight: Thimphu; altitude 2,300 m.

• After breakfast, drive to Buddha Point (Kuensel Phodrang), home to one of the biggest Buddha statues in Asia.

• Continue through Dochula Pass, the second-highest road pass on the trip at 3,010 m. When the weather permits, enjoy a spectacular view of Bhutan's highest mountains from a site that stretches almost 180 degrees.

• After a short tea break, continue to the sub-tropical valley of Punakha.

• In the afternoon, visit Punakha Dzong, the fortress that houses the most elaborately decorated temple in the country.

Overnight: Punakha; altitude: 1,350 m

• Start early in the morning by retracing the drive back to Paro.

• In Paro, visit the National Museum, the first of its kind in Bhutan, with collections ranging from natural history to religious paintings.

• Visit the 17th-century Paro Dzong on foot and continue walking across the oldest wooden bridge still in use.

• Go for an evening stroll in Old Paro town and peep into some local handicraft stores.

• You can also try a local restaurant for dinner.

• Take a hike to Taktsang Monastery, where Guru Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rimpoche, meditated for 3 months. The hike takes about 3-4 hours, depending on the capability of the hikers.

• This is also a photographer's delight; the monastery is adorned with prayer flags and stands in a cave of granite rocks 300 m above the valley floor.

• Relish lunch served at the viewpoint cafeteria.

• Visit the archery grounds and watch people indulge in Bhutan's national game.

• Go to the airport for your flight.