10-Day Bhutan Cultural Tour from Paro with Tiger's Nest Hike

• Meet the tour guide at Paro Airport, who will pick you up and transfer you to the hotel.
• Have lunch, and enjoy afternoon sightseeing around Paro, including a visit to the Ta Dzong Museum housing many religious relics, works of art and handicrafts offering a great orientation into Bhutan’s historical, cultural, and religious past.
• Go to the Rimpong Dzong to see the painting of the great saint Milarepa, considered as the master of meditation by the Bhutanese and believed to have attained enlightenment in a lifetime. 
• Drive to the capital, Thimphu.

Overnight in Thimphu.

• Enjoy a full day of sightseeing, including a visit to the National Memorial Chorten, completed by the Royal Queen Mother as a memorial stupa for the Third King, who passed away in 1972.

• Head to the 12th century Changangkha Temple and Zilukha Nunnery.

• Explore Tashichhodzong, ‘the fortress of the glorious religion’ housing ministries.

Overnight in Thimphu.

• Transfer to the Phobjikha Valley. Travel by luxury 4WD over the Dochu-La pass (3,100 meters), which on a clear day offers an incredible view of Himalayan peaks before descending into balmy Punakha valley (about 3 hrs total driving time).

• Continue driving through the bustling market town of Wangduephodrang and up winding mountain roads through mixed forests and over high passes before descending into the wide and picturesque Phobjikha Valley. Phobjikha is one of Bhutan’s few glacial valleys and chosen winter home of black-necked cranes migrating from the Tibetan plateau.

Overnight in Phobjikha Valley.

• Have breakfast, and visit the Phobjikha Sanctuary to view the majestic black-necked cranes (Nov-Mar only) and Gangtey Gompa (Monastery), dating back to the 16th century.

• Travel by luxury 4WD over the Pele La pass (3,420 m) on the Black Mountain range towards Trongsa (4.5 hrs). En-route, visit the beautiful 18th century Chendebji Chorten.

• Go to Trongsa Dzong, the largest Dzong in Bhutan and the Ta Dzong Museum, housing a collection of historical artifacts of the Royal Family.

• Continue driving towards Bumthang, the spirit of the kingdom. Bumthang is home to some of Bhutan’s oldest Palaces, Buddhist temples and monasteries.

• Enjoy an optional spa treatment before dinner.

Overnight in Bumthang.

• Visit 7th-century Jambay Lhakhang and Kurjey Lhakhang, one of the most sacred places in the kingdom where Bhutan’s patron saint Guru Rimpoche meditated. It dates back to the origins of Buddhism in Bhutan and is one of the Kingdoms oldest temples. Have lunch.

• Go to Jakar Dzong and Tamshing Lhakhang, founded in 1501 by Pemalingpa.

Overnight in Bumthang.

• Depart for Punakha.

• Take a halt at Trongsa for lunch.

Overnight in Punakha.

• Visit Punakha Dzong, the “Palace of Great Happiness” built in 1637 by the Shabdrung, the ‘Unifier of Bhutan’ as predicted by the great Guru Rimpoche (Padmasambhava). 

• Have lunch, enjoy an excursion by 4WD or on foot to Yabesa village and hike through rice fields to Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten.

• Go for a short excursion to Chimi Lhakhang, a temple of Drukpa Kuenly, in the afternoon.

Overnight in Punakha.

• Drive back to Thimphu to visit handicraft and souvenir stores.

• Proceed to Paro and check into your luxury hotel. The remaining day is free to explore the Paro township or enjoy the spa treatments available at your accommodations.

Overnight in Paro.

• Have breakfast, and hike to Taktsang Monastery. The view of Taktsang Monastery, built on a sheer cliff face 900 metres above the valley floor, is a spectacular sight. Have refreshments and lunch in the tent.

• Drive back to Paro and visit the 7th Century Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the 108 temples constructed by the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo.

Overnight in Paro.

• Enjoy breakfast before driving to the airport for your return flight.