5-Day Bhutan Cultural Tour from Paro with Tiger's Nest and Punakha

• Welcome to Bhutan. Our local representative will greet you at the only international airport in Bhutan, located in Paro (2,262 m) in western Bhutan.
• Later, we will head to Thimphu (50 km, about 1.5 hours), with sightseeing en route at Tamchog Lhakhang Iron Bridge, Buddha Dordenma Statue, and National Memorial Chorten, if time permits.
• Then, check in to your sweet hotel in the capital city for a good rest while getting used to the time difference.
• Tamchog Lhakhang (Tachog Lhakhang, Tamchog Lhakhang Iron Bridge) is located by the Paro River on the way from Paro to Thimphu. To reach the temple, we must walk across a unique iron chain bridge adorned with colorful fluttering prayer flags. Both the Lhakhang and the iron bridge were built by the saint Thangthong Gyalpo (1385-1464), the Tibetan polymath.
• Buddha Dordenma Statue (Kuenselphodrang, Buddha Point) is a landmark of Thimphu city, and you can enjoy a great view of the Thimphu Valley from there.

• In the morning, we will explore Bhutan's capital city, Thimphu, visiting the Takin Sanctuary, Folk Heritage Museum, and Tashichho Dzong.
• After sightseeing in Thimphu (2,360 m), we will drive to Punakha (74 km, about 2.5 hours) via Dochula Pass. Then, have a good rest at your hotel.
• Tashichho Dzong (Thimphu Dzong) is located on the right side of the Wangchu River in the northern part of Thimphu city. Known as the "Fortress of the Glorious Religion," it houses the throne room of His Majesty the King, government offices, and the central monk body.
• Thimphu Dzong was initially erected in 1641 and rebuilt by King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck in the 1960s. There are two main entrances to Tashichho Dzong. One leads to the administrative section in the south, and the other, in the north, leads to the monastic quarter where festivals and dances are performed.
• National Memorial Chorten is the most visited landmark in Thimphu. It was built in 1974 in memory of the Third King, His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, the Father of Modern Bhutan, by his mother. Inspired by Jigme Dorji's vision, this stupa is dedicated to world peace and prosperity. It is a Tibetan-style chorten with amazing paintings and brilliant sculptures, and you can see the classical stupa pattern, including the pyramidal pillar crowned by a crescent moon and sun. It is also a good place to meet local Bhutanese people circumambulating the Chorten clockwise throughout the day in prayer.
• Later in the afternoon, drive towards Punakha.

• After breakfast, we will visit Punakha Fortress and then drive to Chimi Lhakhang.
• Punakha Dzong stands at the junction of two great rivers, the Pho Chu River (father river) and Mo Chu River (mother river). Known as the Palace of Great Happiness or Bliss, it is also regarded as the most beautiful dzong in Bhutan. It was first built in 1637 by the founder of Bhutan, Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, and served as the administrative center and seat of the Bhutanese government until the capital moved from Punakha to Thimphu in 1955.
• Now, this dzong serves as the winter residence of the Je Khenpo, Chief Abbot of the Central Monastic Body. In 2011, the dzong witnessed the royal wedding ceremony of Bhutan's fifth King, His Majesty Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck, and Queen Jetsun Pema. If you visit Bhutan in May, you will be amazed by the breathtaking purple-blue jacaranda blooms outside the fortress.
• Chimi Lhakhang (Fertility Temple, Chime Lhakhang) is located on a hillock among the rice fields and is a pilgrimage site for childless couples seeking blessings. The monk there blesses couples with a wooden phallus believed to have the power to help them conceive a child. This temple is associated with the famous Drukpa Kunley (1455-1529), the Divine Madman and Tibetan saint, who is famed for using his phallus to guide people to enlightenment and subdue demons. That is why you can see symbols of phalluses scattered everywhere.
• Then, drive towards Paro.

• After an early breakfast, we will go for a beautiful hike that will be the highlight of the trip.
• Tiger's Nest Monastery (Taktsang Goemba, Takhtsang Lakhang, Paro Taktshang), first built in 1692, is the iconic landmark of Bhutan. As a world cultural heritage site, it is perched on the side of a cliff at a height of 900 m above the Paro Valley. It is said that Guru Rinpoche, a Buddhist saint, rode a tigress to the current site of the monastery and meditated in a cave for 3 years, 3 months, and 3 days. Today, it is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Bhutan and a sacred religious site for Bhutanese pilgrims, who aspire to visit it at least once in a lifetime.
• On returning from Tiger's Nest, we will quickly visit the National Museum.

After your glimpse of Bhutan, today you will depart for your onward destination. Our representative will assist you in reaching the airport.

TASHI DELEK!