7-Day Bhutan Festival Tour with Punakha Valley and Tiger's Nest

• Experience one of the most spectacular mountain flights in the world, with constantly changing views of the highest peaks on earth.

• Meet your guide and driver at Paro airport after customs formalities.

• Drive to Thimphu, the capital city, following the Pachu River (approximately 1 hour).

Overnight at your hotel in Thimphu.

• Enjoy breakfast at the hotel.

• Drive to Tashichhodzong to attend the Thimphu Festival.

• Witness locals dressed in their finest clothes as they attend festivities filled with masked dances, prayers, and feasts.

• Learn about the spiritual and historical stories behind the dances, many of which depict events surrounding Bhutan's patron saint, Guru Rinpoche.

• Explore Tashichhodzong, the "fortress of the glorious religion," originally built in 1641 and reconstructed in the 1960s without plans or nails.

Overnight at your hotel in Thimphu.

• Begin the morning with sightseeing, including a visit to the 12th Century Changangkha Temple.

• Visit the National Memorial Chorten, built to depict the Buddhist faith through paintings and statues.

• Return to Tashichhodzong in the afternoon to further experience the vibrant events of the Thimphu Festival.

Overnight at your hotel in Thimphu.

• Drive over Dochu-La Pass at 3,100 meters, offering stunning views of the Himalayan peaks on clear days.

• Descend into the warm Punakha Valley (approximately 3 hours of driving).

• Visit Punakha Dzong, the "Palace of Great Happiness," located at the confluence of the Mo Chu and Pho Chu Rivers.

• Explore the breathtaking architecture and the historic site where Bhutan's first king was crowned in 1907.

• After lunch, walk to Chimi Lhakhang, the temple of the Divine Madman, known as a symbol of fertility and spiritual blessing.

Overnight at your hotel in Punakha.

• Begin with a visit to Yabesa village and hike through rice fields to Khamsum Yueley Namgyal Chorten, built by Her Majesty the Queen Ashi Tshering Yangdon Wangchuk.

• Return to Thimphu to visit the National Library and the Folk Heritage Museum.

• Explore local handicraft and souvenir stores, and if it is the weekend, visit the Thimphu Market to experience Bhutanese produce and handmade goods.

• Proceed to Paro and check into the hotel.

Overnight at your hotel in Paro.

• After breakfast, hike to Taktsang Monastery, also known as Tiger's Nest, perched on a cliff 900 meters above the valley floor.

• For those unable to hike, horses are available up to the viewing point.

• Visit the monastery, an important pilgrimage site where Guru Rinpoche is said to have meditated.

• Stop at the nearby teahouse for refreshments.

• In the afternoon, drive to the ruins of Drukgyel Dzong and, on clear days, admire Mount Jomolhari in the background.

• Visit Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest temples in Bhutan, built in the 7th century.

Overnight at your hotel in Paro.

• After breakfast, transfer to Paro airport for your onward journey.