PHUENTSHOLING THIMPHU PUNAKHA WANGDUE PHOBJIKHAA

Day 01 – pick up from njp/ixb, processing of tourist permit at phuentsholing & night stay

Pick up from njp/ ixb, processing tourist permit at phuentsholing, & night stay.( phuentsholing, is a border town in southern bhutan, phuentsholing lies opposite the indian town of jaigaon,[west bengal ] phuentsholing has a population of 20,537)

Day 02 – phuentsholing to thimphu road view sightseeing & night stay at thimphu

Transfer to thimphu, (which is approx 6 hours/ 172 km from phuentsholing town) thimphu is the capital and largest city of bhutan. It has a population of 104,200, on road water falls & natural sightseeing, chukha dam (top view) en-route. Check-in at hotel & overnight stay.

Day 03 – thimphu full day sightseeing & night stay

After breakfast: go for major sightseeing covering 1) buddha point, 2)bbs tower, 3)tashicchhoe dzong, 4)the memorial chorten, 5)national library, 6)the institute of traditional medicine, 7)centenary farmer market, 8)changlimithang stadium, 9)school of arts & crafts, 10)handicraft institute, 11)zangthopelri lhakhang, 12)motithang takin reserve (takin zoo), 13)semtokha dzong. In evening: stroll through the market of thimphu & overnight stay.

Day 04 – thimphu to punakha & wangdue via dochu la pass for sightseeing & night stay at punakha/ wangdue

After breakfast: transfer to punakha. ( which is approx 3 hours /90 km , from thimphu)punakha is the administrative centre of punakha dzongkhag, districts of bhutan. Punakha was the capital of bhutan. It has a population of 25,700. Wangdue phodrang is a town and capital (dzongkhag thromde) of wangdue phodrang district in central bhutan. It has a population of 34,300. Enroute visit 1) dochu la pass, 2) druk wangyal lhakhang. In afternoon: visit 3) punakha dzong & 4) wangdue phodrang, 5) khamsum yulley namgyel chorten, & overnight stay.

Day 05 – punakha to phobjikha local natural sightseeing & night stay at phobjikha

After breakfast: transfer to phobjika valley, vast u-shaped glacial valley and for black- necked cranes visit gangtey gompa / phobjikha (3,000m/9,845ft): another highlight of wangdue is the beautiful phobjikha valley or “the valley of black necked cranes”. This valley is the winter home of black necked cranes (bird) that migrates from tibet. This valley is one of the most beautiful and scenic ones in bhutan. On the slope overlooking the valley is the gangtey monastery built in 17th century and is one of the oldest and biggest monastery of the nyingma (red hat sect) school of buddhism. Check-in at hotel & overnight stay.

Day 06 – phobjikha to paro road view sightseeing & night stay at paro

After breakfast: transfer to paro, paro is destination of scenic beauty, the only international airport of bhutan in paro. It has a population of 39,800. (which is approx 4 hours /143 km from punakha & wangdue) local sightseeing, check-in at hotel & overnight stay.

Day 07 – paro full day sightseeing & night stay

After breakfast: visit 1)drukgyal dzong, 2)view of taktsang monastery, 3)kichulanka monastery, 4)ta dzong, 5)paro rinpung dzong (museum), 6)nya-mey zam, 7)dungtse lhankhang, 8)kila gompa, 9)druk choeding. In evening: stroll through the market of paro & overnight stay.

Day 08 – paro to move chele la pass & haa valley only for sightseeing & transfer to phuentsholing & night stay

After breakfast: excursion to paro extra point: chele la (pass) & haa valley only (border of the bhutan and china): at an elevation 3,988 meters is considered to be one of the highest motorable passes in bhutan. About an hour’s drive along a thickly-forested road, is this pass-a botanical paradise. The pass provides stunning views of the sacred mountain jhomolhari and jichu drake. It is also marked by hundreds of prayer flags fluttering in the wind. Here, visitors can see cascades of wild roses; purple and yellow primulas; and swathes of deep blue iris covering the forest floor. The top of the pass bloom with rhododendrons in a variety of colors-pale pink, deep pink, burnt orange, mauve, white and scarlet. In evening: stroll through the market of paro& overnight stay at paro.

Day 09 – drop to njp/ ixb, for onwards journey (tour end)

After breakfast: check-out from hotel, proceed for paro international airport sightseeing & drop to phuentsholing (which is approx 6 hours/ 175 km to phuentsholing) for onward journey. (tour end)