FAM Trips

Flight to Bhutan arrive from Bangkok, Kathmandu, Delhi or Kolkatta. You can book your international flight to one of these cities, and we will schedule your onward flight to Bhutan. Bangkok is the most preferred gateway city unless you are traveling to India or Nepal before this trip.

We pre-arrange Bhutan visa and will email you a copy of this about three to four weeks before the trip date. After completing immigration and customs formalities, meet your guide and driver and transfer to the hotel.

After lunch, we take the scenic one-hour drive to Thimphu, the capital, with a stop for a short walk at the 13th-century temple of Tamchog Lhakhang-built by the famous Tibetan iron-bridge builder Thangthong Gyalpo – who was also a physician, teacher, and a saint! Until today, his descendants own and maintain the temple.

In Thimphu, we’ll have time to settle in before a walking tour of the small city. Thimphu is probably the only capital in the world without any traffic lights! We will take a stroll and visit the Memorial Chorten(shrine) of the 3rd King of Bhutan Jigme Dorje Wangchuk, and whatever else time and our interest allow.

It will be a busy day in Thimphu. Depending on availability, we will visit some of the attractions listed below.

Thimphu's weekend market: We begin the day from Thimphu's weekend market where local farmers come to sell their fresh produces. We may also get the chance to watch an archery tournament if any are in progress at the Changlimithang stadium ground during the weekend; Archery is the national sport of Bhutan.

The giant statue of Buddha Dordenma (180 ft tall) is popularly known as Buddha point at Kuensel Phodrang.  The figure is made of Bronze and gilded in gold, and will now be one of the revered sacred landmarks of Thimphu. This location is also a popular viewpoint over Thimphu valley.

Takin Reserve in Motithang: The Takin-the national animal of Bhutan has a cow like head, but a goat-like body and are found only in the Himalaya, particularly in Bhutan.

Zilukha Nunnery: It's a residence of 40-65 nuns. The main shrine at the Nunnery belongs to the famous saint, Drubthob Thang Thong Gyalpo, popularly known as the Leonardo da Vinci of the Great Himalayas and the man who first introduced and built the chain of iron bridges in Bhutan.

Gagyel Lhundrup Weaving Centre: This center produces colorful hand-woven Bhutanese textiles, which is a century old tradition. You can see the women at work as they weave the textiles. The center also creates textiles for the royalties.

Tango Goemba Monastery Hiking. The trail to the monastery is a climb of about (280 m/ 918 ft) and takes about 60-90 minutes. On the way, you will meet the commoners, monks, and possibly a caravan of donkeys carrying goods. Once you reach the top, you will be delighted to see this impressive Monastery. Founded in the 12th Century by Lama Drukpa Kuenley, the present structures here are from the 15th and 18th centuries. You will get time to meet with the resident monks here and learn about their monastic life. You can sip tea with monks, perhaps teach them some English and learn some Bhutanese phrases from them in return. The trek down will take less time.

On the way back, stop to visit the majestic Trasichhoe Dzong that houses the King's office, parliament, and the central monk body!

Buckle up for a long day drive today (84 miles, 7 or 8 hours including stops)! 

Following breakfast, we leave for the isolated Phobjikha Valley. The road soon starts climbing, and we will arrive at the famous Dhochula pass (Alt. 3010m/9,872 ft), where you will stop briefly for panoramic views of the snow-capped mountains. Another striking feature of this pass is a group of chortens (pagoda or stupas). Now, the road zigzags down through the changing vegetation from alpine to sub-tropical and arrive in Punakha in about two and a half hour. Punakha is in lower altitude (1400m/4, 592 ft) and we will experience warmer weather here. After lunch, stop we will proceed for another two and a half hour drive to Phobjikha.

As we arrive in Phobikha, we stop to visit the prominent Gangtey Gompa of the early 17th century. It is the only Nyingmapa monastery in the region. The broad valley with its best-known marshland in Bhutan is famous for its scenic splendor and cultural uniqueness and is the winter home of black-necked cranes (Grus nigricollis) who migrate from the Tibetan Plateau and Central Asia in the winter season to roost. We will see flocks of the beautiful birds along the way!

Time permitting, also stop in Royal So­ciety for Protection of Nature’s (RSPN), which has informative displays about the black-necked cranes and the valley environment. You can use the center’s powerful spotting scopes and check what you see against its pamphlet Field Guide to Crane Behaviour.

After breakfast, check out hotel. Your luggage will be transported by the van while you hike to the Gangtey Gompa monastery. It's going to be an easy two hours hiking with a gradual climb. First, we walk to the Black-Necked Crane Information Center, which has a lot of information on the Black Necked Crane. Then we continue hiking, first through the lush valley and then the pine trees and finally arrive in Gangtey Gompa in about two hours. Gangtey Gompa Monastery is the only Nyingmpa Monastery in the region and it's one of the significant place of worship for local Bhutanese. We spend some time exploring the monastery. 

Now, we retrace our drive back and arrive in Punakha in about three hours. We check into our accommodation and the balance of the day is at leisure.

After breakfast, we set off for the exploration of Punakha's attraction. We first visit the stunning Punakha Dzong, probably the most impressive of all the Dzong (fortress) architectures of Bhutan. The fort sits at the confluence of two rivers-Pho Chu and Mo Chu. Formerly the winter capital of Bhutan, Punakha Dzong is still the winter residence of the chief abbot of Bhutan.

Next is a short and pleasant hike to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten-built by the queen mother of Bhutan for the peace and prosperity in the country. The temple is an example of Bhutan's most beautiful traditional architecture. The trailhead is a short drive up north from the Punakha Dzong (6 miles, 30 minutes) brings us to Yebisa village where we park the car and cross Mochu River by a suspension bridge. The trail initially leads us through the paddy fields and later winds up through the grove. The location offers beautiful views over the valley.

Optional: Mo Chu River also offer rafting experience! If you are interested, you can experience 30 minutes raft down the white waters of Mo Chu River. The put in point is just below the Samdingkha Bridge, and it's taken out at the confluence of Mo Chu and Pho Chu near the Punakha Dzong. It's a scenic ride with II to III+ rapids. Costs $150 for a private boat, guide, safety jacket and helmet (up to 6 people)

After lunch, visit the Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Lhakhang Nunnery-a center for higher learning and meditation for nuns where, apart from religious training, it provides life skill training such as tailoring, embroidery, statue making, and thangka painting. The nunnery complex has a temple that houses a 14-foot central bronze statue of Avalokiteshvara (Chenrigzig chagtong chentong), among other deities. It's location also offers a grand view over the valley. 

Back down to the road, we leave the car in the parking and take a gentle 25-minutes walk (if you wish) to Chimi Lhakhang Temple. The trail goes through the paddy fields and quaint villages. The temple is famous as the fertility temple, and childless people visit the temple for fertility blessing!

Depending on available time and your interest, you can visit other attractions.

After leisurely morning breakfast, we leave for Paro. We drive across Dhochula Pass and arrive in Thimphu in about three hours. We stop here for lunch and later visit the weekend market of Thimphu where local farmers have stalls to sell the fresh produces, dried fish, cheese and some handicrafts. Nearby is a stadium, where Thimphu men practice archery. Archery is the national sports of Bhutan, and with luck, there may also be tournaments.

Late afternoon, we transfer to our hotel in Paro.

We begin from the legendary Dungtse Temple. People believe that the hill that Dungtse Temple sits on resembles the head of a tortoise-shaped demon and so the temple was built there to subdue it.

Next, we visit the National Museum housed at Ta Dzong-that served as watchtower for the Rinpung Dzong in the past. The museum has a beautiful collection of books, murals, Bhutanese textiles, crafts, weapons, olden utensils, stuffed animals and a rich gallery of philatelic collection. From here, we descend to Rinpung Dzong which is the district headquarter and also the seat of District's religious body.

Next destination is the ruins of Drukgyel Dzong- a 16th Century monastery built to mark the Bhutanese victory over Tibetan invaders, and also the ancient Kyichu Lhakhang Temple – another of the 108 temples that King Songsten Gampo of Tibet constructed in a single night in the 7th century!

Today, we will also visit a typical farmhouse and meet the farm family. Bhutanese farmhouses are colorful and built without the use of a single nail!

Today, we will go on a hike to the legendary Taktsang Monastery, also known as the Tiger’s Nest. The Monastery stands at an altitude of (10,080ft/3150m) up on a vertical rock face overlooking the valley. The location is a legendary site where Guru Padmasambhava, flew from Tibet on a tiger’s back and fought the five demons that were creating an obstacle to the path of Buddhism. After a 1-2 hour arduous climb, you will arrive at the cafeteria, which serves as a beautiful viewpoint for the Takstang Monastery. A pony ride may be taken up to this point but for the rest of the trek up to the Monastery and the return trek down; you will be on your own. You will spend some time in the cafeteria, gazing at the Monastery, and will have great photo opportunities. There will be refreshment drinks, and then you will continue on the hike a further 45 minutes to get a closer look of the Monastery and the surrounding temples. The return trip is all downhill and takes about half the time it took the way up.

Rest of the day is open for your interests. If anybody is interested in visiting the town for last minute shopping or take a stroll through, your driver will be happy to take you to the city.

Optional Hot Stone Bath:
Tonight you may experience a traditional Hot Stone Bath inside a farmhouse. Hot stone baths are an ancient Bhutanese method of curing skin ailments, joint pains, hypertension, stomach disorders, arthritis, and many other minor diseases. Even you don’t have any of these issues; this will help you feel very relaxed after a busy day’s schedule. It costs around US$ 30-35 per person, and advance notice is required. 

After breafast, you are transferred to the airport in time for flight to your next destination. You can fly out to Bangkok, Delhi or Kolkatta. Flight arrangement will be made by us on additional cost.