Bhutan and Tibet Adventure

(Alt 3,595 m/11,792 ft.)

Flights to Lhasa arrive from Beijing or Chengdu or any other major cities of the mainland of China. Plan to arrive in Beijing or Chengdu minimum a day before the trip date. You will pick up Tibet entry permit at your hotel. We can help you book hotel and flight to Lhasa on your request.

Upon arrival at Lhasa airport, your guide and driver will meet you at the arrival gate and proceed on a scenic one hour drive to Lhasa city. Check into your accommodations and take rest for acclimatization. All travelers are expected to experience some mild symptoms of altitude sickness, including but not limited to: headache, dizziness, disorientation, breathlessness, etc. but you should be fine in a day or two. Today, take complete rest, do not over exert yourself. Drink plenty of water and consume liquid food. 

Sightseeing today includes Potala Palace, Sera Monastery, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street. First, we visit the majestic Potala Palace-the winter residence of Dalai Lama. The palace used to be the power center of Tibet until Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959. It still stands with all its glory and attracts visitors from all over Tibet and the world.

Next, we visit the Sera Monastery, which is the last of the three Yellow Sect Monasteries to be built in Lhasa. If you are a hiking enthusiast and if you are well acclimated, you may opt for 1 to 2 hours of hiking on the pilgrimage path around the monastery. Usually around 3.30 to 4 p.m. Sera monastery holds monk's debating ceremony which is quite an impressive event, and it's worth seeing it. The debate takes on Buddhist philosophy and holy scriptures.

The afternoon is for exploration of the old town of Barkhor and the ancient Jorkhang Temple. While Lhasa today has turned into a modern city, the ancient quarter of Lhasa still retains it's Tibetan character. We will visit the back-street chapels, and stroll on the pilgrimage path robbing shoulders with devout Tibetans who circumnavigates the Jorkhang temple by spinning prayer wheels or counting beads with the utterance of sacred mantras. The complete circuit can take up to 3 hours, but you may cut it short and return to Barkhor Square from anywhere if you choose. Jorkhang Temple-built in the 7th century is among the most revered temples of Tibet.

This morning, we take an excursion to Drak Yerpa Hermitage which is in the rural area about 18 miles north-east of Lhasa. Despite being so near to Lhasa, the region has a truly rural setting. We visit the cave hermitages and retreats where many noted Buddhist teachers, including Guru Rinpoche and King Songtsen Gampo, believed to have meditated. The site is peaceful, with stunning views, and an experience of rural Tibet that is away from the crowds of Lhasa.

Back in the city, we will have time to visit other attractions, depending on available time and your interests.

(13467 ft., 176miles, 6 ½ hrs. drive).

Today, with your guide and driver, you will set off on the high roads of Tibet heading to Gyantse. Gyantse is the third largest town of Tibet and still maintains the ancient Tibetan characters. The journey involves the crossing of two high passes the Kamba La (15,700 ft.) and the Karo La (16,500 ft.) and follows the shores of Yamdrok Tso Lake for more than 40 miles. Yamdrok Tso Lake is one of the four holiest lakes in Tibet and has beautiful turquoise water. As you leave the lake shore behind, the road climbs to Karo La (16,500 ft.), once again offering breathtaking views of the mountain and vast Tibetan plateau.

You will also take a side trip of Samding and Ralung monasteries which are less frequented by the foreign visitors.

You will arrive in the Gyantse town late afternoon. We check into our accommodations and the balance of the day is at leisure.

(12,785 ft., 57miles, 2 ½ hrs. drive).

After breakfast, visit the Pelkor Chode and Kumbum Monastery-the main highlights of Gyantse. The Kumbum Stupa is a landmark of Gyantse, and we can spot it from far away. We will also take a short hike to the historical fortress of Gyantse. The fort offers excellent views of the town.

From Gyantse, it's less than 2 hrs drive to Shigatse, which is the second largest city in Tibet. About 13 miles (20 km) before Shigatse, we will take a 2.5 miles side trip of Shalu Monastery. It was the first of the significant Monasteries to be built by noble families of the Tsang Dynasty during Tibet's revival of Buddhism and was an important center of the Sakya tradition.

Upon arrival in Shigatse, check into the hotel and later take a relaxing walk through Shigatse's Flea market. It is an excellent bargain place to buy a Tibetan souvenir.

 (186 miles, 5-6 hrs. drive).

After breakfast, we check out hotel and as we return to Lhasa today. Before we hit the road, we visit Tashilunbo Monastery-the principal seat of Panchen Lama- the second most revered religious leader of Tibet after Dalai Lama. Tashilunbo is also among the six major Gelugpa Monasteries of Tibet.

For the return journey, we will take the southern friendship highway that follows the Yarlungzanbo River. The road is rough, and a lot of rehabilitation work is going on.

We arrive at our hotel in Lhasa late afternoon. The balance of the day is free for your interests.

A one-hour and half long spectacular flight across the Himalaya whisks us to Kathmandu-the capital city of Nepal. Complete immigration and customs formalities and meet our local representative at the arrival gate.

Today, you have a free day in Kathmandu. Kathmandu valley has seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites that include the Durbar Squares, Buddhist stupas, and Hindu temples. You can book a car with a driver and an English speaking local guide for $80 for six or seven hours at your disposal. 

After breakfast, our Kathmandu representative will transfer you to the airport for flight to Paro. It's about a one-hour long, and we enjoy spectacular views of the Himalaya! The landing at Paro airport is also quite thrilling.

After clearing immigration and customs, meet your guide and driver at the arrival gate. After introductions, we proceed on a scenic one-hour long transfer 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 – architect, physician, teacher, and a saint! The temple is owned and maintained by his descendants until today.

In Thimphu, we’ll have time to settle in and enjoy lunch before a walking tour of the tiny 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.

After breakfast, we are off for sightseeing and hiking. We have a lot to see today! Depending on your interest, pace and available time, we may or may not visit all the sights listed below. We first visit the weekend market of Thimphu, if we are here during the weekend. Farmers from the neighboring villages come to sell their fresh produce. We will also visit the archery field to see the national sports of Bhutan.

Next, we can visit the National Institute Zorig Chusum that offers a six-year course on Bhutan's traditional arts and crafts, including painting, wood carving, embroidery, and statue making. Then we can head to the Folk Heritage Museum, a three-story mud and timber building that replicates a century-old traditional farmhouse that gives us a glimpse of not only the lives of ancient Bhutanese people, but also many rural people even today.

Next, we can visit the Takin Sanctuary. Takin– a kind of sheep by way of antelope — are the National animals of Bhutan and believed to exist only in Bhutan Himalaya. On the way back, stop at the Zilukha Nunnery in Drubthob Goemba, home to 40-60 Buddhist nuns.

We can visit the Gagyel Lhundrup Weaving Center, which produces traditional hand-woven textiles and has a selection of cloth and ready-made garments for sale. Here, you can see the local women working their looms. 

Next, visit the Changangkha Temple, one of the oldest in Thimphu, built in the 12th Century. The temple houses Chenrizig (Avolokitesawara), an 11-headed, thousand-armed manifestation as the central statue. 

In the afternoon, we can visit the World’s Largest Buddha Image — Buddha Dordenma, situated atop a hill overlooking the Thimphu Valley. This 169 feet tall image is the latest addition to Thimphu's attractions and houses a large chapel, while the body itself enshrines 125,000 smaller statues of Buddha. 

An option: hiking enthusiasts keen to experience monastic lives away from the crowds of town can take a half-day hike to Tango Goemba monastery. You’ll miss some sights listed above, though. Tango Goema Monastery is Bhutan's highest learning center for Buddhist studies. All Je Khenpo, the religious head of Bhutan, must complete a nine-year program here, including a three-year, three-month, three-day course in mediation at the nearby Cheri Goemba Monastery! With luck, the monks will be in recess, and we can join them for tea. (Note: on a group tour, there must be a unanimous decision to take this hike.)

Interested in Buddhist astrology? On our way back, we can stop at Pangri Zampa Temple-an astrology school for the state clergy. More than a hundred monks study astrology in this center, and they welcome the public for astrology consultation if anyone is interested. A week-advance notice is requested for scheduling purpose, though. 

(77 km/ 48 miles, 3 hrs.)

A scenic three hour or little more drive brings us to Punakha, the former winter capital of Bhutan. As we leave Thimphu behind, the road gradually winds up through villages and pine forests to Dochula Pass (3100m/10168 ft.), marked by 108 Buddhist shrines, flickering with sacred prayers flags offered by the Buddhist devotees. On a clear day, the pass offers a superb panorama of the snow-capped mountains and the valleys.

Two hours later we’ll be in Punakha, the end of a road that drops slowly through the changing vegetation to the sub-tropical lowlands of the Punakha and Wangdue Valleys. After lunch at our resort, we start with a pleasant hike to the Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten – about 45-60 minutes up, but only 30 minutes down. The temple sits atop a beautiful hillock overlooking the valley. Built by the Queen Mother, and is an example of Bhutan's most beautiful traditional architecture.

Back down, we drive to the stunning Punakha Dzong, probably the most impressive of all the Dzong (fortress) architectures of Bhutan. It has served as the winter capital of Bhutan, and even today the chief abbot moves there from his base in Thimphu.

Optional: If you are a rafting enthusiast, you can experience a 30-minutes or one-hour long rafting in the white waters of Mo Chu River! Cost: $150 for a group of 6 persons.

(142 km/89 miles, 4.5-5 hrs)

A short and easy hike that you don't want to miss is Chime Lhakhang Temple. It's less than 10 minutes from the main road, and the trail goes through paddy fields and villages. You will be surprised to see the phallic arts in the houses. You might even see the door handles or knobs carved out in the shape of a phallus! Ask your guide why. The temple is also known as 'Fertility Temple,' and it's associated with the Lama Drukpa Kuenley who is famously known as the Divine Madman!

Now, we retrace our drive across Dhochula Pass to Paro. Shortly before the pass, we can stop at Lamperi Botanical Garden that preserves the rich fauna including Rhododendron flowers. After a lunch stop in Dhochula, we will continue to Paro.

Balance of the day is at leisure.

A special day, with an early start. After breakfast, we’ll hike to the famous Taktsang Monastery, also known as the Tiger's Nest, a highlight of any trip to Bhutan. The monastery is dramatically perched on the edge of a 4000-foot cliff above the valley floor; it is an unbelievable sight. The hike up is less than three hours. With a prior arrangement, ponies can take us two-thirds of the way up, but no further. Legend has it that Guru Padmasambhava, known as Guru Rinpoche by Tibetans and Bhutanese, flew on a tigress from Tibet and landed at the monastery’s site. Guru meditated in a cave here, it is said, and subdued the local demons and established the supremacy of Buddhism in Bhutan.

On the way back to the town, we will the ancient Kyichu Lakhang Temple, notable as one 108 temples that King Songsten Gampo of Tibet built miraculously over a single night in the 7th century in order to subdue a demon!

This afternoon, visit a typical Bhutanese farm family and their colorful farmhouse, made up of wood without the use of a single nail! With prior arrangement, we can share a traditional meal with the family.

Experience Traditional Hot Stone Bath (Optional): 
After such an active day, we recommend a traditional Bhutanese Hot stone bath, an ancient Bhutanese method of curing skin ailments, joint pains, hypertension, stomach disorders, arthritis, and many other diseases. Your guide needs one-day advance notice to arrange the hot stone bath and it can be taken at some hotel or a private farmhouse. The estimated cost is $25 per person.