Bhutan Cultural Walking Tour

Flights to Bhutan arrive from Bangkok, Delhi, Kathmandu, and few other regional cities. Check the Druk Air website for the details. After clearing immigration and customs formalities, meet your guide and driver at the arrival gate. 

Following introductions, proceed on a scenic one-hour drive to Thimphu. En route,  we will stop for a visit to the Tamchog Lakhang Temple which is a short walk across a traditional suspension bridge. This temple was built by the famous Tibetan iron-bridge builder Thangthong Gyalpo of the 13th century who was also a physician, teacher, and a saint! His descendants still own and maintain the temple.

Settled into your room and reenergized after lunch, proceed with your guide and driver for introductory sightseeing.

We begin from nearby Bhutan's Institute for Traditional Medicine Center that researches Bhutan's medicinal plants, produces traditional medicines and dispenses throughout the country, trains the doctors and provides medical services to the people.

Next stop will be at the National Institute Zorig Chusum-an academy that offers an extensive course on Bhutanese arts and crafts that include painting, wood carving, embroidery, and statue making. 

We continue to the National Textile Academy where Bhutanese women weave the traditional Bhutanese textiles. Bhutanese textiles represent a rich and complex repository of a unique art form. They are notable for their abundance of color, sophistication and variation of patterns, and the intricate dyeing and weaving techniques. The weavers, who are mostly women, are not only the creators of the arts also the innovators and masters of artistic skills developed and nurtured over centuries.

Finally, conclude the day at the Memorial Chorten of the 3rd King of Bhutan Jigme Dorje Wangchuk. It is an exemplary Buddhist architecture and artwork with its gorgeous paintings and intricate sculptures. Local devout Bhutanese flock the temples throughout the day to pay homage to their beloved king.

After dinner, if you are not tired, you can go for a night view of the majestic Trassichoe Dzong fortress. The view of the Dzong at night is gorgeous as it's lit up in liquid gold and ruby. 

Followed by a hearty breakfast, we are off for a hike to Tango Goemba-for an opportunity to experience a monastic lifestyle away from the crowds of town: Tango Goemba monastery is Bhutan's highest learning center for Buddhist studies. All religious leaders of Bhutan – called Je Khenpo – complete a nine-year course here! If we are lucky, monks will be in recess, and we will have the opportunity to visit their dining hall and join them for tea. The total trip up and down should take about two hours. 

Back down, you have the option to attempt another hike to Cheri Goemba Monastery-the first Buddhist monastery of Bhutan. All the Je-Khenpo meditate in Cheri Gompa for an extended meditation for three years, three months and three days, right after graduating from Tango as a criterion to be chosen as the Je Khenpo. It's a pleasant and gentle rural walk in a valley through paddy fields, woodlands, and a Tibetan village.

You need to allow two hours for each hike. If you do not want to do two hikes back to back, your guide will take you to other non-hiking sightseeing.

Are you 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. They request one-week advance notice. ( donation $ 40 approximately, quoted after booking) 

Late afternoon, visit the World’s Largest Buddha Image-BuddhaDordenma, situated atop a hill overlooking the Thimphu Valley. Buddha Dordenma is the latest addition to Thimphu's attractions. The image is 169 feet tall. The massive three-story base houses a large chapel, while the body itself enshrines 125,000 smaller statues of Buddha. The location also provides an excellent view of the valley.

Today is a moderately challenging day as we hike to the Phajoding Goemba. Situated at an altitude of 12,000 ft, nearly 3.300 ft above the average valley floor!. After a hearty breakfast, we leave with our guide and driver. We first stop at Motithang Takin Reserve to see the national animal of Bhutan-Takin. The takin also called cattle chamois, or gnu goat is a Caprinae found in the eastern Himalaya, mainly in Bhutan only.

The trail-head is shortly after the Takin Reserve. This 13th-century monastery was once the wealthiest and most celebrated monasteries of Bhutan. We hike on the rocky trail, narrow at some points and climb little more than 3 miles uphill to get to the monastery. The path goes through the blue pine and rhododendron forests. Along the way, you can see various a variety of other wildflowers and plants, and some are of medicinal values. The area is also famous for a particular mushroom type-the golden mushroom or the happiness mushroom locally known as Gaa Shamu. 

As you get closer to the temple, the treeline clears, and we can get the serene views over the valley and also Himalayan panorama on a clear weather day. Monks usually offer tea to visitors. The monastery has about 80 resident monks and runs a community project for the welfare of the monks. 

We will have our picnic lunch here, and we backtrack down or take a different path for the return trip. Return trip should take about two hours.

This morning we depart for a six-hour drive to Phobjikha. The Phobjikha Valley is an isolated glacial valley on the western slopes of the Black Mountain Range that divides central and west part Bhutan. As we leave Thimphu behind, the road gradually climbs to a beautiful stop at the Dochula pass (9,872 feet, or 3,010 meters). This pass also includes a group of chortens (pagodas or stupas) and hundreds of prayer flags fluttering in the wind. The dramatically descending road zigzags to the lowland of the Punakha and Wangdue valleys at around 4,600 feet or 1,400 meters.

We stop in Punakha for lunch, before hiking to the legendarily unusual Chimi Lhakhang Temple – the “temple of fertility,” which is mostly visited by childless women. The temple is associated with the Saint Drukpa Kuenley (1455-1529), also called “divine madman” noted for his unique teachings that used songs and sexual humor. There are very few monks at this temple, which is surrounded by a row of prayer wheels and some exquisite slate carvings.

We’ll finish the drive through dense oak and rhododendron forests before arriving in the Phobjika, perhaps visiting the prominent Gangtey Gompa, which is the only Nyingmapa Monastery in this region.

The Phobjika Valley is also known for its endangered Black-necked cranes, which circle the monastery as they migrate from the high Tibetan plateau during winter. An annual festival here in November welcomes them.

Phobjikha valley is an excellent place for day hiking. After a good breakfast, we leave our hotel with a picnic lunch.

Today, we first visit the prominent Gangtey Monastery Gompa of the early 17th Century. It is the only Nyingmapa monastery in the region. From here, we jump on the Gangtey Nature Trail for an easy hike through the pine forest and the valley. The hike ends over the meandering Chhu Nap (Black River) near Khewang village. Here we will be picked up by transport. Total walking should take two or three hours.

If you wish for a longer hike, here are some recommended hiking trails: Shasi La Nature Trail (3-4 hours, moderate), Longtey Hike (4 hours, moderate) and Gogona Hike (6-7 hours, strenuous). Discuss these options with your guide and choose the option that best interests you. 

After breakfast, we retrace our three-hour drive to Punakha, stopping in Wangdue Phodrang for a gentle, 25-minute hike to Rinchengang Village, known for its traditional two-story houses. The uniqueness of this village is that multiple family own and share a home, unlike in other communities.

Once in the hotel, and after lunch, we drive up to a nunnery perched on a ridge amid pine trees and overlooking valleys of Punakha and Wangdue Phodgrang. This nunnery is called Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Lhakhang Nunnery, and it houses a 14-foot bronze statue of Avalokiteshvara (Chenrigzig Chagtong Chentong), Buddhas and Taras. The temple complex also houses a permanent center of higher learning and meditation for nuns. They also learn skills such as tailoring, embroidery, statue making, and thangka painting.

Now, we hike or drive up the Talo Village, with houses scattered along the hill slopes, known for their cleanliness. We also visit the Talo Sangnacholing temple, built on a plateau with majestic views of surrounding villages. The farm houses here maintain their terraced flower gardens of corn and sweet peas.

Next, we visit Dalayna- a Buddhist College, where monks are friendly and always eager to practice their English with visitors. We will share tea with the monks and learn about their monastic life.

After a hearty breakfast, we leave our hotel with a packed lunch for a long day hike to Giligang Temple via the beautiful Khamsum Yuelley Chorten. This hike is enjoyable but challenging. We start in the first hour through rice paddies and up the spiraling trail to Khamsum Yuelley Chorten. Our well-deserved rest will include this impressive structure and beautiful views of the valley below. We then climb slowly for two to three hours on the hillside up to Giligang, finding many inspiring views over the temples, rice paddies, hilltops, and green forests. This temple is a 300-year-old, privately owned monastery, taken care of by descendants of a family for generations. The caretaker family is friendly and welcoming and eager to show the temple. The location is also a perfect spot to enjoy our picnic lunch. Sometimes, the caretaker couple prepares milk-tea, called ngaja, and joins us for lunch – another excellent chance to meet the Bhutanese people.

From Giligang, the trail descends for an hour along the mountainside until we reach Changyul Bridge, just before Punakha Dzong. We cross the bridge and visit Punakha Dzong Fortress, at the confluence of the Mo Chu and Pho Chu rivers. Many people believe that it is the most beautiful of the Dzongs in Bhutan. One can spend hours inside the Dzong just studying its murals. Punakha Dzong served as the former winter palace. 

(142 km/89 miles, 5 hrs.)

After breakfast, 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 (Highly recommended during Spring-March, April and May). We will have another photo opportunity in Dhochula pass where we will stop for lunch. 

Upon arrival in Paro, check into your accommodations and balance of the day is for rest.

After a scenic drive of an hour or two from Paro, we’ll reach the beautiful Cheli La pass, at an altitude of approximately 13,000 feet. At the pass, you can enjoy the views of the Paro Valley on one side and the Haa Valley on the other. If the trails are free of snow, we can take a 90-minute hike up the mountain ridge to spectacular mountain views towards Jhomolhari. We ultimately backtrack to the pass and head further down to the Killa nunnery, a 9th-century compound that is perhaps the oldest in Bhutan. This nunnery is a residence to more than 70 nuns who study Buddhism and live in self-imposed isolation. Meet your driver at the car parking which is about 10 minutes downhill walking.

On our way back, we take a short detour of Dzondrakha Monastery that resembles the famous Taktsang Monastery a.k.a Tiger's Nest and so it's also called mini-Taktsang. From the parking, the monastery is about 10 minutes of leveled walking. This beautiful cliff-side retreat is one of the several related local sites where Guru Rinpoche suppressed demons to pave the path for Buddhism! The site also offers spectacular views over Paro valley. The road is not in great condition, but the trip is undoubtedly rewarding.

We’ll have an early morning breakfast, and then transfer to the trail head for the legendary Takstang Monastery – the Tiger's Nest, Bhutan’s most famous pilgrimage. Perched dramatically on the edge of a 2,000-foot cliff above the valley, Tiger's Nest is the unofficial symbol of Bhutan and a forever-memorable destination for anyone who makes the trip. The round trip is about four hours. It is possible to ride a pony half way up, but not on the upper trail, or on the way down.

On the way back to Paro, we will detour to the ruins of Drukgyel Dzong, a 16th Century monastery built to mark the Bhutanese victory over Tibetan invaders, and also the ancient Kyichu Lakhang Temple – another of the 108 temples that King Songsten Gampo of Tibet built in a single night in 7th century!

Optional Hot Stone Bath: 
With advance notice, you can experience a traditional Hot Stone Bath in a farmhouse. Hot stone bathes are a Bhutanese traditional method of curing skin ailments, joint pains, hypertension, stomach disorders, arthritis, and many other ailments. Even if you don’t have any of these issues, it’s a wonderfully relaxing experience, especially after a laborious hike. It costs approximately $25 per person.

After breakfast, our team will get you to the airport for your flight to your next destination.