Kingdom In The Clouds

Your Bhutan holiday with DesignerIndya starts on a grand note with your arrival at one of the most beautiful and adventurous airports of the world. Soon you will be transported to the capital city of Thimpu. Paro to Thimpu is a 1.5-hour drive. Post a delicious lunch and some Bhutanese hospitality, you will visit the Memorial Chorten, the impressive monument made in honour of Bhutan’s third king, and Changangkha Lhakhanag.

Then you will visit the largest statue of Buddha where you will actually see Thimpu in all its grandeur and splendour. As the sky turns red and the sun sets in the Himalayan kingdom, we will visit the Fortress of Thimpu, Tashichho Dzong. Take a moment to admire the imposing structure and its intricate carvings.

Return to a good night’s sleep at your hotel in Thimpu.

Wake up to a beautiful morning on the second day of your Bhutan tour. Post breakfast, we will head to the traditional Hand Made Paper Mill and the School of Arts and Crafts. Then we move to the must-visit Folk Heritage Museum and National Library. These are temples of art and culture. Make sure you have filled your bags with interesting souvenirs this morning.

The day gets more interesting as we drive upwards to the Dechenphodrang Monastic School. A picturesque and serene location tucked away in the mountains, you can meet and interact with the young monks here. Their candidness and maturity is sure to leave you touched.

We continue with exploring the local culture by going to the Zilukha Nunnery to meet nuns and interact with them. Post this rendezvous, we stop for lunch, and then drive to Punakha, crossing over Dochula Pass at 3200mts. On the way, you meet with another enchanting site- the mountain top where the 108 stupas are located and where the Himalayas form the majestic background.

We then continue to the sub-tropical valley of Punakha, often considered the most beautiful valley in Bhutan.En route, take a hike through the paddy fields. Feel the lushness of the field and trek on to Chimi Lakhang, the temple of fertility associated with the religious art of Phallus. Finally arrive at your hotel in Punakha after a fulfilling day and fall asleep like a baby. Punakha is at an altitude of 1350 mts.

We take an early morning drive to the fortress of Punakha Dzong. On this third day of your Bhutan tour, you will enjoy one of the longest trek of your journey. You will start the hike right above the Dzong. As you climb upwards, you will see quaint Bhutanese houses scattered across the valley, the clear flowing water and the stark and stony river beds below.

Post the trek, enjoy lunch at your hotel. Take in the lush valleys, snow-capped mountains, and meandering rivers from your hotel windows and balconies. You could choose to relax in the hotel or go for another trek to the temple of Khamsum Yuley Lakhang, another stunning temple on a mountain top.

You will spent the night at Punakha.

Wake up at the break of sun and walk up to the hilltop Nunnery. Find out more about the local culture and traditions from the nuns. Have stimulating conversations and enjoy the magnificent view of Punakha and Wangdi valley.

Come back for breakfast. Then we move towards the remote island of Phobjikha.

Bhutan packages are all about mountains, mist and monasteries. Little surprise then on the way you can stop for a short hike to the ancient village of Rinchengang, overlooking the ruins of Wangdi Dzong..

On arrival to the hotel at Phobjika, you can walk and explore the valley or relax in the hotel and enjoy the stunning vistas around.

The farm house stay in this Bhutan tour is optional. Sleep well at 2900 mts in the valley of Phobjikal.

Wake up at ease. After all the trekking and climbing, today will be calmer and less exhausting. You can simply relax and rejuvenate in the hotel, opt for one of their spa therapies, or make some Bhutanese friends in school children by taking a walk below your hotel. Post a sumptuous breakfast, you can go for Phobjika Nature trail hike which starts from the valley and ends at the Gangtey Goempa Temple at the hilltop overlooking the valley. Mind you, it is a 2.5-hour trek. Close your day at Phobjika after a hearty dinner and go to sleep.

We start early the 6.5 hours drive to Paro crossing over the Dochula La Pass yet again. Once you are comfortably settled in Paro, visit Paro Dzong on foot and carefully cross the oldest wooden bridge in the world.

You may see the local men indulging in some archery and verbal combat. Make sure to witness the spectacle and even participate in it if you are the adventurous type. We spend the night at Paro which is located at an altitude of 2200 mts.

The last and most awaited day of your Bhutan holiday has arrived. Early morning, you will leave for the base to the famed Tiger’s Nest, precariously perched on a cliff. From here it’s going to be an uphill climb of 3 hours.

The day will be spent in the hike, but when you reach the top, every moment will feel worth it. If you have any energy left consider visiting the Kichu Lakhanag, one of the oldest temples in Bhutan which marks the beginning of Buddhism in the country. You can opt for a hot stone bath later to rejuvenate yourself. Stay the night over at Paro

Bid farewell to the landlocked kingdom and move towards the airport for your departure flight. Carry in your bags and hearts cherished memories of the last remaining Himalayan kingdom and promises of coming back.