OVERVIEW

HIGHLIGHTS
Trip Style: Road Trip (Self Drive / Chauffeur Driven)

Duration: 14 nights / 15 days

Route: Guwahati – Samdrupjonkhar – Trashigang – Mongar – Bumthang – Phobjika Valley  –Punakha – Thimphu – Paro

Threshing Pass (4050 mts)(Bumthang)
Dochu La Pass (3100 mts)
Punakha Dzong(Punakha)
Buddha Dordenma/Statue(Thimpu)
TashichoDzong(Thimpu)
Handmade Paper Factory(Thimpu)
Tiger’s Nest/TaksangMonastery(Paro)

ACTIVITY
Tsechu Festival (23-25 September 2015)
Trekking & Hiking
Art & Craft Workshops

TOUR INCLUSIONS:
Accommodation (Standard 3*/4*/5* )
Meals: As per Hotel reservations.
Bhutan Visa
Certified English speaking guide
All monument fees
All royalties and taxes applicable in Bhutan
Self Drive Car or Chauffeur Driven Car (if required)
Driving Permits/permission
Useful Road Maps.
Towing strap and air pump.
Toilet Tent.
Wireless Radio Sets.
First Aid Kit
Crew Vehicle (For big groups)
Fuel

TOUR EXCLUSIONS:
Meals not included in Hotel reservations.
International Driving License (A must carry)
Alcoholic Drinks
Insurance, tips, Personal phone calls
Airfare/train fare
Refundable Security Deposit for self Drive vehicles (USD 2000/per vehicle)
Travel Insurance.
Entry fees (Any kind)
Any cost arising out of unforeseen circumstances like ill health, Vehicle Breakdown, landslide, roadblocks, bad weather etc.
Any charges for carrying video camera, still camera etc

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ITINERARY
DAY 1
Guwahati
Take a flight to Guwahati and as you land you are taken straight to the hotel. Once here rest for a while and then take a short trip to the city for some sightseeing before retiring for the day.

DAY 2
Guwahati
Today you spend the morning visiting the ancient Kamakhya Temple, a sacred Hindu Shrine for the wife of Lord Shiva. Spend the evening taking a boat ride on the mighty Brahmaputra River and return to the hotel for dinner.

DAY 3
Guwahati – Samdrupjonkhar (105 kms/3 hrs)
Start driving at the break of dawn towards the Indo-Bhutan border in Samdrupjonkhar. After completing the border formalities, head towards the hotel and check in. Begin your sojourn of the Kingdom with visits tothe nearby Dzongs/Monastery and the local marketplace and return to the hotel for rest and dinner.

DAY 4
Samdrupjonkhar – Trashigang (180 Kms/8hrs)
As you start driving away from the border town you may visit Kanglung, the sole university of Bhutan, a blind school and a famous weaving center. It is a long but scenic drive to Trashigang, one of the busiest towns of Bhutan. Overnight in Trashigang.

DAY 5
Trashigang – Mongar (75Kms/3hrs)
Start driving early from Trashigang and pass through cornfields and banana grooves before entering Mongar, a small town sitting on top of a hill. Check in at the hotel and after lunch hike into town while feasting your eyes on the beautiful countryside. Overnight in Mongar.

DAY 6
Mongar – Bumthang (198 Kms/8 hrs, Altitude-1700 mts/5575 ft)
Get ready for a scenic but long drive via the highest motorable pass in Bhutan named Thrumshing at 4050 meters. The panoramic view from the pass is just thrilling. Stop for lunch at Sengor. Continue the drive as you cross lush green forests, a lake called the burning lake and enter the charming town of Bumthang. Overnight in Bumthang.

DAY 7
Bumthang
Bumthang has an individuality that separates it from other regions. It is deeply spiritual with legends of Guru Padmasambhav prevalent in every nook & corner. There are a number of beautiful Monasteries & ancient temples in close vicinity that can be explored by day. Overnight in Bumthang.

DAY 8
Bumthang – Phobjika Valley (188 kms/6 hrs, Altitude- 2477mts/8125 ft)
As you drive from east to west Bhutan you drive through valleys and pine forests overlooking breathtaking views of the Himalayas. There are a few monasteries enroute worth visiting namely the TrongsaDzong, the Chume weaving center before you enter the bowl shaped glacier valley, Phobjika.
It is home to the migratory and rare black-necked cranes and is also the most important wildlife preserves in the country. Explore the beautiful valley in the day and retreat to your hotel by evening.

DAY 9
Phobjika Valley
Today spend your morning at GangteGoemba, a monastery with an extensive complex built in the 15th century and boasts of the largest prayer hall in Bhutan. Walk about the town and explore the marketplace before retiring for the evening to the hotel.

DAY 10
Phobjika Valley –Punakha (45 Kms/2 hrs)
This drive will not take long and soon you will reach the balmy, lush landscapes of Punakha Valley. Once here you must visit the PunakhaDzong built at the confluence of two rivers. Retire to the hotel by evening.

DAY 11
Punakha – Thimphu( 73Kms/3 hrs)
Start driving uphill via the Dochu La pass at 3100 mts from where you get a fantastic view of the Eastern Himalayan Ranges including the highest mountain in Bhutan, Mt GangarPunsum (7520 mts) and enter the cool heights of Thimphu. Overnight in Thimphu.

DAY 12
Thimphu
Today explore the only capital in the world where there are no Red lights! Take the city tour with a local guide and visit the famous sites like the National Library that preserves ancient Tibetan texts, Buddha Dordenma, that is a huge 50m tall steel statue of Buddha, a zoo designed especially for Tekin, the national animal of Bhutan, the splendid TashichoDzong that hosts the city’s biggest annual festival and an intriguing Handmade paper factory where you can buy souvenirs to take home. Evening at the hotel.

DAY 13
Thimphu – Paro (65 Kms/1 hr, Altitude – 2134 mts/ 7000ft)
As you drive through Misty Mountains and beautiful trails you enter Paro, city that is home to the only international airport in Bhutan. Check into your hotel and post refreshments begin the city tour as you visit the Ta Dzong/National Museum that holds beautiful art & paintings representing Bhutan’s rich culture & Buddhist History. A short walk downhill takes you to the RinpungDzong that is a school for monks. Overnight in Paro.

DAY 14
Paro
Today we go hiking at the most sacred spot in Bhutan called the Tiger’s Nest /Taktsang Monastery where legend says their guru Padmasambhava flew from east to west Bhutan on the back of a flying tigress to subdue the evil spirits that hindered Buddhism. Refreshments will be taken at small joints on the path. Evening will be spent at the hotel.

DAY 15
Fly out
Take a flight from Paro to your chosen destination but as you say goodbye to your humble hosts and leave the Himalayan Kingdom don’t be sad because it is over. Smile because it happened.