OVERVIEW

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

Duration: 14 nights / 15 days

Route: Paro – Thimphu – Wangdi – Phobjika – Bumthang – Mongar – Trashigang – Samdrupjonkhar – Guwahati

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

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
Fly to Paro
Take a flight to Paro, site for the only International airport of Bhutan. From here you are taken to the hotel where your Self Drive/chauffeur Driven cars will be waiting for you to begin this exciting tour. Post Lunch you will visit the Ta Dzong/National Museum which holds beautiful art & paintings representing Bhutan’s rich culture & Buddhist History. A short walk downhill will take us to the RinpungDzongthat is a school for monks. Dinner will be at the hotel.

DAY 2
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 3
Paro – Thimphu (65 Kms/1 hr, altitude – 2134 mts/ 7000ft)
Start driving through the misty mountains and beautiful trails leading to Thimphu, the mystical capital of Bhutan. After check in and lunch at the hotel we take a city tour with a local guide visiting famous sites likeNational Library that preserves ancient Tibetan texts, Buddha Dordenma that is a huge 50m tall steel statue of Buddha, Preserve or zoo to see theTakin(National animal), The splendid TashichoDzongthat hosts the city’s biggest annual festival and an intriguing Handmade paper factory where you can buy souvenirs to take home.

DAY 4
Thimphu – Wangdi (70kms/3 hrs, 1350mts/4430 Ft)
We start driving along the national highway from the cool heights of Thimphu 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(7520mts), and reach the balmy, lush landscapes of Punakha valley. We stop for sometime and visit the SplendidPunakhaDzong built at the confluence of two rivers. From here we proceed to Wangdi and visit the surrounding Monasteries and market places. Dinner will be at the hotel.

DAY 5
Wangdi – Phobjika (70 Kms/2 hrs,2800mts/8400ft)
Drive to a bowl shaped glacier valley that 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 6
Phobjika – Bumthang (188 kms/6 hrs, 2477mts/8125 ft)
Drive through valleys and pine forests overlooking breathtaking views of the Himalayas. You visit a few monasteries enroute namely the TrongsaDzong and some more and reach Bhumthang. Once there we may visit the Chume weaving centre before checking in at the hotel by evening.

DAY 7
Bumthang
This charming town has an individuality that separates it from other regions. It is deeply religious with legends of Guru Padmasambhava lingering in nooks and corners. Visit a few Monasteries on footand shop at the local markets for its famous woolen material known as Yathra.Dinner will be at the hotel.

DAY 8
Bhumthang – Mongar (198 Kms/8 hrs, 1700 mts/5575 ft)
Get ready for a scenic but long drive passing a lake called burning lake, through lush green forests and via the highest motorable pass in Bhutan named Thrumshing at 4050 meters. The panoramic view from the pass is just thrilling. Stop at Sengor for lunch. Continue driving on hair raising bends, narrow roads, cascading waterfalls and vast fields reaching Mongar, a small town sitting by a hillside. It has been a long day, check in to the hotel, have dinner and retire for the evening.

DAY 9
Mongar – Trashigang (90 Kms/3 hrs)
Start driving early from Mongar as you pass through cornfields and banana grooves andreach Trashigang by noon, one of the busiest towns of Bhutan. Visit a few Dzongs by day and retire by evening to the hotel.

DAY 10
Trashigang
Today we drive to TashiYangtsi visiting monasteries and tiny villages on the way. We also visit the beautiful ChortanKora a huge white washed stupa/statue surrounded by a small community that makes the famous wooden bowls (Dapa). Overnight at the hotel in Trashigang.

DAY 11
Trashigang – Samdrupjonkhar (180 Kms/8 hrs)
As you start driving towards the border town between India and Bhutan visitKanglung, the sole university of Bhutan, a blind school and a famous weaving center. Overnight at hotel.

DAY 12
Fly out from Guwahati
Drive from Samdrupjonkhar to Guwahati, from where you take a flight back. Say goodbye to your humble hosts and when you leave the Himalayan Kingdom don’t be sad because it is over. Smile because it happened.