Bhutan Paro Festival Tour

BHUTAN TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Travel to Bhutan via Sikkim and Darjeeling
Sunrise on Tiger Hill with views of Mt. Kangchendzonga, the 3rd highest peak in the world!
Join the locals to celebrate the colorful Paro Festival
Enjoy striking Himalayan beauty: snow-capped peaks, terraced fields and tea plantations
Optional day hikes through charming, friendly villages

Join us on an adventurous but relatively easy journey overland as we travel to Paro, the gateway to Bhutan, via Sikkim and Darjeeling in India. Enroute we visit marvelous monasteries and enjoy the dramatic beauty of Gangtok, Rumtek and Pemayangtse. A stunning drive through forests of oak, pine and orchids with the towering snow-capped Kangchendzonga range in the background brings us to Darjeeling. The tranquil environs with quaint villages, cascading waterfalls and the surrounding hills is a perfect setting for the tea estates and monasteries. A highlight in Darjeeling is a ride on the famous toy train up to Ghoom Monastery.

Savor a relaxed drive from Darjeeling to Bhutan with stunning views of plains, jungles and traditional Bhutanese farm houses. We celebrate the vibrant Paro Festival for two days before setting out for Punakha, the old capital of Bhutan and the winter residence of the Central Monastic Body. We continue to Bumthang, the cultural heartland of Bhutan, Trongsa, the ancestral home of the Bhutanese Royal Family, and Thimphu, an enchanting blend of the old and new.

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ITINERARY- BHUTAN TOUR

Print Bhutan Tour Detailed Itinerary (PDF)

Day 1: Arrival in Calcutta
Transfer to hotel near airport.

Day 2-4: Gangtok-Rumtek-Pemayangtse
One hour flight departing at noon for Bagdogra and a pleasant drive to Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim. We'll stop momos (steamed dumplings) along the wild Teesta. Visit monasteries, dharma centers, cottage industries and enjoy the impressive view of Mt. Kanchendzonga.

Day 5-7: Darjeeling-Phuntsholing
Two glorious days in Darjeeling, perhaps the most beautiful city in the Himalayas. Cherish a sunrise visit to Tiger Hill, a ride on the toy train to Ghoom and visits to the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and the Rail Museum. Enjoy lovely walks at your leisure.

Day 8-9: Paro
Attend the Paro Festival. Visit the museum; an optional hike to Taktsang Monastery.

Day 10-12: Punakha - Bumthang
Explore Punakha Dzong, located in the middle of the river, where many women go to pray for progeny, and then visit nearby villages. In Bumthang tour Tamshing Lhakhang, a treasure house of religious Buddhist paintings, Tamshing Monastery, one of the most sacred Nyingmapa monasteries, and Mebartso, the burning lake. We also visit Wangdi Phodrang village. Optional walks.

Day 13: Trongsa - Phobjikha Valley
Enjoy a picnic at the site of the Chendibji Stupa. Visit Trongsa Dzong, a magnificent example of Bhutanese architecture. Visit the ancient Gangtey Gompa and stroll around the beautiful Phobjikha Valley.

Day 14-16: Thimphu - Home
Thimphu is an enchanting blend of the old and new. We visit the Memorial Chorten, National Library, Institute of Traditional Medicine and the bustling bazaar. A special treat here is a visit to the School of Arts and Crafts.