Thimpu, Paro & Punakha 08 Nights & 09 Days

Day- 01

On arrival transfer to Phuentsholling - On arrival, our representative will be there to receive guests and assist them to get transferred to Phuentsholling - The drive is approximately 170 kilometers i.e. 04 to 04½ hours - 58 kilometres to Alipurduar and nearly 75 kilometres to Cooch Behar Railway Station (NCB) and is nearly 02 hours drive - Hashimara is 18 kilometres through the lush green Tea Estate and Forested National Park - Phuntsholing, also spelt as Phuentsholing, is a border town in southern Bhutan serving as the corridor to West Bengal - The gateway of the land of thunder dragons, Phuentsholing is often regarded as the abode of kings and queens of the Himalayan Kingdom - At an altitude of only 300 meters, this commercial center lies adjacent to Indian town Jaigaon on the Himalayan foothills -  On arrival at Phuentsholling - Check into hotel - [With guidance from our representative one can fill the permit and pass on the ID and Photos for next day immigration office] - Evening free to stroll around the local market or visit the local pub - Night stay at Hotel at either Phuentsholling or Jaigaon

Day- 02

After the permit is issued for guests and vehicle transfer to Paro - Paro is approximately 175 kilometers and is nearly 06  - 06½ hours drive via Chukha and Rinchendling village along Thimphu Highway -  Paro is a historic town with many sacred sites and historical buildings scattered throughout the area - It is home to Paro Airport [Bhutan's sole international airport] - This beautiful city of Bhutan is situated at an altitude of nearly 2250 meters i.e 7382 feet - Paro is a beautiful valley encapsulates the rich culture, scenic beauty with hundreds of myths and legends - Home to many of Bhutan’s oldest temples and monasteries and the National Museum -  Places you must see when you are Drukgyel Dzong, Rinpung Dzong, Ta Dzong, Kyichu Lhakhang, Kila Gompa, Druk Choeding - Taktsang Monastery or Tiger's Nest is a good 03-hour climb uphill and is one day program -  On arrival at Paro transfer to the hotel or resort - Evening take a stroll around town, Pub or local market or even the main street - Overnight at the hotel, resort or homestay in Paro

Day- 03

Paro local sightseeing - Early morning breakfast - Paro has many sites for tourist to roam around - Three-night stay is the minimum requirement to visit all places - The main tourist attractions in Paro are Nya-Mey Zam or “the bridge with no fish” - Ta Dzong, “Ta” means to see/watch and “dzong” means fortress - Dungtse Lhankhang - Drukgyel Dzong or “fortress of the victorious Drukpas” -  Kyichu Lhakhang - Kila Gompa - Druk Choeding - Next Rinpung Dzong or “the fortress of the heap of jewels” & Simply Bhutan Museum - Then walk down the trail to visit Rinpung Dzong situated at commanding height, overlooking Paro valley - This Dzong is symbolic as the religious and secular center of all affairs of the valley - Late afternoon back to the hotel/resort or homestay - Evening free to stroll around the local market - Night stay in hotel/resort in Paro

Day- 04

Excursion to Chele La pass & view of Haa Valley - Chele La (Pass) connects the Valley of Paro and Haa and is situated at an elevation 3988 meters is considered to be one of the highest motorable passes in Bhutan - It is nearly 36 kilometers from Paro and 26 kilometers from Haa Valley and is about 01½ via Bondey-Haa Highway - About an hour's drive along a thickly - the forested road is a botanical paradise - The pass provides stunning views of the sacred mountain Jomolhari and Jichu Drake - Made all the more mysterious and beautiful with its abundance of prayer flags - Guest can witness the  cascades of wild roses; purple and yellow primulas; and swathes of deep blue iris covering the forest floor - One can also enjoy the spectacular views of Mount Jumolhari, Jichu Drake, other peaks and also the Paro and Haa valleys - Back to hotel/resort or homestay - Guest may spend the day by shopping or simply walking through the town or visit the local club or pub - Overnight stay in hotel/resort or homestay in Paro

Note: Special Permit & Stay for Haa Valley is Optional - Drive on to Haa situated at an altitude of 2700 meters i.e.8900 feet - Descending all the way for another 22 kilometers nearly an hours drive to Haa - The Haa Dzong view from outside is stunning - One can also visit to the famous Monastery of Lhakhang Karpo (White Temple) followed by a visit to Lhakhang Nagpo (Black Temple) - Three hours drive back to Paro

OR

Excursion to Takshang Monastery - Early morning breakfast - Start early  for an excursion to the spectacular Taktsang monastery or Tiger's Nest - A short drive to Satsam Chorten and from there a 2-hour horse ride or hike to the viewpoint of the monastery at an altitude of 3180 meters i.e. 10,430 feet - The trail climbs through beautiful pine forest and an occasional grove of fluttering prayer flags - Guest can stop for  rest and light refreshments at the Taktsang Jakhang (cafeteria) and then walk a short distance until Taktsang monastery is visible -  This incredible monastery clings to the edge of a sheer rock cliff that plunges 900 meters into the valley below - Legend has it that Guru Padmasambhava, the tantric mystic who brought Buddhism to Bhutan, flew here in the form of Dorji Drolo, mounted on a flaming tigress in the 747 A.D – One can have lunch at the  cafeteria and after lunch return to hotel - [If time permits then a few tourist spot will be covered] Evening free to stroll around the region - Night stay at Paro

Day- 05

Transfer to Punakha (Do Chul La Pass) & Sightseeing - After Breakfast: Transfer to Punakha the earlier capital of Bhutan - It is approximately 125 kilometers and is nearly 03½ - 04 hours drive by Thimphu-Punakha Highway & Thimphu-Wangdue Phodrang Highway - Drive up to Dochu-la pass situated at an altitude of 3088 meters i.e.10130 feet stopping briefly here to take in the view and admire the Chorten, Mani wall, and prayer flags which decorate the highest point on the road - Enroute visit  Chhimi Lhakhang, Punakha Dzong & Suspension Bridge -  Punakha is the administrative center of Punakha dzongkhag, districts of Bhutan - It is situated at an elevation of 1300 meters / 4265 feet - Punakha and Wangdue Phodrang are the administrative centers of their respective Dzongkhags and are located close to each other in the same valley -  Reach Punakha - Visit to Punakha Dzong, Built strategically at the junction of Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers in 1637 - Evening free to stroll around the place - Overnight at the hotel in Punakha

Day- 06

Drive to Wangdue Phodrang  & Transfer to  Thimpu - Early morning stroll around the area and back to Hotel / Resort or Homestay - Next drive to Wangdue Phodrang - Wangdue is typical small Bhutanese town - The town's formidable Dzong is its most visible feature - In the 17th century Wangdue played a critical role in unifying the western, central and southern Bhutanese districts - The town's formidable Dzong is its most visible feature - In the 17th century, Wangdue played a critical role in unifying the western, central and southern Bhutanese districts - After lunch, drive to Thimphu - It is approximately 90 kilometers and is 03 hours drive - Thimphu is the fifth highest capital in the world by altitude and ranges in altitude from 2,248 meters i.e. 7,375 feet) to 2,648 meters i.e. 8,688 feet with many sacred sites and historical buildings scattered throughout the area & Thimphu is one of the few capitals in the world that does not have a single traffic light - On arrival at Thimpu transfer to the hotel - Evening take a stroll around town, Pub or local market or even the main street - Overnight at the hotel, resort or homestay in Thimphu

Day- 07

Thimpu Local Sightseeing - Early morning breakfast - Visit the National Memorial Chorten built in honour of our late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk and the Dupthop Lhakhang - One can visit the National Library, stocked with ancient Buddhist manuscripts, and the Painting School where traditional art is still kept alive through instructions in the art of painting Thangkas -  Next visit Buddha Point,  Tashicchhoe Dzong, The Memorial Chorten, The Institute of Traditional Medicine, Coronation Park, School of Arts & Crafts, Handicraft Institute & Motithang Takin Reserve (Takin Zoo) & Simply Bhutan Museum -  The Tashichho Dzong is open to visitors only in winter when the Je Khenpo and the monks move to Punakha the ancient winter capital of Bhutan -  Drive to Simtokha Dzong and visit the Handicrafts Emporium followed by shopping for souvenirs - Evening free to stroll around the hotel or visit local club or Pub - Overnight stay in hotel/resort or homestay Thimphu

Day- 08

Transfer to Phuentsholing - After breakfast check out of the hotel - Next drive further to Phuentsholing - With the perfect mix of tradition, culture, monuments and scenic beauty, Phuentsholing is the place to visit any time of the year as a mystic destination - Phuentsholling is approximately 175 kilometers and is nearly 05  - 05½ hours drive via Chukha and Rinchendling village along - Thimpu / Phuentsholing road was built in 1962 by Dantak, the Indian Border road organization - The drive on this route is very pleasant with numerous scenic spots en route - Just before, arriving Phuentsholing, visit Kharbandi Goemba, the monastery built in 1967 subjected to time - It houses the large and attractive statues of Sakyamuni, Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, and Guru Rinpoche - Next to Phuentsholling - Evening free to stroll around the area and local market - Check into Hotel / Resort or Homestay - Overnight at the hotel in Phuentsholing

Day- 09

Departure transfer to Siliguri, Alipurduar Or Cooch Behar - One can stroll around the hotel or resort in the morning and return to hotel - Early morning breakfast - Check out of the hotel and departure transfer starts - The drive is through Tea Estates, National Park & Sanctuary - The Drive is approximately 170 kilometres to Siliguri, 58 kilometres to Alipurduar and nearly 75 kilometres to Cooch Behar Railway Station (NCB) and is nearly 02 hours drive - Hashimara is 18 kilometres - Traffic is always high so guests are requested to start early and not to rush - Drop at Bagdogra Airport (IXB) / New Jalpaiguri Railway Station (NJP) / Siliguri, Mal Junction (NMZ) / New Alipurduar Railway Station (NOQ) / New Cooch Behar Railway Station (NCB) / Hashimara Railway Station (HSA) - Forwarding Journey