Druk Wangyel Tshechu Festival in Bhutan (13th December 2024)

Meet and greet at the Paro International Airport and drive to Thimphu. A short short stop on the way to view Tamchog monastery built in 1420 by Thang Tong Gyalpo.

Afternoon – Visit national memorial chorten, craft bazaar and Tashichho dzong, the royal secretariat.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

Morning, visit to:

• Tallest statue of sitting Buddha in the world (51.5 meters) at Kuensel Phodrang.
• Changangkha lhakhang.
• Takin preserve center.
• Sangaygang view point.
• Dupthop lhakhang, one of the few surviving nunneries in Bhutan.

Lunch at Simply Bhutan museum restaurant.

Afternoon, visit to:

• National postal museum where you can make your own personalized stamps.
• School of 13 arts and crafts (Painting school).

In the evening, free to stroll in the town for shopping and photography.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

Morning – Drive to the Dochu la pass and visit 108 stupas. You can also see the beautiful view of Himalayan mountain ranges.

• Witness the Druk Wangyel festival 2024.

Afternoon, witness the festival. Later in the evening, drive to Punakha.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

Morning, visit to:

• Chimi lhakhang built in 1499 by Lama Drukpa Kuenley (Popularly known as “The divine madman”). The temple is also called “the temple of fertility”.
• Punakha dzong built in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. The annual Punakha festival is held here in early spring.

Afternoon, hike to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Choling monastery.

In the evening, walk across the longest suspension bridge in Bhutan built across Pho chu river (160 m).

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

Morning – Drive to Gangtey. On the way, view Wangdue Phodrang dzong built in 1638 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal.

Note: Upper part of the valley is called Gangtey and lower part is called Phobjikha.

While in Gangtey, visit to:

• Gangtey Gompa monastery founded in 1613 by Gyaltse Pema Thinley, the grandson and mind reincarnation of Pema Lingpa.
• Crane information center.

In the evening, explore Phobjikha valley, the roosting ground of the rare black-necked cranes in winter.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

Morning – Drive to Paro valley. We occasionally stop on the way to take pictures.

Afternoon – visit Ta dzong built in 1649, an ancient watch tower which now houses the national museum.

Then visit the Rinpung dzong built in 1646 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. The colorful Paro tshechu festival is held here in early spring.

In the evening, free to stroll in the town for shopping and photography.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

Morning – Hike to the beautiful Tiger’s nest monastery (Paro Taktsang).

Afternoon, visit Drugyel dzong built in 1647 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal.

Then visit Kichu lhakhang built in 659 A.D by the Tibetan King Srongtsen Gampo. He built 108 temples across the Himalayan region in a single day. Two of the these temples are in Haa valley where the famous Haa Summer festival is held. The another prominent temple built by him is Jambay lhakhang in Bumthang valley.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

After breakfast, drive to the airport and farewell (End of Druk Wangyel tshechu Bhutan tour). You can also exit from Phuentsholing via Chhukha if you are traveling by land. Please note that exit via Phuentsholing should be mentioned in the Tourist visa of Bhutan.