Haa Summer Festival (14th - 15th July 2024)

Meet and greet at the Paro International Airport and drive to Thimphu. On the way, visit to:

• Tamchog lhakhang built in 1420 by Thang Tong Gyalpo.

Afternoon, visit to:

• National memorial chorten.
• Craft market.
• Visit to the Tashichho dzong, the royal secretariat. The grand annual Thimphu festival is held here in autumn.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

Morning, visit to:

• Tallest statue of sitting Buddha (51.5 meters).
• Changangkha lhakhang, the oldest temple in Thimphu valley.
• Takin preserve center.
• Sangaygang view point.
• Dupthop lhakhang one of the few surviving nunneries in Bhutan.

Lunch at Simply Bhutan museum restaurant, where you can enjoy typical Bhutanese dishes, Ara (local wine), witness folk dances, visit to the folk museum and many more.

• Bhutan postal museum.
• School of 13 arts and crafts.

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

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

Morning – Drive to Punakha valley. On the way visit to:

• Dochu La pass with its 108 stupas and view the beautifully arranged Himalayan ranges.
• Chimi lhakhang, also called “the temple of fertility” built in 1499 by Lama Drukpa Kuenley . This monument is the main highlight of honeymoon in Bhutan.

Afternoon – Visit Punakha dzong built in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. The famous annual Punakha tshechu festival is held here in early spring.

In the evening, hike to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Choling monastery.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

Morning – Drive to Gangtey. On the way, visit 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 Gangtey Gompa monastery founded in 1613 by Gyaltse Pema Thinley, the grandson of Pema Lingpa.

Then visit the crane information center.

In the evening, explore the beautiful Phobjikha valley.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

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

Afternoon, visit to:

• Ta dzong, an ancient watch tower built in 1649 which now houses the national museum of Bhutan.
• Rinpung dzong built in 1646 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. The grand annual Paro tshechu festival is held here in mid spring.

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

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

After EARLY breakfast, drive to Haa valley. This beautiful valley is recently opened for tourism and is one of the highly recommended places to visit in Bhutan.

We stop on the way at Cheli la pass (3988 m). You can see the beautiful view of the Himalayas including Mt. Jomolhari.

While in Haa valley, witness the Haa summer festival 2024 which is one of the best festivals during summer. It is the festival of the highlanders and for nature lovers, it is one of the best time to visit Bhutan.

Afternoon, visit to:

• Lhakhang Karpo established in the 7^thcentury by Tibetan King, Srongtsen Gampo.
• Lhakhang Nagpo located in Dumchoe village, the monastery was established in the 7^th century by King Srongtsen Gampo.

In the evening, drive back to Paro valley.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

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

Afternoon, visit to:

• Drugyel dzong built in 1647 by the Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal.
• Kyichu lhakhang built in 659 A.D by the Tibetan King, Srongtsen Gampo.

In the evening, explore Paro market.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

After breakfast, drive to the Paro airport and farewell (Haa summer festival in Bhutan 2024 tour).