Day1Arrival & transfer to Phuentsholing - Arrival at New Jalpaiguri Railway Station (NJP) / Bagdogra Airport (IXB) / Tenzing Norgay Bus Terminus (Junction) / Siliguri and Transfer to Phuentsholling - On arrival Guest will be received by our executive who will be waiting just outside of the airport or railway station – He will assist guest to board the vehicle to proceed for Phuentsholling – The drive is of 165 kilometers i.e. 04 to 04 ½ hour’s drive - The drive is through the lush green Tea Estate, the national park and sanctuary of Duars / Dooars - On arrival at Phuentsholling – Check into hotel - The border of India & Bhutan, the Indian side is known as Jaigaon and the Bhutan part is called Phuentsholling - Situated at an altitude of nearly 980 feet it is a small settlement and is the business hub of Bhutan - Evening free to stroll around the area and local market - (Guests are requested to be prepared with their ID card & Photograph to be collected by our agent) - Stay at either at Phuentsholling or Jaigaon
Day2Transfer to Thimpu - Permit Processing and Transfer to Thimpu (2350 meters / 7710 feet) - Early morning breakfast – Obtain permit at Bhutan Immigration office with assistance from our representative & Indian Embassy - Normally it takes 03 - 04 hours) - Next is issuing of vehicle permit - Start for Thimpu – The drive is approximately 172 kilometers and is 06 ½ - 07 hours drive by road – The drive is beautiful, and one can see some waterfalls along the way – Thimpu is a charming city, probably the smallest capital in the world, resting in the heart of the Himalayas - The skyline hardly changes as new buildings are all constructed in traditional Bhutanese style - It is situated in the western central part of Bhutan – It is a lively place, interesting combination of tradition and modernity - Thimpu is situated at an elevation of 2350 meters / 7710 feet - Reach Thimpu - Check into your hotel on arrival - - Evening free to stroll around the area and local market - Overnight Stay at Thimphu
Day3Thimpu Sightseeing - Early morning Breakfast - Thimphu, Bhutan’s capital, occupies a valley in the country’s western interior - In addition to being the government seat, the city is known for its Buddhist sites - Start with all the Major Sightseeing places - They are 1) Buddha Point, 2) BBS Tower, 3) Tashicchhoe Dzong, 4) The Memorial Chorten, 5) National Library, 6) The Institute of Traditional Medicine, 7) Centenary Farmer Market, 8) Changlimithang Stadium, 9) School of Arts & Crafts, 10) Handicraft Institute, 11) Zangthopelri Lhakhang, 12) Motithang Takin Reserve (Takin Zoo), 13) Semtokha Dzong - - Check into Hotel - Evening free to stroll around the area and local market - Overnight Stay at hotel / resort in Thimpu
Day4Transfer to Punakha - Thimphu – Punakha - (2 ½ Hrs) - Early morning breakfast - Morning visit the School of Arts and Crafts where students learn 13 different arts used predominantly in Bhutan, Folk Heritage Museum, and the National Library - Drive to the Zilukha nunnery to can meet the nuns and interact with them - Lunch in the town and drive to Punakha through Dochula pass situated at an elevation of 3200 meters - It is nearly 95 kilometers i.e. 02 ½ Hours’ drive by road - If the weather permits one can enjoy a spectacular view of the highest mountains of Bhutan at a site that stretches almost 180 degrees - Walk around the 108 stupas and continue to sub-tropical valley of Punakha - Back to hotel - Evening free to walk around the hotel / resort - Night stay at Punakha
Day5Punakha Sightseeing - Morning drive to visit Punakha Dzong (fortress), which houses the most elaborated temple in the country - This is a fine example of Bhutanese rich Art and Architecture - Drive further up to visit the Souvenir Making Center for girls supported by Youth Development Fund - Interact with the students and back to the hotel for lunch. After lunch could relax in the balcony of the hotel to enjoy the view and the nature. Or could go for an hour hike to the temple of Khamsum Yuley Lakhang (moderate) or the temple of Chimi Lakhang (easy), the temple of fertility associated with religious art of phallus - Evening free to stroll around the area and local market - Overnight Stay at Punakha
Day6Transfer to Trongsa - Punakha to Trongsa distance is nearly 140 kilometers and is 05 - 06 hours’ drive by road - Trongsa, previously Tongsa is a town and capital of Trongsa District in central Bhutan - The name means "new village" in Dzongkha - Morning start your drive for Trongsa through Wangdi province and view the ruins of Wangdi Dzong (Fortress), which has been destroyed by fire recently - Continue to Trongsa over Pelela Pass at 3300 meters which forms the part of Black mountain range that divides the country into east and west - Enroute could take a short break and go for hike to the remote village of Rujubji - The drive is long but the landscape is picturesque and worth - On arrival relax in the hotel - Evening free to stroll around the area and local market - Overnight Stay at Trongsa
Day7Transfer to Jakar - The time required to drive from Trongsa to Jakar is nearly 03 hours and is approximately 70 kilometers by drive - Morning visit Trongsa town and visit the majestic Trongsa Dzong (Fortress), the home of the royals and the unique watchtower which houses a newly converted museum and is very very impressive - Drive pass by Yotong La pass at 3425 meters - En route stop over the weaving place, beside the road where "Yatha" (wool weaving) is done which the Valley of Bumthang is famous for - Continue your drive for Jakar - Jakar is the district capital (Dzongkhag thromde) of Bumthang District and the location of Jakar Dzong, the regional dzong fortress - The name Jakar roughly translates as "white bird" in reference to its foundation myth, according to which a roosting white bird signaled the proper and auspicious location to found a monastery around 1549 - Check into hotel - Evening free to walk around the hotel / resort - Overnight stay at Jakar
Day8Jakar Sightseeing - Early morning breakfast - Jakar is located in Bumthang (Choekhor) Valley within Chhoekhor Gewog in central Bumthang - Jakar is accessed via a north-south road that connects to the Lateral Road, the main highway of Bhutan - Visit Jampay Lakhang, the one of the first two Buddhist temples built in the country - Visit Kurjey Lakhang Temple, the site where royals are cremated, one can either walk cross the suspension bridge and visit the village of Parar and Tamshing or drive there - End your day with a walk passing by the Swiss farm - Most of the activities can be done on foot - Evening stroll in Jakar town and try some local pancake and noodles - Evening free to stroll around the area and local market - Overnight Stay atJakar
Day9Transfer from Jakar to Phobjikha - It is approximately 170 kilometers and is nearly 05 ½ - 06 hours drive by road - Phobjikha / Phubjikha and the suffix kha means valley in Dzongka - It is a vast U-shaped glacial valley, also known as Gangteng Valley named after the impressive Gangteng Monastery of the Nyingma sect in central Bhutan, where the graceful black-necked cranes in Bhutan (Grus nigricollis) from the Tibetan Plateau visit the valley during the winter season to roost (Early November end to February end) - Phobjikha valley is a paradise for nature lovers and hikers so once can enjoy the hike around the remote valley of Phobjikha - Farm house stay optional - Back to hotel - Evening free to walk around the hotel / resort - Over night stay at Phobjika
Day10Transfer from Phobjikha to Paro - Early morning breakfast - It is approximately 185 kilometers or 115 miles and is nearly 08 hours drive by road - Morning visit Gangtey Gompa, the largest and the only monastery of the Nyingmapa sect in western Bhutan, continue your drive back to Paro - If time permits, in Paro visit the National Museum, the first of its kind which has a collection from natural history to religious paintings. Visit the 17th century Paro Dzong (Fortress) on foot and continue walking through the oldest wooden bridge still in use - Evening stroll around the old Paro town and peep into some local handicrafts stores - Overnight stay at Paro
Day11Paro Sightseeing - Paro is a town and seat of Paro District, located in the Paro Valley of Bhutan - It is the site of the country’s only international airport and is also known for the many sacred sites in the area - It is a historic town with many sacred sites and historical buildings scattered through the area - After Breakfast start the local sightseeing - Sightseeing starts with Visit to the following sites - 1) Drukgyal Dzong, 2) View of Taktsang Monastery, 3) Kichulanka Monastery, 4) Ta Dzong, 5) Paro Rinpung Dzong (Museum), 6) Nya-MeyZam, 7) Dungtse Lhankhang, 8) Druk Choeding – Check into Hotel - Evening free to stroll around the area and local market - Overnight at the hotel in Paro
Day12Transfer to Phuentsholling - Early morning breakfast - Next drive to Phuentsholling - The road is approximately 175 kilometers and is nearly 05 - 06 hours drive by road - Proceed for Paro International Airport Sightseeing - The Only International Airport of Bhutan in Paro - Phuentsholling road was built in 1962 by Dantak, the Indian Border road organization and is generally in good shape - The drive on this route is very pleasant with numerous scenic spots en route – Arrive Phuentsholling – Evening free to stroll around the area – Check into Hotel –Evening free to stroll around the area and the local market - The Border gate to India Closes by 09:00 PM to 10:00 PM - Overnight stay at the hotel in Phuentsholling
Day13Departure Transfer - Early morning Breakfast - Check-Out from hotel - Departure transfer to New Jalpaiguri Railway Station (NJP) / Bagdogra Airport (IXB) / Tenzing Norgay Bus Terminus (Junction) / Siliguri - Next drive along the highway 31 via Madarihat - Chalsa & Sevoke - The transfer is along National Highway 31 and is generally in good shape with greenery on either side - The distance is approximately 170 kilometers and is nearly 04 - 05 hours drive by road - The drive is through Dooars i.e. the foothills of Himalaya it is plain forested area and number of Tea estates - One of the most beautiful and scenic green belt of the region - Stop at Coronation bridge at Sevoke for photography if time permits - Forwarding Journey
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