Day 1: Arrive in Paro
We welcome you at the Paro International Airport in the traditional Bhutanese way. The only gateway to Bhutan via flight, Paro presents the best introduction to Bhutan. Paro is awash with paddy fields except for a few concrete and traditional buildings.

On our way to the capital city, Thimphu, we will make several stopovers, a spiritually fulfilling one at the 15^th century Tamchog Lhakhang built by Drupthob Thangtong Gyalpo, a Tibetan spiritual adept famed for building iron chain bridges across Bhutan and Tibet. One such bridge is the approach bridge to the temple. Drupthob Thangtong Gyalpo is said to have spent 60 years in his mother’s womb contemplating the way in which to benefit sentient beings.

Day 2: Halt in Thimphu
A sightseeing tour around Thimphu, the melting pot of Bhutan, can give you a good introduction to the Bhutanese way of life. Today, we visit the popular Memorial Chorten in the heart of the city built in memory of the third King of Bhutan. A continues stream of Bhutanese and foreigners throng the place. The devout – both old and young – doing their pious rounds and monks saying prayers best represent the spiritual side of Bhutan. Other places of interest in Thimphu include the National Library, the School of Traditional Arts and Crafts, the Takin Preserve, the giant Buddha statue on the hill overlooking the Thimphu city, the oldest dzong in Bhutan, Semtokha Dzong, built in 1629 by the founder of Bhutanese state, Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. If we have time, we can also visit Sangaygang that commands a panoramic view of the Thimphu city.

Day 3:Thimphu to Punakha
Our journey today takes us across the Dochula Pass at 3,150 m above sea level. A coffee stop on the pass adorned with 108 stupas will give us an opportunity to enjoy the spectacular view of Jigme Singye Wangchuck mountain ranges sparkling in the distance.

From Dochula, we descend to Lobesa where we stop for lunch. Twenty-five minutes walk from the road point near Lobesa is Chimi Lhakhang. The temple, built by Tibetan Lama Ngawang Chogyal, is today associated with his cousin, Lam Drukpa Kinley, popularly known as Divine Madman. Popularly known as the Fertility Temple among tourists, it is believed to bless childless couples with children. The village around the temple is teeming with the painting of phallus in homage to the great Divine Madman. After the visit to the temple, we drive to

Punakha:Day 4
Today we drive from Punakha, across Wangdiphodrang, to Gangtey at 3,500 metres. We take the Wangdi-Trongsa highway towards the east. We climb the historic Pelela Pass, and before we hit the peak, we leave the highway and turn towards Gangtey. If you are visiting Bhutan in autumn, you will see the Pelela Pass awash with rhododendron in full bloom. 
 
At Gangtey, we visit Gangtey Gonpa, one of Bhutan’s oldest monasteries and the seat of an important lineage holder of Pema Lingpa, the 15^th century Bhutanese treasure discoverer.From Gangtey, we descend into the vast valley of Phobjikha popular for the endangered black-necked crane. Phobjikhais one of the two main winter roosting grounds for the crane.
 
We spend the night in a village in Gangtey and experience the traditional Bhutanese rural life.
 
Day 5: Gangtey to Thimphu
Today we start the day early and return to Thimphu following the same highway. Observe the change in vegetation and landscape as we make the descent from the Pelela Pass to Wangdi valley. In Wangdi, we will see the reconstruction of the historic WangdiDzongthat was burnt down in a fire accident in 2012. WangdiDzong was an important political centre during Bhutan’s medieval times.

Day 6:Halt in Thimphu
We reach Thimphu in the late morning and have enough time before lunch to take a walk around the city. You may like to check out some souvenirs in the numerous handicrafts shops.
We drive to Paro after lunch. In Paro, we visit DrukgyalDzong (the fortress of Drukpa victory), built to commemorate Bhutan’s victory over Tibetan forces in 1644. The dzong was destroyed by fire in 1951. 

On our way back to the town, we visit Kyichu Lhakhang, a few kilometres north of Tshogdue Town. Built in the 7^th century by the Tibetan dharma king Songtsen Gampo as part of the construction of 108 temples to subdue a demoness, it is considered one of the most sacred in the country. Another temple constructed at the same time by the same king is Jampa Lhakhang in Bumthang. Jampa Lhakhang is believed to have been built on the demoness’ left knee and Kyichu on its left foot. The construction of this temple could have been Bhutan’s first encounter with Buddhism.

From the temple, we drive back to the hotel for night halt.

Day 7:Paro Tshechu
Our day starts early today. We go to the tshechu grounds above Rinpung Dzong where mask dances, folk dances and dance dramas are performed throughout the day. We see on the tshechu grounds a large crowd of spectators from all parts of Bhutan dressed in their finest clothes, and through them, diverse facets of Bhutanese culture and lifestyle. Ask our guide to explain the significance of the performances.

Day 8:Paro Tshechu
Today is the last day of the tshechu. We need to be on the festival grounds before dawn because a giant scroll painting called thongdrol is unfurled. We will be among a long queue of people seeking blessing from the sacred giant painting.

A mere sight of the sacred thongdrol is believed to liberate one from the cycle of rebirth. It is because of this belief that thousands of people from within and outside the district come here to get blessed. 

In the afternoon, we visit Taa Dzong or the Watch Tower housing the National Museum of Bhutan, Rinpung Dzong, built by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, and some other places of historical importance.

Taa Dzong, the circular building on the ridge overlooking Rinpung Dzong and part of Paro valley, is a piece of Bhutanese heritage.

Rinpung Dzong is today the civil and religious administrative centre of Paro district. This dzong was first built by Hungral Drung Drung, a descendant of Phajo Drugom Zhigpo. In the 1640s, the descendants of Hungral Drung Drung offered the dzong to Zhabdrung Rinpoche who built a new dzongon the same spot in 1646.

Day 9:Hike to Taktshang
Today, we visit the most photographed monastery in Bhutan, Taktshang. Clinging to the face of a cliff 900 metres above Paro valley, Taktshang, known to outsiders as the Tiger’s Nest, is one of the most sacred places in the entire Himalayan region. Besides Guru Padmasambhava (popularly known as Guru Rinpoche in Bhutan) who is believed to have flown to this place riding a tigress, many enlightened masters meditated here and blessed the place. It is bit of a hike demanding some stamina, but a fulfilling one. Lunch is served at Taktshang Cafeteria which is face-to-face with Taktshang.

Day 10:Departure
Today, we drop you at the airport on time to catch your flight back home. We bid you farewell in the traditional Bhutanese way by offering you a white silk scarf.