Shangrila Tour

Arriving in the Paro Valley is an ideal entry into the other universe of Bhutan, with its unadulterated air and sentiment of peacefulness. Fields of green and earthy colored spread a large portion of the valley floor, while villas and detached homesteads spot the scene. Get settled and eat before visiting the Paro Dzong. Constructed in the mid-fifteenth century as a modest stronghold, it was formed into a significantly more ordered fortification in 1646. One of the realm’s best instances of traditional Bhutanese design, the structure currently houses a monastic school.

On the return tour, you’ll cross Nyamai-Zam, a traditional wooden secured bridge that traverses the Paro River. Roosted above Paro Dzong is its lookout redesigned in 1968 to house the National Museum. The irregular round building is underlying the state of a conch shell, and its presentations incorporate an amazing assortment of antiquated and current thangkas just as fearsome celebration veils. Afterward, visit the Kyichu Monastery, through the Drugyel Dzong ruins. It is probably the oldest temple in the nation, implied in the seventh century by the Tibetan King Songsten Gampo. Go through your first evening of the excursion in Paro. Later drive towards the hotel. Overnight at the Hotel in Paro.

After breakfast, drive around 25 minutes to climb to one of Bhutan’s most respected and revered pilgrimage sites, the Taktshang Lhakhang, prevalently known as the Tiger’s Nest Monastery. The journey offers fabulous perspectives on this sacred monastery roosted unstably on a sheer stone face almost 3,000 feet (900 m) over the valley floor. Legend has it that Guru Rinpoche, father of Mahayana Buddhism, showed up in the Paro Valley over a thousand years prior on the back of a tigress. He meditated for three months here in a cavern, which was changed over into this iconic monastery. 

Start the climb from the base to the cafeteria, which will take around 90 minutes along a well-maintained path, and stop here for a rest. From here it’s about an hour’s trip across a shocking scene to arrive at the monastery, which sticks to a vertical rocky cliff. On your return, stop again at the cafeteria for lunch, and then drop at the base of Ramthanka. The return climb takes around two hours. At night, loosen up with a conventional hot stone shower before your second night in Paro. Overnight at the hotel in Paro.

Start ahead of schedule for the drive to Chele La, the most elevated street pass in Bhutan. It winds upwards through blue pine and rhododendron woodlands for 22 miles (35 km). On a crisp morning, the view clears down to the Haa Valley, which just opened to foreigners in 2002 because of its closeness to the border with Sikkim (India) and Tibet. 

Passing along the edelweiss-secured edge, you will pass a sky burial site, the traditional Tibetan way of disposing of their dead. Now then drop for around two hours through thick rhododendron forest to Kila Goemba, an antiquated convent settled in a rocky patch on the mountainside beneath. Kila Goemba is a quiet retreat for 32 anim (Buddhist nuns) who lead an undisturbed existence of religious studies, petition, and meditation. This sacred spot has an ageless quality, which is an abundant award for the effort of the climb. Having made your offerings and maybe even been blessed, the time has come to plummet back to the street. 

For the individuals who might incline toward a relaxed touring day, there is the alternative to drive from Chele La down the opposite side to the Haa Valley. In the event that Chele La isn’t open throughout the winter, your guide will propose an option during the current day’s trip. 

Haa is the ancestral home of the Queen Grandmother and the famous Dorji family. Here, there are some significant temples and a couple of shops encompassed by farmhouses and apple plantations close to the quick streaming Haa River. The slopes of Haa give an ideal area for climbing or mountain biking, with the opportunity to stop and visit far-off holy places and temples and find the unaltered ways of life of traveling herders. Paro to Chapcha

After a delicious breakfast, head toward the grand valley of Chapcha, about 90 minutes away. Roosted on a peak stands the Dokhachu Goenpa, a far-off monastery that offers uncommon bits of knowledge about the lifestyle of the 20-30 priests who dwell there. Go through the day unwinding at the monastery and watching the way of life of the priests and overnight at the Monastery Guest House.

After breakfast, head to Thimphu, located in a huge valley navigated by the Wangchu River and encompassed by high pinnacles. Visit the Changangkha Lhakhang, a fortification-like sanctuary roosted on an edge south of Motithang. From the yard, you’ll discover extraordinary perspectives on the Thimphu Valley. Next, drive towards Dechenphodrang. Since 1971, it has housed the state religious school – on any standard day the grounds murmur with recitations exuding from the windows. The twelfth-century artistic creations have been reestablished, and the upper floor includes a huge figure of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal.

After lunch, visit the Folk Heritage Museum, which will give you a brief look into the traditional Bhutanese way of life. There is an amazing assortment of typical household objects, apparatuses, and equipment. The exhibition hall additionally composes ordinary showings of rustic conventions, skills, and customs, and hosts educational programs for kids. Next, visit the Vast Art Gallery, the capital’s primary place for local artists. It’s an incredible spot to plug into the Thimphu workmanship scene, look at the most recent displays, and chat with artists. 

Afterward, drive towards the Tashichho Dzong. It was at first established in 1641, yet reconstructed in its current structure in 1965. The dzong houses the fundamental secretariat building with the Throne Room of His Majesty the King of Bhutan. The National Assembly Hall is housed in an advanced structure on the opposite side of the stream. Overnight at Thimphu.

Leaving Thimphu, head into the field towards the Gangtey Valley, home of the uncommon blacked necked cranes. The drive rises steadily to the Dochula Pass, with sublime perspectives on the Himalayas, where you’ll make an appearance at the Dochula Monastery. 

The plunge to Wangduephodrang is dynamic and brilliant, with vacillating prayer flags flying in the midst of terraced farmland and streams. Wangduephodrang is the last town on the roadway before entering central Bhutan. Here, you can decide to stop at a perspective and see the remains of the Wangdue Dzong, which was lost to fire however which is being remade. Now, advance towards the Phobjikha Valley, a wide chilly valley with a central stream that wanders through shrubberies of bantam bamboo. The woods past the homesteads are for the most part coniferous, and the overall vegetation is made to a great extent out of blue pine, birch, maple, and a few types of rhododendrons. Cranes move here in the winter. 

Later in the afternoon, appreciate some conventional games. Bhutan’s public game is DHA (archery) which, alongside khuru (darts), is the most well known game in the nation. Go through your night at relaxation in the hotel, or go for a walk with your guide to explore the entrancing glacier valley. Overnight at the hotel Gangtey.

Today you’ll be touring the Phobjikha Valley. Roosted on a little slope ascending from the valley floor, the Gangtey Monastery is encircled by a huge town, fundamentally occupied by locals who take care of the monastery. Gangtey Monastery was established in 1613, and the religious tradition of Pema Lingpa is still educated there. The monastery was revamped as a Dzong in the late seventeenth/mid-eighteenth century. 

Around the Phobjikha Valley, you can likewise appreciate the Gangtey Nature Trail. This pleasurable walk begins from the little peak sitting above Gangtey Goemba. Head downhill through blooming glades to Simchubara Village, and from here through lovely woodland and out of the dark valley. Subsequent to passing Khewa Lhakhang, the path closes at the Tabiding football ground. The nature trail can be joined with a visit to Gangtey Goemba. At night head to Punakha Valley, the winter capital of Bhutan. Overnight at Hotel in Punakha.

Today, take a tour around probably the most beautiful Dzong of Bhutan, the Punakha Dzong. Also, explore the Punakha countryside by strolling through paddy fields to Pana town to see the Chimi Lhakhang Temple. Chimi Lhakhang is situated on a slope in the midst of rice fields. The temple is devoted to Drukpa Kunely and furthermore prevalently known as the fertility temple. This temple was inherited in the year 1400 and is a mainstream journey point for Bhutanese individuals. Head back to Punakha for the evening. Overnight at the Hotel in Punakha.

After an early breakfast, set out on a lovely day climb to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Monastery. A thirty-minute drive from Punakha Dzong will carry you to the base of the slope on which this temple is fabricated. From the bus park, cross a suspension bridge and stroll through rice fields before climbing a moderate grade encompassed by pine trees. The climb up is about 60 minutes, and down for about thirty minutes. Appreciate the quiet common excellence of the zone and light traditional butter lamps at the temple – an incredible offering representing wisdom. 

After the climb, drive back towards the Paro Valley, around a four-hour drive. Stop at the Dochula Pass for photos and to hang prayer flags. Overnight at the hotel in Paro.

Finally, your memorable Bhutan Shangrila Cultural Tour ends today. So after breakfast one of our representatives escorts you to the international terminal. From there you will bid farewell to the Kingdom of Thunder Dragon and head towards your next destination.