Bhutan Summer Splendour Tour - 7d/6n - 07-13JUL24

Monks on the Trans Bhutan Trail
Page updated: 22 December 2023

Introduction:

After the awesome flight into Paro experience the 3 western valleys of Thimphu, Punakha & Paro.

Furthermore it features the most important sights in Thimphu city, the magnificent Punakha Dzong and a special pilgrimage hike to Taktsang Monastery (Tigers Nest) in Paro. Bhutan is delightful in summer. Warm temperatures with waterfalls galore and oh so green. It’s a terrific time to visit with less tourists about.

This is a great tour for those travellers, with limited time, who are seeking a worthwhile introduction to Bhutan with like-minded companions.

This small group tour departs with a minimum of 2 persons & maximum of 8 persons. 

Tour Itinerary Overview.

  • 2 nights Thimphu (capital) with exploring, hiking & shopping options.
  • 2 nights Punakha valley with hiking plus monastery & dzong visits.
  • 2 nights Paro valley with Taktsang Monastery hike, shopping & exploring.

PRICE: From US$2693.00 pp twin/dbl share.

Bhutan Summer Splendour Tour Map

OR CALL THE BHUTAN TRAVEL EXPERTS ON
AUS toll free, James – 0412 416 111, Nicola – 0413 598 669

Reasons To Book This Tour

  • We only take a max of 8 persons on this tour.
  • We tailor our tours for less driving & more sightseeing!
  • 20 years experience, service & knowledge.
  • Competitive pricing & well constructed itineraries.
  • We provide a comprehensive Bhutan visitor guide for best planning.
  • We are experts at combining Bhutan with India & Nepal.
  • ATAS Accredited via our parent company MTA Travel.
  • Access to our exclusive travel app COMPANION

Your Bhutan Tour Inclusions

  • English speaking guide, driver & private coach.
  • All touring & transfers throughout your journey.
  • Bhutanese style 3* hotel accom with private bathrooms.
  • All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) including two bottles of water daily.
  • All monument & entrance fees, hiking & sightseeing, as per the itinerary.
  • Bhutan visa fees & visa processing.
  • Sustainable development fee (SDF) & local taxes.
  • Bhutan & Beyond bank transfers for payments to Bhutan suppliers.
  • Professionally operated by Bhutan Tourism Corp – BTCL.
  • ATAS Accredited via our parent company MTA Travel.

Tour Exclusions:

  • Flights to/from Paro are additional.
  • Personal bank charges incurred making payments to Bhutan & Beyond.
  • Personal items: phone  calls, laundry, drinks, snacks between meals and designer coffees etc.
  • Tipping – we will advise your tipping regime.
  • Travel Insurance is mandatory to enter Bhutan.
  • Any COVID-19 PCR or RAT tests required.

Available On Request:

  • Upgrade to Business Class on your flights.
  • Ex-Australia airfares.
  • Stopovers & additional India & Nepal arrangements.

Cancellation Conditions:

  • Deposit date until 45 days prior arrival in Bhutan – Land tour deposit is refundable less B&B service fees.
  • 45 days or less prior to arrival in Bhutan – No land tour refund permitted.

Please note: – These conditions cover land travel arrangements only, not airfares, which are subject to their own cancellation conditions.

 
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Sunday 07 July 2024.

Paro Valley to Thimphu Valley (1 hr 30 mins, alt 2350 m)

After clearing immigration and customs you will be greeted by your BTCL guide and driver and transferred to Bhutan’s capital Thimphu. Travelling through the spectacular countryside, en-route make a stop at the Tachogang Lhakhang (iron bridge)

On arrival into Thimphu visit the colourful centenary markets where everyone goes to buy an array of fresh fruits & vegetables, home-wares, handicrafts and clothes, before lunch at a local restaurant. This afternoon visit the National Memorial Chorten followed by the Takin Preserve – home to Bhutan’s most unusual national mammal.

Overnight Thimphu – Bhutanese Style 3* Hotel

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Monday 08 July:

Exploring in the Thimphu Valley.

This morning visit the awesome Buddha Dordenma statue located at Kuenselphodrang. The statue is made of bronze and gilded in gold. It is considered the largest Buddha Shakyamuni statue in the world. There is also an excellent 3 km hike option through Kuenselphodrang Nature Park which offers sensational valley views. Before visiting Trashichhoe Dzong and the nearby beautiful Tara Lhaden Zhingkham lhakang (temple).

View the majestic Trashichhoe Dzong and visit the nearby beautiful Tara Lhaden Zhingkham lhakang (temple).

Followed by a visit the ‘Simply Bhutan’ display village, where you can experience traditional Bhutanese village life; ara tasting (local spirit); suja tasting (butter tea); try your hand at archery and more.

This afternoon visit the celebrated Royal Textiles Academy & the Gagyel Lhundrup weaving centre. Here you can interact with the weavers. The adjacent S. Bishwa art gallery showcases the best of local art. Alternatively after the Textiles Academy visit, enjoy some free time to take a wander along Thimphu’s main street, Norzin Lam and visit the Craft Bazaar & perhaps visit the central Post Office which offers a wonderful ‘personalised’ stamp service for visitors.

Overnight Thimphu – Bhutanese Style 3* Hotel.

 

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Tuesday 09 July:

Thimphu to Punakha Valley (3+ hrs, alt 1310 m)

This morning you will be transferred by road eastwards to the Punakha Valley. En-route pass the Semtokha Dzong. This was built in 1629 & the oldest fortress of its kind that guarded the Thimphu valley. Today it is a monastery. Continue ascending to Dochu La (pass) to view the 108 Stupas. These were commissioned by a former Queen as a memorial to those who lost their lives during the low intensity conflict in late 2002. This was when Bhutan evicted Indian separatist rebels camped in the jungle on the Bhutan – Indian border. On a clear day you will witness a breath-taking view of the eastern Himalaya.

On arrival into the Punakha valley stop and visit Chimi Lhakhang, a monastery built by Lama Drukpa Kuenley (also known as the Divine Madman or Mad Monk) who has a very colourful history, and which is an, easy 20 minute walk across paddy fields. It is believed that childless women who visit the temple will conceive after receiving a “wang” (blessing) from the resident monk.

After lunch enjoy an orientation tour of the valley including the nunnery and, time permitting, consider a visit to the small very traditional village of Talo where you can wander through the serene grounds of the monastery with its beautiful gardens.

Overnight Punakha Valley – Bhutanese Style 3* Hotel.

 

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Wednesday 10 July:

Exploring & hiking in Punakha 

Today enjoy a hike along the Punakha suspension bridge, Bhutan’s longest, before a visit the dramatic Punakha Dzong, which formerly served as the seat of government and is still the winter residence of the Dratsheng (Central Monk Body). This is Bhutan’s most spectacular Dzong and an excellent example of how a medieval fortress and a centre of both monastic and administrative functions, has adapted and evolved for modern day use.

This afternoon we especially recommend you travel northwards up the valley and take a fascinating hike through fields of vegetables and tiny hamlets to Khamsum Yulley Namgyel Chorten. This Chorten holds very special significance being consecrated in 1999 and dedicated to the protection of the former Crown Prince – today’s current King, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.

Alternatively take the afternoon at leisure. 

Overnight Punakha Valley – Bhutanese Style 3* Hotel

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Thursday 11 July:

Punakha Valley to Paro Valley (4+ hrs, alt 2250 m)

Depart Punakha early morning for your transfer westwards to the Paro Valley, once again traversing Dochu La, and arriving in Paro town in time for a late lunch.

This afternoon enjoy an orientation tour of the major features in Paro town including Paro Dzong with its cantilever bridge and the National Museum, to view the fine collection of ancient Thangkha paintings, textiles, weapons and other artefacts. Finally take a wander along the main streets which offer good shopping for jewellery and handicrafts.

Overnight Paro Valley – Bhutanese Style 3* Hotel

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Friday 12 July:

Hiking Pilgrimage & Exploring in the Paro Valley.

Taktsang Monastery (aka as Tigers Nest) is one of the most scared and revered monasteries in the Kingdom and all Bhutanese Buddhists desire to make a pilgrimage visit to Taktsang at least once in their lives. Each step taken towards the monastery gains merit points towards their future.

Choose between a 1.5 to 2 hour round trip hike to the monastery viewpoint or a longer 5 hour and more strenuous hike into the Monastery itself. Tigers Nest clings impossibly to a cliff of rock at over 800 metres above the valley floor and where Guru Rinpoche flew on the back of a tigress to subdue the local demons followed by 3 months meditation in a cave still visible in the monastery. In 1998 the monastery was seriously damaged by fire and has since been painstakingly reconstructed to its original condition and consecrated by the 4th King in 2005.

Take a Bhutanese vegetarian lunch at the Taktsang Viewpoint and, returning from the hiking trail, visit nearby Kyichu Lhakhang – one of Bhutan’s oldest and most beautiful temples boasting an orange tree that perpetually bears fruit. Finally take a wander along the main streets which offer good shopping for jewellery and handicrafts.

Overnight Paro Valley – Bhutanese Style 3* Hotel

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Saturday 13 July:

Day of departure.

Enjoy a more relaxed start today, before being transferred by road to Paro airport in time to check-in for your onward flight.