3 Night 4 Days Bhutan Tour

Early morning check out from your hotel in Kathmandu sees us on our way to the airport for our flight to Bhutan. This is more like a scenic flight as you have a chance to look down upon the Himalayan Mountains, including Mt.Everest, Kanchenjunga, Jomolhari, and other Himalayan peaks. The flight is around 1.5 hours. On arrival, you will be taken to your hotel in Thimphu, about a 1.5-hour drive. After booking into your hotel you will visit the Kuenselphodrang, more commonly known as Buddha Point, where the largest Buddha statue in Bhutan sits on a hill overlooking the Thimphu Valley. There is also a 20-30 minute nature walk through the Kuensel Phodrang Nature Park where you have stunning views over Thimphu Valley and several mountain peaks. If you are interested in weaving, then a visit to the National Textile Museum is worth a visit, where you can see a variety of old textiles woven into unique designs and in rich colors. A visit to Bhutan would not be complete without visiting Tashichho Dzong, a famous Buddhist fort built in 1641 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, that underwent further improvements by the late king -  Dorji Wangchuck between 1962-1969. An excellent place to buy Bhutanese artifacts is the Craft Bazaar with more than 80 stalls where artisans display their traditional handicrafts and creations. By around 6.30 pm you should be back at your hotel in time for dinner.

After breakfast, we will head to the Bhutan Post Office where you can have Bhutanese postage stamps made with your photo on them. There is also a traditional paper-making factory whose methods date back to the 8th century and is part of Bhutan’s rich cultural heritage. The Jungshi Paper Factory was established in 1990 by the government of Bhutan and is today a major manufacturer of hand-made paper products. Another unique Bhutanese means of retaining its history is the School of Traditional Painting of Arts and Crafts where students partake in a six-year course, which includes the 13 traditional arts and crafts of Bhutan. If we arrive during the opening days, from Friday afternoon to Sunday night, we can also visit the Centenary Farmers’ Market, a thriving and exciting market place next to the Wangchu River that attracts many of Thimphu’s population as well as those from the neighboring valleys. There is an archery match (Bhutan’s national sport) at Changlimithang National Stadium at 1.30 pm each day. We will find a suitable place to eat along the way. In the afternoon we will travel to Paro and visit the

Paro Rinpung Dzong (fortress), built in 1645 to defend the valley against Tibetan invaders. Nowadays, the Dzong is being utilized as an administration center and school for monks. We will also take a stroll down to the traditional cantilever Rimpung Bridge that is said to be the oldest bridge in Bhutan. We can also wander among the Paro Valley and observe the lifestyle of the farmers and also stroll around Paro Town and chat with the locals. We should be back at our hotel by around 6 pm in time for dinner. 

After breakfast from 7.30  to 8.30, we will start our short 1.5-hour trek to Taktsang Monastery. Upon reaching the monastery you will enjoy fantastic views down over the valley. The monastery sits on the edge of the cliffs. We can relax at the View Point Cafeteria on the way up. The monastery is steeped in history and is said to be where the 8th-century monk Guru Rinpoche flew to on the back of a tigress from eastern Bhutan and meditated in a cave here for 4 months. The monastery was damaged by fire in 1998 and has since been restored to its previous glory. From the monastery we head back in the direction of the hotel, stopping along the way at the Kyichu temple, one of 108 temples constructed in the 7th century by the Tibetan King Songsten Gampo. Myth has it that in order to spread Buddhism to this area from Tibet that 108 temples would be constructed over what was believed to be a giant demon that covered Tibet and the Himalayas. It is said that these temples are situated on all the places of the demon’s body. As evening approaches you may wish to take comfort in a traditional stone bath. Tonight we will have dinner at the hotel combined with a cultural show.

After an early morning departure from the hotel, at around 6.00 a.m., we will head to the airport for our return flight to Nepal. We should arrive back in Kathmandu before 1 pm where Sherpa Trekking & Expedition staff will take you back to your hotel.