After lunch visit the massive Rinpung Dzong, a hub for spiritual life and community events, that has a long and fascinating history. The Rinpung Dzong is the administrative seat of the district of Paro and also houses the monastic community.

Day 2-             Trek to view Taktsang
Walking distance   :      approximately 2-3 hrs

Acclimatization walk to Taksang Monastery. Taksang is one of the most respected places of pilgrimage in the Himalayan world.  For people unaccustomed to the altitude it takes about three hours at an average walking speed to reach the temple.  Follow an ancient path marked by river powered prayer wheels; the climb begins, up through a forest of oak and rhododendron to the Taksang tea house, a log cabin.  The view over the Lhakhangs from this tea house is extraordinary, and the effort of climbing up to it is amply rewarded.  The Taksang Monastery, tragically wrecked in a fire early in 1998, rebuilt, it is perched some 2950m up on a cliff overlooking the valley. The buildings cling to the black rock, overhanging the valley below by some 800m.  It was said to be where the legendary Indian saint, Guru Padma Sambhava, flew from Tibet on the back of a tiger to defeat five demons, who were opposing the spread of Buddhism in Bhutan.  Lunch will be served at the view point cafeteria. 

Afternoon: visit Kyichu Lhakhang composed of twin temples 1) the ancient temple and 2) the recent temple.  The ancient temple is deeply respected for its antiquity and holds one of Bhutan’s holiest statues of the Jowo, Buddha as a prince at the age of eight, which is alike to the one in the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa.   The recent temple was built in 1968 and is dedicated to Guru Rimpoche.
Visit Ta Dzong, the National Museum of the Kingdom. Originally built as Watch Tower since 1967 it is the National Museum of the country and holding fascinating collection of art, artifacts, thangkha paintings and Bhutan's exquisite postage stamps. 

Day 3: Drive to Thimphu the Capital city of Bhutan
Mode of Transport  : Coaster Bus
Driving Distance     : 65 kms
Driving Time           :       1.5 hrs
Altitude               :       2250m
Thimphu is in Western Bhutan

The drive is around 1.5 hrs to Thimphu and sightseeing in the afternoon. Visit Tashichhodzong, the seat of the parliament and a spectacular fortress is the focus of this valley. Next to the Dzong is the SAARC Secretariat built only recently, but in the traditional Bhutanese architectural style. The Memorial Chorten is another place to visit.  The Memorial Chorten was built in memory of Our Late King His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck.  Overnight at Hotel Pedling Thimphu.
                                                          
Day 4: Thimphu Valley sight seeing
Visit the Sunday Market.  From nomadic farmers who come into the city to trade supplies, to Bhutanese businessmen, to ever-present monks, there will always be a colorful gathering passing by.  Sightseeing includes visits to the late king's memorial chorten, the Textile Museum, the Heritage Museum, the silversmiths and pottery workshops and possibly the National Library. There will also be plenty of time to continue exploring the streets and emporiums. Overnight Hotel Pedling.

Day 5: Thimphu to Trongsa
Mode of Transport :      Coaster Bus
Driving Distance    :      200 kms
Driving Time        :      6-7 hrs
Altitude            :      2180m
Trongsa is in Central Bhutan

Journey today from Thimphu to the Centre of Bhutan, Trongsa En route view the massive Wangdi Dzong atop a high ridge between the Puna Chhu and Dang Chhu.   Carry on the drive through beautiful forests of rhododendron and fields of dwarf bamboo breathtaking scenery of the landscape, green meadows, gushing waterfalls and constantly changing vegetation to Trongsa.  Arrival late afternoon in Trongsa. Here we halt for the night at Yangkhil Resort.

Day 6: Trongsa to Jakar, Bumthang
Mode of Transport :      Coaster Bus
Driving Distance    :      68 kms
Driving Time        :      3-4 hrs
Altitude            :      2800m
Bumthang is in Central Bhutan

After breakfast, we will have some time to explore the shops at Trongsa after which we will walk up the small hill to visit Ta Dzong, the watchtower which overlooks Tongsa Dzong. The main temple in Ta Dzong is dedicated to Ling Gesar, the warrior whose mission was to vanquish the forces threatening the Buddhist teachings.  Built in 1644, Trongsa Dzong is the most impressive dzong in Bhutan with magnificent traditional Bhutanese architecture.  The ancestral home of Bhutan's Royal family, the hilly landscapes surrounding the dzong and wooden slatted houses overlooking the town of Tongsa are spectacular.

After lunch, drive for approximately three to four hours to Jakar, the center of the Bumthang valley.  From Tongsa the road climbs quickly to Yuto-la pass (3400m), the scenery changes to fir-covered slopes, reminiscent of the Swiss Alps. We then enter the wide chummy valley of Bumthang, which is famous for woolen cloth weaving known as Yathra. The women weavers make Yathra on pedal-driven looms, following an ancient tradition. Everything is done by hand, from dyeing the skins through the actual weaving. The Yathra is used to make blankets, cushion covers, jackets and others garments. We will visit few centers of Yathra weaving.  Arrive at Jakar by late afternoon.  Settle into Tamzhing Lodge.

Day 7: Jambay Lhakhang Drub

Day 8: Jambay Lhakhang Drub; Back to Trongsa

Day 9: Trongsa to Punakha
Mode of Transport :      Coaster Bus
Driving Distance    :      182 kms
Driving Time        :      4-5 hrs
Altitude            :      1350 m
Punakha is in Western Bhutan

Today we journey from Trongsa in the Centre to Punakha in the West of Bhutan.  Before Thimphu was made the permanent capital of Bhutan, Punakha was the Winter Capital because of its more temperate climate. The Je Khenpo (leader of Bhutan's religious order) and his council of monks still come to pass the winter months here.

Punakha Dzong, or Punthang Dechen Phodrang, was strategically built at the confluence, the river island between the mighty Phochu and Mochu Rivers in Punakha. While the rivers provided natural defense against invaders, it did not obstruct the view of the Dzong. The imposing structure, the biggest and the most magnificent of its kind at that particular point in time, was visible from all four sides. The construction of Punakha Dzong on the strategic location was completed in 1637 AD and it represented the supreme flowering Bhutanese art and architecture. One of the most important sacred treasures placed inside the Punakha Dzong by Shabdrung was the Rangjoen Kharspani or the self emanated image of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara or Chenresig from the first vertebrae of Choejey Tsangpa Jarey Yeshey Dorji, the founder of the Drukpa Kagyue lineage of Mahayana Buddhism.
The Punakha Dzong has been damaged by four fires and an earthquake in 1897 and has been devastated by flood water coming from the great northern glaciers. The Dzong has now been fully restored to its original splendor.  Overnight at Hotel Merik Puensum.

Day 10: Punakha to Paro
Mode of Transport :      Coaster Bus
Driving Distance    :      136 kms
Driving Time        :      4 hrs

1 and half hours drive to Dochula pass (3150m), through magnificent forest of rhododendron and magnolia. From the pass view the most majestic Eastern Himalayan peaks.   Lunch will be served at Dochula.  Continue to Paro, 2 and half hours drive via the confluence where Pa Chhu meets the Thimphu Chhu.  Overnight at Namseychholing Resort.

Day 11 Departure