| Paro Festival Tour |
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Day 01 Arrive at Paro and Drive to Thimphu During the flight, on a clear day, you can see breathtaking views of the Himalaya Mountains, including the sacred Jumolhari and Jichu Drake peaks in Bhutan. On arrival you will be greeted by our representative and transferred to your hotel. The drive to Thimphu is along a winding road following the Paro and Thimphu rivers. On the way to Thimphu you can visit Simtokha Dzong (the oldest fortress in the kingdom). You can spend the afternoon exploring Thimphu town. In the evening you can visit the majestic Tashichodzong. Overnight in Thimphu. Hotel Phuntsho Pelri Day 02 Thimphu sightseeing After breakfast you will visit the King's Memorial Chorten (built in memory of the third King of Bhutan who reigned from 1952-1972), Changgangkha Monastery, the radio tower (for a great view of Thimphu Valley and the Thimphu Dzong), and the Takin reserve, which contains the national animal of Bhutan. From there you will visit the nunnery temple, the National Library (which houses ancient manuscripts), and the School of Arts and Crafts (also known as the painting school). After a relaxing lunch, you will visit the National Institute of Traditional Medicine, a traditional paper factory, the Folk Heritage museum, and the Textile museum. Overnight in Thimphu. Hotel Phuntsho Pelri Day 03 Thimphu to Wangdue You will spend the morning at the Thimphu weekend, you can stroll through the market to see the variety of food of the country, including basket upon basket of fiery chilies, fresh cheese, and mangoes. In addition, many stalls contain Bhutanese handicrafts and household items. It's fun to wander the aisles, taking in the bustling atmosphere of the market. After lunch you will drive to Wangduephodrang. The drive takes you across the Dochula Pass (10,230 ft), which is marked by a large Bhutanese chorten (Buddhist monument) and prayer flags. You will stop on the pass for tea, and if the weather is clear, you will take in beautiful views of the high peaks of the eastern Himalayas. The road to Wangdue winds down from the pass, meandering through magnificent pine and rhododendron forests, giving you a glimpse of some of the most picturesque countryside in Bhutan Overnight in Wangduephodrang. Dragons's Nest Day 04 Wangdue to Bumthang After breakfast you will drive to Bumthang via Trongsa. The route is along a spectacular winding road, crossing 3,300-meter-high Pele La, and at certain times of year it's possible to see yaks. In Trongsa you can visit Trongsa Dzong, the masterpiece of Bhutanese architecture, and you'll also see Ta Dzong, the watchtower built to defend this dzong. In the afternoon, you'll continue your drive to Bumthang, the religious heartland of the nation, with lush valleys and hilly forests. Along the way you will stop at a yethra (textile weaving) factory, where the yethras are designed with patterns unique to Bumthang, and you can even watch some of the weavers at their looms. Overnight in Bumthang. Wangdicholling Lodge Day 05 Bumthang sightseeing and hike After breakfast you will visit Jakar Dzong, the administrative center of the valley, Jambey Lhakhang, one of the oldest monasteries in Bhutan and Kurjey Lhakhang, one of the most sacred places. In the afternoon you will hike to Shukdrag monastery. The hike is about 1 hour one way. You will hike up the Thangbi valley to Shukdrag Gompa, a meditation monastery built around a sacred cave in which Guru Rinpoche, founder of Tantric Buddhism, meditated in the 8th century. You can spend the evening strolling through Bumthang town. Overnight in Bumthang. Day 06 Bumthang to Wangdue You'll begin the day at the Bumthang market, and then drive to Wangduephodrang, where you can stroll through the town and visit the shops. The nearby villages are known for their slate and stone carvings and bamboo work. Overnight in Wangduephodrang. Dragon's Nest. Day 07 Wangdue to Punakha to Paro After breakfast you will visit Punakha Dzong, which is noteworthy both for being one of the most beautiful dzongs in Bhutan and also for having been built by the first Shabdrung in 1637. You will then visit Khamsum Yulephelma Chorten in Punakha, and later you will stop at Metshina Village and take a 20-30 minute walk through the rice fields to Chimi Lakhang, which is a fertility temple. In the afternoon you will drive to Paro. Overnight in Paro. Hotel Jors Yang Day 08 Paro festival You will attend the Paro festival, which is performed by local people and monks. A festival is also performed for Bhutanese to recount the history of Bhutan and Guru Rinpoche. Watching a tsechu is an act of building karma in your life. Many families get together and come out with their best dress to witness the festival. The festival will last until 3-4 in the afternoon. Day 09 Paro festival unfurling of the Thongdrol Attend a last full day of the Paro festival. If you get up at 2:30 a.m. and head to Paro Dzong, you will be able to see the unfurling of the Thongdrol (giant thankas painting of Guru Rinpoche) with the procession by monks and lamas. After the festival you can visit the Kyichu Lhakhang (one of the oldest monastery), and ruined Drugyal Dzong. In the evening you can explore Paro town. Overnight in Paro. Hotel Jors Yang Day 10 Paro sightseeing After breakfast hike to Taktsang (Tiger's Nest) Monastery, which is Bhutan's most famous monastery. It is perched on the edge of a steep cliff, about 900 meters above Paro Valley. The hike to reach the viewpoint to the monastery makes for a nice half-day excursion. In the afternoon you will visit the National Museum (former watchtower). In the evening you can visit a traditional farmhouse and see a side of the Bhutanese culture. If you wish, enjoy a typical Bhutanese dinner. Overnight in Paro. Hotel Jors Yang Day 11 End of trip. The trip ends, we drop you to the Airport for your flight departure from Bhutan.
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