Detailed Itinerary |
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tour
Duration : 9 Days/ 8 Nights
Code- ITT-45
Destination Covered : Phuentsholing - Paro - Jele Dzong -
Jangchulakha - Jimilangtsho - Simkota - Phajoding - Thimphu - Paro
Day 01 : Arrive Phuentsholing.
Arrive in Phuentsholing at night, our representative will escort you to the
hotel. You'll be welcomed by our staff and a welcome drink will be served.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 02 : Phuentsholing- Paro (175 km, 6 hours).
Phuentsholing is the gateway of Bhutan for overland travelers. It only a
prelude and you will find mixture of Bhutanese and Indian people around. It
is a very colorful and crowded place as you’ll witness the place is a
center of mingling people, languages and costumes, you’ll be guided to
a garden of tropical plants and flowers on the low hill known as
Kharbandi.
From there you’ll have a bird eye view of the town and surrounding
plains. Next destination will be the
Amo Chu, commonly known as
torso river, which is favorite hunting ground for the fishermen and
picnickers. Being on the Indian border, the town has a great selection of
Indian restaurants. So you can find varieties of food to titillate your
taste buds. From Phuentsholing, the road curves north over the southern
foothills, through lush green forested valleys and around the rugged
north-south ridges of the inner Himalayas to the central valleys of Thimphu
and Paro. There you’ll see Bhutan’s one and only crocodile farm.
It is a scenic journey; forests decorated with orchids cover the mountains
on either side. The real scenic beauty will be felt in Paro, which is around
175 km from Phuentsholing. Beautiful monasteries, temples and palaces has
embellished the valley those has never failed to allure visitors, however
the stark silence sometimes amaze travelers. Overnight stay at the hotel and
enjoy the traditional Bhutanese cuisines.
Day 03 : Paro- Trek to Jele Dzong,.
After breakfast prepare your luggage and necessary items as we’ll move
for overnight stay at camps. This is a moderate trek, which leads from
Thimpu to Paro, crossing the chain of beautiful mountains that separate the
two valleys. Along the route there are wonderful lakes swarming with fish
and the area is famous for its spectacular rhododendron forests. In a clear
weather of late autumn and winter there are great views of the Himalayas
making this a popular trail for visitors. From there we will drive to
Ta-Dzong, formerly a watch-tower, now a national museum housing some of the
best paintings and artifacts of the region. If you wish you can spend
sometimes on the silent river bank. From there you’ll visit Taktsang
Monastery, one of the holiest in Bhutan is perched high up on a cliff in the
valley and can be seen on the way to Drugyel Dzong. We follow the left hand
trail, climbing steeply to our camping place just below Jele Dzong. Above
the camp is Jele La pass (3490m) and Jele Dzong that is mostly in ruins. (4
to 5 hours walking). After a stern day, night will be fully dedicated for
fun. A bonfire will be arranged and drink flows. There you will find
tourists from other countries so it will be a enjoyable night overall.
Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 04 : Jele Dzong- Jangchu Lakha
After breakfast time to explore the Jele Dzong. We will walk with a climb
through thick rhododendron forest to cross the Jele La (3490m) and onto a
saddle at 3590 meters. You may see yak herders and there are fascinating
views of Chomolhari and other snow-capped peaks but that all depend on the
climate, mainly Bhutan is the land of rain, June to September is the prime
time for the monsoon. Therefore, it's all about your luck to relish the
valley in its true color. You may also see and hear the beautiful Monal
pheasant. Our camp is a yak herder’s camp that is 3 to 4 hours walking
distance. Overnight camp.
Day 05 : Jangchu Lakha – Jimilangtsho (Trekking continues)
After
breakfast leave our camp, the track will be much tough as it will climb
steeply to the Jangchu La (4180m). If you’d fortunate to find a clear
sky, view of mountains and lush green valley is simply marvelous. The
pictureque Jitchu Drake (6989m), which represent the protective deity of
Paro will must see. Descending from the pass we arrive at our camp beside
the Jimilangtsho lakes (3880m), which is an isolated lake and famous for
their giant sized trout. There are stunning views of Gangkar Puensum
(7497m), Bhutan’s highest mountain. (4 to 5 hours walking). Overnight
camp
Day 06 : Jimilangtsho- Phajoding
After having breakfast prepare yourself for a longer trekking day. The
trail will take you through dwarf rhododendron trees and passes the lake of
Janetsho where there is another yak herder’s camp. Now,you’ll have
to climb through steep road across the coniferous forests that will take
whopping 7 hours time to up. We continue gaining height before reaching the
Phume La (4210m). Here the pass is decorated with many colourful prayer
flags. If the weather is clear you’ll have some clear views of the
Bhutanese mountains including Gangkar Puensum, the highest unclimbed
mountain in the world. We begin our descent to the Thimpu valley, passing
the Thujidrag Gompa (monastery), a meditation centre which clings to the
side of a rock face. We continue our descent through juniper trees to arrive
at camp near the Phajoding Gompa (3870m). Phajoding monastery is located at
an altitude of 3,700 meters, a commanding height to get a bird eye view of
whole Thimpu valley. There are several retreats and small temples spread
around the monasteries. It will take much of your energy so return back to
your hotel . Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 07 : Thimpu
Morning at your leisure. Thimpu- capital of Bhutan, is a shopper’s
paradise for the tourists. One of the local speciality are the traditional
clothes, also you can browse different items like hand-woven fabrics, carved
masks, religious thangkas woven baskets, handmade paper and finely –crafted
metal objects at different roadside shops. You can buy masks and handicraft
at local market in a much cheaper rate than shops. Bhutanese people are
simple and honest so you don’t have to bargain hard. While shopping
always remember buying and selling of antiques are strictly forbidden in the
valley. For lunch you can find variety of food in different restaurant.
Bhutanese affinities for Yak meat is well known, but they also relish a
completely vegetarian dish made of humble cheese and chilli. After
satisfying your shopping spree, you’ll be guided to Tashichhodzong
(fortress of glorious religion) and Simtokha Dzong, the first fortress that
is around 4 miles drive from Thimpu town, situated on a lofty ridge and now
become the educational institute of Buddhist studies. From there you’ll
be taken to national library, which is a vast collection of ancient
manuscripts and heritage building that also an attraction for the travelers.
In the museum you will see living farmhouse of 19th century depicting the
harmonius living style of Bhutanese family with the domestic animals in the
premises. If time permits visit other places like traditional painting
schools and traditional medicine institute. Overnight stay at hotel and
enjoy another round of ‘hot’ Bhutanese cuisines.
Day 08 : Thimpu- Punnaka
After breakfast ready to explore “angler’s paradise” that is
Punnaka, which is also a jumping and ending of many tracks. It’s 3
hours drive from Thimpu and the drive over the Himalayas at Dochula pass at
10,500 feet is spectacular sightseeing. In addition to that mild and
soothing climate will make your journey m more stirring . Punnaka is one of
the most fertile valley and once was the capital of Bhutan. Couple of spots
are particularly allure majority of tourists. One is chime Lakhang located
on the hillls among the rice fields is the pilgrimage of childless couples.
You can sense a deadly silence in the monasteries, which tranquil your mind.
If you wish you can walk to nearby villages and experience the rural life of
Bhutan. From the you’ll taken to Punnaka Dzong,which is a classical
example of Bhutanese architecture. It has embalmed body of founder of Bhutan
and sacred artifacts. From there you’ll be driven hour's drive to wind
swept town , Wangduephodrang. From Punakha along the Punak Chu river and on
the way to Trongsa. Wangdiphodrang Dzong is located on the merging of Punak
Chu and Dang Chu rivers. In evening return back to Thimpu.
Day 09 : Thimpu – en route to next destination
