Bhutan in 5 days

• Travel Guide: Throughout your journey, you will be accompanied by a knowledgeable Bhutanese guide who will share insights into Bhutan’s history, culture, and traditions. The guide will also assist with local customs and ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience.
• Meals: All meals are included, with a variety of traditional Bhutanese dishes and international cuisine available.
• Transportation: Private vehicle transportation is provided for all transfers and sightseeing as per the itinerary.
• Weather: The weather in Bhutan can vary significantly depending on the altitude and time of year. It's advisable to pack layered clothing to stay comfortable.
• Altitude: Bhutan's terrain includes varying altitudes. Be mindful of the effects of altitude, especially during treks and at high passes like Dochula.

BHUTAN in 5 NIGHTS/6 DAYS   DAY 01: Arrive Paro (L/D) Fly Druk Air into Paro.. Upon arrival in Paro, clear customs and immigration. Keep your copy of the visa clearance letter handy. P.P size pictures are no longer required and your visa has been paid. Meet your Guide and driver outside the terminal building and transfer to the hotel. Time permitting, visit National Museum and Rinpung Dzong (Paro Dzong.) There may be time to stroll around the town as well. Overnight hotel, Paro.   National Museum: Established in 1967, the museum is housed inside a circular Ta Dzong, an ancient Watch Tower. It holds fascinating collection of arts, relics, religious thangkha paintings, households stuffs, arms, handicrafts, stuffed animals and Bhutan’s famous Stamps among others. (open 10-4pm – closed on Monday). Rinpung Dzong: meaning "fortress of the heap of jewels". Built in mid 17^th century, it now serves as the administrative and judicial seat of Paro district and residence for the 200 monks of Paro. It is also the venue for Paro festival held in the spring. Several years ago, the colourful movie Little Buddha was filmed here. Paro: Paro is one of the most beautiful valleys in the country with Bhutan’s only airport located here, among the terraced fields, and elegant farm houses. Willow trees line many of the roads, contrasting with bright colors of the fields and the most popular and important sites also found within Paro district. Paro town (2,280m) is still a small with one main street and less then one hundred small family-run shops. The weekend market in Paro is held on Saturdays.   DAY 02: Paro (B/L/D) After breakfast, drive to the trail head, and begin the trek to famous Tiger’s Nest Monastery (Taktsang). Return to the road head where you meet the transport and drive to Paro. There will be time to stroll around the town in the evening. Overnight at hotel, Paro.   Hike to Taktsang: Drive to north of Paro town for about ½ hr and embark on a trek to the famed Taktsang (Tiger’s lair) monastery. Taktsang monastery is located on the face of a 1,000m seemingly impossible sheer, vertical cliff, above Paro valley. The trail begins near the Satsam (2650m) and climbs steeply uphill to the Cafeteria (2,940m), an area of exposed ridge with panoramic view of Takstang. This takes little more then an hour. (Ponies are provided on request to ride up till this Cafeteria, but rest of way, including return downhill must be on foot.) You can get a good view from the Cafeteria or hike further uphill for another hour or so to the temple itself. There are several other temples and sites within the vicinity. Lunch is served at the tea house. The return trek to the road head is quite steep downhill, where you will be met by the transport.     DAY 03: PARO – THIMPHU (B/L/D) After breakfast, drive to Thimphu. On arrival in Thimphu check into hotel. Later you will visit the following sites in the capital; Memorial Chorten, Zilukha Nunnery, Takin Sanctuary, Heritage Museum, Traditional School of arts & crafts, Buddha Point and Tashicho Dzong. Upon available time, you will also visit paper factory, weekend market and handicraft center. Overnight at hotel, Thimphu.   Drive from Paro to Thimphu:  The distance of about 65kms from Paro town takes little more than 1 hour. Drive south following Pachu river to the river confluence at Chuzom, which is also the hub of road network going to Paro, Ha, Thimphu and Phuntsholing. From Chuzom, the drive takes about 1 hour, staying close to the Wangchu River in the valley floor, as you pass through villages and suburbs to the capital, Thimphu.  En-route, you can stop to view Tachogang temple and the nunnery at Sitsina.   Memorial Chorten: This landmark of Thimphu was built in 1974 in the memory of third King, Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, who is popularly regarded as Father of Modern Bhutan. It is a four-storey tall white building, containing statues and iconography of deities from complex tantric teachings and serves as an important place of worship for Thimphu residents, as well as from other parts of the country. Zilukha Nunnery:  It has been housed in Drubthob Goemba (monastery). There are about 70 nuns who live and pray everyday in the monastery. The beautiful view of Tashicho Dzong can be seen from the nunnery.   Takin Sanctuary:   Takin (Budorcas taxicolor) has been chosen as the national animal of Bhutan is based both on its uniqueness and its association with country’s history and mythology.  It is said that Devine Madman, a popular saint is said to have created it with his magical power at a large congregation of devotees. It resembles like a cow from back and goat in the front and continues to befuddle taxonomists, who cannot quite relate to other animal.   Heritage Museum: Heritage Museum is also a recent addition; housed in a traditional home displays the living style of the Bhutanese family in 19^th century.   School of arts & Crafts  (open 9-5pm mon-fri and 9-1pm on Sat –with exceptions of holidays and breaks). Commonly known as ‘the painting school’ is a national institute where children attend six-year course that provides instruction in Bhutan’s traditional arts and crafts called Zorig Chuksum - meaning 13 crafts.   Buddha Point: This is a new monument and main highlight of Thimphu valley. It has 165 meter high Buddha Statue Tashichhodzong: This fortress serves as the office of the King, ministers and various government organizations. It also is the headquarters for central monastic body of Bhutan. Bhutan's spiritual leader Je-Khenpo and the monks of both Thimphu and Punakha reside here during summer. It is also the venue for Thimphu Festival in the fall season. Paper Factory:  Traditional papers were made from the daphne plant, using simple methods.   Weekend Market: The colorful weekend market of Thimphu is held from Friday-Sunday. Residents of Thimphu and country sides come to shop for food and clothes. There are some handicrafts and gifts shop as well, and provide a great photography scene. Thimphu (2,300m) was a wooded farming valley until 1961, when it became Bhutan's official national capital. The massive Tashicho Dzong, about 700 years old, was carefully revamped in the 1960s by the late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk to house the royal and main government offices. Even today, it still only has a few streets and no traffic lights with estimated population of 125,000 people.   DAY 04: Thimphu - Punakha (B/L/D) After breakfast, drive to Punakha. En-route stop at Dochula pass. In Punakha visit beautiful Punakha Dzong and Chimi Lhakhang. Overnight at hotel, Punakha.   Drive from Thimphu  to Punakha: The drive from Thimphu (80 kms) takes about 3 hours. The road climbs from Thimphu to Dochula pass (3,050m) and descends through ever changing forests into the semi-tropical valley of Punakha and Wangdi at around 1200m. En-route stop at Dochula pass (3050m) where you can view the eastern Himalayas, including Bhutan's highest mountain, Gangkar Punsum (7,550m). Punakha Dzong: or Pungthang Dechen Phodrang "Palace of Great Happiness"  is located on the confluence of two rivers, the Pho and Mochu. It was built in 1637 by Shubdrung Nawang Namgyal and following the ancient traditions, it serves as winter residence for chief abbot (Je-khenpo) and the monks of Central Monastic Body, who return to Thimphu  in the summer Chimi Lhakhang:  a monastery and fertility temple dedicated to Lama Drukpa Kuenley, a Tibetan Buddhist saint known popularly as “the divine madman” and considered a folk hero in Bhutan for his unconventional ways. Drukpa Kuenley originally built a chorten on the site in the 14th century, on which a temple was later built in 15^th century. The temple, flanked by nearly 100 tall prayer flags, sits atop a picturesque hill. It has long been a pilgrimage site for childless couples. This easy walk takes about ½ hour each way.   Punakha: Punakha is located at the lower elevation of about 1,250m with pleasant winters. Cactuses, Oranges, bananas and sub-tropical plants are found here. Punakha was once the winter capital of Bhutan, the tradition that is still held by the Central Monastic body   DAY 05: Punakha – Paro (B/L/D) After breakfast, retrace your drive back to Paro. Drive across Dochula pass and stop for lunch at Thimphu. Continue your drive to Paro in the afternoon. In Paro, farewell dinner and overnight at hotel, Paro.   Drive from Punakha to Paro. The drive from Punakha to Paro via Thimphu takes about 4½ hours, covering total of 145 km. From Punakha, climb back to the Dochula pass (3,050m), where you have another opportunity to view the peaks of the eastern Himalayas. Descend to Thimphu from Dochula takes about 40 minutes. After lunch at Thimphu, drive west to Paro. The western branch of lateral highway from Thimphu, runs close to the Wangchu river in the valley foor, through the suburbs and villages of Thimphu to arrive at the river confluence of Chuzom, which is also the hub of road network going to Paro, Ha, Thimphu and Phuntsholing. From Chuzom, it is north-west for about ½ hour, following Pa Chu river upstream, passing Tachogang temple on the other side of the river, then through relatively straight road, into the villages and farm houses of Paro valley.     DAY 06:  Paro – Depart (B)  After breakfast, transfer to the airport in time for your departure flight to onward destination.   Tashi Delek !