18 DAYs/17 NIGHTS- BHUTAN TEXTILE TOUR

Walk down to Paro Dzong, a fine example of Bhutanese historic architecture. From the Dzong, walk further down to Nyamai Zampa, a traditional cantilever bridge.

Travel to Thimphu, the capital town of Bhutan. The road runs down through the Paro valley, to Chuzom (Confluence) at the entrance to the valley, where the Paro and Thimphu rivers meet. The road passes along a narrow valley with high, rocky cliffs on the left, and then the valley opens out into farmland on the approach to Thimphu. Simtokha Dzong, “the place of profound tantric teaching”, stands sentinel on a hillock a few kilometers out of town. This dzong now houses the Institute for Language and Culture Studies.Check into hotel.

Evening free after dinner. Overnight at the hotel in Thimphu.

Day 02 :Thimphu Tour and Sightseeing

Sightseeing in Thimphu includes visit to:

Day 03: Thimphu-Punakha-Wangdue

In themorning, travel to Punakha (2 ½ hrs) via the Dochula pass. An hour's drive from Thimphu will take you to this pass (3140 m) where one can have a superb view of the Eastern Himalayas on a clear day with a powerful binocular telescope. Visit the beautiful 108 chortens built on the hill by Her Majesty Ashi Dorji Wangmo for the security and well being of His Majesty the King of Bhutan.

Travel onto Punakha, the old capital of Bhutan and presently the winter residence of the central monk body. Visit the Punakha Dzong, located on the island of the Pho-Chu (male) river and the Mochu (female) river. Visit the Dho Jha Gha Lam Temple.

After lunch, walk through the Metshina Village and take a 20-minute walk through the rice fields to the Devine Madman’s Monastery-Chhimi Lhakhang, famously known for its fertility shrine, where one can receive a special fertility blessing. Drive to Wangdue and visit Wangdue Dzong, situated on a ridge overlooking a river junction. In the 17th century, Wangdue played a critical role in unifying the western, central and southern regions of the country. Overnight at hotel in Wangdue.

Day 04:Wangdue - Trongsa via Phobjikha Valley

After breakfast,drive to Trongsa through Phobjikha valley.The drive will take you through dense forests of oak trees and rhododendrons and then arrive at Gangtey village, where you'll visit Gangtey Goenpa ( monastery), the only Nyingmapa monastery in western Bhutan. From Gangtey, you can see the picturesque Black Mountain range as well as Phobjikha Valley, the winter habitat of the black-necked cranes. Afternoon,drive to Trongsa, the ancestral home of the royal family. Drive through the tropical vegetation through the village of Nobding and Pele la pass (11,000ft). Throughout your trip you will come across the beautiful sceneries of rural Bhutan, with scattered settlements far from the road which makes for good photographing.You will also pass through open meadows, and valley of yak herders and several other villages via Chendebji Chorten ( Stupa) where you will stop for a tea break at a convenient spot and drive for another 2 hours to Trongsa. Overnight at hotel in Trongsa.

Day 05:Trongsa-Bumthang

After breakfat,visit Trongsa Dzong, which is the most impressive dzong in Bhutan. Built in 1644 by the Shabdrung, the dzong is an architectural masterpiece.

Then drive to Bumthang, this is one of the most spectacular valleys in Bhutan and also the heartland of Buddhism. Here the great teachers meditated and left in their wake many sacred grounds. The Guru and his lineage of Tertons, treasure finders, have led to the sprouting of many temples in the valley.On the way, visit the “Yathra” weaving centre at Zugney and spent our afternoon interacting with the local weavers. Yathra is the name for the colorful, hand-woven woolen cloth (often with geometric designs) that is produced in this region and wool used for this type of textile is sheep wool as the sheep is reared in this Bumthang district.Yatra is made into jackets or bags ,etc.Then drive onto Bumthang Jakar and Check into hotel.

After lunch, visit to the following:

Day 06: Bumthang: A day excursion to Ura Valley.

After breakfast,drive to Ura valley,the route to Ura valley is off the main road.Lunch at Ura village where you can visit the main temple and explore the village. Ura village has a medieval look to it because of the cobblestone streets, and the typical clothing of the women includes a sheepskin shawl. On the way back to Bumthang Jakar, you will visit Mebar Tsho (Burning Lake), where some of Guru Rimpoche’s treasures were discovered in the 15th century by the famous treasure discoverer- Pema Lingpa. It is a serene place to meditate. If time permit,visit Tamshing Lhakhang; a treasure house of interesting religious Buddhist paintings.. Overnight in Bumthang.

Day 07: Bumthang - Mongar

This Bhutan tour continues eastwards, winding through more rugged terrain. The drive, with spectacular views, will take about 6 hours. Pass through Ura village in Bumthang before climbing sharply to the highest motor road pass in the Kingdom, the Thrumshingla Pass 12,465 ft. Gradually drop down to Sengor. Watch cascading waterfalls along the way. The descent stops at 2,130 ft on a bridge over the Kurichu. Climb again through pine forest, maize fileds and eastern hamlets to Mongar town. The Mongar Dzong, built not too long ago,yet maintains the architectural traditions of the old dzongs.

Day 08: Mongar- Lhuentse-Mongar

After early breakfast,drive about 77 km to Lhuentse with a packed lunch as there are no good restaurants and hotels in Lhuentse district. Lhuentse is one of the most isolated districts in Bhutan. The landscape is spectacular with stark cliffs,gorges and dense coniferous forests. The region is notably famous for its special skills of weavers, and special textiles and fabrics.Textiles from Lhuentse is normally considered to be the best in the country. The Kurtoe region of Lhuentse is also the ancestral home of the Royal dynasty in Bhutan.
After lunch,walk to Khoma village which is famous for textile in Bhutan.Here you will see women folks weaving different types of textiles with intricate patterns.If you would like, you may also purchase textiles at a little cheaper rate than handicraft shops.
If time permits, Lhuentse Dzong: The approach to this Dzong (fort) is through a flag-stone-paved path over the vertical drops. The Dzong houses a body of 100 monks of the country. In the 16th century Pema Lingapa's son Kunga Wangpo set up this Dzong in the form of a small Gompa. In 1654 it was renovated by the Trongsa penlop Mingyur Tenpa.

Day 09:Mongar-Trashigang Ranjung

After breakfast drive to Rangjung. Check into Rangjung guesthouse. After lunch visit Radhi village. Radhi is famous for raw silk, which is known as “bura”. You can also witness women weaving raw silk. Overnight at the guesthouse in Rangjung

Day 10: Trashigang Rangjung – Khaling

After breakfast drive to Khaling. Visit National Institute for the Disabled (NID), which caters educational needs to the disabled people in the country. After lunch visit the Weaving Center which is operated by the National Women’s Association of Bhutan. And you can see the girls weaving different types of textiles out of back strap loom. If possible we can also visit to the house a private weaver
to see the techniques of Bhutanese dye. Then drive to Trashigang Zangdo Pelri Lhakhang in Kunglung. Check into hotel in Trashigang. Overnight at the hotel in Trashigang.

Day 11: A day trip to Tashiyangtse

After breakfast,drive to Tashiyangtse. The people here are known for making wooden bowls and containers, which are said to be the best quality found in Bhutan. Visit the Arts School and the Chorten Kora. On the way to Tashiyangtse you will stop at the Gom Kora temple, behind which is a large black rock. It is said that Guru Rimpoche meditated in a cave in which you can see the impression of his thumb, his hat, and his body on the rock. Then visit the abandoned iron chainlink bridge behind the village of Duksum. It is said that this is the last remaining bridge of those built by a Tibetan bridge builder by the name of Thangthong Gyalpo in the 15th century.Finally drive back to Trashigang. Overnight at hotel in Trashigang.

Day 12:Trashigang - Mongar

In the morning,visit Trashigang Dzong, which was built by Pekar Chopel in 1659, and the Dzong commands a remarkable view over the surrounding countryside.Then drive to Mongar, which is 3 hours journey and 90 kilometers. Check into hotel and overnight in Mongar

Day 13:Mongar - Bumthang

After breakfast,visit  Mongar Dzong, built not too long ago,yet maintains the architectural traditions of the old dzongs.
Then drive back to Bumthang which will take about 7 hours, with stops for lunch and tea in nearby villages. Overnight in Bumthang

Day 14:Bumthang-Punakha

After breakfast,drive to Trongsa then to Kuenga Rabten which is about 23 km from Trongsa but takes about 1 hour due to rough road conditions. It was the winter Palace for the  2nd King of Bhutan.Although, it is mostly empty with only one room occupied for the library. This palace is under Special Commission of cultural Affairs and we do not require any permit to visit the interior.
The trip from Trongsa to Kuenga Rabten will give you an intimate insight into the early days of Bhutan’s Monarchy. Beside you will see the beautiful large expanse of rice terraces in the lower Mangdu-Chu valley and as well the big waterfall before the drive back to Trongsa for lunch.Then drive onto Punakha.Overnight at hotel in Punakha

Day 15: Punakha-Thimphu

After breakfast, walk to Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten (50 Mins) temple built by the Queen Of Bhutan for peace and stability in this ever-changing world.

Travel back to Thimphu, visiting Simtokha Dzong en route. This dzong, built in 1627, is the oldest in Bhutan. It now houses the Institute for Language and Culture Studies.

In the evening,drive to see the Takin Zoo, which houses the national animal the Takin that is only found in Bhutan. Drive further upto Sangaygang to get a bird’s eye view of the Thimphu valley in the evening. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Thimphu.

Day 16 : Thimphu to Haa valley  to Paro

After early breakfast, drive to the beautiful Haa valley ( extreme North west of Bhutan).This route will take you  through villages of Doga,Susuna and Jabana villages spaced apart by forested areas, visiting typical Bhutanese farmhouses along the way and taste local wine and traditional butter tea. You will see villagers at work in their fields. Drive futher onto beautiful Haa  valley ( which is open to tourists only 2 years ago)and Lunch at Haa.
Afternoon,visit two famous monasteries, Lhakhang Karpo (White Temple) and Lhakhang Nagpo (Black Temple) The central shrine in Lhakhang Nagpo is said to be almost identical to that of the Jowo temple in Lhasa. Legend has it that local deities assisted in the construction of Lhakhang Karpo. As a result, the place came to be locally known as ‘Hay’ (meaning ‘surprise’) which later became ‘Haa’ due to varying interpretations and pronunciations over time.
The three giant hills looming over the fringes of Haa valley were called ‘Me Rig Puen Sum’ especially after the event of the Lhakhang Karpo construction. Today the three hills are popularly known as ‘RigSum Gonpa signifying three deities, Jambayang, Chana Dorji and Chenrezig (known in Sanskrit as Manjushri, Varjapani and Avalokiteshvara, respectively). These are the three principal bodhisattvas (Buddhas to be) among the thousand future Buddhas to come, and representations of them are to be found in every Lhakhang (temple) and household shrine room.
Later, other Buddhist saints like Guru Rinpoche and ‘Machi Labdorn’ came to this place, Jungney Drag, in Haa and blessed the locality. After Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal unified the country under the Drukpa Kagyupa sect of Mahayana Buddhism in the early 17th century, the chief guardian deity of Haa became Ap Chundu.
After that,drive to Paro through Chele-la (3,810m/12,573ft), On a clear day there is a superb view of Mts. Chomolhari and Jichu Drake from this point, so if the weather is favorable we will stop here briefly to stroll around and enjoy the lovely mountain scenery.Then drive through blue pine & rhododendron forest towards paro valley.
Overnight at the hotel in Paro.

Day 17: Paro Excursion to Taktsang

After breakfast, take a morning hike up to Taktsang Monastery, also known as ‘Tiger’s Nest’. The climb up to the viewpoint will take around 3 hours and from there you will enjoy a spectacular view of the monastery clinging to the side of the cliff. It is said that in the 8th century Guru Rinpoche flew on the back of a tigress from eastern Bhutan to this place and meditated in a cave here for 3 months. There have been shrines at this sacred place for many centuries. The principal Lhakhang (monastery) of the present monastic complex dates from 1692. Taktsang was damaged severely by fire in 1998 but has now been fully restored to its former beauty. After lunch at the viewpoint cafeteria, walk back down to the road and drive back to the hotel.On the way back, visit Kichu temple,one of the 108 temples built in the 7th century by the Tibetan King Songsten Gampo. The story goes that a giant demon lay across the whole area of Tibet and the Himalayas and was preventing the spread of Buddhism. To overcome her, King Songtsen Gampo decided to build 108 temples, which would be placed on all the points of her body. Of these 108 temples, 12 were built in accordance with precise plans. Thus, it happened that in about the year AD 638 the temple of Jokhang in Lhasa was built over the very heart of the demon.

Day 18: Paro - Departure
Access Bhutan Tours & Treks will see you off at the Paro Airport for your onward destinations.

Bhutan Tour Itineraries>>