• EXOTIC & EXCITING FAMILY ADVENTURES IN THE LAST SHANGRILLA

  • Region - Uttarakhand
  • Base Camp - Paro
  • Duration 8 Days
  • Altitute 2195m
  • Stay Rooms/Tents
  • Difficulty Easy
Detail itinenary

Arrive in Paro and spend your day resting. Overnight in hotel/ guesthouse.

Today is a special day as you hike up to one of the most famous sight & monastery in Bhutan, Taktsang (Tiger Nest) monastery. After an early breakfast we take a short drive to the starting point and from there take a hike to the Taktsang Monastery. Guru Padmasambhava or Guru Rimpoche did his meditation here for 3 months. The hike takes about 3 - 4 hrs (both ways) depending on the capability of the hikers. This is also a photographer’s delight; the monastery is adorned with prayer flags and the stands in the cave of granite rocks 300m above the valley floor. Tea/Coffee will be served in the viewpoint cafeteria. We finish the trek and on the way back to the hotel visit the Kichu monastery which is one of the oldest monasteries in Bhutan built in the 7th century by the Tibetan King SongstenGenpo who built 108 monasteries around the region with the last being Lhasa in Tibet. In the second half today we try our hand at Bhutan’s national sport, archery and also enjoy dart shooting in an archery range. Overnight in hotel/ guesthouse.

After breakfast we get familiarized with our cycles and after a short practice run we ride on the road leading to DrugyalDzong at the end of the Paro valley. This ride will be of around 18kms and is mostly on moderate incline which even first timers can manage. There will be a back up vehicle for keeping the cycles just in case someone doesn’t feel like riding. This is a fantastic ride mostly along the Parochhu (river). We will spend some time in the ruins of Drugyaldzong and later set out on a hike inside JigmeDorji National Park. This is a super walk in the beautiful Bhutan outdoors. After the hike we head back to our hotel. Overnight in a hotel / guesthouse.

After breakfast we drive to another spectacular valley called the Haa Valley which is surely one of the most picturesque districts in Bhutan. We will cross the 4000m Chelila Pass which has great views all around especially of underlying valleys. Haa valley is characterized by its surrounding rugged and mountain terrain unlike other parts of Bhutan. Today we will stay with a local family in their farm house. This home stay has a truly rural feel with apple orchards and fields all around. After a short rest and home cooked Bhutanese lunch with the family we set out on an exploratory hike from Haa town to Juneydrak Hermitage. The walk is through rhododendron forest with some very nice views. You will en route cross the quaint Katsho village. Up ahead you reach a chorten that marks the entry to a Hermitage. The walk to the temple is very interesting with beautiful views back towards Haa valley from the temple. You will also be able to visit a local farmhouse during your walk and meet with the local families. Overnight in a home stay.

Early morning after tea we drive to the border village of Damthang (30 mins). This is a breathtaking drive and a great place for photography. Later return to the homestay and have breakfast. Post breakfast we enjoy a short hike and depart for Thimpu via Chunzum. We get to Thimpu and check into the hotel. Evening at leisure. Walk around Thimphu city, one of the most beautiful capital cities in the world. Overnight in a hotel/ guesthouse.

Thimpu is truly culturally and scenically blessed and today we spend time exploring it. We will visit SimtokhaDzong, Kingdom's oldest Dzong built by ShabdrungNgawangNamgyal. Visit the handicrafts emporium where Bhutanese textiles and other arts are displayed and can be purchased, memorial Chorten, built in the memory of Third King of Bhutan. After lunch we relax for some time and later explore the small but extremely charming Thimphu city and the curio shops around the city. We also visit TashichhoDzong, Thimphu's most impressive building situated at the banks of Wang Chhu. It houses the King’s Throne room and it is also the summer residence of the Chief Abbot. Overnight in a hotel/ guesthouse.

After breakfast we drive towards Punakha via the Dochula Pass (3150 m). We take a break here for tea/coffee and some great views of the Eastern Himalayan Mountains. From here we continue towards Punakha. Depending upon the river conditions and the experience / inexperience of the group we will either raft on the Pho Chu or Mo Chu. The stretch on Pho Chu is approximately of 16 kms with about 15 rapids of class 2-4. It is the most popular river for rafting in Bhutan. Stretch on the Mo Chu river is of 10 Kms and has around 10 rapids with 2-2+ grade. We have lunch post river rafting and then set out to explore the PunakhaDzong (fortress). Punakha used to be the capital of Bhutan between 17 - 19'th century. The PunakhaDzong (fortress) is surely the most spectacular Dzong in the country and is built between two rivers known as "Phochu" (Male River) and "Mochu" (Female River). This is the winter residence of Bhutan's spiritual leader, the Head Abbot, and the Central Monastic Body. Later drive back to Thimphu for overnight stay in hotel/ guesthouse.

Post breakfast; head out for your onward destination.

Trek Detail

Bhutan is undoubtedly the most exotic region in the entire Himalayas. What sets it aside from the other Himalayan regions, other than its stunning landscapes, is the presence of an extremely rich culture & the beautiful & ever welcoming people that inhabit this land. The experience Bhutan presents is magical, very different from anything else and one which lingers on for a long period. Everything here has a past and an interesting story around it. So for people who love mountains and the stories that have existed within these mountains for centuries, this is a perfect destination.

One visit to Bhutan and the word Lush Green would have a completely different meaning for you. Just six hundred thousand people within its boundaries and a culture which loves conservation has ensured that the forests and foliage is absolutely untouched and pristine. The land is blessed with several high valleys characterized by vast flat undulating meadows which play host to quaint villages. The wide valleys here are something very rare in other regions of the Himalayas.

This multi activity cultural exploration trip to Bhutan is a unique combination of cultural exploration and a variety of engaging activities thrown in to keep the excitement level high throughout. This is an intoxicating 8 day trip and covers the popular Paro, Haa&Punakha valleys in Bhutan. Within these valleys lies a treasure of culture, beauty and mystery. We explore these valleys on foot, on cycles and on a raft. As part of the trip we hike up to Bhutans most famous sight and monastery, Taktsang or tigers Nest. We visit 3 majestic Dzongs (forts) in Thimpu, Paro & Punakha& also explore the beautiful towns of Thimpu&Paro, which surely are the most beautiful Himalayan towns across the Himalayas. As part of the tour you get to stay in a local farm based home stay and experience the rural Bhutanese life at close quarters. We have included archery and dart shooting in the trip for you to experience the two most famous activities in Bhutan.

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Recognition & Association

Recognised by Ministry of Tourism, Government of India as an Approved Adventure Tour Operator