Cultural Tours are designed to give you a firsthand experience on many aspects of Bhutanese life and culture. These tours introduces visitors to unique aspects of Bhutanese history and rich culture with visits to age old Dzongs (fortresses), religious dance festivals, pilgrimage sites, museums, fascinating excursions to villages and monasteries and local sightseeing which offers an insight into the distinct culture, age old traditions and lifestyle of the deeply spiritual and mystical kingdom.
Brief Itinerary
-
Arrive Paro by Druk air A319, the only national carrier. The flight offers you beautiful view of mountains and landscapes. On arrival and after visa formalities you will be received by MJTT member and drive to Thimphu. Afternoon if time permit s/seeing. Overnight at hotel.
-
Thimphu sightseeing – visit the Memorial chorten built in the memory of the late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, 15 century Changangkha monastery and the new Drupthob nunnery temple. PM drive 3 hours to Punakha by crossing the Dochula pass 3100 meters. On fine weather you will see the eastern Himalayan ranges including the highest mountain in Bhutan Mt.Gangar Punsum 7520 meters. The drive from the pass is all the way downhill dropping to the lower and warmer valleys of lobesa. Overnight at hotel.
-
Visit the Punakha Dzong which served as an old capital of Bhutan. This remarkable fortress is built between two rivers and has survived many glacial floods and fire. Every year during the month of February a procession known as the Punakha Serda takes place to commemorate the victory over the Tibetans. Drive 3 hours to Thimphu for lunch and proceed 2 hours to Paro via visiting the oldest building in Bhutan, the Simtokha Dzong. It now serves as a Buddhist university. Afternoon visit Ta-Dzong. It was housed into the National museum in the 1960s by the third King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. Also visit Rinpung Dzong. Overnight at hotel.
-
Paro Sightseeing – visit the ruined fortress of Drugyel dzong which still attracts visitors due to the strategic location of the fort. The fort defended the Paro valley from the Tibetan invasion from the north in the early 17th century. Day hike to Taktsang monastery. The hike which is all the way uphill takes about 2 /3 hours through villages and pine forests. The monastery clings to a huge granite cliff 800 meters from the paro valley. It is believed that the great saint Padmasambhava came in the 7th century on a flying tigress and meditated in a cave for 3 months. The demons were subdued who were trying to stop the spread of Buddhism and converted the Paro valley into Buddhism. Evening free time. Overnight at hotel.
-
Transfer to airport for departure.
