7days Happiness Bhutan Cultural & Nature Tour Package
HAPPINESS BHUTAN CULTURAL & FESTIVALTOUR – 7 days
Welcome to Bhutan, Land of the Peaceful Thunder Dragon, and now more popularly known as the Land of Happiness. We will ensure you have a most memorable and happy trip. We will take care of all your needs, safety and luxury on your trip to Bhutan. A dedicated Bhutanese guide and a chauffeured driven car will be with you throughout your trip.
DETAILS OF THE TOUR PACKAGE
Tour Type: Cultural & Nature Tour
With the hike to the Tiger’s Nest and excursion of Gangtey and Phobjikha valleys as the highlights of your holiday, Happiness Expeditions will take you through a cultural extravaganza of the valleys of Western Bhutan, spicy Bhutanese cuisine, culture and traditions, temples, monasteries, stunning landscape and warm and hospitable people. Enjoy spectacular views of the snow capped Himalayas from the various high mountain passes, mingle with the locals, dip in a traditional wooden tub of hot stones and visit awesome places and enjoy the intricate art and architecture that is evident in almost everything and everywhere.
Enjoy the ride through the mountains as you drive from high mountain passes to lush green valleys and riverside and be prepared for temperate to tropical weather conditions.
Travel Difficulty: Moderate
6 – 7 hours of activity a day and/or elevation gain, higher altitude, longer distance, uneven terrain.
- Tiger’s Nest/Taktsang Monastery. Hanging onto a precarious almost vertical mountain cliff, it’s a spectacular sight in terms of location, setting and history and is one of the holiest sites in the Buddhist arena.
- Thimphu Valley excursion – combination of the ancient and the modern
- Punakha valley excursion – the old capital of Bhutan
- Simply Bhutan Museum – visit a traditional farmhouse museum for a typical farm life experience; play archery & darts; taste the local rice/maize wine
- Excursion of Gangtey and Phobjika valleys – one of the most beautiful glacial valleys of Bhutan
- Visit Dochula Pass – 3,150 meters – enjoy the spectacular panoramic view of the Himalayas
- Visit TashiChodzong or the Fortress of the Auspicious Religion – the office of the Dragon King of Bhutan
- Traditional Hot stone bath
- Traditional farm house visit
- Practice/play a game of traditional archery
- Included quality wining and dining : a welcome reception with drinks at every hotels of your stay,
- Baggage handling everywhere on your tour.
- Free Wi-fi and internet in most of the hotel rooms and lobbies.
- Enjoy the unique comfort of Luxury air conditioned SUV and coach with extended leg room.
- Airport Transfers as per the scheduled flights.
- Airport Transfers
- Stays in hotels choice of 3, 4 & 5 star as per your preference and at an additional cost. No additional cost for 3 star and similar hotels. The hotels mentioned alongside the itinerary are all 3 star hotels and are the best in terms of services and reviews
- All three meals, tea and snacks
- Bottled mineral water throughout the Trip
- Dedicated luxury vehicle with a driver
- English Speaking Guide throughout the Trip
- Short hikes, Packed lunches and snacks wherever required
- Monumental Fees
- Visa Fee
- Government Royalty – goes towards economic developmental works in Bhutan eg, education, health, roads etc
- Air fare
- Refreshments and bottled drinks and alcohol
- Tips/gratuities – It is at your discretion to tip your guide and driver as per their service quality
- Cost arising out of Flight Cancellation/road blockades/ landslides and events beyond our control
- Expenses of personal nature and any other expenses not mentioned in the above cost
The vehicles are all luxurious and air conditioned catering to the comforts of our guests as well as ensuring a smooth ride over the mountainous and winding roads of Bhutan. With high ride quality and extended legroom you can enjoy the beautiful landscape from the inside of our cars. We have Toyota SUVs, Hi Ace buses and coaster buses with carrying capacity of up to 30 people in one bus. Driven by experienced and licensed drivers we will make sure you enjoy your holiday to Bhutan and the comforts of our luxurious fleet of cars.
The only document needed for your Bhutan Visa is a scan copy of your passport with a minimum validity of 6 months prior to entering Bhutan. All Bhutan tourist visa has to be applied through a local tour operator and on your behalf we will apply for your Visa and as soon as it gets approved we will send you the approved Visa, a print out of which you will have to show at the Airport while boarding your flight to Paro, Bhutan.
Flight details:
If you want, we can also coordinate your flights in and out of Bhutan. There are two Airlines – The Druk Airlines and the Bhutan Airlines. Between the two, there are daily flights to and from Kathmandu and Bangkok, and regular flights from Singapore, Bangladesh (Dhaka), India (Bagdogra, Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati).
We are the registered ticketing agents of both the Airlines, so please let us know your entry and exit airports and also your tentative travel dates and accordingly we will coordinate your flight tickets.
- Arrive at Paro International Airport
- Paro Dzong /Fortress of Heaped Jewels
- National Museum
- Drive to Thimphu – 1 hour
- Visit the Changlimithang National Stadium- witness an archery match or tournament in progress
Overnight at your hotel in Thimphu
- Bhutan Postal Museum – make your personalized stamps with your photos and use them to send postcards to your family and friends around the world
- Memorial Chorten/stupa – Congregation of devout Buddhists circumambulating the Chorten
- Buddha Dordenma – 51.5 meters gilded bronze Shakyamuni Buddha statue
- 1 hour hike around the Buddha statue- Optional
- Simply Bhutan Museum – A living Museum/studio showcasing the age old culture & traditional heritage
- Changangkha Lhakhang/temple- One of the oldest temples in Thimphu
- Takin Preserve – a weird looking National animal of Bhutan with the body of a cow and head of a goat
- Craft bazaar- a single line of shops selling authentic handicrafts
- TashiChhoDzong/Fortress of Splendid Religion – Office of the Dragon King of Bhutan
- Weekend Centenary farmers market
Overnight at your hotel in Thimphu
- Drive to Wangdue and Punakha valleys ( 2.30 hours)
- Dochulaa Pass- 3,150 meters – On a clear day spectacular view of the snow capped Himalayas
- 108 chortens/stupas
- Druk Wangyel Lhakhang/Temple of Victory
- Continue drive
- Lobesa market
- Chime Lhakhang/Fertility Temple – 30 minute walk
- Drive toGangtey&Phobjikha Valleys– 2 hours
- Traditional farmhouse visit followed by dinner with local family
Overnight at your farmhouse/hotel in Gangtey
- Crane Observation Center
- Gangtey Nature trail hike – 1.5 hour leisurely hike
- Walk through the villages, visit some traditional houses and interact with the farmers/villagers
- GangteyGoemba / Monastery
- Excursion of Gangtey, Phobjika and neighboring villages – one of the most beautiful glacial valleys of Bhutan
- Drive to Punakha – 2 hours
- Nunnery – view of Wangdue & Punakha valleys
- Interact with the nuns; most of them speak English
Overnight at your hotel/ home stay in Punakha
- Beautiful sunrise from the farmhouse with the view of Wangdue and Punakha valley
- Hike to Khamsum Yulley Namgyel Chorten / Stupa – 2 hours leisurely walk through the paddy fields and pine trees
- Punakha Dzong – Fortress/Palace of Great Bliss
- Iron suspension bridge – longest suspension bridge in Bhutan(160 meters)
- Drive to Paro – 3.30 hours
- Enroute Tachogang Lhakhang/temple
- Iron suspension Bridge
- Bhutanese cooking experience – learn some cooking tips or make your own meal with local ingredients
Overnight at your hotel in Paro
- Hike to Taktsang Monastery (3 hours uphill climb, 2 hours downward)
- Kyichu Lhakhang / temple- One of the oldest temples in Bhutan
- Play/practice a game of traditional archery
- Stroll through the numerous small handicraft shops
- Traditional Hot stone bath
Overnight at your hotel in Paro
- Breakfast
- Drive to the Airport – 20 minutes
Paro International Airport
TASHI DELEK AND THANK YOU FOR VISITING.