8days Happiness Bhutan Cultural & Nature Tour Package
HAPPINESS BHUTAN CULTURAL & FESTIVALTOUR – 8 days
Welcome to Bhutan, Land of the Peaceful Thunder Dragon, and now more popularly known as the Land of Happiness. We will ensure you and your family 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 English speaking Bhutanese guide and a chauffeured driven car will be with you during your trip.
DETAILS OF THE TOUR PACKAGE
Tour Type: Cultural & Nature Tour
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. Traverse through pristine forests, slow meandering rivers and witness a game of archery. Enjoy spectacular views of the snowcapped 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 short day hikes around the various nature trails, 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
- Excursion of Thimphu valley – Combination of the ancient and the modern
- Excursion of Punakha – the old capital of Bhutan
- Excursion of Haa valley – an off the beaten path experiences – remote and peaceful valley
- Excursion of the central Glacial Valleys of Phobjikha and Gangtey – one of the most beautiful glacial valleys of Bhutan and the winter roosting grounds for the endangered and sacred Black Necked Cranes
- Visit Dochula Pass – 3,150 meters – enjoy the spectacular panoramic view of the snowcappedHimalayas
- Visit TashiChodzongor the Fortress of the Auspicious Religion – the office of the Dragon King of Bhutan
- Bhutanese Cooking experiences
- Traditional farmhouse experience
- Traditional hot stone bath
- Play/practice a game of traditional archery
- Included quality wining and dining: a welcome reception with drinks at every hotel 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 Bhutan Swallowtail’s Luxury air-conditioned SUV and coach with extended leg room.
- Airport Transfers as per the scheduled flights.
- Airport Transfers
- Stays in hotels -the hotels are listed below for your reference and you can directly check them online for their properties and services. The standards and properties are all approved by the Tourism Council of Bhutan
- All three meals, tea and coffee
- Bottled mineral water throughout the trip
- Dedicated SUV luxury vehicle with a driver
- English Speaking licensed Guide throughout the Trip
- Short hikes, Packed lunches and snacks wherever required
- Monumental /Entrance Fees
- Route permits
- 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 with air conditioning / heating systems 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.
Indian nationals do not need a Visa nor have to pay the daily tariff and the only requirement is a route permit. For the route permit please send us a scan copy of your passport and on your behalf, we will apply for your route permits.
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
- Rinpung Dzong / Fortress of Heaped Jewels
- National Museum
- Drive to Thimphu – 1 hour
- Tachogang Lhakhang/temple
- Iron suspension bridge
- Visit the Changlimithang National Stadium to watch an archery tournament/match in progress
Overnight at your hotel in Thimphu
- Memorial Chorten / Stupa – Congregation of devout Buddhists circumambulating the Chorten from dawn till dusk
- Kuensel Phodrang / Buddha Point – 5meters Shakyamuni Buddha statue and view of Thimphu valley
- Hike around the Buddha Statue – 1 hour
- Bhutan Postal Museum – make your personalized stamps with your photos and use them to send postcards to your family and friends around the world
- Simply Bhutan Museum – A living Museum/studio showcasing the age-old culture and traditional heritage
- Takin Preserve – the weird looking national animal has the head of a goat and the body of a cow
- TashiChhoDzong/ Fortress of Splendid Religion – office of the Golden Throne of the Dragon King
- Craft Bazaar – single line of shops selling authentic handicrafts
- Visit weekend centenary farmers
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 snowcapped Himalayas
- 108 chortens/stupas
- Druk Wangyal Lhakhang/Temple of Victory
- Continue drive
- Lobesa Market
- Chime Lhakhang/Fertility Temple – 45-minute walk
- Drive to Gangtey& Phobjikha valley – 2 hours
- Visit a traditional farm house
- A traditional dinner with the local family
Overnight at your hotel / farm stay 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
- Hike to KhamsumYulleyNamgyelChorten / Stupa – 2 hours leisurely hike through the paddy fields and pine trees
- Punakha Dzong – Fortress/Palace of Great Bliss
- Iron suspension bridge – longest suspension bridge in Bhutan
- Drive to Paro – 3.30 hours
- Semtokha Dzong/ fortress A top a demon – first fortress built – 1629
- Stroll through the market area
- Either learn some Bhutanese cooking or cook your own meal with local ingredients
Overnight at your hotel in Paro
- Drive to Haa Valley – 3 hours
- Enroute Chelela Pass (3,780 meters/12,402 ft) – Enjoy the view of the Himalayan Mountains (hike to the top of the Pass)
- Continue drive to Haa
- Picnic Lunch
- Visit the Lhakhang Karpo – White Temple
- Lhakhang Nagpo – Black temple
- Stroll through the valley, visit some traditional farmhouse and interact with the villagers/farmers
- In the evening drive back to Paro
Overnight at your hotel in Paro
- Hike to Taktsang Monastery (3 hours uphill climb, 2 hours downhill)
- Kyichu Lhakhang/temple – One of the oldest temples in Bhutan
- In the evening stroll through the numerous small handicraft and souvenir shops and also the vegetable market
- Practice/play a game of traditional archery
- 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.