9 days Happiness Bhutan Cultural & Festival Tour Package Details
HAPPINESS BHUTAN CULTURAL & FESTIVALTOUR – 9 days
Welcome to Bhutan, Land of the Peaceful Thunder Dragon, and now more popularly known as the Land of Happiness. We will ensure youand your partnerhave a most memorable and happy trip. We will take care of all your needs, safety and luxury on your trip to Bhutan.
With the Paro Tshechu / Festival and hike to the Tiger’s Nest 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.
Enjoy the colorful Festival with the even more colorfully dressed Bhutanese people, traverse through pristine forests, slow meandering rivers and witness a game of archery.
Tour Type: Cultural 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 – The combination of the ancient and the modern
- Excursion of Punakha Valley – Old Capital of Bhutan
- Excursion of Gangtey and Phobjika valleys – one of the most beautiful glacial valleys of Bhutan and winter roosting ground of the endangered Black Necked Cranes
- Visit Dochula Pass 3,150 meters- enjoy the spectacular panoramic view of the snow cappedHimalayas
- Visit Tashi Chodzong or the Fortress of the Auspicious Religion – the office of the Dragon King of Bhutan
- Traditional farmhouse experience
- Traditional hot stone bath
- Included quality wining and dining : a welcome reception with drinks at every hotels of your stay,
- Throughout your holiday to Bhutan, escorted by one of the Bhutan Swallowtail’s expert tour guide- your ‘travelling concierge’, expert guide, consummate facilitator and friend in a foreign land who ensures your journey is as enjoyable as possible.
- 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 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 SUV vehicle with a driver
- English Speaking Guide throughout the Trip
- Short hikes, Packed lunches and snacks wherever required
- Monumental Fees
- Bhutan Tourism Development Fee
- 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 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.
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
- Dungtse Lhakhang/temple- 7th century 3- storied temple
- Dzong Drakha – visit the 3 temples – 15 minutes hike
- Stroll through the market area- Will find all the people in festive and celebratory mood
Overnight at your hotel in Paro
- Hike to Taktsang Monastery/Tiger’s Nest ( 3 hours uphill and 2 hours downhill)
- Kyichu Lhakhang / temple-One of the oldest temples in Bhutan
- Traditional Hot stone bath
Overnight at your hotel in Paro
- National Museum
- Paro Rinpung Dzong / Fortress of the Heaped Jewels
- Witness the Festival at the Dzong/fortress
- Stroll through the market area
Overnight at your hotel in Paro
- Early morning unfurling of Thongdrol – a huge tapestry of Guru Padmasambhava, the patron saint of Buddhism in Bhutan
- Paro Rinpung Dzong / Fortress of the Heaped Jewels
- Continue witness the Festival at the Dzong/fortress
- In the evening drive to Thimphu – 1 hour
- Tachogang Lhakhang/temple
- Iron suspension bridge
Overnight at your hotel in Thimphu
- Memorial Chorten / stupa – Congregation of devout Bhutanese circumambulating the 3 storied stupa
- Buddha Dordenma –5 meter bronze Shakyamuni Buddha statue gilded in gold
- 1 hour hike around the Buddha Statue- Optional
- 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
- Changangkha Lhakhang/temple- One of the oldest temples in Bhutan
- Tashi Chho Dzong/Fortress of the Auspicious Religion and office of the Golden Throne of the Dragon King
- Visit Changlimithang National Stadium- witness an archery match/tournament in progress
Overnight at your hotel in Thimphu
- Drive to Wangdue & Punakha Valleys – 3 hours
- Dochulaa Pass – 3,150 meters – Enjoy the spectacular views of the Himalayan Ranges
- 108 chortens/stupa
- Druk Wangyel Lhakhang/Temple
- Royal Botanical Natural Trail – 45 minutes hike
- Continue drive
- Lobesa market
- Drive to Gangtey&Phobjikha valleys – 3 hours
- Traditional farmhouse visit followed by dinner with local family
Overnight at farmhouse/hotel in Gangtey
- Crane Observation Center
- Gangtey Nature trail hike – 1.5 hours
- 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 – 3 hours
- Nunnery – View of Punakha and Wangdue valleys
- Interact with the nuns(most of them speak English)
Overnight at your Farm stay/ hotel in Punakha
- Khamsum Yulley Namgyel Chorten – 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(160 meters)
- Chime Lhakhang / Temple of Fertility – 30minute walk
- Drive to Paro – 4 hours
- Bhutanese cooking experience – learn some cooking tips or make your own meal with local ingredients
Overnight at your hotel in Paro
- Breakfast
- Drive to the Airport – 20 minutes
Paro International Airport
TASHI DELEK AND THANK YOU FOR VISITING.