Day 1 - Discovering the Himalayan Kingdom

Airport Road - The journey begins as you breathe in the crisp air while descending the plane’s stairs, enjoy a seamless check-out at Immigrations, and meet your cheerful tour guide and driver at the Airport gate.

Amankora, Paro - Depending on your flight’s timing, either enjoy lunch in Paro town or grab a quick coffee and snacks before heading to Thimphu for an hour. From the town, proceed to your Amankora Lodge, where your personal butler ensures a comfortable check-in and restful stay. If you’re feeling energetic, take a short stroll in town and savor a local brew at a pub with live music from local bands.

Thimphu Valley Excursion

National Memorial Chorten - Situated in the heart of Thimphu city, the Memorial Chorten is a beloved spiritual gathering spot and an engaging place for both tourists and Bhutanese. The three-story stupa houses significant statues of Buddhist saints, figures, and relics, making it an auspicious site for rituals and ceremonies. The main statue of the ‘Wish-fulfilling Buddha’ inside the Chorten is believed to grant wishes to those with sincere hearts.

From dawn till dusk, people of all ages circumambulate the Stupa, with the elderly spending their days chanting prayers, sharing meals, turning prayer wheels, and socializing with friends. They enjoy exchanging smiles and conversations with visiting tourists, making the Memorial Chorten an interactive place for those wanting to connect with locals and share stories.

Buddha Dordenma - Overlooking the charming Thimphu city is the Buddha Dordenma Statue, one of the largest in the world. Standing at 51.5 meters, it is made of bronze and gilded in gold, making it truly unique. Known as Buddha Point, it attracts devotees from all over Bhutan. Like other religious sites in Bhutan, the statue’s construction was prophesied by Guru Padmasambhava in the 8th century and Yogi Sonam Zangpo in the 20th century, foretelling a Buddha statue would be built here for World Peace and Happiness.

Tashichho Dzong - Every Dzong in Bhutan houses district administrative offices and the Local Monastic Body, but Tashi Chho Dzong is special as it contains the King’s office, the Throne room, and the Central Monastic Body. Located along the Thimphu river, it is a prominent and spectacular attraction in the valley.

While travelers cannot enter the offices or Royal office, a walk through the beautiful flower garden, glimpses of architectural structures, and visits to auspicious temples are worthwhile. Visiting hours are after 5 pm, making it the perfect time to witness the intimate flag-lowering ceremony and the majestic march of policemen as they carry the flag to the interior offices.

Bhutan Postal Museum - Known for its beautiful and varied stamps, Bhutan is a favorite among stamp collectors. The Bhutan Postal Museum in Thimphu showcases ancient and unique stamps. Bhutan’s first postage stamps were issued in 1962, coinciding with the opening of motorable roads. Before that, official mail runners delivered mail through valleys and mountains. The Museum offers insights into Bhutan’s communication history, legendary mail runners, and allows tourists to create custom stamps with their photos, which can be used to send postcards worldwide.

Centenary Farmers Market - To mingle with Bhutanese people and experience the aroma of organic produce, visit the Centenary Farmers Market. Tourists watch in awe as locals bargain with vendors, and you can stock up on organic fruits for the coming days. The market is bustling with farmers from all over Bhutan selling their produce. A stroll through the market offers insights into Bhutanese food habits and cuisine. Dried and fresh green chilies, essential in Bhutanese dishes, are widely available. Photography is allowed, and travelers can chat with English-speaking vendors.

Paro Valley Excursion

Rinpung Dzong རིན་སྤུང་རྫོང་། - Inside the Dzong, numerous temples depict stories of important Buddhist saints. Besides religious scriptures and artifacts, the Dzong houses the Thongdrel, a massive 20x20 meter applique of Guru Padmasambhava, his spiritual consorts, manifestations, other Buddhist saints, and Lam Ngawang Rabgay, who created this masterpiece. Displayed once a year for a few hours before sunrise, the Thongdrel is believed to purify sins by sight. It is showcased on the last day of the Paro Festival, a major tourist attraction in Bhutan.

National Museum of Bhutan འབྲུག་གི་འགྲེམས་སྟོན་ཁང་། - Located above Rinpung Dzong, the National Museum was once a watchtower (Ta Dzong) built in 1649 to guard against Tibetan invasions. Shaped like a conch shell, it became a Museum in 1968, was damaged by earthquakes, and reopened in June 2020. The Museum displays religious and historical artifacts that narrate Bhutan’s heritage and culture, including festival masks, fine arts, textiles, stamps, exotic animal specimens, and antique collections. A visit offers insights into Bhutan’s ancient culture, traditions, and the beauty, mystery, myths, and legends that make Bhutan a hidden gem.

Visit to Iconic Tiger’s Nest Monastery

Paro Taktsang - Known locally as Taktsang Goemba, the Tiger’s Nest Monastery is a sacred and revered site in Buddhism, akin to Mecca, St. Peter’s Basilica, the Wailing Wall, and Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Perched on a steep cliff above Paro valley at 3,120 meters, it is an architectural marvel with a spiritual ambiance and extraordinary history.

Legend says Guru Rinpoche, who introduced Buddhism to Bhutan in the 7th Century, flew on a tigress from Singye Dzong to Taktsang. He subdued demons and meditated for 3 years, 3 months, 3 weeks, 3 days, and 3 hours, sanctifying the site as holy. Over centuries, many saints, yogis, and lamas visited for meditation and blessings.

Amankora, Paro - Enjoy a BBQ lunch at the Monastery’s base. Experience a traditional hot-stone bath and a one-hour holistic massage to refresh and rejuvenate for another dinner and night in town, or enjoy a peaceful dinner and evening at your Lodge.

Depart

Airport Road - Depart from Paro Airport.

• Private transportation
• Dedicated SUV vehicle with a driver
• Government Royalty for socio-economic development
• Lunch
• Hot thermos with tea/coffee on the go
• All Fees and Taxes
• Dinner
• Laundry and Wifi
• Breakfast
• Bottled mineral water throughout
• Cooler box for cold water/beverage in the vehicle

• International Air fare
• Refreshments and bottled drinks and alcohol
• Tips/gratuities
• 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

Discover the ancient well preserved cultural and heritage sites of Bhutan spiced up with a few short hikes alongside spectacular views of mountains and vales topped up by your tour guide filling you in with magical stories, myths and legends of Bhutan. While the days are filled with stunning drives through the valleys, visits to charming temples and colorful markets and leisurely short hikes, the evenings are well deserved pampering of the senses at the Amankora Lodges in Paro and Thimphu

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.