10 Days West Bhutan Nature Tour with Bumdrak Trek

Highlights: Arrive in Bhutan and visit the National Memorial Chorten, Tashichho Dzong, and Buddha Dordenma Statue.

Welcome to Bhutan, the land of the “Thunder Dragon”.

Upon arrival at Paro International Airport, you will meet your local travel guide and driver at the airport’s Arriving Hall.

Then, you will be transferred to Thimphu (2,350m), the capital city of Bhutan. Covering a total distance of around 54 kilometers, it will take you about 1 hour to get to Thimphu from Paro (2,250m).

On the way, you will first encounter a private temple - Tschogang Lhakhang, the temple of the excellent horse. Keep driving to Thimphu, you will have a short stop at Chuzom, a confluence where the Paro Chhu and Wong Chhu meet. It is decorated with three different styles of stupas, namely Tibetan, Nepalese, and Bhutanese.

After arriving in Thimphu, your guide will help you check in at the hotel. You can also take a short rest if needed.

Later, you will visit Tashichho Dzong, the eminent fortress where the national government and central monastic body are located. In addition, here sits the summer residence of Je Khenpo, the Chief Abbot of Bhutan.

After that, you will visit the King’s Memorial Chorten (National Memorial Chorten), a stupa built in memory of the third king in 1974. The display inside shows good statues of tantric Buddhist and its philosophy.

Stay overnight in Thimphu.

Thimphu National Memorial Chorten

Highlights: Visit the National Folk Heritage Museum, Jungshi Handmade Paper Factory, Simtokha Dzong, and Motithang Takin Preserve in Thimphu.

After breakfast, you will first visit the National Folk Heritage Museum. It dedicates itself to connecting people with the rich Bhutanese folk heritage and rural history through exhibits, demonstrations, educational programs, and documentation of Bhutanese rural life. The museum will strive to disseminate the rich cultural heritage across generations by preserving it in different forms.

Next, you will head to visit Jungshi Handmade Paper Factory. The factor is located approximately 1 kilometer from Thimphu city, and uses the bark of two tree species (the Daphne tree and Dhekap tree) in the manufacture of traditional paper. You can observe the entire process of producing handmade paper using ancient traditional methods that have been practiced for generations. Besides, you are able to try your hand at this ancient craft and make some paper of your own as a souvenir.

Later, you will drive to Upper Motithang in Thimphu to visit Motithang Takin Preserve, a wildlife reserve area for takin (Budorcas taxicolor), the national animal of Bhutan. It's worthwhile taking the time to see these oddball mammals here.

You will end today’s sightseeing after visiting Simtokha Dzong. It was built by Zhabdrung to consolidate his domain and subdue the demon in 1629. Nowadays, it is often said to be the first dzong built in Bhutan.

Stay overnight in Thimphu.

Visit the Takin Preserve

Highlights: Cross Dochula Pass and explore Probjikha valley and Gangtey Monastery.

After breakfast, you will start your journey to Gangtey (2,890m). The distance between Thimphu and Gangtey is about 124 kilometers, which will take you 4 hours.

On the way, you will have an excellent opportunity to enjoy a panoramic view of the solemn Bhutan Himalaya Ranges and even take photos at the impressive collection of 108 chortens at Dochula Pass (3,140m).

Gangtey, also called Phobjikha, is one of Bhutan’s most stunning destinations and serves as the winter home for a group of endangered black-necked cranes that migrate annually from the Tibetan Plateau.

Upon your arrival, you will visit Gangtey Monastery, generally known as Gangtey Goempa. Situated atop a hill at an altitude of 2,800m, the monastery offers a stunning view of Phobjikha Valley.

Then, you will visit the Black-Necked Crane Information Center, located on the edge of the forest and wetlands along the main road in Phobjikha Valley. The center features an observation room with high-powered telescopes and spotting scopes for the best views of the cranes. If you visit between November and January, you'll have the chance to see many black-necked cranes.

Stay overnight in Gangtey.

Gangtey Monastery

Highlights: Cross Dochula Pass and visit Chimi Lhakhang and Punakha Dzong.

In the morning, you will take a drive from Gangtey to Punakha (1,242m). The distance from Gangtey to Punakha is 73 kilometers, and it takes around 2 hours to complete.

En route, you will visit Chimi Lhakhang, also known as Chime Monastery. Standing on a small hillock close to the village of Lobesa, it is a beautiful Buddhist monastery that was built in the 14th Drukpa hierarchy, Ngawang Choegyel.

After that, you will head to visit the Punakha Dzong. Standing by the riverside of Pho Chu and Mo Chu, Punakha Dzong is one of the most impressive buildings and one of the top favorite attractions in Bhutan. Moreover, the rectangular-shaped fortress is also an honorable treasury that preserves numerous Buddhist relics and historical legacies.

Stay overnight in Punakha.

Visit Punakha Dzong

Highlights: Visit Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten and Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Lhakhang.

In the morning, you will first pay a visit to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten, built by the Queen Mother of the 5th King to bring peace and harmony for all living beings. It sits on a ridge above Punakha Valley, where you will have a fascinating view of the countryside below. You will experience a 2-hour hike through rice fields to visit the chorten.

In the afternoon, you will take a 2-hour drive to Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Lhakhang, which includes a double storied temple and a nunnery complex. The complex houses a permanent higher learning and meditation centre of nuns. Skills such as tailoring, embroidery, statue making, and thangka painting can also be trained here.

Stay overnight in Punakha.

Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Lhakhang

Highlights: Enjoy a day trip to Haa Valley and visit Lhakhang Nagpo.

After breakfast, you will take a drive to the Haa Valley from Punakha. On the way, you will pass through the Chele La Pass (3,988m), which offers the majestic panorama of the Himalayan Ranges and the valley beyond. If the weather permits, you will capture a stunning view of Bhutan's second-highest peak, Mt.Jomolhari (7,314m), from here.

After arriving at Haa, you will head to visit Lhakhang Nagpo, also called the Black Temple. With a history of 1300 years, it is one of the oldest temples in Haa Valley. It is said that when searching out auspicious locations for two new temples, the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo released one black pigeon and one white pigeon. And the black pigeon landed here, the white one at Lhakhang Kharpo (White Chapel).

Stay overnight in Haa.

Visit Lhakhang Karpo

Highlights: Drive to Paro to visit Ta Dzong, Paro Rinpung Dzong, and Drukgyel Dzong.

After breakfast, you will take a drive to Paro from Haa Valley.

Upon your arrival in Paro, you will visit the Bhutan National Museum - Ta Dzong. You will gain a deeper understanding of this country and broaden your perspective through the many Bhutanese treasures showcased in this museum.

Next, you will visit Paro Rinpung Dzong (Paro Dzong), a fortress once built to defend the valley from invasions. Nowadays, it serves as an administration center and school for monks.

Then, you will continue to explore the ruins of Drukgyel Dzong in the north of Paro Valley. It was built in 1647 by the great Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the father and unifier of medieval Bhutan. Although it was destroyed by an accidental fire, its remains stand as a powerful reminder of Bhutan’s historic victories.

Stay overnight in Paro.

Visit Paro Rinpung Dzong

Highlights: Visit Sang Choekhor Lhakhang, Chhoe Tse Lhakhang, and Bumdrak Monastery along the Bumdrak trekking route.

Today, you will get an early start from the village of Sang Choekhor (2,900m), where you will meet the team for the trek. The actual trek starts from here and heads first to Bumdrak, the place where 100,000 dakini footprints can be found.

Before leaving Sang Choekhor, you will visit the small Sang Choekhor Lhakhang, the local Buddhist College. Then, you will take the trail up through the blue pines of the hillsides to the shady forested ridge above, which opens out onto a clearing festooned with prayer flags. The views from the clearing look down onto both the Paro and Do Chhu Valleys and are spectacular.

After a few hours’ walk, you will pass by the often-closed Chhoe Tse Lhakhang (3,650m), a small temple that nestles on the side of the mountain. The trail is up and down for the entire walk, with the last stretch climbing steeply to the temple. You can get some commanding views out over Paro and to the north to the mountains of the Himalayas.

Next, you will climb through ruined buildings and fluttering prayer flags. It takes around 20 minutes.

Then, you will drop back into the dense ancient forests of pine, juniper, and rhododendron, coming out 40 minutes later onto a vast open meadow scattered with sacred chortens and adorned with colorful prayer flags.

On the side of the meadow lies the Cave of a Hundred Thousand Prayers, which lies under the Bumdrak Monastery (3,900m). You will explore this delightful meditation site and Bumdrak Monastery above.

The campsite for the night lies just below the monastery, at around 3,800 meters, and offers some great views of the mountains as the sun drops over them.

Stay overnight in Bumdrak Campsite.

Paro Bumdrak Trek

Highlights: Hike to Tiger's Nest Monastery to enjoy spectacular views from it.

After breakfast, you will leave the Bumdrak Monastery campsite and descend for around 2 hours towards the city in the valley below. You will follow the zigzag path to reach the gardens of Sangtopelri (heaven on Earth) at around 3,000 meters above sea level. From there, you can peer down on the roofs of the Tiger’s Nest Monastery (3,155m), if you are brave enough to go to the edge.

After another hour of descent, you will finally reach the Tiger’s Nest Monastery (also known as Taktsang Monastery). Perched on the side of a cliff 900 meters above the Paro Valley, Taktsang Monastery is one of the most famous monasteries in Bhutan. The principal monastery of the present monastic complex dates from 1692. Taktsang was damaged severely by fire in 1998 but has now been fully restored to its former glory.

After visiting the monastery, you will hike down to the base of the mountain and return to Paro City by car.

Stay overnight in Paro.

Tiger’s Nest Monastery

After breakfast, your guide will meet you at the hotel and transfer you to Paro International Airport for your next destination.

The tour services end.