9 Days West Bhutan Photo Tour to Phobjikha Valley

Highlights: Visit landmarks in Paro including Ta Dzong Museum and Kyichu Lhakhang after arriving in this amazing city by flight.

Upon your arrival in Paro (2,250m), you will be picked up by your tour guide at the airport and then escorted to your hotel. After a short rest, you will go on a tour of Paro city.

First, you will visit the Ta Dzong Museum, he national museum perched on a hill above Paro Dzong. Inside, you’ll find an impressive collection of fine arts, religious relics, traditional handicrafts, textiles, and jewelry - an excellent introduction to Bhutan’s rich history and culture.

Then head to visit the Kyichu Lhakhang, one of 108 temples built by the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo. Resembling the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa, it is home to a magnificent golden statue of Buddha Shakyamuni, making it one of Bhutan’s most sacred and timeless spiritual sites.

After that, you will go to explore the famous Paro Rinpung Dzong. It is a large Dzong, a Buddhist monastery and fortress built in the 17th Century to protect the Paro valley. Rinpung Dzong houses the district Monastic Body and government administrative offices of Paro Dzongkhag.

Stay overnight in Paro.

Paro including Ta Dzong Museum

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

In the morning, you will drive to Punakha (1,242m). The route will first take you to Chunzom, the confluence of the Pachu and Wangchu Rivers. Both rivers are the cradle of Bhutan’s civilization and flow through the Paro and Thimphu valleys, respectively.

On the way, you will pay a visit to Tachog Lhakhang, a 14th-century temple built by the great master level architect Thangtong Gyalpo, and houses some of the unique and precious statues.

Then, you will have an excellent opportunity to appreciate the panoramic view of the Himalayan Ranges in Bhutan and take photos of the impressive collection of 108 chortens at Dochula Pass (3,140m).

Next, you will continue your journey to Punakha. 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.

Witnessing the superb Punakha Dzong

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

After breakfast, 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 enjoy a gentle two-hour round-trip walk through serene rice fields before reaching the chorten.

In the afternoon, after a two-hour drive from Punakha Valley, you will arrive at Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Lhakhang, including 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: Drive through Wangdue Phodrang and cross Lawala Pass to get to Phobjikha Valley.

After breakfast, you will drive to Phobjikha Valley (3,000m). The distance between Punakha and Phobjikha is about 80 kilometers and will take you nearly 3 hours to complete this driving journey.

First, you’ll visit the Wangdue Phodrang Dzong en route. Built in 1638, it sits on the ridge of a hill and overlooks the confluence of the Tsang Chu River and Dang Chu River.

Next, on the way to Phobjikha, you will be amazed by the beauty and serenity of the rich flora and fauna. And you may see some Yaks grazing in high-altitude bamboo shrub along the road when you arrive at Lawala Pass (3,300m).

After arriving in Phobjikha Valley, you’ll have your free time to stroll around to witness Bhutan’s unspoiled natural landscapes.

Stay overnight in Gangtey.

Gangtey Monastery

Highlights: Trek Gangte Nature Trail, and then visit Gangtey Goempa and Black-Necked Crane Information Center.

After breakfast, you’ll have a short morning trek through the Gangtey Nature Trail. Starting from the Mani stone wall to the north of the Gangtey Monastery, and ending in Khewa Lhakhang, the Gangtey Nature Trail Trek takes only about 1.5 hours. You’ll enjoy the enchanting natural scenery and breathe the incredible fresh air in Phobjikha Valley.

After the short trek, you will head to visit Gangtey Monastery, generally known as Gangtey Goempa. It is a very important monastery of the Nyingmapa school.

Thereafter, you will pay a visit to the Black-Necked Crane Information Center. The center is situated on the edge of the forest and wetland along the main road of Phobjikha Valley. It has an observation room equipped with a high-power telescope and spotting scopes for catching the best view of the cranes. If you travel to Phobjikha in November to January, you can have a chance to view many black-necked cranes here.

Stay overnight in Gangtey.

The Information Center for the black-necked cranes.

Highlights: Transfer to Thimphu and visit the Simtokha Dzong, National Memorial Chorten, and Tashichho Dzong.

Today, you will transfer to Thimphu (2,350m), the capital city of Bhutan. On the way, you will encounter the Simtokha Dzong in the Thimphu Valley en route. Built in 1629 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, Simtokha Dzong is often said to be the first dzong in Bhutan.

After arriving at Thimphu, you will pay a visit to the National Memorial Chorten, which was built in memory of King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, the third King of Bhutan, in 1974.

After that, you can 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.

Stay overnight in Thimphu.

Thimphu National Memorial Chorten

Highlights: Explore Thimphu’s cultural wonders like National Folk Heritage Museum, Jungshi Handmade Paper Factory, and Motithang Takin Preserve.

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 the 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 the 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.

Then, you will transfer to Paro. Covering a total distance of nearly 54 kilometers, it will take you about 1 hour to get to Paro from Thimphu.

Stay overnight in Paro.

Visit the Takin Preserve

Highlights: Hike to Tiger's Nest Monastery to enjoy spectacular views from it and visit Kyichu Lhakhang in Paro.

After breakfast, you will start your hike to 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. The hike to Tiger’s Nest Monastery is about 3 km one way and takes around 5 to 6 hours for the round trip.

After exploring the monastery, you will begin your return tour to Paro.

In the afternoon, you will visit Kyichu Lhakhang, one of Bhutan’s oldest and most beautiful temples built by the Tibetan King Songsten Gampo in the 7th century.

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.