10 Days Bhutan Exploration Tour with Yoga

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

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

Upon your arrival at Paro International Airpor, your local guide and driver will meet you at the arriving hall of the airport. And they will have a brief introduction about themselves. Then, you will be transferred to Thimphu (2,350m), the capital city of Bhutan. Covering a total distance of nearly 54 kilometers, it will take you about 1 hour to get to Thimphu from Paro (2,250m).

After arriving at Thimphu, your guide will help you check in the hotel. Later, you will head to visit Kuensel Phodrang Nature Park. Here, you can see the 169 feet bronze statue of Buddha Dordenma, Vajra Throne Buddha, one of the largest statue of Buddha in the world.

Thereafter, you will pay a visit to National Memorial Chorten, which was built in memorial of King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, the third King of Bhutan in 1974. After that, you can explore 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. Then you will have yoga practice from 6 pm to 7 pm, trained by the yoga expert in Thimphu.

Stay overnight in Thimphu.

Thimphu National Memorial Chorten

Highlights: Explore Thimphu’s cultural wonders like National Textile Museum and Traditional Paper Making Factory etc.

Today, it will be a full-day sightseeing tour in Thimphu. You will first head to National Textile Museum, which keeps the traditional art of waving preserved and exhibits a good collection of ancient colored textile in various forms.

After lunch, you will visit the National Institute of Traditional Medicine, to see the productive process of Bhutan’s traditional medicine, herbs mostly, and watch the medical practitioner training. Next, go to Traditional Paper Making Factory, which originated from the old tradition in the 8th century, Bhutan paper-making has been well preserved and listed as the valuable national heritage of Bhutanese culture. Then you can practice yoga before having dinner.

Stay overnight in Thimphu.

National Textile Museum

Highlights: Hike to Cheri Monastery and visit National Library and Folk Heritage Museum in Thimphu.

Today, you will take a hike to Cheri Monastery. It is located at the northern end of the Thimphu valley.

Cheri Monastery, also called Chagri Dorjiden, was established in 1620 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel who unified Bhutan. The monastery sits on the hill above the end of the road at Dodeyna and it takes about an hour to walk up the steep hill to reach. The place was first visited by Guru Padmasambhava in the 8th century. Later in the 13th century, it was visited by Phajo Drugom Zhigpo the Tibetan Lama who established the Drukpa Kagyu tradition in Bhutan.

Have lunch at Simple Bhutan Museum with Bhutanese cultural show. After lunch, you will explore the National Library and Folk Heritage Museum, a 300-year-old traditional house converted into a museum. The do evening yoga at Neru Wangchuck center in Thimphu.

Stay overnight in Thimphu.

Hike to Cheri Monastery

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

You will start today’s journey by the early morning yoga practice at Yoga Center. Then you will drive from Thimphu to Punakha (1,242m). The distance between Thimphu and Punakha is 71 kilometers, and it will take you 3 hours to get there. One 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).

After arriving at Punakha, 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. More importantly, the rectangular shape fortress is also an honorable treasury where preserves numerous Buddhist relics and historical legacies.

After witnessing the superb Punakha Dzong, you will continue to visit Chimi Lhakhang, also known as Chime Monastery, which is a beautiful Buddhist monastery located in the Punakha District of Bhutan. It stands on a small round hillock close to the village of Lobesa and was built in 1499 by the 14th Drukpa hierarch, Ngawang Choegyel. Later, you will visit the longest suspension bridge in Bhutan.

Stay overnight in Punakha.

Punakha Dzong

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

In the early morning, you will first practice yoga for refreshing your body. Then you will 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. 2 hours round trip walk through rice fields are required to visit the chorten.

In the afternoon, after 2 hours drive from Punakha Valley, you will arrive 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: Cross Lawala Pass to get to Phobjikha Valley to trek the Gangtey Nature Trail and visit ancient Gangtey Monastery and the Black-Necked Crane Information Center.

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 finish this driving journey. On the way to Phobjikha, you will get 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).

Upon arrival at Gangtey, you will trek the Gangte Nature Trail, which takes about 1.5 hours, starting from the mani stone wall to the north of the Gangtey Monastery and ending in Khewa Lhakhang. This is a good chance to enjoy the enchanting natural scenery and breathe the incredibly fresh air in Phobjikha Valley.

After the the short trek, you will pay a visit to an impressive monastery called Gangtey Monastery, generally known as Gangtey Goempa. It is a very important monastery of 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 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 from Tibetan Plateau here.

At the end of the day, you can do some yoga practice at the hotel to relax your body.

Stay overnight in Gangtey.

The Information Center for the black-necked cranes.

Highlights: Drive back to Paro via Thimphu and visit Ta Dzong and Paro Rinpung Dzong in Paro.

After breakfast, you will drive back to Paro. It will take you about 4 hours 20 minutes for the 125 kilometers. En-route you will visit the site of Paro river and go to the viewpoint to see the world's dangerous airport. Here you can do Practical Yoga Exercise facing towards the Airport.

After arriving at Paro, you will visit Bhutan National Museum - Ta Dzong. The museum houses a large number of valuable collections. A visit to the National Museum will deepen your understanding of this country in a whole and broaden your eyes with numerous pieces of Bhutan treasures.

Next, you will head to explore Paro Rinpung Dzong (also named as Paro Dzong), a fortress once built to defend the valley from invasions. However, it now serves as an administration center and school for monks.

Stay overnight in Paro.

Paro including Ta Dzong Museum

Highlights: Visit the ruins of Drukgyel Dzong and Kyichu Lhakhang.

Start your day with a yoga session in the early morning. And then you will have a full day sightseeing in Paro valley.

First you will drive up to the ruins of Drukgyel Dzong, the glorious fortress and Buddhist monastery in ancient time. Then you will head to visit the Kyichu Lhakhang, which is one of 108 temples constructed by the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo. Built in a manner similar to the Jokhang in Lhasa, Tibet, the temple has the great golden image of Buddha Shakyamuni.

In the evening, you can choose to either stay in your hotel or stroll round the downtown and pay a visit to some local handicraft stores.

Stay overnight in Paro.

Visit Chimi Lhakhang

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

In the morning after breakfast, you will start your hike to Taktsang Monastery (also known as Tiger’s Nest Monastery). You will spend 5 to 6 hours for the hike. 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 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.

In the evening, do some yoga practice to relax your body at the hotel.

Stay overnight in Paro.

Hike to Tiger's Nest Monastery and do some practice of yoga

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.