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Duration: 8 Days

This hiking tour program gives great opportunities to visit the unknown corners of the valley. The hike in Phobjikha covers the 3½-hour ‘less travelled’ old trade route relatively unknown to outsiders. Hikers will hike through different layers of vegetation, get good view of the whole Phobjikha valley from the pass, and take in wonderful sights of spring, when the Rhododendron flowers blossom fully.

Day 1

  • Be totally enchanted by the breathtaking landscape and pristine environment of the Paro valley upon arrival at our international airport. You will be warmly received by our friendly, traditionally dressed representative with the offering of a white welcome scarf.
  • Drive to hotel in Thimphu (about 1.5-hour drive from airport).
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  • Upon arrival enjot the welcome tea and check in.
  • Rest till lunch in hotel / nearby restaurant.
  • After lunch, take a 10-min drive to Changangkha Temple (built in the 15th century by the famous Lama Nyima). Inside the temple is the statue of the “God of Compassion” made out of platinum. You may witness newborns being blessed in this temple.
  • Drive to Mini Zoo, Bhutan’s only Zoo to see the national animal Takin.
  • Drive to Sangay Gang, lookout point of the Thimphu city.
  • Visit nunnery founded by 16th Drubthob Thangthong Gyalpo. More than 40 nuns study Buddhism in this nunnery.
  • Visit Zorigchusum (meaning 13 arts and crafts) which is popularly known as the painting school. Students in this school learn traditional arts and crafts like painting, sculpture, wood carving, weaving and embroidery.
  • Visit the National Library which consists of 2 buildings. On the ground floor of the old building is the largest book in the world and religious books on the upper floor. English books are kept on the ground floor in the new building.
  • Drive to Thimphu Tashicho Dzong, a fortress built in 1772 by the temporal ruler Zhidar and Younten Thaye the Chief Abbot.

Day 2

After breakfast drive along the Thimphu River for 25kms to Tango monastery. Be prepared for a steep climb from the open car park and a 20-minute hike through the blue pine and oak forests to reach the monastery. Tango Monastery was founded in the 12th century by Lama Gyalwa Lhananpa. Phajo Drugom Shigpo also meditated and saw the vision of God Tandin (God with a Horse Head), hence the name “Tango” which means horse head.

Day 3

  • Breakfast at hotel. Drive to Punakha, old capital of Bhutan (about 3-hour drive from Thimphu).
  • Stop on the way at enchanting Docula pass (3040m above sea level). On a clear day one can see panoramic view of the Eastern Himalayas Mountains ranges.
  • From Dochula Pass start hike to Lungchu Tshekha Lhakhang. The walk takes two and half hours. The temple was built by Lama Terton Drugdra Lingpa in the 14th century. On the way back take different trail to Dochula cafeteria for lunch.

Day 4

  • Leave hotel for Phobjikha valley, visiting ruins of Wangduephrodrang Dzong on the way. Built in 1638, this was the third Dzong built by the Shabdrung after Punakha Dzong. Built on a hill between the Dangchu and Punatshang rivers, a tragic fire in 2012 razed the Dzong to the ground.
  • Drive from Wangduephodrang to Phobjikha valley, enjoying scenes of different vegetation zones. Possibly spot Gray Langurs, Mucked Monkey and other animals along the way.
  • Visit Gangtey Gonpa, the only Nyingmapa Monastery school in western Bhutan. The temple is 457 years old and was founded by first reincarnation of Terton Pemalingpe. It was rebuilt by his successive reincarnation Teazin Lakpay Dendup in 1613. Today it is site of Pedling (Teaching of Terton Pemalingpa).
  • – Visit the Cranes Information Center and enjoy a good view of the whole crane habitat.

Day 5
Drive to Rukubji, a small village on the other side of Pele la. Hike back to Phobjikha through draft bamboo and different vegetation zones. Catch a good view of the Phobjikha valley when you reach the pass.
In the afternoon walk around the cranes feeding area and see cranes in very close range.

Day 6
Drive back to Paro across 2 passes : Lawala and Dochula, your second chance for a good view of the high mountains again. From Lawala you can see faraway mountains – in the north east direction the Rinchenzoe La (5600m) and Mt. Jomolhari (7314m); and in the North West direction the Jichudraki (6980m) and Drakigang (6040m). From Dochula you can see almost the whole Eastern Himalayas Mountains Ranges including Bhutan’s highest mountain the Gangkar Puensum (7550m).

Day 7
Hike to Tiger’s Nest Monastery, one of the holiest monasteries in the Buddhist World.

Day 8
Departure
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