10 nights 11 days Trongsa Festival Tour

Day 1

Arrive Paro

Welcome to Bhutan, the Land of the Thunder Dragon. On arrival at Paro airport and after completing your immigration formalities, you will be received by your tour guide from Zoid Jin Bhutan Tours and Treks. 

After Refreshment visit:

 •Ta Dzong / National Museum: On a ridge immediately above Rinpung Dzong is the Ta Dzong (watchtower), built as a watchtower to protect the Dzong from intruders and warring factions. In 1968 Paro’s Ta Dzong was inaugurated as the National Museum, and now holds a fascinating collection of art, relics, religious thangkha paintings, Bhutan’s exquisite postage stamps, coins and handicrafts, together with a small natural history collection.

•Paro Dzong (Rinpung Dzong): Explore the Rinpung Dzong which the locals call the ‘fortress of a heap of jewels’. Built in 1646 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the dzong stands on a hill above Paro Township. It is linked by the traditional cantilever bridge (called the Nemi Zam) over the Pa chu (Paro river) where one may pose a photograph. Experience a walk up a paved stone path running alongside the imposing outer walls.

Overnight at Paro

Day 2

Paro- Thimphu Sightseeing

After breakfast drive to Thimphu  and visits the following’s :

Memorial Chorten also known as the Thimphu Chorten, is a stupa built in memory of the 3rd King of Bhutan, Jigme Dorji Wangchuk by his mother Queen Ashi Phuntsho Choden Wangchuck. 

Kuenselphodrang where the Bhutan’s largest Buddha statue is perched on the hillock overlooking the entire Thimphu valley below and the view from there is magnificent. Craft Bazaar where craftsmen and artisans from across the country display and sell their handicrafts. 

Changangkha Lhakhang The temple is one of the oldest in Thimphu, built in the 12th century and is located above the main town of Thimphu overlooking the Thimphu valley. 

Nunnery (Thangtong Dewachen Nunnery) The nunnery, popularly known as Zilukha Anim Dratshang is located above Zilukha Lower Secondary School, overlooking Tashichodzong in Thimphu valley. It is a few minutes’ drive from the main Thimphu town. 

After lunch visit: 

Simtokha Dzong: Simtokha literally means “Atop a Demon” also known as Sanga Zabdhon Phodrang is located around 5km south of Thimphu center. It I the first Dzong built in 1629 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel who unified Bhutan. 

Bhutan Post Office Headquarters to get personalized Bhutanese postage stamps with your photo on them. You can bring along your favorite photo to put on the stamps and put these stamps on your postcard to send to your family and friends. 

Overnight at Thimphu 

Day 3

 Thimphu –Dochula pass- Punakha sightseeing

After breakfast, drive to Punakha through Dochula Pass (3,088m/10,130ft). If you have a clear sky, the view of the Himalayan Mountain ranges is spectacular and you can even see the Gasa Dzong as a white dot in the horizon. Visit the beautiful 108 chortens built on the hill by Her Majesty Ashi Dorji Wangmo for the security and well being of His Majesty the King of Bhutan.

After Lunch at Lobesa visit:

After Lunch at Lobesa  drive through Metshina village and walk to Chimi Lhakhang ( 20 minutes), temple of the divine Madman Lama Drukpa Kuenley where couples unable to conceive child, come here to receive blessing.

Visit Punakha Dzong,the Punakha Dzong is situated on the junction of the two rivers the Phochu (male river) and Mochu (female river) and is one of the most spectacular Dzongs in the country.

Overnight at hotel in Wangdue/ punakha

Day 4

 Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Hike – Phobjikha Valley (Home Stay if Interested) 

After breakfast:

·         Hike to Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten (50 Mins) temple built by the Queen of Bhutan for peace and stability in this ever-changing world. 

·         Water Rafting: While returning back from the hike there is a water rafting facilities in the base camp and if interested you can avail those facilities else you will be drive back where you will be going to stop at Zomlithang Stupa which is newly built by our Forth King’s father in law Dasho Ugyen Dorji for the sentient beings. 

After lunch we will be going to make a drive to Phobjikha valley. Phobjikha valley is part of the beautiful Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park (formerly known as Black Mountains National Park), one of Bhutan’s most important nature sanctuaries.  Each winter it is home to a flock of 300 rare and endangered black-necked cranes. 

Overnight at Phobjikha. (Home Stay if Interested )

Day 5

 Phobjikha Sightseeing – Trongsa Sightseeing

After breakfast visit:

·         Gangtey Monastery : Gangte Goemba / Gangtey Monastery enjoys the valley's prime real estate, on a forested hill overlooking the green expanse of the entire Phobjikha valley. 

·         Black Necked Crane Centre: These black necked cranes migrate from Tibet in late autumn and typically stay till the mid march.

      Black Necked Crane Information Centre is situated on the edge of the forest and     wetland below Gakiling hotel.

After lunch at Trongsa visit: 

National Museum  which is housed in the Ta Dzong (watch tower).A museum in which aspects of Bhutanese culture and history are explained by beautifully objects. Documentary will be shown too which explains a great deal about Bhutanese history and history of monarchy.

Trongsa Dzong:

Trongsa Dzong is the largest dzong fortress in Bhutan, located in Trongsa (formerly Tongsa) in Trongsa district, in the centre of the country. Built on a spur overlooking the gorge of the Mangde River, a temple was first established at the location in 1543 by the Drukpa lama, Ngagi Wangchuk son of Ngawang Chhojey.

Day 6

Trongsa Festival

After breakfast visit Trongsa courtyard to experience the colorful, excitement and spectacular performances of the Trongsa Festival. It is the most divine and deeply symbolic of all the Buddhist festivals celebrated in Bhutan. 

Spent whole day watching Trongsa Festival and interact with the local people of Trongsa.

Dinner and overnight at Trongsa

Day 7

Trongsa – Bumthang

 After breakfast drive to Bumthang: "Bumthang" directly translates as "beautiful field". "Thang" means field or flat place, and "Bum" is said be an appreviation of either "bumpa" (a vessel for holy water, thus describing the shape and nature of the valley), or "bum" ("girl", indicating this is the valley of beautiful girls). On the way, visit the “Yathra” weaving centre at Zugney and  interact with the local weavers. 

After Lunch Visit: 

Jambay Lhakhang, built in the 7th century by the King Songtsen Goempo of Tibet. In his effort to propagate Buddhism he had a plan to build a total of 108 temples in Tibet and neighboring kingdoms.

Kujey Lhakhang (Kujey means, "Body imprint"). The temple to the right is the oldest and was built by Minjur Tempa in 1652. It was built around the cave in which Guru Rimpoche meditated and left his body imprint.

Tamshing Lhakhang: This temple is also known as Tamshing Lhendrup Chholing (Temple of the Good Message). In the evening stroll around the beautiful landscape of the Bumthang Jakar valley.

 Try to stay awake until midnight to witness the opening proceedings of the Jambay Lhakhang Drup Festival, including an unusual naked dance performed to sanctify the region.

Overnight in  Bumthang.

Day 8

Bumthang – Punakha 

After breakfast drive back to Punakha through the same route and if wanted to avail Helicopter services than also we can arrange for our valued clients which can fly directly from Bumthang to Paro else will follow the same route.

Overnight stay at Punakha.

Day 9

Punakha – Paro

After breakfast drive again towards Paro and on the way will visit:

·         Semtokha Dzong: The first Dzong to be built in Bhutan. Simtokha literally means “Atop a Demon” and the legend associated with the dzong'sconstruction tells us that it was built in order to subdue an evil spirit that was harassing travelers in the region. 

After Lunch at Paro Visit:

·         Visit Kichu temple,one of the 108 temples built in the 7th century by the Tibetan King Songsten Gampo. The story goes that a giant demon lay across the whole area of Tibet and the Himalayas and was preventing the spread of Buddhism. To overcome her, King Songtsen Gampo decided to build 108 temples, which would be placed on all the points of her body. Of these 108 temples, 12 were built in accordance with precise plans. Thus, it happened that in about the year AD 638 the temple of Jokhang in Lhasa was built over the very heart of the demoness.

·         Drive up the valley to view the ruins of Drukgyel Dzong, 18 km. from Paro town on the north side of the valley. It was from here that the Bhutanese repelled several invading Tibetan armies during the 17th century.

Visit one of the firm houses and explore the life of real Bhutanese style or to have hot stone bath.

Overnight at the hotel in Paro

Day 10

Paro - A Hike to Paro Takshang ( Tiger nest Temple ) 

After breakfast, hike up to Taktsang Monastery, also known as ‘Tiger’s Nest’. The climb up to the viewpoint will take around 1 ½ hours and from there you will enjoy a spectacular view of the monastery clinging to the side of the cliff. Stop for refreshment at the View Point Cafeteria.Then walk further up to the monastery which will take another 1 ½ hour. It is said that in the 8th century Guru Rinpoche flew on the back of a tigress from eastern Bhutan to this place and meditated in a cave here for 3 months. The principal Lhakhang (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, walk back down to the road on the way stop for lunch at the view point cafeteria and then walk further down to the road point. 

Evening walk at town for buying souvenirs for your lovely ones. 

Get Together with Managing Director of Zoid Jin tours , Bhutan 

Dinner and overnight at a hotel in Paro. 

Day 11

Paro – Onward Destinations 

Zoid Jin Tours & Treks (your local Bhutan travel agent) will see you off at the Paro Airport for your onward destinations.