Definitive Cultural Tour of Bhutan

Day 1 - Depart London.

Depart London on your overnight flight to Kathmandu.

Overnight: In flight

Day 2 - Arrive Kathmandu.

On arrival in Kathmandu you will be met and transferred to Dwarika's Hotel, a luxurious and stylish 5* hotel filled with Nepalese furniture, carvings and statues. The hotel has a superb restaurant where you can try traditional Newari cuisine, as well as a beautiful swimming pool and a relaxing courtyard.

Overnight: Dwarika's Hotel, Kathmandu

Day 3 - Fly to Paro. Sightseeing as time permits.

Transfer to the airport for the short flight up to Bhutan. On a clear day the panoramic views of the Himalaya are sensational, including Everest, but particularly exciting is the approach through the Bhutanese foothills and the landing, including a few steep turns on the approach to the tiny airstrip of Paro. If possible try to sit on the left hand side of the plane for the most spectacular views.

In Paro you will be met by your Bhutanese guide and taken to your hotel.

The Paro Valley has always had a great strategic importance for Bhutan and was historically an important staging post on the trade routes with Tibet. The spectacular Paro Dzong, situated on a rocky outcrop above the Paro Chu and with views down both sides of the valley was historically one of Bhutan's strongest and most strategic fortresses. Before the rebuilding of the Tashidodzong in Thimphu, it was also the seat of Bhutan's National Assembly.

Depending on the arrival time of your flight there may be time for some sightseeing in Paro in the afternoon. You might wander around Paro township or pay a quick visit to the huge dzong. Then if there is time and you feel like a walk you could walk back to your hotel.

Overnight: Hotel Olathang Or Similar, Paro

Day 4 - Drive to Thimphu via Tamchhog Lhakang. Sightseeing in Thimpu.

After breakfast today you will drive to Thimphu; this will take about 1½-2 hours. En route you will stop to visit Tamchhog Lhakang. This is located before you reach Chuzom (river junction). The temple was built in the 14th century by the son of the very famous 'Iron Bridge' builder, Thangthong Gyalpo. You cross one of the eight bridges he built in Bhutan to reach the temple. It is an easy 15 minute walk from the road and has the immediate effect of transporting you back into the atmosphere of ancient Bhutan. A lovely place to visit.

Thimphu has an attractive valley location and is relatively small for a capital city, although it has grown greatly in recent years. There are many places of interest to visit there. Initially you might like to drive up to see the giant Buddha figure and enjoy the views over the town. Later you may have time for some sightseeing in Thimphu or for a wander round town.

Overnight: Norkill Boutique & Spa Or Similar, Thimphu

Day 5 - Attend Thimphu Tsechu. Visit Wangditse Monastery.

This morning you will attend the Thimphu Tsechu. This is one of the most important set-piece festivals of the Bhutanese year and is massively impressive. It is held in the inner courtyards of the main monastery fortress, the Tashichho Dzong. Such festivals are important cultural and religious events and are also a chance for the local people to attain merit, but as importantly to socialise and have fun. Beware the very naughty clowns who spend a lot of their time teasing the crowd (and the dancers). The Black Hat Dancers and all the other colourful ceremonies are thought to dispel the evil spirits that have accumulated over the ground during the previous year. Archery is also important to the Bhutanese and if there is a competition going on you may have the opportunity to visit. These are great fun as the opposing teams take every opportunity to barrack each other.

In the afternoon you will drive up to Sangaygang next to the Bhutan First Broadcasting Service tower, located in the North West of Thimphu. It is only about a mile drive up to the tower so if you feel like you would like to burn a bit more energy you can always walk up instead. From the tower you will have great views over Thimphu Dzong and the Thimphu valley as you start your walk contouring the beautiful hills to visit Wangditse Gompa. This walk should take around 1.5 hours. You will have time to visit the gompa before you walk down for another 30 minutes to reach Dechen Phodrang Monastery. This monastery houses around 450 student monks enrolled in a 8 year course. The monastery is also home to some fantastic UNESCO monitored 12th century paintings. You will then meet your vehicle and be driven back to Thimphu.

Overnight: Norkill Boutique & Spa Or Similar, Thimphu

Day 6 - Drive to Punakha via the Dochu La, 3,140m/10,302ft. Visit Drukpa Kunley's Temple and villages.

In the morning you will have some time in Thimphu. Later you make the ascent up to the Dochu La pass. This pass at 3,140m/10,302ft is marked by 108 chortens. Here, weather permitting you may take in a magnificent mountain vista. On clear days there are fabulous views of the Eastern Himalaya from here but this is a beautiful spot even on misty days.

Descending from the pass you come to the lush Punakha Valley. Before driving to your hotel you will pay a visit to Chimi Lakhang, taking a short walk across the paddy fields to visit this delightful small temple built by Drukpa Kunley. Known as 'The Divine Madman', Drukpa Kunley was a 15th Century Bhutanese lama and is Bhutan's most popular Saint and one of the most important figures in Bhutanese folklore. Despite the apparent conservatism of the Bhutanese people, Drukpa Kunley with his unconventional views on sex is a great favourite throughout the country - the phallus symbols painted on the outside walls of houses date back to his teachings. Chimi Lakhang is especially popular with women who come here to pray for children.

After lunch you will drive up to the charming village of Talo (altitude 2,800m). This attractive, village is well known for its pretty girls and its neatness! First you will drive up to its fine gompa, built above the village and worth a visit for the spectacular views. After a visit there you walk down through the village and will see traditional village life going on. It's all very pretty - the beautiful farm houses of the village have their own well kept flower gardens and corn and vegetables are grown in profusion. There is an air of prosperity and contentment. You come out back onto the road below the village and then you may either walk down through woods and fields, or drive down, to the village of Nobgang, the birthplace of the four girls who in 1979 married King Jigme Singye Wangchuk, the current king's father, to become his four queens. After the king's abdication they became Bhutan's Queen Mothers. The gompas in Nobgang are sponsored by their family. The two villages of Talo and Nobgang have a longstanding rivalry in archery.

Overnight: Zhingkham Resort or Damchen Resort or Similar, Punakha

Day 7 - In the Punakha Valley. Walk to Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten and Punakha Dzong.

Today you may do a lovely walk in the lush, almost sub-tropical Punakha Valley. You drive further up the valley and start your walk at a pedestrian suspension bridge that crosses the Mo Chu River and follow up through paddy fields to the base of the hill where Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten is sited. The climb to the top is then quite steep but takes only 45 minutes or so. This chorten was consecrated in December 1999 and contains sacred relics donated from Punakha Dzong. If you don't wish to walk further you may just walk up to the chorten and then return to the vehicle and drive back to Punakha.

For those who wish to walk you leave the grounds of the chorten via a different gate and descend to join a contouring path which ultimately leads you to the small village of Yabesa and you then follow the Mo Chu downstream past Sonagasha, the King's Palace and on to Punakha Dzong.

The fabulous Punakha Dzong, one of the most spectacular and important in the kingdom, is situated at the confluence of two rivers. In 1994 there was a major flood in the town which caused a lot of damage to the dzong but it has now been beautifully renovated and is a real showcase for Bhutanese craftsmanship and painting. You are normally allowed into the dzong unless there are VIPs visiting.

Overnight: Zhingkham Resort or Damchen Resort or Similar, Punakha

Day 8 - Drive to Paro. Visit Paro Dzong, Museum and Kyichu Lakhang.

Today you drive back over the Dochu La and on to Paro. In the afternoon you will have time for some sightseeing in the Paro valley. Firstly you may visit the huge Paro Dzong, one of the most important in the kingdom. Above the dzong is the 17th century watchtower or Ta Dzong. This unusual, circular building houses Bhutan's National Museum and has recently been fully restored. The museum has a fantastic collection of Bhutanese national treasures with displays including depictions of a wide range of Bhutan's history and culture and an impressive collection of ancient thangkas featuring Bhutan's important saints and teachers. You will also find some fearsome festival masks, a collection of religious statues, some early stone carvings and the original iron links from the nearby Tamchhog Bridge.

There will then be time to visit the ancient temple of Kyichu Lakhang which was one of 108 temples built by an important early Tibetan king, Songtsen Gampo, in an attempt to pin down the Bon demon who was thought to hover over the whole of Tibet.

Overnight: Hotel Olathang Or Similar, Paro

Day 9 - Walk to Taktsang Monastery in the morning. Drive to the Haa Valley. Visit Dzong Drakha Temple en route.

Today you will walk up to the famous Tiger's Nest, Taktsang Monastery - a fitting climax to your trip. The monastery is perched some 600m/2,000ft up on a cliff overlooking the valley and was said to be where the legendary Indian saint, Guru Padma Sambhava, flew from Tibet on the back of a tiger to defeat five demons, who were opposing the spread of Buddhism in Bhutan. It's a steep uphill walk through woods, of about 1½-2hrs, to reach a tea house (an ascent of 340m/1,115ft). Apart from offering welcome refreshment this tea house is one of the principle viewpoints of the monastery, and those who prefer not to climb any further can relax here whilst others continue on. If there is a particular religious gathering or VIP visit in progress, you will not be able to enter the monastery but the further half an hour's ascent is well worth it in any case, as it brings you to another viewpoint directly across from the monastery. If you are able to make a visit, the final section of the walk takes you from here steeply down approximately 100m/330ft into the gorge that separates you from the monastery and then climbs back up again to reach the monastery gate. You descend back to the valley floor by your outward route back to where your vehicle will be waiting. The full walk to the monastery and back involves approximately 740m/2,428ft of ascent. Please note, if you prefer not to make the walk to Taktsang your driver will be able to take you instead further along the valley to visit Drukyel Dzong, a ruined fortress enjoying good views of the mountain.

In the afternoon you will drive to the Haa Valley. The drive to the pass takes about 1½ hours stopping off on the way at the temple of Dzong Drakha, a beautiful cliff temple spectacularly located on a broad ledge with vertical limestone cliff above and below There are lovely views from here.

Continuing up to the Cheli La, a pass at 3,990m/13,090ft, in clear weather you will have wonderful views of the snow-capped mountains to the west which mark the border with Tibet. You then descend on a long zig-zag road down into the Haa Valley. As you approach you will notice three almost identical conical hills in a line on the other side of the valley. These are believed by the locals to be the physical manifestations of three very important Buddhist saints. The left one is Manjushri (the god who holds the flaming sword which cuts the knot of ignorance), the middle one is Chenrizig (the Buddha of compassion of which the Dalai Lama is the human incarnation) and the right hand hill is Chana Dorji (this being the protector god of Bhutan). Collectively they are known as Rigsum (three hills). As you descend further you look down on the square yellow roof of the main monastery/fortress, Namgay Dzong. Spread around the dzong are the buildings of the Indian Army dating from the visit of President Nehru - the Indian army has a presence in Bhutan ostensibly to protect the kingdom from possible invasion from China. Although part of the dzong is used by the Indian Army the central tower is still used by the local people. The old town itself is just to the north-west and is really quite attractive with traditional two storey shops and a post office. There is a large school in Haa. In the afternoon you should have time for a little exploration in the Haa Valley.

Overnight: Lechuna Heritage Lodge Or Risum Resort Or Similar, Haa

Day 10 - Village walk in the Haa Valley. Drive to Paro with visit to Kila Nunnery on the way.

Today you have time to explore in the Haa Valley. Initially it is worth driving up to the very top of the valley for an overview. This takes about 40 minutes and is a very pretty drive. From here you will get really good views of Haa Valley itself as well as over to the west to the mountains which border Tibet. Coming back down towards the town you may take a spur road to Talung village which is 20 minutes on a rough road. This village is situated in a small side valley and it's a good idea to take the vehicles to the top of the village and then walk down through the houses for a look at a typical Haa village. You may well receive 'invites' into one or two of the farmhouses which would provide an interesting look at the way of life and standards of living of typical Bhutanese farmers. You can rejoin your vehicle at the bottom of the village and then drive the short distance to the bottom of a track for a nice walk up to Yongto Gompa, an ascent of 100 metres which takes about 30 minutes. Yongto Gompa is perched on a ridge overlooking the main valley and is one of the oldest monasteries in Haa, thought to have been built in the 15th century. From here you walk steeply down the hill, 30 minutes and 200m descent, through pine trees, to Yangtha village. This is a large village on the floor of the main valley. In 2001 they suffered a huge fire which destroyed 12 houses. Amazingly, the fire left the temple of the village perfectly intact. After the fire the King visited the people of the village and paid for the reconstruction. The new houses are built in exactly the same traditional style and blend in remarkably well.

After lunch you will drive back over the Cheli La Pass to Paro. On the way you may walk to the Kila Gompa nunnery. The gompa is surrounded by a lush forest dominated by tall firs and sparkling mountain streams tumble down slopes which are covered with a variety of wildflowers and plants. The Gompa is a peaceful retreat for Buddhist nuns who dedicate their lives to spiritual fulfilment. About 30 nuns live here, ranging in age from about 20 to 80 years. The community is one of the oldest of seven nunneries in Bhutan, and was initially established in the early 9th century as a meditation site. The nuns live a life of contemplation and seclusion, with daily prayer and spiritual practice. The temple itself is surrounded by numerous meditation huts, and many hidden caves lie inside the rocky cliffs. After being destroyed by fire, the temple was rebuilt and officially inaugurated in 1986.

Overnight: Hotel Olathang Or Similar, Paro

Day 11 - Fly to Kathmandu. Transfer to Dwarika's hotel.

You will be taken to the airport where you will say goodbye to your guide and driver. The flight to Kathmandu is normally an early morning flight which takes you out and over the Bhutanese mountains and past Kangchenjunga, Makalu and Everest, finally dropping down into Kathmandu valley. You will be met and transferred to Dwarika's Hotel, after which there will be plenty of time to relax or for shopping and sightseeing.

Overnight: Dwarika's Hotel, Kathmandu

Day 12 - At leisure in Kathmandu. Transfer to the airport and depart for London

You will have time at leisure in Kathmandu today when you might do some sightseeing - you might take a trip out to Patan, one of the ancient cities of the Kathmandu Valley. It is also worthwhile to visit the important complex of Hindu temples at Pashupatinath, just a short walk from Dwarika's Hotel, where there a large temple to Shiva and the ghats on the banks of the river where cremations take place. The large stupa at Boudhanath is also worth a visit - this is a great focus for Buddhist pilgrims from all over the Himalaya. To the west of the city is another famous stupa, the so-called 'Monkey Temple', Swayambhunath, visited by Hindus and Buddhists alike. Alternatively you might do some shopping or simply relax by the pool at your hotel.

Later there will be a group transfer to the airport for your overnight flight to the UK.

Overnight: In flight

Day 13 - Arrive London.