The Peaceful Land Tour

After breakfast drive to Thimphu city and visit the following:

Buddha Point /Kuenselphodrang: This massive Buddha statue is 51.5 meters in height and it is one of the largest statues of Buddha in the world. The statue is made of bronze and is gilded in gold. The throne that the Buddha Dordenma sits upon is a large meditation hall.

The National Memorial Chorten (stupa) was constructed in 1974 as a memorial for the third King of Bhutan, King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, who is widely regarded as the father of modern Bhutan. The term ‘Chorten literally means the seat of faith’ and Buddhists often call such monuments the ‘Mind of Buddha’. Meet the elderly generation in circumambulation, especially in the evenings, at the National Memorial Chorten.

The School of Traditional Painting of Arts and Crafts where students undertake a six-year course on the 13 traditional arts and crafts of Bhutan.

Tashichhodzong, “the fortress of the glorious religion”. This is the center of government and religion, site of the monarch’s throne room, and seat of the Je Khenpo or Chief Abbot. Built in 1641 by the political and religious unifier of Bhutan Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, it was reconstructed in the 1960s in a traditional Bhutanese manner, without any nails or architectural plans. Yet another place for the photographer’s delight.

Overnight in Thimphu

This morning you will be transferred by road eastwards to the Phobjikha Valley.

45 minutes from Thimphu is the Dochula pass (3,100m), offering you the first glimpse of the eastern Himalayan Ranges, consisting of snow-capped mountain peaks with heights ranging from 6000m to 7554m. During the stopover there, you can also see the 108 stupas (Chortens) built around a mound. The drive through the countryside affords a glimpse of everyday life in this most remote of Himalayan kingdom’s.

Phobjikha is one of Bhutan’s few glacial valleys and chosen winter home of black-necked cranes (November – March) migrating from the Tibetan plateau.

We will be visiting Gangtey Gompa, one of the oldest Nyingmapa monasteries that look like a small Dzong.

A Nature trail walk (around 1 hour) that gives a nice feeling to Phobjikha valley. It is the most beautiful and shortest of the existing nature trails in Bhutan. From the small hilltop overlooking Gangtey Goemba, head downhill through flower meadows to Semchubara village and from here through beautiful forests and into the open valley. After passing a Chorten and Khewa Lhakhang, the trail ends at the local community school. Visit the Black-necked crane center (cranes will start immigrating to this area by November).

Overnight in Phobjekha valley

After breakfast, drive to the Pele La pass (3,420m) on the Black Mountain range towards Trongsa (4.5 hrs).

En-route visit the beautiful 18th-century Chendebji Chorten. Trongsa is the ancestral home of Bhutan’s ruling dynasty. Visit Ta Dzong museum housing a collection of historical artifacts of the Royal Family and visit Trongsa Dzong, the largest Dzong in Bhutan

Continue driving towards Bumthang (2.5 hrs), the spiritual center of the kingdom. Bumthang is home to some of Bhutan’s oldest Palaces, Buddhist temples, and monasteries.

Overnight in Bumthang

After breakfast, we will visit the following places

Visit Kurjey Lhakhang, one of the most sacred places in the kingdom where Bhutan’s patron saint Guru Rimpoche meditated and 7th-century Jambay Lhakhang. It dates back to the origins of Buddhism in Bhutan and is one of the Kingdoms oldest temples.

Jakar Dzong – pitched on a high ground overlooking the town junction, it was built as a monastery in 1549 by the great grandfather of the Zhabdrung. It is now used as the administrative center for the Bumthang district.

Tamshing Goemba, built-in 1501 by the Buddhist saint Pema Lingpa.

Konchogsum Lhakhang (called Tsilung or Choekhor in the texts) dates, according to the saint Pema Lingpa, as far back as the 8th century. The temple is supposed to have been built by the Tibetan king Trisong Detsen after receiving instructions fromGuru Rinpoche to do so.

Overnight in Bumthang

After breakfast, depart for Punakha stopping along the way at Trongsa for lunch. Continue drive to Punakha, which was the ancient capital of Bhutan.

Sangchchen Dorji Lhuendrup nunnery is a large temple complex which is located on a ridge beside the neighboring Punakha and Wangdue Phodrang amidst pine trees. Also, we will visit the longest suspension bridge in Bhutan.

Overnight in Punakha.

After Breakfast, enjoy an excursion on foot to Yabesa village and hike through ricefields and up to Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten, built by her majesty the queen Ashi Tshering Yangdon Wangchuk. Perched high on a hill on the bank of the river, the Chorten houses paintings belonging to Nyingmapa Traditions.

After lunch, visit Punakha Dzong, the “Palace of Great Happiness” built in 1637 by the Shabdrung, the ‘Unifier of Bhutan’ as predicted by the great Guru Rimpoche (Padmasambhava). It is the winter headquarters of the Je Khenpo and hundreds of monks who move en masse from Thimphu to this warmer location. The three-story main temple of the Punakha Dzong is a breathtaking example of traditional architecture with four intricately embossed entrance pillars crafted from cypress and decorated in gold and silver. It was here in 1907 that Bhutan’s first king was crowned.

Drive back to Paro via Thimphu, where you will have an opportunity to visit handicraft and souvenir stores. A short excursion to Chimi Lhakhang, the temple of Drukpa Kuenly. He inherited the Divine Madman title since he revolted against orthodox Buddhism in his time.

Overnight in Paro

After breakfast, we drive for half an hour and start the hike, which is about 5 hours (round trip.) The trail is along an ancient path marked by river-powered prayer wheels.

Mediating in Taktshang Monastery can be a very good experience of mediating in a most important and revered Buddhist Monastery in Bhutan.

As you reach Taktshang you will be struck by the architectural wonder of this most pious Buddhist shrine in Bhutan. Perched some 1000m, 3000ft on a cliff overlooking the valley, it would justifiably qualify as one of Bhutan’s wonders. Tragically wrecked in a fire early in 1998, it has been rebuilt to its original glory. It is said that the legendary Indian saint, Guru Padma Sambhava, flew from Tibet on the back of a tigress to tame five demons, who were opposing the spread of Buddhism in Bhutan in 746 A.D.

On the return drive to Paro, visit 7th Century Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the 108 temples constructed by the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo.

Overnight in Paro

After breakfast, you will be driven to Paro international Airport for your onward destination.