Day 01: Arrival at Paro International Airport – Paro district vicinity tour

Representative from See Bhutan Travels will welcome you at Paro international airport. Get transferred to your hotel and enjoy your lunch.

After lunch we will be riding around Paro town and if time permits, we will pay visits to following places:

Paro Ta Dzong (national museum): Located on a spur above Rinpung Dzong, five and a half kilometres’ drive from Tshongdu town, the dzong was built in the mid-17th century as a watchtower overlooking Rinpung Dzong by Lanyongpa Tenzin Drukdra and Chogyal Migyur Tenpa. The circular dzong houses the National Museum of Bhutan

Paro Rinpung Dzong: Located on the bank of Pachu River, Paro Dzong, formally known as Rinchen Pung Dzong (shortened to Rinpung Dzong), was built in 1644 under the command of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. It is one of the most beautiful and historically important dzongs in the country. Today, it houses both district administration and monastic body.

Overnight: At hotel in Paro.

Day 02: Taktsang Monastery hike (horse riding and hiking)

In the morning drive till Taktsang base from where the 6 hour round trip hiking to Taktsang monastery begins.

Horse riding facilities are available till Taktsang viewpoint while hiking up.

Taktsang Monastery: The monastery is located 900 m above Paro valley on the face of a rocky cliff. Taktshang is perhaps the most famous monastery in the country. The monastery was named Taktshang after Guru Rinpoche flew there from Kurtoe Singay Dzong (Eastern Bhutan) riding on a tigress to subdue a demon. Gyalse Tenzin Rabgay, the secular head of the country (1680-1694) has begun the construction of the monastery at this site in 1692 and completed in the year 1694. The monastery houses many temples that contain sacred statues of eight manifestations of Guru Rinpoche, Tshepame Yabyum and Bone relic of Pelgi Singay.

Towards evening, after reaching back from Taktsang monastery, we will visit to Kichu Lhakhang.

Paro Kichu Lhakhang: Located about 10 minutes’ drive from Paro town, the temple is one of the two among 108 temples built by Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo in the 7th century to subdue a demon that lay supine across Tibet and Bhutan. The temple contains sacred relics dating back to the 7th century like a statue of Lord Buddha and four statues of Chagtong Chentong. It also contains the statues of Guru Nangsi Zilnon, Dolma Kukuli (a manifestation of Tara), Zhabdrung, the bone relic of his Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.

Overnight: At hotel in Paro

Day 03: Paro – Thimphu (65 km)

Today we will be riding 65 km eastward towards Thimphu (capital). After arriving at Thimphu we will visit to following sites (In tour vehicle).

Memorial Chorten: Located in the heart of Thimphu city, it was built in 1974 by Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Phuntsho Choden in memory of her son, Third King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. The three-storey choeten houses several relics such as Phurba Lhatshog, Kagay, Khrowo Nampur Gyalwa, Guru Tshengye, and Khenlop Chesum. The choeten is today the spiritual nerve centre of the city.

Buddha Statue: Located at Kuenselphodrang, facing Thimphu valley down bellow is the worlds’ largest and tallest Buddha statue standing at the height of 169 feet (52m). The statue houses one hundred thousand of smaller Buddha statues, the exact replica of the outer Buddha statue. From here one can have a 360 degree view of Thimphu valley.

Textile museum: Located near National library at Chubachu, it was established in the year 2001. The museum contains Bhutanese textiles, arts, crafts and more importantly the royal collections which includes first version of the Raven crown worn by first and second King of Bhutan, dresses and accessories worn by royal family and the bedding of his holiness Zhabdrung Jigme Dorji.

Overnight: At hotel in Thimphu

Day 04: Thimphu – Punakha (77 km)

Punakha is located 77 km east of Thimphu. Ride to Punakha from Thimphu includes uphill riding till Dochula pass (23 km) and from there; it is a downhill riding till you reach near the bank of Punatshang Chhu River.

En-route to Punakha we will pay visit to Khemae Lhakhang, the monastery dedicated to Tibetan saint Drukpa Kuenley.

Khemae Lhakhang: Located on a hillock in Lobesa (Punakha), the temple was built in 1499 by Lam Ngawang Chogyal, the cousin of Lam Drukpa Kunley, on the spot where the latter subdued a demon who was running away in the form of a dog. Lam Drukpa Kunley buried the demon and said there was no dog now (khe – dog; mae – no). Hence, the temple came to be known as the “temple of no dog”. Today however it is pronounced as Chimi Lhakhang. The temple contains the bow and arrows of Lam Drukpa Kunley and a phallus to bless the visitor.

After reaching Punakha we will pay visit to Punakha Dzong.

Punakha Dzong: The dzong is situated on a stretch of a land where two rivers – Phochu and Mochu – meet. The dzong was built by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1937 and named it Pungthang Dewa Chenpai Phodrang, the palace of great bliss. Later it became the final retreat palace for him. The first monarch, King Ugyen Wangchuck, was crowned there and it served as the capital of the country until 1955. Today it serves as the winter residence of the Central Monastic Body. The sacred relic Rangjung Kharsapani is also kept in the Machen Temple inside the dzong.

Overnight: At hotel in Punakha

Day 05: Punakha Excursion & white water rafting

In the morning we will hike to Khamsum Yelley Namgyal Chorten (stupa).

Khamsum Yelley Namgyal Chorten: Located in Kabesa Gewog, about 7 km drive from Punakha town; the Chorten was built with the sponsorship of her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Tshering Yangdon Wangchuck between 1992 and 1999 under the guidance of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and Lam Sonam Zangpo. The three-storey choeten contains the images of Dorji Phurba on the ground floor, Khrowo Khamsum Namgyal on the first floor, and Khrowo Nampur Gyalwa on the second floor.

On hiking back from the stupa, your raft will be ready waiting for you. There are two rivers where you can enjoy rafting at Punakha, Pho Chhu River and Mo chhu River. Rafting distances are around 12 km on both the rivers and it takes approximately 2 hours on both the rivers. Depending on your choice we can raft on either or both of the rivers.

Towards evening enjoy riding around Punakha valley.

Overnight: At hotel in Punakha

Day 06: Punakha – Gangtey (78 km)

After early breakfast, we will start our journey towards Gangtey valley. Riding towards Gangtey from Punakha will be demanding since it involves uphill riding but for those who cannot ride all the way can always use the service of tour vehicle.

Located at 3000 m above sea level, under Wangdue Phodrang district of western Bhutan, Gangtey valley is a very beautiful, if not the most beautiful glacial valley in Bhutan. It is located at 200 km east of Paro International Airport.

During the winter months (November – February), this valley receives its unique visitors, the globally threatened Black Necked Crane(Grus Nigricollis) which migrates from neighboring Tibetan plateaus and Northern India.

If time permits, we will pay visit to nearby local villages and mingle with local farmers.

Overnight: At hotel in Gangtey

Day 07: Gangtey – Thimphu – Paro (200 km)

Today is a long ride back to Thimphu. On the uphill roads we will be using the service of tour vehicles. Our cycling journey will come to an end at Thimphu. From Thimphu we will drive towards Paro for the night.

Overnight: At hotel in Paro

Day 08: Departure:

After breakfast, your guide and driver will see you off at Paro international airport.