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Only a few places on the planet have remained untouched by the modern world, and one of them is the sacred Kingdom of Bhutan. Snow-capped mountains, green valleys, crystal-clear rivers and springs, amazing Bhutanese architecture among the hills, grazing lands, and wildflowers—experience a journey to an abundance of deep and fascinating culture and landscape that Bhutan naturally offers. Embark on the humbling, soul-seeking experience of finding peace, healing, and tranquility in the pristine nature and serene environment only found here.
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Welcome to the Land of the Thunder Dragon! Today marks the beginning of our extraordinary expedition in Bhutan. After touching down at Paro International Airport, you will be greeted by our guide upon exiting the arrival hall. On this day, we will take it easy to acclimatize to the high altitude.
Take advantage of this day to explore, roam around, and shop in Thimphu, Bhutan's most modern city, which is home to a variety of restaurants, cafés, shops, and nightclubs. While the town shows signs of modernization, it still retains its cultural identity and Bhutanese values.
Our soul-seeking experience in Bhutan begins with a visit to Thimpu's hill, where we'll marvel at the Buddha Dordenma statue, also known as Buddha Point—one of the largest Buddhas in the world, standing at 169 feet. Here, you can admire the statue, which houses 125,000 miniature Buddhas encapsulated inside its enlightened bronze chest. Next, we will head to the National Memorial Chorten, a large chorten that is one of Thimphu's most recognizable landmarks and the center of daily devotion for many Bhutanese. This day is also dedicated to discovering more about the Motithang Takin Preserve, a wildlife reserve for Bhutan’s national animal, the Takin.
After that, we will spend some time at the Folk Heritage Museum immersing ourselves in the rich history and tradition of rural Bhutan as it is filled with exhibits, demonstrations, educational programs, and documentation of rural Bhutanese life. The day ends with a unique activity you can experience on this journey as we send a postcard through the Bhutan post office.
Bask in the morning view of Bhutan at 3,100 meters through this beautiful Dochula Pass, located on the way to Punakha from Thimphu. This offers stunning 360-degree panoramas of the Himalayan mountain range, a sight we are sure you don't want to miss! Then, we will continue our drive to Chimi Lhakhang, a monastery also known as the Fertility Temple, located in the beautiful village of Sopsokha.
The adventure continues on to the Pho Chu Suspension Bridge after lunch. The 160-meter-high Pho Chu Suspension Bridge connects the mainland to the villages spread out across the Punakha Dzong and the grand valley of Pho Chu Valley. This bridge is perched at a thrilling height above the raging Pho Chu River. Immerse yourself in the sights, as the views of the Punakha Dzong and the Pho Chu valley are spectacular from here.
Khamsum Yuley Temple is the most ornately built temple in Bhutan. Admire this fascinating temple, which the Queen Mother of the Fifth King constructed to bring about global peace, at our first stop on today's excursion.
We will head next to Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Nunnery, which is situated on a scenic mountain ridge. This Bhutanese attraction features traditional architecture, including a large white stupa with a golden tip. When we arrive, you will instantly notice the 4.2-meter (14-foot) bronze statue of Avalokiteshvara and depictions of notable lamas from the Drukpa Kagyu lineage.
Today, we will explore the beautiful Paro Valley, which is home to many of Bhutan's old monasteries and temples. This is the same valley that houses Mount Chomolhari, which is located at the valley's northern end and whose glacier water forms the Pachu.
Kyichu Lhakhang, a 1,300-year-old temple in Bhutan, is our next stop. Kyichu Lhakhang, which means "reservoir of peace," is one of the oldest 108 temples built by Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo to subdue and vanquish an ogre who was impeding the spread of Buddhism. Legend has it that all 108 temples were built in a single night. And today, we will have the opportunity to visit one.
To cap off the day’s excursion, we will take a walk around Paro town to explore the Bhutanese traditional shops, handicrafts, and cafes.
Ready for another adventure? Today, we will be making the hike up to one of the key highlights in Bhutan! The entire day is dedicated to seeing the Tiger's Nest, also known as Taktsang Monastery. This sacred Buddhist site, set dramatically on the cliffside of Paro Valley, is Bhutan’s most famous landmark and home to four temples with residential accommodations for the monks. A trip to Bhutan would undoubtedly be incomplete without seeing this famous landmark.
This day marks the end of our wonderful Bhutan expedition, so say a fond farewell to this beautiful Himalayan country. Depart from the hotel and then proceed to the airport. Take a flight back home after a memorable excursion to Bhutan.
