Royal Highlander Bhutan Festival 12 Days

Soak in the panoramic view of the Thimphu valley from the site of the gigantic Lord Buddha, a 51-meter bronze Shakyamuni Buddha statue gilded in gold. If you want to mingle with the Bhutanese people and jostle with local farmers amongst the aroma of organic fruits and vegetables, the Centenary Farmers Market is the place to be. Smiling tourists watch in awe as locals bargain with the vendors and you could even stock up on your organic fruits for the coming days. Stroll through the market places and the craft bazaar. Overnight at your hotel in Thimphu. Visit the Simply Bhutan Museum which is a living studio showcasing the age old culture and traditional heritage of Bhutan. Walk for a few minutes from the Museum to Changangkha Lhakhang the oldest temple in Thimphu.

After breakfast check out of your hotel and drive for about three hours to Wangdue and Punakha valleys. Enroute stop over at the Dochulaa Pass (3150 meters) and on a clear day enjoy the spectacular views of the snow capped Himalayan Mountains. The 108 small stupas built over a small hill is also a beautiful sight. The road from the Pass winds down to the warm and fertile valleys and after a brief rest visits the Fertility Temple / Chime Lhakhang. It is a pleasant 30 minutes walk through mustard and paddy fields. Standing on a picturesque hilltop the Lhakhang is famous for its fertility wish grants to couples. Punakha valley is the old capital city of Bhutan and the Punakha Dzong meaning the Fortress of Great Bliss, was built by 1673 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel (the first spiritual & political leader of Bhutan) to commemorate the final victory against numerous Tibetan invasions. Located on a piece of land between two rivers Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu (literally meaning male and female rivers), the Dzong is massive, huge and magnificent in all its architectural grandeur. The first King of modern Bhutan was crowned in Punakha Dzong. Important religious ceremonies are still held in the Dzong. The Royal Wedding ceremony on 13th October 2011 of the Fifth King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck to Jetsun Pema was conducted in Punakha Dzong.

After breakfast drive for about four hours to Gasa road end, and from here you will trek for another four hours till you reach your campsite beside Tongchu Zam / bridge. At the campsite your tents will be pitched and your trekking team will be waiting for you with hot beverage, snacks and dinner. Rest well for your hike to Laya the next day. Overnight at your camp.

After an early breakfast start your trek to Laya, and with an early start you will reach by early afternoon so that you can enjoy the beautiful Laya village with majestic snowcapped high-rise Mountains as the backdrop. Overnight at your campsite in Laya.

For two days you can witness and participate in the various festivities including the recitation of Auley (traditional epic poem), traditional songs and dances, highland animals’ parade (yaks, horses and highland dogs) where the most beautiful animals win prizes, wrestling and try out the various local cuisine. Usually the celebration is always graced by the Fifth King and members of the Royal Family.

After breakfast you will start your trek back to Tongchu Zam and overnight at your campsite at Tongchu Zam. Option – If you want you can spend two more nights exploring and trekking in and around Laya.

Trek back to Gasa and tonight you can enjoy a dip in the Gasa Hot Springs which is supposed to have numerous curative and healing properties. Overnight at your campsite near the Hot springs.

After breakfast drive back to Punakha town, and walk for about an hour to Khamsum Yulley Namgyel Chorten stupa. The walk is beautiful through the pine trees, the stupa is beautiful and so is the view from there. Enroute you will also be walking through a suspension bridge over the Puna Tsang Chhu – Punakha River.

Have a sumptuous breakfast for your hike to Taktsang Monastery / Tiger’s Nest which is about 3 hours uphill and 2 down. Located around 900 meters above the Paro valley on a precarious almost vertical mountain cliff, Taktsang Goemba is truly a wonderful and spectacular sight in terms of its location, setting and history. In the 8th Century this was one of the major sites where Guru Padmasambhava – the patron saint of Buddhism in Bhutan meditated with his consort Khandro Yeshey Tshogyal. It is believed that Guru flew on a female tigress in pursuit of a demon which he subdued at the current site of the Monastery. It is one of the holiest site in the Buddhist arena and the most important cultural icon in Bhutan. You can have your lunch, tea/snacks at the cafeteria midway. Before you drive back to your hotel visit the Kyichu Lhakhang/temple, one of the oldest temple built in the 7th Century by the Tibetan King Songsten Gyembo. If you wish you can go for a stroll through the valley or rest in hotel.

After breakfast, drive to the airport and farewell.