Host: Tashi Tsering
When: Best time to visit Bhutan is March - Mid-June & September - early December. Other times of the year since it is off-season there is a discount.
Length of stay: 7 days makes an ideal tour. Shorter or longer tours can easily be organized.
Number of guests: Individual or in groups, no problem
Languages: English
Fee: - High Season (March - May & September - November): US$ 200 per person per night halt
- Low Season (December - Feburary & June - August): US$ 165 per person per night halt
In addition to daily rates, there is a surcharge for smaller groups:
- Indiviual : US$ 40 per night halt
- Two persons: US$ 30 per person per night halt
The cost includes hotel accomodation, meals, transport, guide service & entrance fees to cultural sites. We will also take care of obtaining visa & Druk Air reservations. What is not included in the cost is airfare, visa fee, insurance, bar & beverage and personal expenses.
Background
Bhutan is known as one of the top ten biodiversity hot spots in the world,
with an estimated 165 mammal and 5500 plant species, 500 of which are
considered medicinal. There are about 770 bird species. (In contrast, North
America is reported to have about 800 species of birds, in a land mass more
than 400 times larger than Bhutan.)
Today when almost all parts of the world has seen a surge in tourists
numbers, Bhutan has continued to follow a policy of regulated tourism in
order to safeguard the country's natural environment, rich cultural heritage
and the unique way of life of its people. This has made Bhutan one of the
least traveled countries in the world. In 1999, approximately 7000 tourists
visited Bhutan.
Getting to Bhutan:
With regard to flights to and from Bhutan, we have one airline - Druk Air, Royal Bhutan Airlines. Druk Air operates three flights a week to & from Bangkok(Thailand) on the
following days: - Bangkok to Paro: Wednesday, Friday & Sunday
- Paro to Bangkok: Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday
It operates two flights a week to & from New Delhi(India) and Kathmandu(Nepal) on Monday and Thursday. It also operates flights to Calcutta(India) and Dacca(Bangladesh).
ITINERARY
DAY 01 ARRIVE PARO
Your will receive by your host upon arrival and drive you through the valley of Paro to the hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
DAY 02 PARO
Morning visit Drugyel Dzong, 18 kilometers away from Paro town. On a clear day you can view the sacred Mount Chhomolari (Mountain of Goddess) - 24,000 ft. Visit a typical Bhutanese farm house and sightseeing trip to the Paro Bazaar. Visit also Ta Dzong which houses the National Museum followed by a short walk to Paro Rimpung Dzong. See a traditional wooden bridge.
DAY 03 PARO - EXCURSION TO TAKTSHANG OR DRIVE TO CHELILA PASS
Drive to Satsam Chorten and then hike to viewpoint of Taktshang, the Tiger's Nest. This monastery clings to a vertical granite cliff 3,000 ft above the valley floor. The monastery unfortunately got burnt in 1998 and is presently under reconstruction.
DAY 04 PARO - THIMPHU
Drive to Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan. Sightseeing includes visit to the National Library, the School of Thangka Painting, the Traditional Medicine Institute, the Memorial Chorten and the Tashichho Dzong (Fortress of the Glorious Religion).
DAY 05 THIMPHU - PUNAKHA - THIMPHU
Drive to Punakha through Dochula Pass where one gets one of the most enchanting views in Bhutan. On a clear day, one can get an excellent view of the Himalayan range and also the Gasa Dzong at a distance. The journey continues through varying scenes of greenery all the way to Punakha. Visit Punakha town. The Punakha Dzong is set on the junction of the two rivers the Phochu (male river) and Mochu (female river) and is one of the most spectacular dzongs in the country. At present this dzong serves as the winter residence for the Je Khenpo, Chief Abbot of the Central Monastic Body. Afternoon, drive to Wangdue Phodrang and return to Thimphu in the evening.
DAY 06 THIMPHU - PARO
Drive to Paro. On the way, visit Simtokha Dzong the oldest fortress in Bhutan built in the 17th century by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the unifier of Bhutan. Afternoon visit Paro town and some of the handicraft centers for souvenirs. Evening at leisure.
DAY 07 PARO - DEPARTURE
Early morning drive to Paro Airport for departure.
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