Upon your arrival at Paro International Airport, our guide and driver will receive and escort you to visit the National Museum to learn about the history & rich cultural heritage of Bhutan. From there drive to the capital city Thimphu and visit the Weaving Center to learn about the weaving culture and tradition of Bhutan. Weaving is an integral component of the culture & tradition of Bhutan. Not long ago, it was common to see one member in the family weaving for the entire family. If your flight arrives early, you'll have free time to explore the streets of Thimphu. Distance from Paro - Thimphu 55km | Driving time 1.5-hours | Thimphu altitude 2334m | Paro altitude 2200m Dinner and overnight at 5-Star Le Meridien Thimphu or 4-Star DusitD2 Yarkay located conveniently in the heart of Thimphu city.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

• 4-Star Accommodation: dusitD2 Yarkay Thimphu
• 5-Star Accommodation: Le Méridien Thimphu

Spend a day in Thimphu where you'll see rapid modernization taking place while still preserving ancient culture and holds on to its age-old traditions. After a leisurely breakfast at the hotel, you'll visit the tallest sitting Buddha statue located at Kuensel Phodrang overlooking Thimphu valley. Optionally, you can do 2-hour easy hiking in the outskirts of the capital city from Kuensel Phodrang to the 13th-century Changangkha Lhakhang. It is relatively a short hiking trail through sparsely populated pine trees offering a perfect overlooking view of the Thimphu valley. This hiking trail is a section of a 60km cycling trail surrounding the entire Thimphu city which was built in 2016 to commemorate the 60th Birth Anniversary of the Great Fourth King, His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck. At the end of the hike, you'll visit Changangkha Lhakhang, the 13th-century national treasure. From there drive to Folk Heritage Museum Restaurant where a sumptuous traditional lunch will be served. After lunch, visit Zorig Chusum where 13 traditional arts & crafts are taught and stroll the Craft Bazaar along the main Thimphu streets. If interested, you can continue to visit the Bhutan Postal Museum where you can have stamps printed with your own photo, the Changlimithang Archery Range where you can see archers singing and dancing each time they hit the target from a whopping distance of 145m. Otherwise, you can spend the rest of the day at your hotel using relaxing state-of-the-art spa facilities. Dinner and overnight at 5-Star Le Meridien Thimphu or 4-Star DusitD2 Yarkay

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

• 4-Star Accommodation: dusitD2 Yarkay Thimphu
• 5-Star Accommodation: Le Méridien Thimphu

After breakfast, drive to Punakha valley (74km, 3-hours drive) via the sacred mountain pass Dochula (3150m), enjoy a panoramic view of some of Bhutan's highest mountains (weather permitting). From Dochu La Pass, we continue driving towards Punakha, passing through some villages, the elevation drops gradually and the road winds through the pine trees. As you reach the lower valley, you'll feel the drastic change in altitude from 3,150m just an hour and a half ago to the subtropical valley at 1,200m. About 11km before reaching Punakha town, visit the famous 15th-century Chimi Lhakhang (Temple of Fertility). After local lunch at one of the beautiful farmhouses, drive to Punakha and visit the masterpiece of Bhutanese architecture, the historic 17th-century Punakha Dzong and spend some time appreciating the intricate woodwork and sacred wall paintings. We then walk to Bhutan's longest suspension bridge across the Phochu river. Punakha Dzong is flanked by two glacial rivers - Phochu (male) and Mochu (female) rivers. Distance from Thimphu - Punakha 74km, Driving time 3-hours, Punakha altitude 1200m Dinner and overnight at 5-Star Uma Punakha by COMO Hotels or 4-Star Dhensa Boutique Resort. Uma Punakha is located on a peaceful hilltop surrounded by fertile rice fields and overlooking the Mochu river meandering through the Punakha Valley while Dhensa Boutique Resort is located on a quaint hillside in the village of Wolakha about 30 minutes before reaching the historic Punakha Dzong.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

• 4-Star Accommodation: Dhensa Boutique Resort
• 5-Star Accommodation: COMO Uma Punakha

After a leisurely breakfast at the hotel, drive to the nearest road head and hike to picturesque Khamsum Yuellay Namgyel Chorten located on a serene hilltop on the other side of the Mochu river. The hike takes you through idyllic countryside, terraced rice fields and a short uphill climb before reaching the sacred site. The round-trip hike takes about 2.5-3 hours. After the hike, return to the road head and drive to a beautiful picnic spot by the bank of the Mochu river where lunch will be served. Optionally, you may also want to experience white water rafting on the Mochu river graded 1-2 making it possible for all ages to try. The best season to do rafting would be from March to May and September to November. The water level rises in summer (Jun - Aug) and subsides in winter (Dec-Feb). The rafting distance is 10-14km and takes about 2 hours from start to finish. After lunch, visit the Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Nunnery which is located in close proximity to Dhensa Boutique Resort overlooking partial Punakha valley and the neighbouring district of Wangdue Phodrang. If you drive further up to the top of the village, you can visit the peaceful Talo Monastery surrounded by dense forests of conifer and other trees. Dinner and overnight at Uma Punakha by COMO Hotels or 4-Star Dhensa Boutique Resort.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

• 4-Star Accommodation: Dhensa Boutique Resort
• 5-Star Accommodation: COMO Uma Punakha

Today after leisurely breakfast at the hotel, we drive back to Paro via Dochula Pass (115km, 3.5-hours drive). Lunch will be served at Dochula Cafeteria. If you are interested, you can do a short easy hike to Tashigang Gonpa from Dochula Pass. This wonderful hiking takes you downhill through forests of Juniper, Hemlock, blue pine among many others. It offers a great opportunity to photograph nature and landscapes. You'll also come across different species of bird. The hike downhill takes about an hour to reach the Gonpa. Tashigang Gonpa is a monastery located on top of a mountain below Dochula Pass. It was built in 1768 by the 12th Abbot of Bhutan, Je Kunga Jamtsho. The monastery houses priceless relics and several statues of past Abbots of Bhutan. Today, the monastery serves as a monastic school for dozens of monks. You'll have an opportunity to visit the monastery and get blessings. The driver will be waiting here at the monastery. From here, continue driving to Paro which will take about 2 hours. Distance from Punakha - Paro 115km, Driving time 3.5-4 hours, Paro altitude 2200m Dinner and overnight at 5-Star Zhiwaling Heritage or 4-Star Naksel Boutique Hotel & Spa. The luxury hotel Zhiwaling Heritage is located countryside 20 minutes away from the main Paro town. Zhiwaling Heritage is the only luxury hotel wholly owned by Bhutanese. The hotel was featured in National Geographic's Unique Lodge for its ornate Bhutanese architecture and wellness programs. The Naksel Boutique Hotel is located about 30 minutes from the Paro International Airport on the edge of the pristine forests above Paro valley.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

• 4-Star Accommodation: Naksel Boutique Hotel & SPA
• 5-Star Accommodation: Zhiwa Ling Hotel

Today after breakfast, you'll hike to the famous and one of the most sacred sites in Bhutan. Paro Taktsang or popularly known as "Tiger’s Nest" is built on the face of a sheer 800-meter rocky cliff in Paro. The round-trip hiking normally takes about 4-5 hours for most visitors. The history of Taktsang is associated with the visit of Guru Padmasambhava (known as Guru Rinpoche), the Indian saint who came to Bhutan and introduced Tantric Buddhism in the 8th century AD. It is believed that Guru Padmasambhava flew into the cave from Kurtoe Khenpajong in eastern Bhutan, riding on a tigress. It is not only considered as one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites in Bhutan but also “a must-visit” place for tourists. Oneway horse riding is available on your way up to the mid-point (Taktsang Viewpoint Cafeteria) for a fee of about USD20 per horse per person. Horse riding is not recommended on your way down and most owners will not allow it. On the way back to the hotel, you can visit one of the oldest temples in Bhutan, the 7th-century Kyichu Lhakhang believed to have been built overnight by the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo in his mission to subdue the spirit of giant demoness which was obstructing the propagation of Buddhism in the Himalayan region. You can spend some time exploring Paro town or head back to the hotel where you can relax and use their spa facilities. Dinner and overnight at 5-Star Zhiwaling Heritage or 4-Star Naksel Boutique Hotel & Spa.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

• 4-Star Accommodation: Naksel Boutique Hotel & SPA
• 5-Star Accommodation: Zhiwa Ling Hotel

After breakfast at the hotel and depending on your flight departure time, you'll be transferred to Paro International Airport for your onward journey.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast