DAY 1 : ARRIVAL IN PARO
The flight into Bhutan takes you the great Himalayas offering you the most scintillating scenery of the world's highest glacial peaks. As you enter Paro valley, you will see the silvery Pa-chu River meandering down the valley, the Paro Dzong fortress and the Ta Dzong. You will be welcomed by our representative at Paro Airport and transferred to Thimphu. Upon arrival check in at your hotel and spend the rest of your time at leisure to discover the capital on your own.
DAY 2 : THIMPU
After breakfast at the hotel you will visit the Memorial Chorten, a stupa dedicated to the third king of Bhutan, Jigme Dorji Wangchuk. Continue to the Textile Museum & Folk Heritage Museum for a fascinating insight into Bhutanese culture and way of life and then drive to the 15th century Changakha Lhakhang temple perched on a ridge in the Thimpu Valley. The Takin Sanctuary, next on your itinerary, will give you the opportunity to spot the national animal of Bhutan, the takin or gnu goat. Also visit the school of Arts and Crafts and the National Library which holds a vast collection of ancient Buddhist texts, manuscripts and academic works on Himalayan culture and religion. You will then head to Buddha Dordenma, one of the largest Buddha statues in the world at 169 feet with the body of the Buddha filled with 1,25,000 smaller statues of Buddha. In the evening you will visit the Tashichho Dzong; the main secretarial building in Bhutan which houses the throne room of His Majesty the King of Bhutan and also the head seat of Chief Abbot of the mounatin kingdom. Return to your hotel at the end of the day and stay overnight.
DAY 3 : PARO
Today you will leave soon after breakfast for Paro. Upon arrival check in at the hotel and head out for a day of sightseeing.You will begin at the National Museum which houses an impressive collection of fine arts, paintings, bronzes, textiles, jewellery and handicrafts as well as galleries of stamps. You will also visit the Rinpung Dzong, the Fortress of the Heap of Jewels, built in 1645 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel. It is an imposing square fortress, representative of typical Dzong architecture, with a central tower and courtyards housing the administrative (Dzongkhag) quarters and has a community of about 200 monks. A hike down the hill will bring you to the cantilever bridge, one of the finest specimens in Bhutan with its shingle roof and two guard-houses at each end. Return to the hotel at the end of the afternoon and stay overnight.