Paro Festival

Arrive Paro. Receive by Rainbow Representative. Transfer to hotel.

After lunch visit:

• Visit the National Museum, once the watchtower for the Rinpung Dzong,  located high on a promontory overlooking the Paro Valley.  This first outing is meant to familiarize you with the cultural and natural history of this amazing kingdom in the clouds, and a visit to the National Museum is the very bestway to quickly learn the culture since it houses everything that is Bhutanese, in a very different museum style that will delight you.  First constructed in 1645, the Rinpung Watchtower was converted to the National Museum in 1968.  While photography within the museum is not allowed, there are numerous photo ops of the exterior and the valley below.
• Visit the Rinpung Dzong situated just below the National Museum Watch Tower. Built in 1645, this massive building now houses the District Administration Office and the Monk Body.
• Drugyel Dzong – ruined fortress.  The dzong, although in ruins, holds great historical significance.  It was from this fortress that the Bhutanese repelled many Tibetan invasions.  On a clear day this spot offers a magnificent vista of Mount Chomolhari, “Mountain of Goddess” (Alt. 7329 m).  In the evening walk through Paro town and have dinner at a local restaurant.

Dinner and overnight: Hotel.

FULL DAY PARO FESTIVAL

• Evening: visit the courtyard of Kychu Lhakhang. This is the oldest temple built in 7th century.
• En route stroll through Paro town and have dinner at local restaurant.

Overnight: Hotel.

• Morning: Drive to Thimphu sightseeing. ( 2 hours/65 Km.)
• Sightseeing in Thimphu visit the Textile Museum, National Library where ancient manuscripts are preserved, Arts and Crafts School.
• Afternoon: hike to Tango Monastery and meet some monks.
• The hike takes about 3 hours round trip.
• Evening; free for shopping/leisure.

Overnight: Hotel.

Morning: drive to Wangdue. En route visit Semtokha Dzong built in 1629 – oldest fortress in the country.

• Drive to Wangdue takes 3-4 hours. En route stop at Dochula Pass (3150 m), 30 Km from Thimphu, for tea and biscuits and enjoy a view of the Eastern Himalayan mountains.
• After lunch in Lobesa visit the Punakha Dzong. This is the winter residence of Bhutan’s spiritual leader, the Head Abbot, and the Central Monastic Body. The Dzong is built between two rivers known as Phochu (Male River) and Mochu”(Female River).
• After Punakha take a short hike to Chhi-Med Lhakhang in the picturesque Lobesa valley, to visit the temple of one of Bhutan’s foremost saints, Lama Drukpa Kunley,also known as the “Divine Madman”.
• Evening; Drive to Paro.

Overnight: Hotel.

Final day of Paro Festival.

• Morning: take part in the procession of Thongdrel Ceremony which starts at 3 a.m.! Thongdrel ceremony involves displaying of a large wall size painting of the Patron Saint of Bhutan (Guru Rimpoche) before the sunrise.
• Devotees come from all over the country to get blessings from the Thangkha painting which is displayed once in a year at the end of Paro festival.

• After lunch: hike to Taktsang Monastery. The name Taktsang means “Tiger’s Nest”.

The monastery is perched on a rocky ledge with a sheer drop of nearly 800 m. It is said that in the second half of the 8th century, Guru Padma Sambbava alighted here upon the back of a tigress. Picnic Lunch at Taktsang cafeteria. The round trip hike takes about 4 hrs.

Dinner and overnight: Hotel.

After breakfast, transfer to airport for departure.