Thimphu Drupchen Festival Western Bhutan

Receive by Rainbow Tours & Treks representatives. After refreshment in local restaurant, 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 best way 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. Evening, check into Hotel.

After breakfast, drive to Thimphu following the Paro River and Thimphu River.  After check in at your hotel, visit the following places:

• Open Weekend Market where farmers from all over western Bhutan gather to sell their farm produce and handicrafts.
• Textile Museum.
• Traditional Paper making factory.
• Takin Reserve (national animal of Bhutan) and the Thimphu View Point.

Lunch in local restaurant and in the evening visit the Memorial Chorten built for the Third King.  Also visit Thimphu town and its many handicraft shops.

Dinner and overnight at hotel.

Full day at Thimphu Festival.  You will also be able to mingle with the local people. Lunch in local restaurant.

Dinner and overnight at hotel.

Morning: Festival

• After lunch in local restaurant drive to Punakha.  En route stop  at 3150 m. Dochula Pass to  enjoy a  view of the eastern Himalayan mountains. Here you can spend some time photographing the Druk Wangyal Chortens. Built in 2004 to “celebrate the stability and progress that His Majesty has brought to the nation,” this hill of 108 religious buildings in the middle of the pass reflects Bhutan’s spiritual and artistic traditions.
• As you descend from the pass, you will observe dramatic changes in vegetation.  At the lower elevations in Punakha and Wangdue, cacti, banana plants, poinsettias, and other semi-tropical plants dominate the exotic landscape.
• Stop at Lobesa for a short hike to Chhimed Lhakhang – a famous Fertility Temple built by a Buddhist Saint – Drukpa Kuenley, affectionately known as ‘Divine Madman’.

Dinner and overnight at hotel.

• Morning visit Punakha Dzong.  Built in 1637 between the confluence of the Po Chu (male river) and Mo Chu (female river,) this fortress monastery is the winter residence of Bhutan’s spiritual leader, the Je Khenpo or Head Abbot, and the central Monk Body comprising of over 500 monks.
• After lunch drive back to Paro re-crossing Dochula Pass.

Tiger’s Nest Excursion

• In the morning take a 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.
• Taktsang cafeteria. The round trip hike takes about 4 hrs.
• Return to the base of the mountain. Drive a short distance to visit a historic ruined fortress – Drugyel Dzong.

Dinner and overnight at Hotel.

After breakfast, transfer to airport for departure.