Women Only Tour Of Bhutan

Itinerary

• Day 1 -

  You will be greeted by a travel representative as soon as you arrive at Paro Airport.

  Sit back and relax as you’re driven in a private coach to reach Thimpu, the smallest capital city in the world (1–1.5 hours).

  Enroute, visit the Tachog Lhakhang Bridge built by Thangtong Gyalpo, a saint from the 15th century who introduced the art of building suspension bridges with iron chains -truly a sight to behold.

  You'll also drive past Chuzom, the meeting point of the Paro and Thimpu rivers. Here, you’ll see shrines built to ward off evil spirits that the Bhutanese believe lurk beneath the water.

  The last part of the journey is just a short 15-minute stretch from Simtokha to Thimpu, your home for the next three days.

  A welcome dinner with a live folk dance performance is waiting for you at the hotel. Once you’ve relaxed and eaten your fill of traditional Bhutanese dishes, you’ll be ready to hit the sack with images of the drive to Thimpu as the backdrop.

  Meals included: Dinner

• Day 2 -

  After breakfast embark on a 3 hour guided tour of Thimphu.

  Visit the National Library and The Institute for Zorig Chusum before lunch.

  Post lunch, continue your tour, stopping first visit the King’s Memorial Chorten, a striking stupa decorated with golden spires, wrathful deities and elaborate mandala paintings, that serves both as a memorial to the Late King and as a monument to peace.

  Then, visit the government-run Handicrafts Emporium and local crafts shops. (Note: Best not to test your bargaining power here; it’s simply not customary.)

  On the way back to the hotel, you’ll drive past the Trashi Chhoe Dzong (Fortress of the Glorious Religion), the site of monarch’s throne room and seat of Je Khenpo or Chief Abbot, where all important government and religious decisions are made.

  Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

• Day 3 -

  After an early morning breakfast, depart for the 10,130 ft Dochu-la Pass. You'll stop here briefly so you can take in the view - steep mountains dense with rhododendron forests, green valleys, monasteries, 108 chortens (Lamaist monuments), mani wall and colorful prayer flags fluttering in the wind.

  Next visit Punakha Dzong, another confluence but with two different rivers – Mo Chhu (Mother) and Pho Chhu (Father) via Wangdiphodrang.

  Afterwards, you’ll walk to Chimi Lakhang, a fertility temple nestled in the countryside, and said to have been built by a Tibetan saint known as the Divine Madman.

  Head to Punakha for the night.

  Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

• Day 4 -

  After breakfast, prepare yourself for an archery competition!

  You will spend some time learning the skills and then try hitting some targets for a fun time.

  Then, it’s time for a drive to Paro from Punakha.(4 hours)

  Overnight in Paro.

  Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

• Day 5 -

  This morning you’ll drive up the valley to the ruins of Drukgyel Dzong, which was built in a bid to control the routes to Tibet and to commemorate the Bhutanese victory over the Tibet-Mongol forces.

  Later on the way back to Paro, you’ll visit Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest and most sacred shrines of the kingdom, which houses an original 17th century statue of Jowo Shakyamuni that represents the Indian prince Gautama Siddhartha becoming Buddha after reaching enlightenment. It is considered to be the valley’s greatest treasure.

  Dinner will be a homemade meal with a local family, a truly authentic Bhutanese experience.

  Overnight in Paro.

  Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

• Day 6 -

  Check out will be after breakfast and you will be transferred to the airport for your return journey.