Day 1London
You will take an overnight flight from London to Delhi.
On arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel. In the afternoon you have a tour Old Delhi, the highlight is a walk through the narrow streets and bazaars.
This morning you will fly to Pao. On arrival you will be met by your guide and driver. You will then make the short journey by road to Thimpu. On the way it is possible to stop and see Simtokha Dzong, one of the oldest in Bhutan. You can spend as long as you like over this journey. When you arrive in Thimpu you have no planned excursions so you are free to spend your time as you please.
Today is your first full day in Bhutan. You may like to spend part of the morning looking around the weekend market in Thimpu before visiting the remaining sights in Thimpu. Thimpu is a great place to walk around and there are lots of interesting shops to look in which sell local crafts.
In the morning you drive from Thimpu to Phobjikha. The Phobjikha valley is more wide and open than many of the other valleys in Bhutan. It is a glacial valley on the edge of the Black Mountains National Park. During the winter it is home to the endangered black necked cranes which migrate here to escape the extreme cold of Tibet. When you turn off the main road and enter the valley the views are amazing.
This morning you drive to the next town, which is called Trongsa. Here you can visit the impressive Dzong which is the largest in Bhutan. When you walk inside the Dzong you really feel like you have travelled back in time. The journey from Trongsa to Jakar takes around 3 hours.
Today you will have a walking tour of some of the temples in the Jakar area including the picturesque Thangbi Mani Lhkahang which is located in a quiet corner of the valley framed by beautiful mountains. There will also be the chance to visit Jakar Dzong, which is the perfect vantage point for views across Jakar.
Although the drive from Jakar to Punakha is long it is very scenic and if the weather is clear there will be fantastic views of the mountains from the high passes.
Enjoy a day walk that includes the scenic Khamsum Yul-le Namgyel Chorten. The Chorten lies at the other end of the valley to Punakha Dzong and the walk along the river to this point is lovely. You can take the walk at your own pace, stopping to admire the scenery as often as you like.
Today you will travel back to Paro which is the final place you will visit on your tour of Bhutan. In the afternoon you may visit Paro Dzong and Ta Dzong, which used to be a watchtower but is now the fascinating National Museum or this can be completed in addition to your excursions tomorrow.
You will begin the day with a walk up the Tiger`s Nest Monastery. The path is steep and the walk takes around 3 hours to reach the top where you can go in and look around the monastery. The views are incredible and well worth the climb. If you did not have time yesterday you can visit Drukgyel Dzong and the National Museum this afternoon, continue exploring the valley with your guide or rest & relax at your hotel.
This morning you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Delhi. A vehicle will be waiting for you and will take you to your hotel. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure, you might like to head to Lodi Gardens to relax and unwind in tranquil surroundings.
Today you will be transferred to the airport and catch your return flight, arriving home the same day.