Tailor Made Holidays in Bhutan: Highlights

Amble around Ura village in the Bumthang Valley

Ura is a traditional medieval village in central Bhutan. At an altitude of 3100 metres, the Ura valley is the highest of the four valleys that are collectively known as the Bumthang valley. Exploring Ura village is a peaceful experience and walking along the cobbled streets is a delight. In this little village time seems to have stood still, residents go about their daily life, working the land and raising their children; they may look upon you with friendly curiosity as you pass by. At the top of the village is the lhakhang, or temple. Complete with colourful paintings the lhakhang is also the venue of the annual festival, held by the township.

Read more about: Bumthang
 
Climb up to 'Taktshang' Tiger's Nest Monastery, Paro

Perhaps the best known monastery in Bhutan is the Tiger’s Nest Monastery in Paro. Taktshang clings to the rocks 900 metres above the Paro valley. The walk up to the monastery begins in pine forest, and you quickly ascend above the tree line as the views below you open out as far as you can see. It is a steep walk but you can go at your own pace, and halfway up there is a rest stop and look out directly opposite Taktshang. If you choose to complete the climb to the top, the last stretch along stone steps is quite breathtaking as you skirt the mountainside while moving closer to the colourful monastery that seems to hang above you. Inside you find various incarnations of Guru Rinpoche, brightly-burning butter lamps and other offerings to the gods.

Read more about: Paro
 
Experience the serenity of Trongsa Dzong

Trongsa Dzong is one of the largest and most impressive Dzongs in Bhutan. It is so big that it can clearly be seen from the other side of the valley as you approach Trongsa from Thimpu or Punakha. A visit into the Dzong is fascinating; you can see how the administrative centre for the district exists alongside the resident monastic body. Rooms lead off from the corridors in the different levels of the building, making you feel as if you are in a giant labyrinth. The Dzong houses a monastery with two huge prayer wheels, which are turned in a clockwise direction by the monks as they pass to release the prayers that are held inside.

Read more about: Trongsa
 
Immerse yourself in the weekend market in Thimpu

If you are lucky enough to stay in Thimpu over the weekend a real highlight is the weekend market. A look around will open your eyes to the extensive range of fruits and vegetables on sale from the surrounding area. Chillies are widely eaten in Bhutan and the national dish ‘emadaste’ is literally just chillies and soft cheese. You will see chillies drying on the roofs of houses and on sale in the market in huge baskets where local people buy them by the handful.

Read more about: Thimpu
 
Mix with the locals at Changlimithang Stadium in Thimpu

This is the national stadium of Bhutan, with a football pitch, archery ground and parade area. It is a central focal point in Thimphu and there is often a football match on or you can watch the archers practising.

Read more about: Thimpu
 
See black-necked cranes in the Phobjikha Valley

The endangered black-necked cranes migrate to Bhutan each year to escape the harsh cold of winter in Tibet. Typically the cranes arrive in the remote Phobjikha valley at the end of October and leave again in mid-February, making for a calming panorama as they forage for food.

Read more about: Phobjikha Valley
 
Spend a peaceful Christmas at Uma Paro

Bhutan may not be the first place that you would consider spending Christmas but for those seeking pure mountain air, peace and genuine hospitality, Uma Paro is the perfect place to stay. In the Paro valley you could spend the break at Uma, soaking up relaxing treatments at the spa, venturing out to explore the Paro valley and enjoying cosy meals in the Bukhari restaurant. Although the nights can be cold at this time of year as it is outside the main tourist season, mid-winter is a great time to explore western Bhutan.

Read more about: Uma Paro
 
Enjoy the spring flowers in Bhutan's mountains

If the Autumn is the best time to visit Bhutan for the clear mountain views then Spring is the season to see flowers in bloom. Bhutan is home to a staggering range of flora, including the famous rhododendrons that line the mountainsides from mid March onwards. High mountain passes are fantastic places to find some of the more delicate species such as edelweiss, orchid and the blue poppy, which is the national flower of Bhutan.

 
Visit Ta Dzong, the National Museum of Bhutan

The National Museum in Bhutan is located inside one of the watchtowers of Paro Dzong, built around the mid seventeenth century. The museum itself houses a fascinating collection of Bhutanese exhibits ranging from armour and weaponry to stamps, a large collection of tangkhas and Tibetan painted scrolls, which are usually extremely intricate and colourful. A visit to this museum helps to understand Bhutan’s rather complicated history and culture.

Read more about: Paro
 
Take in the views from Yotang La

If you travel to the Bumthang valley in central Bhutan you will cross the Yotang La (pass). At 3425 metres this pass affords incredible views of the Bhutanese Himalaya during clear weather. Autumn (from mid October right into December) is generally accepted to be the best time of year to visit Bhutan if you are seeking clear mountain views.

Read more about: Bumthang
 
Temple of the Divine Madman, Punakha

Chimi Lhakhang, the temple of Lama Drukpa Kunley (also known as the Divine Madman), is one of Bhutan’s most cherished sites. To reach this sacred temple you wind your way through a mosaic of rice fields boasting incredible views up and down the Punakha Valley.

Read more about: Punakha
 
Visit a Bhutanese Tsechu

Each township in Bhutan celebrates an annual tsechu, or festival, held in honour of Guru Rinpoche, who brought Buddhism to Bhutan. Such events include music and traditional masked dances, which depict famous religious legends from the Guru’s life. The most famous festivals take place in Paro in the spring time and Thimpu in the autumn, and attract a huge number of foreign visitors. If you want to avoid the crush there are a number of other festivals held in the smaller townships that are equally fascinating but on a smaller scale. Local people greatly look forward to such events and will don their finest clothes and enjoy a merry drink to mark the occasion.

 
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