Domkhar Festival Tour

During the flight into Bhutan, one will experience breathtaking views of Mount Everest, Kanchenjunga and other famous Himalayan peaks, including the sacred Mount Chomolhari and Jitchu Drake in Bhutan. On arrival at Paro International Airport, you will be met by your Cypress Himalaya Tours representative. After completion of arrival formalities, including the processing of your visa (please bring your copy) we will drive to Thimphu. After lunch explore Thimphu city.

Overnight – Thimphu (7576 ft)

We will drive to Kuensel Phodrang and see the second-largest seated Buddha; locals call it “Buddha Point”. In town, we’ll visit the Traditional Medicine Institute where the ancient healing arts are still practiced. Then, we will take a trip to The Institute for Zorig Chusum (commonly known as Traditional Arts School of Bhutan) where students undertake a six-year course on the 13 traditional arts & craft of Bhutan. You can browse the striking collection of intricate textiles at the National Textile Museum. You can purchase one of the world’s most beautiful postage stamps, collector’s items and postcards at face value from General Post office which is right next to Bhutan National Bank. Observe traditional paper making from Daphnia and Edgeworthia shrub to the finished product and purchase some beautiful writing sets from the factory.

Overnight – Thimphu (7576 ft)

Today, we will drive to the North of Thimphu valley which will take us to the end of the road to the entrance to Jigme Dorji National Park, one of Bhutan’s revered wildlife sanctuaries and from there we will hike approximately an hour up to the Cheri Goemba (Meditation Centre), the monastery where the first monastic body was established in the Kingdom. We will visit Pangri Zampa Temple, which is now the seat of the monastic school of astrology. We can get an astrology reading at the School.

Overnight – Thimphu (7576 ft)

On the way to Punakha is the Dochu la pass (1004ft) from where a beautiful panoramic view of the Himalayan mountain ranges can be seen, especially on clear winter days. The beauty of this place will capture your heart by the sight of The Druk Wangyel Chorten, a 108 stupas built for the well being of all sentient beings by the eldest queen mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck. Punakha has a temperate climate and its rich fertile valley is fed by the Phochu (Male River) and Mochu (Female River) rivers. We’ll visit the Punakha Dzong built by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel (the unifier of Bhutan) in 1637. It stands majestically at the junction of the two rivers, Phochhu (Male River) and Mochhu (Female River). Visit the longest suspension bridge in Bhutan built over the Phochhu.

Overnight Punakha (4624ft)

This day we will hike to Chimmi Lhakhang, most popularly known as the temple of fertility. The temple was built in the 15th century as a dedication to Lama Drukpa Kuenley, known as the divine mad man and considered one of Bhutan’s favorite saints. The hike to this temple will take us through a village surrounded by beautiful rice fields and it will take us only 50 minutes (round trip). We’ll visit Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Nunnery, consecrated on 14th October 2010. The nunnery comprises a double storied temple, a chorten resembling Nepal’s Boudhanath Stupa and a nunnery complex. Evening explore Punakha town.

Overnight Punakha (4624ft)

We will have an early, heavy breakfast today as our lunch will be late. The drive to Trongsa takes approximately 7 hours. We start early for the fabulous drive to the central valleys of Bhutan through the breath taking beauties and serenity of Bhutan’s rich flora and fauna. We will pass Wangduephodrang State and then climb steadily passing trough semi-tropical vegetation and then to Pele la pass (3,300m/10,989ft.). During the clear weather we can view the high snow capped peaks specially the Mount Chomolhari (7,314m/24,355ft.). From here we will decent 3 hours towards our resort in Trongsa. This resort offers a superb view of the soaring mountains and the majestic Trongsa Dzong (fortress).

Overnight- Trongsa (7150ft)

Today, before driving towards Bumthang we will visit Trongsa Dzong and the Trongsa Tower Museum built as a watch tower the Ta Dzong. We’ll than resume our drive to Bumthang crossing the Yotongla Pass (3,424m/11,234ft.) and into the first four valley of Bumthang known as Chhume where we will make a stop to observe the weavers weaving the famous Bumthang fabric known as Yathra. From the Chhume valley it will take 40 minutes drive to Chhoekor valley where we are going to halt our night. In the evening we will explore Bumthang town.

Overnight- Bumthang (8528ft)

Today, we’ll spend the day visiting the Jampa Lhakhang (temple), one of the oldest temples in Bhutan dating back to 7th century. We’ll visit Kurjey Lhakhang (the body imprint temple). It is believed that the body imprint was left on the rock where the Guru Rinpoche (precious master) had meditated. We will hike (approx 30 min) to Tamshing Lhakhang, the temple that was built by the treasure discoverer in the 16th century. Visit Mebartso, “Burning Lake” where Terton Pemalingpa, a treasure revealer is believed to have taken out a hidden treasure from the lake. These treasures were believed to have been hidden by Guru Rinpoche in the 8th century to be revealed by special persons at a propitious time.

Overnight- Bumthang (8528ft)

This morning, after an early breakfast we will head out for a day at the Chhume Valley for Domkhar Tshechu (festival). The Domkhar festival is one of the popular festivals among the locals in Bumthang. It marks the birthday of Guru Rinpoche, the Indian Buddhist saint who brought Buddhism to Bhutan in the 8th century. After lunch, depending upon your interest we can go back to the festival or we can drive back and explore the Chamkhar town.

Overnight- Bumthang (8528ft)

Enjoy a stunning mountain flight with incredible views over Bhutan from Bumthang back to the Paro Valley. Visit the Rimpung Dzong to see the painting of the great saint Milarepa, considered as the master of meditation by the Bhutanese and believed to have attained enlightenment in a lifetime. Dzongs are large monasteries and district administrative centers, which were once strategic forts. In the evening we will explore Paro town.

Overnight – Paro (7478ft)

Today, we will hike approximately 30 minutes towards Dzongdrakha Monastery which is located in a village called Bongday in Paro. This monastery is often called mini Taktshang (Tiger’s Nest) as it is built on a cliff above the village. We’ll have a time to practice our meditation in the monastery. We will visit the Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest temples in Bhutan dating back to 7th century. In the evening, we will visit a farm house, have a traditional bath known as ‘Hot stone bath’ and enjoy the authentic Bhutanese dinner.

Overnight Paro (7478ft)

After an early breakfast, we will hike to Tiger’s Nest Monastery (Taktshang Goemba). The trip is an uphill walk of about three hours and an hour and half hike to the café where there is also clear vantage view where you can enjoy the stunning view of the monastery. The legend of Taktshang (Tiger’s Nest/Lair) evolves form Tantric mythology when, in 747 AD, Guru Rimpochhe (Padma Sambhava) chose a cave on this sheer rock face to meditate and, assuming his wrathful form, Guru Dorji Droloe, he subdued the local deity, converting into spiritual protector of Taktshang. Some people living in the valley saw the tigress lying by the cave and thought to be tiger’s lair. Thus, the name tak (tiger) tshang (lair) came into existence and became one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in the Buddhist world. For Bhutanese; we have to visit this monastery once in a life time.

Overnight-Paro (7478ft)