Today we will start the day with a very special opening Ceremony for our auspicious journey.  The lamas will perform a hasang ceremony (incense offering)for our group.  After breakfast, We will drive to Kuensel Phodrang and circumambulate  around the second-largest seated Buddha; locals call it “Buddha Point”. Next, we’ll visit the  Pangri Zampa Temple, which is now the seat of the monastic school of astrology and get an  astrology from the lama astrologers.

Overnight – Thimphu (7576 ft)

After our light yoga session we will have our breakfast and we will drive to Punakha valley. On the way to Punakha is the Dochu la pass (1004ft) from where there is a beautiful panoramic view of the Himalayan mountain ranges.   The serenity  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, Phochu (Male River) and Mochu (Female River). You will want to have your camera’s ready for these extraordinary  views of where the temple and the rivers meet.

Overnight Punakha (4,075ft)

This morning will be spent painting your own Traditional Thangka and learning about the traditional painting of Bhutan from a master Bhutanese artist. After the riverside lunch at the Punakha Mochhu 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 madman 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).

Overnight Punakha (4,075ft)

We start early for the fabulous drive to the central valleys of Bhutan through the breathtaking landscape of Bhutan’s rich flora and fauna. We’ll reach a mountain pass at Pele la (3,300 m/10,989ft.) and if there’s clear weather we can view the high snow capped peaks specially the Mt. Jhomolhari (7,314m/24,355ft.). From here we will descend for 2 hours to Trongsa valley. Upon arrival, we will visit the majestic Trongsa Dzong, built in 1647; this Dzong was the source of many important historical events in the making of Modern Bhutan.

Overnight Trongsa (7,218ft)

Today, before driving towards Bumthang we will visit the Trongsa Tower Museum, built as a watch tower at the 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 Chumey 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 to drive to Chhoekor valley, our last stop of the day.

Overnight Bumthang (8,528ft)

This morning, we will visit Lhodrak Kharchu, a Nyingma Monastery, founded in the 1970s by H.H Namkhai Nyingpo Rinpoche, with about 400 monks currently in residence. The Khenop will give the group a private class on Meditation, and an introduction to Buddhist philosophy and mind training. In the evening, we’ll take a leisurely walk in town.

Overnight Bumthang (8,528ft)

This morning after our breakfast we will drive to Tang valley to visit the Pema Chholing Shedra Nunnery (College) , the first Buddhist College for women in Bhutan established in 2001. We will join the nuns for the morning and the evening rituals. On the way back to Chhoekor valley we will Visit Mebartso, “Burning Lake” where Terton Pemalingpa (1450-1521) a treasure revealer is believed to have taken out a hidden treasure from the lake. These treasures were hidden by Guru Rinpoche in the 8th century to be revealed a person with special qualities of seeing and knowing, (terton) at an auspicious time.

Overnight Bumthang (8,528ft)

This morning, after an early breakfast we will dress in the national traditional clothes, Kira (Women) and (Gho) for men and head out for a day at the Chhumey Valley for Prakhar Duchhoed Tshechu (festival). The festival is celebrated to honor Lama Thukse Dawa, one of the sons of the 15th century Buddhist master, Terton Pema Lingpa.

Overnight Bumthang (8,528ft)

Today we’ll take a stunning mountain flight with incredible views across Bhutan from Bumthang back to the Paro Valley. In the afternoon we will visit the Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche Memorial House, a venerated lama who was one of the main spiritual teachers of the Bhutanese Royal Family, and who was one of the first Tibetan Lamas to teach in the West. In the evening we will have a leisure walk in the town.

Overnight Paro (7,480 ft)

After an early breakfast, we will hike up to the legendary Tiger’s Nest Monastery . A 3 ½ hour hike in total, it takes one hour to walk to the café where there is also a clear vantage view where you can see the majestic view of the monastery. In 747 AD, Guru Rimpoche (PadmaSambhava) chose a cave on this sheer rock face to meditate and assuming his wrathful form, Guru Dorji Droloe, he subdued the local deity, converting himself into the spiritual protector of Taktsang. His companion and consort, Yeshe Tshogyal transformed herself into a Tigress to assist him on his travels, then changed back into a female human companion and achieved the status of a female Buddha in her lifetime. Some people living in the valley saw the tigress lying by the cave and thought it was a Tiger’s Lair. Thus, the name tak (tiger) tshang (lair) came into existence and became one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in the entire Buddhist world.

Overnight-Paro (7478ft)

Today, we’ll have a relaxing day visiting a picturesque farmhouse in the rice fields and the host family will give us a cooking demonstration. It’s the ideal setting to practice the national sport of Archery and take a traditional medicinal herbal bath known as ‘Hot stone bath’. In the evening, we will have time for shopping in the town.

Overnight-Paro (7478ft)

After breakfast, we will say our goodbyes to the people and country of Bhutan as we go to the airport for the flight back to Bangkok/Delhi/Kathmandu.