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Bhutan on a Budget

OVERVIEW

Bhutan is a country quite unlike any other. Landlocked in the north by Tibet and in the south by India, it is widely recognized as the last surviving Buddhist Himalayan Kingdom. Bhutan lived in self-imposed isolation for much of the 20th century and it was only in the 1970s that the kingdom opened its borders to a handful of visitors. Bhutan has a reputation for being an expensive destination to visit because of the lack of hotel infrastructure and the mandatory government taxes that one needs to pay. However, despite the government royalties, an array of boutique hotels has sprung up in recent years, and this weeklong itinerary describes an affordable sojourn through this mountainous kingdom.

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1 • Arrival in Bhutan
The flight into Bhutan takes you over the great Himalayas, offering amazing views of the world’s highest glacial peaks. After clearing customs, you will be received by our representative and transferred to Thimphu, the modern capital of Bhutan. After checking in at the hotel you will have the remainder of the afternoon/evening at leisure to explore the markets. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Khang Residency . Approximate driving time: 2 hours
Day 2 • In Thimphu
Today after breakfast you will be taken on a full day sightseeing tour of Thimphu which will include a visit to the National library, the institute for Zoriq Chusum (commonly known as the Arts and Crafts School), the handicrafts emporium, the Memorial Chorten, a Textile and Folk Heritage Museum and the Trashichhodzong temple. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Khang Residency .
Day 3 • Transfer from Thimphu to Punakha
Today after breakfast you will drive up to Dochu-la pass (at 3,088 meters / 10,130 ft). Here you will stop for a while to view the chorten, mani wall and prayer flags which decorate the highest point on the road. If the skies are clear, the snow peaks can be seen from this pass. You will also visit Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Lhakhang nunnery which is perched on a ridge amidst the pine trees. Overnight at the Kunzang Zhing Resort . Approximate driving time: 3 hours
4 • Explore Punakha
In the morning you will take a walk up through villages and farms to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten. The only one of its kind in the world, it took nine years to build and its details have been drawn from religious scripture. Upon your return, visit the 17th century Punakha Dzong. This was built in 1637 and commands a strategic position at the confluence of the Po Chhu and Mo Chhu (Father and Mother rivers). This is Bhutan’s second oldest dzong, it is arguably the country’s most attractive. Overnight again at the Kunzang Zhing Resort .
Day 5 • Punakha to Paro
After breakfast you will be transferred back to Paro. En route you will stop at Simtokha Dzong which stands on a low ridge approximately 8 kilometres down the valley from Thimphu. After spending enough time at Dzong continue to Paro. After checking in at the Naksel Boutique Hotel & Spa, visit Ta Dzong, which was originally built as watchtower now a National Museum. Overnight at Naksel Boutique Hotel & Spa . Approximate driving time: 4-5 hours
Day 6 • In Paro
Today after breakfast you will be taken to Taktsang Monastery. This Monastery is one of the most famous of Bhutan’s monasteries, perched on the side of a cliff some 900 metres above the Paro valley floor. In the afternoon you will visit Drukgyel Dzong, a ruined fortress where Bhutanese warriors fought Tibetan invaders centuries ago. Overnight again at Naksel Boutique Hotel & Spa .
Day 7 • Departure
After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport in time for your flight home.

GALLERY

A view over the rooftops of the Naksel Boutique Hotel and Spa in Paro

A wooden panelled room at the Kunzang Zhing Hotel

An ancient temple in Bhutan with massive Jomolhari in the background

Prayer flags adorn the route to Tigers Nest Monestery near Paro

The grounds of the Naksel Boutique Hotel in Paro

The hilltop location of the Kunzang Zhing in Punakha

The lovely Naksel Boutique Hotel and Spa in Paro

The lush Punakha Valley

The magnificent Punakha Dzhong

The Trashi Chhoe Dzong sanwiched between rice paddies and Thimphu town

The view down Thimphu Valley from Khang Residency

A spacious room at Khang Residency in Thimphu

ENQUIRE

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A spacious room at Khang Residency in Thimphu
A wooden panelled room at the Kunzang Zhing Hotel
The lovely Naksel Boutique Hotel and Spa in Paro