WESTERN BHUTAN TOUR
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Day 1
Arrival Paro
Our representative will receive you at the Paro International Airport, Paro (2280m) and escort you to the hotel. If the flight arrives in the morning, you can visit Paro town. Dinner will be served in the hotel.
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Day 2
Sightseeing Paro
After breakfast, visit the National Museum housed in Ta-Dzong which was built in 1656 and served as the watch tower of Paro Dzong in the past. Visit Paro Dzong, also called the Rinchen Phug Dzong, which means fortress on a heap of Jewels. Paro Dzong is one of the most impressive and well-known dzongs of Bhutan and was built in 1644. After lunch in town, proceed towards Drukgyel Dzong, 14 kilometres from Paro town. Also known as the fortress of victory Drukgyel Dzong was built by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1649 to commemorate the victory over Tibetan invaders in 1644. On the way to Drukgyel Dzong, you can have a view of Takshang Monastery, perched on the side of a cliff 900m above the floor of Paro valley. Dinner is served in the hotel. Return to the hotel. Dinner will be served in the hotel
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Day 3
Taksang Excursion, Drive Paro to Thimphu
After breakfast, drive for about eight kilometres north of Paro town to visit Bhutan's most well known monastery, Taktshang or Tiger's Lair perched on a cliff 900 metres above the valley floor. Legend has it that Guru Rinpoche, who brought Buddhism to Bhutan in the eighth century flew to a cave in Taktshang spot on a tigress and mediated for three months. The trek to the monastery and back takes about four hours. Lunch will be served in the cafeteria near the monastery. In the afternoon drive to Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan. Depending on the arrival time of the Druk Air flight, you will either be served a meal in Paro or be driven straight to Thimphu, the capital city, which is about 53 kilometres away. The drive normally takes about an hour and a half. If Thimphu is reached early, you can go out in the town and mingle with the Bhutanese people. Dinner will be served in the hotel.
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Day 4
Thimphu Sightseeing
Sightseeing in Thimphu (2320m) includes visits to National Library which was established in 1967 and has many ancient Dzongkha and Tibetan texts); Painting School or the National Institute for Zorig Chusum (the 13 traditional arts and crafts like painting, woodcarving, embroidery and statue making; National Memorial Chorten which was built in 1974 in memory of the third King of Bhutan; Semtokha Dzong which is about five kilometres south of Thimphu. Semtokha Dzong was built in 1629 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. Today it houses the Institute for Language and Culture Studies.); Tashichhodzong is the seat of the government of Bhutan. It houses the secretariat, the Throne Room, His Majesty's secretariat, the Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs and the Ministry of Finance. If the sightseeing falls on the weekend you can visit Thimphu's open vegetable market where farmers from the nearby regions gather to sell their produce.
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Day 5
Dochula Sightseeing, Drive Thimphu to Paro
The first stop on this road journey is at Dochula pass at 3,140 meters. Dochula is about 23 kilometres from Thimphu and on a clear day, it offers a clear view of the Himalayas. After refreshments in Dochula, the journey continues to Thimphu for Lunch. In the afternoon, proceed to Paro. Visit Town. Return to hotel. Dinner is served in the Hotel.
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Day 6
Departure
After the early breakfast, the representative of Bhutan Tsenden Travel Service will drop you at the airport for departure.