529/A, 18 th Main, HSR Layout, Sector 3, Bangalore Ph: +91 9483958408, 9880388991 holiday@takeabreak.in www.takeabreak.in BHUTAN Happiness is a Place! Phuntoseling - Paro-Thimphu Jaldapara 8 Nights & 9 Days Watch a video on Bhutan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbkq1d6tmqw Overview Destination Nights Basis Phuntoseling Paro Thimpu Jaldapara 1 3 3 1 BB HB HB BB RO: Room only I SC: Self Catering I HB: Half Board I : Bed and breakfast I D, : Dinner, bed and breakfast I FB: Dinner, bed, breakfast and lunch I FB+: Dinner, bed, breakfast, lunch and activities daily I FI: Fully inclusive HB breakfast & dinner PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS Paro: Tiger s Nest Hike, Paro Dzong, National Museum of Bhutan, Drukgyel Dzong, Kichu Lhakang Thimphu: Kuenschholing View Point, Memorial Chorten, Tashichho Dzong, Takin Preservatory, Authentic Craft Bazar, Coronation Park
DAY 1: BAGDOGRA PHUNTSHOLING (310 Km / 8 hrs) This beautiful valley is home to many Bhutan s oldest monasteries and temples. The country s only airport is in Paro. The valley is also home to Mount Chomolhari(7,300 meters) situated at the northern end of the valley whose glacier water forms the Pachu flowing through the valley. This is also the home to some of the famous Treks such as Jumolhari and Druk Path trek. It is also a destination for bicycling, motor biking and bird watching. Arrive in Bagdogra at 2:10 PM After baggage clearance, meet our chauffeur and start your drive to Phuntsholing Reach Phuntsholing and avail permit to Bhutan By late evening chk in to your hotel and relax Overnight in Phuntsholing DAY 2: PHUNTSHOLING - PARO (5hrs) After breakfast, start your journey to Paro On route stop-over for lunch Reach Paro by early evening and chk in to your hotel Relax and enjoy the natural landscape of Paro Overnight in Paro DAY 3: PARO Day excursion to Tiger s Nest After early breakfast you will be transferred to the base and start hiking or take horseback riding to Tiger s Nest. About an hour of strenuous hike is a tea house with perfect setting of the tiger s nest hanging on the face of the sheer cliff about 900meters above the valley floor. Legend has it that in the mid of eight century Guru Rinpoche landed here riding on the flaming tigress taken into the form of fierce thunder bolt known as Guru Dorji Droley. Guru spend about four month in a cave meditating /contemplating on a trance to subdue the evil spirit living in the cliff. After subjugation of the evil spirit Guru blessed and sanctified the site to pursue the development of Buddhist faith for the future generation. Return to the hotel by late evening Overnight in Paro Visit to tiger nest
Acclimatization Hike to Tiger s Nest This is Bhutan s most recognizable cultural icon perched 800m/2640ft up a seemingly sheer cliff. Although it was tragically and mysteriously consumed by fire in April 1998 it has now been restored to its former glory. It is believed that in the 8 th century, the great tantric master Guru Rimopche/ Padmasambhava (2 nd Buddha) flew on the back of a tigress to the site where the monastery now stands. The hike takes maximum one hour to reach the cafeteria and another around one hour to reach the heart of the monastery and slightly less on the way back. Most of the route is through wonderfully cool and sheltered oak forests. There is a tea house half way for a break. After the tea house the path is slightly steeper and more open with one area of exposed steps. It is a route that anybody of reasonable fitness can make. DAY 4: PARO THIMPHU (50 Km / 1 Hr 20 Min) Thimphu is a bustling town on the banks of the Thimphu Chhu and set gloriously in the hills of the Thimphu valley. It is home to the Bhutanese Royal Family, the Royal Government to several foreign missions and development projects. Bhutan s only golf course, a nine-hole circuit is also located in Thimphu. Thimphu is the only capital city in the world that has no McDonald, star bucks, bill boards and traffic lights. A must see city that has truly set an example. It is also a place for trekking, bicycling, motor biking and bird watching. After early breakfast check-out from the hotel and drive to Thimphu Reach Thimphu by noon and check-in to the hotel Relax and enjoy the natural landscape of this land. You are free to explore the place on your own or enjoy cycling around the land Overnight in Thimphu Visit the below sightseeing points Memorial Chorten Chorten are memorial structures designed to evoke the same perfect symmetry and elegance of the Buddha himself, and it is traditionally good luck to pass them on the left. This particular chorten was constructed in 1974 as a memorial for the third King of the country, King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, who is widely regarded as the father of modern Bhutan and People from all walks of life come and worship for the sentient beings. Kuenschholing View Point (Largest sitting Buddha) A place from where you can get a good overview of the Thimphu valley is from the Buddha point (Kuensel Phodrang). It is again a short drive from the town. You can pay your obeisance and offer prayers to the Buddha, the largest statue in the country and then walk around and take a glimpse of the valley
Tashichho Dzong (Thimphu Dzong) The names means - Means Fortress of Glorious Religion. It was built in 1641 and was reconstructed into present structure in the year 1962-1969. It houses the secretariat building, the throne room and the office of the king, and the central monk body. You can be part of the ceremonial national flag recess parade, performed every evening at 5 pm by the Royal Bhutan Police guards in its traditional finest grandeur. Sometimes if luck favors you could see the king coming out of his office on his way to his palace. Takin preservatory Here you can see just one animal - Bhutan s national animal - the Takin. This is an extremely rare member of the goat family. Found in herds in the very high altitudes (13,125ft and over). They live on a diet of grass and bamboo. It can weigh as much as 550 pounds. The zoo was emptied in accordance with Buddhist principles, but the Takin came back so the keepers decided to look after them, also in accordance with Buddhist principles. Coronation Park In 2005, King Jigme Singye Wangchuck stepped down from the throne to make way for his Son Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck to lead the kingdom of Bhutan. The Coronation and Centenary Park was built to honor the new king. It is positioned in the middle of Changlimithang ground and Wangchu River. It is built on an area of 5.6 acre of land running along the banks of river Wangchu. A 45 feet tall statue of a Buddha walking was inaugurated on 13 April 2012 symbolizing the celebration of the 84th Birth Anniversary of Thailand s King and also the wedding anniversary of His Majesty the King. It is also believed to have been constructed for the people to pursue happiness. Authentic Craft Bazar The Authentic Bhutanese Crafts Bazaar situated in the centre of Thimpu town is your window of the art and craft of this Himalayan kingdom. It a mile-long row of shops made of bamboo and other eco-friendly material. The shops number almost 100 and almost all shopkeepers are women with the men folk helping them with the more strenuous duties. The beauty of the products lies in their original craftsmanship and in their indigenousness. The shops were allotted to these womenfolk on the condition that they would only sell products which were produced in Bhutan and not import products from other countries. If you start from one end, it will definitely take you a little more than an hour to window-shop till the end of the road. DAY 5: THIMPHU After breakfast explore Thimphu visiting National Memorial Chorten which is dedicated to third king of Bhutan. Next, transfer to Kuenselphodrang where a gigantic Buddha statue is installed for the liberation of sentient being as well to bring peace & stability in the region. If you wish to take a short walk in the area having a natural trial develop for the hikers. Return to city and drive north Thimphu to see the rare and endangered species known as TAKIN or Burdas Taxi color kept in the captivity along with some Sambar deer /Red barking deer and mountain goats... Take on foot tour of the area and return to the base. Further you will be driven to BBS point for the better view of the valley or take a walk to wangditse Monastery. It s a beautiful trail about 3 ½ Km through the pine forested mud trail reaching to the monastery. Return via same route to the base and take you back to the city for lunch in one of the local restaurant. After lunch you may opt for cycling to Buddha point at your own will & expense. Overnight in Thimphu
DAY 6: THIMPHU DOCHULA PASS - THIMPHU After breakfast proceed to Bhutan Dochula pass Thimphu /Dochula pass 45 min drive at an elevation of 3150 meters above the sea level. If weather permits, series of snow caped mountain peak can be seen from this point. Around the pass, there are 108 mini stupa or Chorten built to honor the fourth king of Bhutan. Walk in the café for hot cup of tea /coffee enjoying the forest view from the café. After spending hours of exploration around the pass, return to city and visit textile museum of Bhutan which show case traditional costumes, fabric and weaving tradition. End the evening with sumptuous dinner and retire. Overnight in Thimphu Day 7: THIMPU JALDAPARA (6hrs drive) After early breakfast, chk out and start driving to Jaldapara. Reach Jaldapara by late noon. Relax. You may wish to do a jungle safari. Overnight in Jaldapara Day 8: JALDAPARA BAGDOGRA (4hrs drive) After early breakfast, chk out from the property at 7:30am and start driving to Bagdogra to connect to your flight back to Bangalore, scheduled at 2:25pm
PRICE No. of Pax Std Option: 3* Dlx Option: 4* 2 Rs.32,500/- per person Rs.38,550/- per person INCLUSIONS Accommodation on double occupancy in the above mentioned properties or similar Meal Plan BB (breakfast only) Transportation in a private vehicle All sightseeing as per the itinerary Govt. taxes as on date EXCLUSIONS Airfare Lunch and Dinner Expenses of personal nature Portage and other handling charges Tours other than mentioned above Entry fee at sights other than mentioned above Usage of vehicle for personal nature. Travel & Medical Insurance Note Most of our programs are customised and we work in line with the requirements of our clients and hence the final detailed itinerary is prepared 5 days prior to the travel date based on the weather conditions and feasibility of visiting places during sightseeing.