10 Days 9 Nights with Royal Highland Festival

Welcome to Bhutan, the Land of the Thunder Dragon. Touching down at Paro International Airport, you will be greeted by your guide upon exiting the arrival hall. Today, we will take it easy to acclimatize to the altitude.

• Paro Airport Bird's Eye View Point - Drive up to the Viewpoint and you have an amazing glimpse of the Paro International Airport.
• Paro Town - Explore the main street of Paro town and check out if there's anything you will like to pick up as a souvenir!

We will proceed to Punakha, the ancient capital of Bhutan. Once you cross the pass, you wind down into a warm fertile valley and meander along a gently flowing aquamarine river that leads you to the Punakha Dzong, the second dzong to be built in Bhutan.

• Dochula Pass - At 3,100 metres, this beautiful pass located on the way to Punakha from Thimphu offers stunning 360-degree panoramas of the Himalayas mountain range. Here you will also see 108 chortens built by Her Majesty The Queen Mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck. The pass is a popular spiritual destination for both locals and tourists.
• Chimi Lhakhang - Also known as the Fertility Temple, this monastery is located in the beautiful village of Sopsokha. It stands on a small hill close to the village of Lobesa and was constructed in 1499 by Ngawang Choegyel, the 14th Drukpaheirarch. This monastery is dedicated to Lama Drukpa Kunley, the 'Divine Madman', known for his risqué behavior. The footpath to Chimi Lhakhang meanders through beautiful terraces of paddy fields. Many have been blessed with children after praying at the temple.
• Punakha Dzong - Located strategically at the junction of the Pho Chu and Mo Chu rivers, the Dzong was built in 1637 by the Great Unifer of Bhutan as the religious and administrative seat of the region. It was here that the dual system of government in Bhutan was introduced in the 17th century. The first King Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuck was crowned here in 1907. Damaged by four fires and an earthquake over the centuries, the Dzong was fully restored in recent years by the 4th King Jigme Singye Wangchuck. It is now the winter home of Je Khenpo, the head abbot of Bhutan, along with a retinue of 1,000 monks. Marvel over intricate woodwork by the best craftsmen in Bhutan.
• Pho Chhu Suspension Bridge - At 160 metres, this is known as the longest suspension bridge in Bhutan. From here, you will get spectacular views of Punakha Dzong and the Pho Chhu Valley.

• Khamsum Yuley Temple - There is no temple in Bhutan built elaborately as this. This fascinating temple was built by the Queen Mother of the 5th King to bring universal peace in this world. The best of the spiritual art works are painted on the inner walls. There are also paintings of Buddhist teachers and tutelary deities of the country. This is a great temple to study the symbolic meanings from frescoes and sculptures. The Chorten is situated along a hill up the valley and can be reached after a leisurely hike through the woods and paddy fields.

• Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Lhakhang - A temple and nunnery perched on a ridge and overlooking Toebesa, Punakha and Wangduephodrang valleys. The temple is consecrated by His Holiness and was attended by His Majesty the King, the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, members of the royal family along with hundreds of people from Punakha. The temple is dedicated to the bodhisattva of compassion.

• Chorten Nyingpo - Chorten Nyingpo the Lhakhang is located in Kabesa Geog in Punakha. Approximately eight kilometers from the main road. Legend tells of Lam Drukpa Kuenley's journey and the auspicious growth of a tree that led to the temple's eventual construction in the 18th century.

Today we will start early morning drive from Punakha to Gasa (Thonghu Zam). From there we will start our trek up to the Laya Camp.

• Punakha To Gasa To Laya via Thongchu Zam - Early morning drive from Punakha to Gasa. With the recent road development now we can drive all the way to Thong chu Zam. From Thongchu Zam we will make our way to Laya. The trail winds up gradually and at times with steep climbs till you reach Laya. Early arrival to your camp and enjoy the scenic beauty of the landscape and then you will come across a lot of locals in their typical Laya costumes. Overnight Camp at Laya.

The Royal Highland Festival will be organised in Laya this October. Driven by the underlying goal of making the highlands a vibrant and thriving economy, the festival aims to promote the sustainable livelihood of highlanders, showcase highlander’s innovation, and exhibit the highlands as the pride of Bhutan. The festival brings together highlanders from other parts of Bhutan to exchange values, knowledge, skills, and best practices related to highlands and yak farming. The festival is a landmark activity of Gasa dzongkhag’s “Good to Great Gasa”, a vision inspired by His Majesty’s passion to make our country great.

The Royal Highland Festival will be organised in Laya this October. Driven by the underlying goal of making the highlands a vibrant and thriving economy, the festival aims to promote the sustainable livelihood of highlanders, showcase highlander’s innovation, and exhibit the highlands as the pride of Bhutan. The festival brings together highlanders from other parts of Bhutan to exchange values, knowledge, skills, and best practices related to highlands and yak farming. The festival is a landmark activity of Gasa dzongkhag’s “Good to Great Gasa”, a vision inspired by His Majesty’s passion to make our country great.

Today we will descend from Laya and make our way back to the Base camp (Thongchu Zam) Then we will drive back to Punakha for the night.

• Laya to Punakha via Thongchu Zam - Today we will descend from Laya back to Thongchu Zam and then drive back to Punakha.

• Kyichu Lhakhang - At 1,300 years old, this is one of the oldest temples in Bhutan. Like the Jambhay Lhakhang in Bumthang, it is one of 108 temples built by the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo. Next to the temple is a museum dedicated to the late Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.

• Archery and Khuru Tryout - You can try your hands on Archery and Khuru at Traveller's farmhouse. Our guide will be there to teach you how to shoot and hold the arrow.

• Kha ja Throm Paro - Initiated upon Royal Command, and as a gift from His Majesty The King to the people of Paro, the Ka Ja Throm has been built so that vendors can showcase and sell their produce in a vibrant community space. The Farmer’s Market has 147 stalls for vegetables, fruits, meat, and other local farm produce, and food and drinks. A children’s park and an open-air live-band stage are also part of the Paro Ka Ja Throm.

Are you ready? We will be making the hike up to one of the key highlights in Bhutan today! Tiger's Nest aka Taktsang Monastery.

• Taktsang Monastery - Also known as the Tiger’s Nest, this monastery set dramatically on the cliffs of Paro Valley, is Bhutan’s most famous landmark. According to local folklore, the Guru Rinpoche flew to this location from Tibet on the back of a tigress and meditated in one of the caves. A hike up to Taktsang draws people with different interests, offering both spiritual solace and a sense of achievement.

Today we will bid a fond farewell to this beautiful Himalayan country and take a flight back home. We hope by now you would have made some friends and also kept many photos and beautiful memories of Bhutan! And we look forward to seeing you again in this beautiful land of endless Enchantments! Tashi Delek.