10 Day Ura Yakchoe | FestivalTravel Plan | Druk Asia

10 Day Ura Yakchoe

Star 4-5 4.8 / 5.0
20 Reviews ( Read Reviews )
Ura Valley

Ura Valley
Enjoy an excursion to Ura valley which will be around four hours driving back and forth.

Ura Valley

Ura Valley
Firewood is dried on the open

Ura Valley

Ura Valley
While in Ura visit the Ura Monastery and simply enjoy the meadows and the beautiful landscapes, the buck wheat and barley fields.


Bhutan Trip Itinerary

The Story of Ura Yackhoe

A long time ago, a lama visited an old woman. This Lama seemed very mysterious and all he asked from the old lady was a glass of water. The old lady being kind as she was, she went to fetch water and when she returned the Lama was nowhere to be found. But there was a sack outside her doorsteps. She opened the sack out of curiosity, she found out that there was a statue in the sack. The statue was no ordinary statue, for it was a relic. From that day onwards, the relic has been passed down from one generation to the other and today the same relic is displayed to the public during the festival. 

Day 1

Arrival in Paro, Bhutan

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 acclimatise to the altitude. Drive to Thimphu, check in to the hotel and lets have your first taste of Bhutanese cuisine and some light sight-seeing, like the weekend market, in Thimphu if possible.

National Memorial Chorten - Which was built in honor of the late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk.
Thimphu Dzong - The largest Dzong, is also the seat of the office of the King of Bhutan.

Buddha Point at Kuensel Phodrang, will be open to tourists once it is completed in 2012. The 169 feet bronze statue of Buddha Dordenma , Vajra Throne Buddha symbolising indestructibility will be completed soon. The Buddha statue itself is competed awaiting paintings, but visitors can drive up to the Buddha point and view the tallest statue of Lord Buddha. The view of Thimphu valley from the Buddha point is spectacular and beautiful, especially at night.
 

Day 2

Thimphu to Punakha

We will head on to Punakha, the ancient capital of Bhutan in the morning. The roads bring visitors through scented pine and cedar forests, festooned with hanging lichen. The Punakha river is one of the biggest rivers in Bhutan. During spring and winter, the color of the river turns jade and is beautiful.
 
Dochula Pass - at 3,050m, this beautiful pass with its 108 Bhutanese stupas is the memorial site of fallen Bhutanese soldiers in the 1990s.
 
Chhimi Lhakhang - A 20 minutes walk across terraced fields through the village of Sopsokha from the roadside to the small temple located on a hillock in the centre of the valley below Metshina. Ngawang Chogyel built the temple in 15th century after the ’Divine Madman’ Drukpa Kuenlay built a small chorten 
 

Day 3

Punakha to Trongsa

Due to the regular road blocks and landslides between Trongsa and Bumthang, Druk Asia will not be conducting tours to Bumthang between Jun - Sep 2018
 

Wangdue Phodrang - One of the major towns and district capital of Western Bhutan. We will pause to view the Wangdue Phodrang Dzong. Dramatically perched on the spur of a hill, built in 1638, this Dzong overlooks the confluence of the Tsang Chu and Dang Chu rivers. The last town before central Bhutan. The district is famous for its fine bamboo work and its slate and stone carving.

Chendebji Chorten  -  also called Chorten Charo Kasho is a Nepalese style like stupa like Swayambhunath or Bodhnath built in the 19th century by a Tibetan Lama. It was built on the remains of an evil spirit that was tormenting the people of that region.
 

Day 4

Bumthang

Due to the regular road blocks and landslides between Trongsa and Bumthang, Druk Asia will not be conducting tours to Bumthang between Jun - Sep 2018
 

The Ura Yackoe will culminate with a rare display of a giant silk applique thangkha (painting) depicting Guru Padmasambava or some other important Buddhist deity this morning.

In the morning, we will hike to the Tamshing Goemba, built in 1501 by the Buddhist saint Pema Lingpa. We will also visit Kurjey Lhakhang (left-bottom), one of the most sacred monasteries in Bhutan. Built by the Guru Rinpoche in 1652, it houses a rock with his body imprint. Legend has it that Guru Rimpoche manifested as a Garuda to defeat the demon Shelging Karpo who had taken the form of a white lion.

We will also visit Jambay Lhakhang, built in 659 by Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo to pin down a demoness who was obstructing the spread of Buddhism. Come October, the Jambay Lhakhang Drup is one of the most colourful festivals in Bhutan.

In the afternoon, we will hike up to Thangbi Valley, crossing a suspension bridge to visit the Thangbi Lhakhang built in the 14th century via an unpaved road.

Day 5

Day Trip to Ura Valley (Ura Yakchoe)

Due to the regular road blocks and landslides between Trongsa and Bumthang, Druk Asia will not be conducting tours to Bumthang between Jun - Sep 2018

Ura Valley – One of the most tranquil and beautiful valley, Ura is a must visit valley in Bumthang. While in Ura visit the Ura Monastery and simply enjoy the meadows and the beautiful landscapes, the buck wheat and barley fields.

Ura Yakchoe Festival (First Day) : A long time ago, a old woman was visited by a lama. This Lama seemed very mysterious and all he asked from the old lady was a glass of water. The old lady being kind as she was, she went to fetch water and when she returned the Lama was nowhere to be found. But there was a sack outside her door steps. She opened the sack out of curiosity, she found out that there was a statue in the sack. The statue was no ordinary statue, for it was a relic. From that day onwards, the relic has been passed down from one generation to the other and today the same relic is displayed to the public during the festival.

Day 6

Bumthang to Gangtey

Due to the regular road blocks and landslides between Trongsa and Bumthang, Druk Asia will not be conducting tours to Bumthang between Jun - Sep 2018
 

The Valley of Phobjikha is well known as the winter home of the Black necked crane (Grus Nigricollis). Bhutan is home to around six hundred black necked cranes with Phobjikha being one of the popular places that the birds migrate to in the winter months from the Tibetan plateau. The elegant and shy birds can be observed from early November to end of March. Overlooking the Phobjikha valley is the Gangtey Gonpa. This is an old monastery that dates back to 17th century.

Another significant landmark in Phobjikha is the famous Gangtey Gonpa monastery, built in the 17th century. Today we will do some short hikes around the valley of Phobjikha.
 

Day 7

Gangtey to Paro

Paro Valley, the beautiful valley is home to many of Bhutan’s old 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. The following are some of the prominent places to visit in Paro.

Paro Dzong also known as Rinpung Dzong, this 15th century massive fortress/monastery, is also the administrative center of the dzonkhag.

Built as a watchtower the Ta Dzong, it was converted into the National Museum in 1968. The museum boasts antique Thangka, textiles, weapons and armour, household objects and rich assortment of natural and historic artifacts.
 

Day 8

Paro to Haa via Chelela

Drive to Haa through Chele La (3,988m). From the pass you can see Paro valley on one side and then Haa valley on the other. You can also have a picnic at Chele La if you like to. In Haa, some sightseeing and then going to katsho village and visiting the Katso Lhakhang.

The valley of Haa was only opened to Tourist in 2002 and Haa is the least visited valley in Bhutan due to the lack of Tourist infrastructure. This has helped in keeping Haa the way it has always been, with Bhutanese families living their traditional and simple life. There are no tourist standard hotels in Haa valley so we return back to Paro for the night.
 

Day 9

Paro

A morning drive, north of Paro valley brings us to the ruins of Drukgyal Dzong. Built in 1647 by the great Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, father and unifier of medieval Bhutan, the Dzong was destroyed by an accidental fire and left in ruins as an evocative reminder of the great victories it was built to commemorate. Explore the ramparts and relive the memories of a glorious past.

Beyond Satsam Chorten, we hike up to the Taktsang monastery (Tiger’s nest). The 1.5 hour hike to the cafeteria is also a vantage view whereby you can enjoy the stunning view of the monastery. Prayer flags adorn the cliffs and this is also where Guru Padmasambhava landed on the back of a tigress in the 8th century. After a sumptuous local lunch, we will retrace our steps to visit Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest temples in Bhutan.

Day 10

Depart Paro

Today we will bid fond farewell to this beautiful Himalayan country and take an early flight back to Singapore. 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! Thank you for choosing our Bhutan Festival Tours! Tashi Delek!


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✓ What's Included

✓ Suitable Months
  • Festival Date: 20th - 24th April 2024
  • For Travel during Ura Yakchoe
  • USD 2,659 for 1 person traveler
  • USD 2,569 per person for 2 person travelers
  • USD 2,299 per person for group of 3 and above

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Recent Customer Reviews

Star 4-5 4.8 / 5.0 ( Read Reviews )


 
JF
Jose Luis Garcia Fernandez
Spain, Jun 2016
Star 5

In my last evening in Bhutan I want to say thank you for a fantastic journey.
Everything has been great: the country is beautiful and I've got a lot of fantastic memories to take back home with me
But the planning of the trip and my guide and driver have done all possible to make my Bhutan experience the best.
I am glad I got to you and made you plan for me.

Thankyou very much.

Jose Luis

+Read Full Review


MG
Manmanee Charutula's Group
Thailand, Jul 2015
Star 5

Dear Druk Asia,

Kuzu zangpo la!!!

On behalf of my friends and I, we would like to thank you once again for your great services, promptly responses, high responsible and great service mind tour guide and driver. We had a wonderful trip and would definitely recommend Druk Asia Tours & Treks to our friends.

If you find our comments and itinerary will be helpful for your future guests, we are happy to share our beautiful experiences and attached photos on your website la…

Mr. Ugyen Tshewang is an excellent guide. He is very considerate, always smiling though under hard circumstances. He is taking care of us extremely well and very knowledgeable about history and culture of Bhutan. He coordinates our food, schedule, and accommodations very proficiently. His English is excellent.

+Read Full Review


HO
Hercules Oliveira
Brazil, Apr 2015
Star 5

Dear Sangay,

Follow my review and some pictures:

The tour was great since the beginning, with the amazing spiral landing so close to the mountains at the Paro airport! During the whole trip the landscape was astonishing and it's quite admirable how the cities are so integrated to nature! And Tshering and Ugyen, they were not only great guide and driver, but also great trip mates, I really enjoyed their company, and we even had some fun at the Bhutanese night-life! So guys, thank you very much, hope to see you again!

Hercules

+Read Full Review


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