Trip to Bhutan

We meet in the vibrant city of Kathmandu, where we take the time to relax and adjust to the new altitude and the new time zone. The city is located in the beautiful Kathmandu valley and is 1400m above sea level. It was founded in the 2nd century AD, and is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world.

We meet everyone in the group, and have our welcome dinner together.

We wake up in the heart of the Kathmandu valley, refreshed after a good rest, and we set off to explore Durbar square - now reconstructed after the earthquakes of 2015. We have lunch and enjoy some free time. In the evening we visit Swayambhunath stupa, where we do our prayers and get ready for our flight to Bhutan the next day.

We embark on our journey to the enchanted Kingdom of Bhutan. The flight between Kathmandu and Paro offers spectacular mountain views over the world’s highest peaks of Nepal, Sikkim, and Bhutan. Upon arrival we drive to Thimphu, the modern day capital of Bhutan. On the way there we visit the 15th century iron chain bridge at Tachhogang Monastery. We stay overnight in Thimphu.

It’s our first morning in Bhutan! After breakfast we visit the Buddha Dordenma statue - the largest in the country, which is housed together with over one hundred thousand smaller statues of Buddha. We then visit the 13 Art and Craft school (Zori Chusum), where students learn thangkha painting, embroidery, wood carving, slate carving, wood painting, weaving, bamboo craft, metal, gold + sliver smith, and sculpture. We then go to the handmade paper factory, where paper is made from bark of the daphne plant.

We continue our day with a drive to Punakha. On the way we stop at Dochula pass (3050m). If we’re lucky with the weather, we will see the world’s highest unclimbed peaks of Bhutan - ranging from 6000m to 7500m in heigth. We have lunch at Dochula pass, and descend to Punakha (1300m) through gorgeous lush broadleaf forest. We then visit the most impressive and beautiful Punakha fortress built in 1637 at the confluence of father (pho) and mother (mo) river. The fortress once served as the winter capital for Bhutan. We stay overnight in Punakha.

After breakfast we drive along the Punachhangchhu river to Wangdue town. We cross the river and ascend to Lowla pass (3300m) through dense broadleaf forest. We arrive at Gangtey and visit the Gangtey Gompa monastery which was built in the 17th century. We have an optional 5km nature hike to Phubjikha valley - this is a stunning hike, where the trail takes us through the village into pine forests overlooking the beautiful glaciers of Phubjikha valley. Phubjikha is a winter home to very rare and endangered black neck cranes. Over 600 black neck cranes come to Phubjikha every winter from the end of October till March. We stay overnight in Phubjikha.

We enjoy our breakfast, and then drive to Pelela pass (3360m). Pelela pass divides western and central Bhutan. The road then descends through yak hurders’ winter homes to Nikkachhu. We stop to visit 18th century Chendbji stupa. Legend has it that this stupa was built by Lam Zigdar after he overcame Nyala Demon. We continue our drive to Trongsa. We have lunch and then visit the largest and most historic Trongsa fortress built in 1644. The first King or Bhutan was once a Trongsa Penlop (Trongsa Governor) before he became a King of Bhutan in 17th December, 1907. Even today all the crown princes have to take a post of Trongsa Penlop before succeeding the Throne. We then drive to Bumthang over Yutung la pass (3380m), and we descend to the beautiful and spiritual valley of Bumthang.

Bumthang is the name given to four gorgeous valleys known as Chumey, Jakar, Tang and Ura. Bumthang is the first valley which the 8th century 2nd Buddha, Guru Rinpoche, visited upon the invitation of King Sindu Raja. We stay over night at Bumthang (Jakar).

This is a very special day! We will visit the start of the holy and secret Jambay Lhakhang Festival, which falls on an eclipse day, and takes us to a monastery that is only open during this unique time of the year. The monastery was built in the 7th century by Tibetan King Tshongchen Gyembo, and is the oldest monastery in the Kingdom. It is said that saint Pema Lingpa has entered the Paradise of Guru Rinpoche, where he has seen Guru Rinpoche performing all different mask dances. He then returned to Earth and composed the first religious mask dance at Takshang Lhakhang.

After lunch we visit Kurjey. Kur means body and Jey means imprint. Guru Rinpoche has said to have subdued the Rock Egress, who was preventing the spread of Buddhism in the 8th century. After that, he meditated in a cave and left his body imprint on the rock. We continue our trip by visiting the holy secret lake known as Me Bar Tsho, the burning and the flaming lake. Guru Rinpoche has hidden some religious treasure in the running river and the treasure was discovered by Pema Lingpa in 1476. It’s a short hike to visit the lake and we can wonder around the lake to enjoy the beautiful nature. We stay overnight in Bumthang (Jakar).

After breakfast we drive to experience more of the Jambay Lhakhang festival held at Jambay Lhakhang monastery. This festival plays an important role in Bhutan, since all the mask dances are secret teachings of Guru Rinpoche and Terton Pema Lingpa. After lunch we return back to Trongsa. The journey takes us through the first valley of Bumthang, Chhumey Valley, up to Yutung la pass (3360m). The road then descends through broadleaf mixed conifer vegetation. We reflect on the festival we’ve just been part of, and let it change us. Maybe it reveals some insights about out inner processes. We stay overnight at Trongsa.

After breakfast we trace the route back through Mangdue valley to Pelela pass (3360m). We’re blessed with the most scenic drive through beautiful Trongsa valley overlooking the black mountain range and Bhutan’s pristine virgin forest. After Nikka chhu Chazam bridge the road ascends to Pelela pass. We may encounter yaks along the road, as the yak hurders descend to their winter pastures from October through April. After Pelela pass the road descends to Wangdue through dense conifer broadleaf forest to sub tropical broadleaf forest. We will try to spot the rare endangered Red Panda - for which we start praying right now!

After arriving in Punakha, we have an optional 1h30min round trip hike to visit the beautiful Khumsum Yuley monastery built by the Queen Mother in 1997. We stay overnight at Punakha.

After breakfast we drive back through Punakha valley up to Dochula pass. We have one more chance for good views at the top, so we can delight in Bhutan’s highest peaks. We then descend to Thimphu and continue the journey through the valley towards Paro. After lunch we visit Ta Dzong (the watch tower), which was built in 1651 to defend the Paro Dzong and valley from Tibetan invaders back in the 17th century. The tower was renovated and converted into the National Museum in 1968 by the 3rd king. We continue to visit Paro Ringpung Dzong (fortress of Heap of Jewel), built in 1646. It now serves as District Administration Office of Paro. We stay overnight in Paro.

After breakfast we start our trip to the famous Tiger’s Nest monastery (Takshang). This visit includes a hike of around 5 hours which should be very rewarding. It’s one small effort to visit such a sacred place.

Legend says that a rock egress lived at Takshang, who was preventing the spread of Buddhism back in the 8th century. Guru Rinpoche is said to have flown here on the back of a tigress from Singye Dzong (in North Eastern Bhutan) to subdue the white lion (rock egress). After subduing the demon, Guru Rinpoche has meditated in the cave for 3 months, and left his body imprint on the rock. Takshang is one of the most holy and sacred monasteries in the Himalayas, and it is believed that just by seeing or visiting the sight, a pilgrim is liberated from suffering. The monastery was built in 1696 and burnt down by fire in 1998. It was then rebuilt in 2003.

We take it easy for the rest of the day, doing some last minute shopping, journaling, writing postcards or creating last minute posts to share our amazing experience in the Himalayas. We enjoy our last moments in Bhutan and get ready to fly back to Nepal the next day.

We say goodbye to Bhutan. After breakfast we drive to Paro international airport to catch our flight back to Kathmandu. We will again have a stunning flight over the Himalayan peaks. We look at the mountains and contemplate our beautiful journey and inner explorations.

We have the rest of the day to relax in Kathmandu. Some of us may want to try one of the many wonderful massages on offer, others may want to journal, read, or enjoy the great restaurants in Kathmandu. This is a time to integrate the trip, and we stay open to emerging plans we may create as a group.

We take it easy on our last day, enjoy a relaxed time in Kathmandu, and do some last minute shopping. In the evening we visit Budhanath. We walk around the big stupa and reflect on the days we shared in the Himalayas. We have our last dinner together. We share our favorite memories of the trip, and laugh over unique travel moments in the Himalayas. We get ready to leave the next day, feeling nourished and inspired by the trip to the unique Kingdom of Bhutan + our short stay in Kathmandu.

Departure from Kathmandu airport.