Bhutan Tour with Festival 12 Days
(Suggested programs coinciding with festivals)

Destinations: Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, Gangtey Gonpa, Trongsa, Bumthang, Ura Valley and Wangdi Phodrang.
Trip Grade: Easy
Best Season: (March, April, May, September, October and November)

Itinerary:
Day 1 Arrive Paro from Bangkok.
Afternoon, Paro sightseeing. Visit the National Museum, Paro Rinpung dzong, Drugyal dzong and the Kichu temple.
O/n Hotel Gangtey Palace or Olathang.

Day 2 Drive to Thimphu (65kms and takes 2 hours).
Afternoon, Thimphu sightseeing. Visit the Memorial Chorten, the Folk Heritage Museum, the Institute of Arts and Crafts, the National textile Museum, the Changangkha temple and the Tashichodzong, the main secretariat building.
O/n Hotel Riverview.

Day 3 Full Day Thimphu sightseeing.
Visit the National Library, the Institute of Traditional medicine, and then drive to Sangyegang view point from where you can get a good view of the entire Thimphu valley. On the way back, stop at the Takin sanctuary to see this amazing animal which looks like half bull and half goat. (Takin is the national animal of Bhutan).

Day 4 Drive to Punakha (77kms and takes 3 hours drive).
On the way stop at Dochula pass (3120m) to view the most spectacular view of the entire Eastern Himalayan Mountain ranges. Afternoon,Punakha sightseeing- Visit the Punakha dzong and the Khamsum Yule Namgyel Temple and the Chimi Lhakhang known As the temple of fertility. O/n Hotel Meri Phuensum in Punakha.

Day 5 Drive to Gangtey Gonpa (Phobjikha) 58kms and drive about 2 hours.
Gangtey is a beautiful place of rolling hills surrounded by snow capped mountains. It is one of the widest valleys in Bhutan and is very picturesque. It is also the ho9me for the famous Black Necked Cranes who migrate here from Tibet in the winter months. O/n Hotel Dewachen. While in Gangtey, you can visit the Crane centre and the Gangtey Monastery. You can also take a leisurely stroll in this beautiful valley and also visit some local homes.

Day 6 Drive to Trongsa (95km and takes about 4 hours)
Afternoon, Visit the Trongsa dzong and its ancient watch Tower.
O/n Hotel Yangkhil in Trongsa.

Day 7 Drive to Bumthang (68kms and takes 3.30 hours).
Afternoon Bumthang sightseeing - Visit the Historical Jakar dzong, the Jambya Lhakhang, the Kurjey Lhakhang and the Mebar Tso known as the Flaming Lake, one of the most holy pilgrimage spots in Bhutan. O/n Swiss guest house in Bumthang.

Day 8 Day excursion to the beautiful Ura Valley (68kms)
After an early breakfast, drive to Ura valley. On the way stop at Shingkhar village and visit the Shingkhar monastery and the pretty village situated on the slope of the hill. At Ura, you can visit the Ura Monastery and its small village where all the houses are clustered together. You will also see lots of Yaks grazing lazily in the vast pasture land. Evening drive back to Bumthang. O/n Swiss Gueest house

Day 9 Drive to Wangdi Phodrang (197km and takes 8 hours).
O/n Hotel Dragon Nest in Wangdi.

Day 10 Drive to Paro.
O/n Hotel Gangtey Palace/Olathang.

Day 11 Paro Tour including hike to Taktsang Monastery After an early breakfast, drive to Drugyal dzong 16kms away from your hotel. Although in ruins, this Dzong is historically very important for Bhutan because the Bhutanese won many wars with then invading Tibetan armies from this dzong in the old days.

Drive down to Satsam Chorten and hike to Taktsang Monastery which takes about 4 hours for the round trip hike. The word Taktsang means "Tiger's Nest", the monastery is situated on a rocky ledge with a sheer drop of more than 1000m. It is said that Guru Rimpoche, known as the second Buddha in Bhutan alighted here on the back of a Tigress during the 6th century and meditated on the same spot where the monastery is situated today for over 3 months to subdue the Demons in this region. Later he ordered a Monastery to be built on the same spot. Lunch at the Taktsang cafeteria and hike back to Satsam Chorten, where your transport is waiting.

On the way back, visit the Kichu Monastery. Built sometime in 7th century by the Tibetan King Songtsen Gempo to spread Buddhism in this region; it is the oldest temple in Bhutan. Also, visit the national Museum.
Overnight at Hotel Olathang or Gangtey Palace.

Day 12 Depart Paro
Early breakfast at the hotel, drive to Paro International Airport to connect your flight to onward destination. We will help you until you depart Paro.

Package price valid until June 2008 Bhutan Tour with Festival 11 Nights / 12 Days High Season: (March, April, May, September, October and November) TOUR COST PER PERSON IN US DOLLARS :
GROUP SIZE:	TOUR COST:
1-2 persons	US$2475
3-6 persons	US$2387
7-15 persons	US$2310
16+1 persons	US$2310 (One tour leader free of charge)

Low Season: (January, February, June, July, August, and December) Bhutan Tour with Festival 11 Nights / 12 Days TOUR COST PER PERSON IN US DOLLARS:
GROUP SIZE:	TOUR COST:
1-2 persons	US$2233
3-10 persons	US$2156
11-15 persons	US$2068
16+1 persons	US$2068 (One tour leader free of charge)

Single Supplement: US$35 per night per person.
Festival Surcharge: US$30 per night per person based on festival days.

Tour Cost Includes:
Eleven nights accommodation in quality hotels in Bhutan on a twin sharing,
full-board meal plan (3 meals a day),
all ground transportation including arrival and departure,
English speaking local tour guide,
temple and monastery entrance fees,

Tour Cost Excludes :
Visa fees, international airfares, airport departure tax, personal clothing, personal insurance, alcoholic beverages, telephone, laundry, charges for delays caused by situations beyond our control such as bad weather, natural disasters, civil unrest, and emergency rescue costs.

The prices are same for cultural tours, treks or any other special interest tours. Visa Fee: US$20 + US$10 as Tourism Development fee payable directly on arrival in Bhutan with 3 passport photos.
Visa Processing Time: Two weeks.

Kathmandu = KTM, Paro Bhutan = PBH, Delhi = DEL, Bangkok = BKK, Kolkata (Calcutta) = CCU.

High Season : (March, April, May, September, October and November) Full particulars of all participants should be provided at least 60 days in advance in order to hold all services on confirmed basis. These months are peak seasons and flight seats and other related services are very difficult to confirm.
Low Season: (January, February, June, July, August, and December)

The minimum daily package prices include the following services: Accommodations on twin sharing basis, all transfers and sightseeing within Bhutan, services of accompanied guide, all meals, royalty and taxes to the government, riding ponies and pack animals on treks, fees to temples and monuments.

Remarks: We have festivals during the month of April, October and November held at various places in Bhutan. The most interesting and popular festivals that we recommend are as follows:

Bhutan's Popular Festival Calendar:

Punakha Dromche
Festival Date: 21-25 February 2007

Paro Tsechu held in Paro
Festival Date: 29 March-2 April 2007

Wangdi Tsechu held in Wangdiphodrang
Festival Date: 20-22 September 2007

Tamshin Phala Choedpa held in Bumthang
Festival Date: 21-23 September 2007

Thimphu Tsechu held in Thimphu
Festival Date: 21-23 September 2007

Thangbi Mani held in Bumthang
Festival Date: 25-27 September 2007

Trongsa Tsechu held in Trongsa
Festival Date: 18-20 December 2007