Bhutan Photography Tour 13 Days
(Suggested programs coinciding with festivals)

Destinations: Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, Gangtey Gonpa, Trongsa, Bumthang, Ura Valley, Wangdi Phodrang and Haa Valley.
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 amzing 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 fertolity. O/n Hotel Meri Phuensum in Punakha

Day 5 Drive to Gangtey Gonpa (Phobjikha, 58kms, about 2 hours drive)
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 Village Excursion and to Paro
Morning, visit the Rinchengang Village in Wangdi and explore some of the village homes. Lunch at the hotel. Afternoon, drive to Paro.

Day 11 Taktsang Monastery
After an early breakfast, drive to Stasam Chorten and hike to Taktsang Monastery. The roundtrip hike takes about 4-5 hours.

Day 12 Haa Valley Excursion
Drive to Haa valley which is situated on the other side of the Paro valley.
Haa is a very beautiful valley ideal for photography. O/n Hotel in Paro.

Day 13 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 Photography Tour 12 Nights / 13 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$2700
3-6 persons	US$2604
7-15 persons	US$2520
16+1 persons	US$2520 (One tour leader free of charge)

Low Season: (January, February, June, July, August, and December) Bhutan Photography Tour 12 Nights / 13 Days TOUR COST PER PERSON IN US DOLLARS :
GROUP SIZE:	TOUR COST:
1-2 persons	US$2436
3-10 persons	US$2352
11-15 persons	US$2256
16+1 persons	US$2256 (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:
Twelve 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 in various places in Bhutan. For details on any particular festival to include in the tour, please send us an email in advance.