Bhutan Cultural Tour 14 days
(Suggested programs coinciding with festivals)

Destinations: Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, Trongsa, Bumthang, Mongar, Lhuentse, Trashigang, Trashi Yangtse, 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 Dechen Cottages in Paro

Day 2 Drive to Thimphu (65kms and takes 2 hours)
Aftrenoon, 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 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 Nmagyel Temple. O/n Hotel Meri Phuensum in Punakha

Day 4 Drive to Trongsa
Enroute visit Wangdi Phodrang dzong (129kms
and takes about 5 hours). Late afternoon, visit the Trongsa dzong and its
ancient watch Tower. O/n Hotel Yangkhil in Trongsa.

Day 5 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 Leki's guest house in Bumthang.

Day 6 Drive to Mongar (198kms and takes 8 hours drive)
O/n Druk Zhongar hotel in Mongar

Day 7 Day Excursion to Lhuentse (75km, about 3 hours drive).
At Lhuentse, visit the Lhuentse dzong and the weaving centre.
O/n Druk Zhongar hotel in Mongar

Day 8 Trashigang (98km, about 4 hours drive)
AM-Visit the Mongar dzong and drive to Trashigang.
Afternoon, Trashigang sightseeing- Visit the Trashignag dzong and its small town. O/n Druk Dejong hotel in Trashigang

Day 9 Drive to Trashi Yangtse (51km and takes about 3 hours drive)
At Trashi Yangtse, visit the Zorig Chusum institute as well as the Bhutanese wood bowl making unit. Afternoon, drive to Mongar (135km and about 4hrs drive). O/n Mongar

Day 10 Drive to Bumthang (198km and takes 8 hours)
O/n Bumthang.

Day 11 Drive to Wangdi Phodrang (197km and takes 8 hours)
O/n Hotel Dragon Nest in Wangdi

Day 12 Drive to Thimphu
Afternoon, drive to Begana 28kms north of Thimphu and hike to Tango and Cheri Monasteries, built on the mountain ridge, these monasteries are the most important Buddhist teaching centres in Bhutan and also used as retreat centre.

Day 13 Haa (95kms about 4 hours from Thimphu)
After an early breakfast drive to Haa, a beautiful valley and ideal for photography with its rolling hills and gradual slopes in the pine tree filled valley. After exploring this beautiful valley, you have picnic lunch in Haa and drive back to Paro (45kms and the drive takes only 1.5 hours) via Chelila pass (3850m).
At the Chelila pass, you can get very good view of the Haa valley as well as the snow capped mountain views.
O/n Hotel Gangtey Palace / Hotel Olathang in Paro.

Day 14 Departure from 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 Cultural Tour 13 Nights / 14 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$2925
3-6 persons	US$2821
7-15 persons	US$2730
16+1 persons	US$2730 (One tour leader free of charge)

Low Season: (January, February, June, July, August, and December) Bhutan Cultural Tour 13 Nights / 14 Days TOUR COST PER PERSON IN US DOLLARS:
GROUP SIZE:	TOUR COST:
1-2 persons	US$2639
3-10 persons	US$2548
11-15 persons	US$2444
16+1 persons	US$2444 (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 :
Thirteen 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

Gomkora Tsechu held in Trashigang eastern Bhutan
Festival Date: 26-28 March 2007

Trashigang Tsechu held in Trashigang eastern Bhutan
Festival Date: 17-20 November 2007

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

Jambay Lhakhang Drup festival held in Bumthang
Festival Date: 25-29 October 2007

Mongar Tsechu held in Mongar
Festival Date: 16-19 November 2007