Bhutan Cultural Tour
7 Nights / 8 Days

Destinations: Paro, Thimphu, Punakha and Gangtey Gonpa.
Trip Grade: Easy (cultural tour with lots of day hikes)
Best Season: (March, April, May, September, October and November)

Itinerary: Bhutan Cultural Tour 7 Nights / 8 Days.
Day 1 Arrive Paro On your arrival at Paro Airport, you will be received by your tour guide and escorted to you hotel. Hotel Olathang.

Day 2 Full day Paro Sightseeing
Visit the National Museum, The Paro Rinpung Dzong, The Dungtse Lhakhang and The Drugyal Dzong.
Overnight at hotel.

Day 3 Hike to Taktsang monastery
Taktsang monastery is the famous Bhuddist temple built in the cliff above Paro Valley known as the "Tiger's Nest". About an hour and half hike will take you close to the monastery. Then, hike back downhill.
Lunch is serviced en route. Late afternoon, drive to Chelila pass.
Overnight at hotel.

Day 4 Overland to Thimphu
On the way to Thimphu, visit the Simtokha Dzong, the oldest Dzong
(Dzong means Fortress) in Bhutan built in 1629. Today this Dzong is used as the Institute for Language and Culture. At Thimphu, visit the Memorial Chorten, the National Library, the Painting and Arts school, the Textile Museum, the Folk heritage museum, the handicrafts emporium, the Sangyegang view point and the TashichoDzong.
Hotel Pedling.

Day 5 Punakha
Drive to Phunakha (77kms about 3 hours drive).
On the way, stop at Dochula pass (3100m) to view the most beautiful view of the entire eastern Himalayan mountain range. On reaching Punakha, check in at hotel Meri Phuensum. After lunch, visit the Punakha Dzong, take a short hike to the beautiful Khamsum Yule Namgyel monastery.

Day 6 Gangtey Gonpa Day Excursion
Gangtey Gonpa is 45kms from Punakha and takes about 3 hours drive.
Gangtey is a beautiful place surrounded by snowcapped mountains in the distance with a landscape of rolling hills and green meadows. It is situated at an altitude of 3000m. From Gangtey, one can closely view the picturesque Black Mountain ranges as well as the beautiful Phobjikha valley. Gangtey Gonpa (Gantey Monastery) is perched atop a small hill that rises from the valley floor. The Monastery is surrounded by a large village inhabited mainly by the families of the 140 Gomchens (Lay Monks) who take care of the Monastery. The Gangtey Gonpa is the only Nyingmapa Monastery on the western side of the Black Mountains and is also the biggest Nyingmapa monastery in Bhutan. Gangtey is also the winter home for the famous Black Necked Cranes that migrate here from Tibet during winters.
Hike around the rustic village of Gangtey and drive back to Punakha in the evening.

Day 7 Overland Journey to Paro Drive to Paro (135kms and takes about 3 hours).
Overnight at Hotel Olathang.

Day 8 Depart Paro Early breakfast at the hotel, and drive to Paro International Airport to connect your flight to onward destination.

Package price valid until June 2008 Bhutan Cultural Tour 7 Nights / 8 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$1575
3-6 persons	US$1519
7-15 persons	US$1470
16+1 persons	US$1470 (One tour leader free of charge)

Low Season: (January, February, June, July, August, and December) Bhutan Cultural Tour 7 Nights / 8 Days TOUR COST PER PERSON IN US DOLLARS:
GROUP SIZE:	TOUR COST:
1-2 persons	US$1421
3-10 persons	US$1372
11-15 persons	US$1316
16+1 persons	US$1316 (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:
Seven 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,
entrance fees to temple and monasteries,

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

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.