Punakha Drubchhen

On the arrival you will be greeted by our representative of The Jewels of the Dragon Tours & Adventure and drive to the hotel. After lunch visit Rinpung Dzong, which houses the monastic school and the office of the civil administration and then visit Ta-Dzong which is the museum which holds old fascinating collections of art, relic and religious thing. Overnight at hotel.

After breakfast, drive up to the Ramthangka (base camp) of Taktsang and then hike up to the most famous Monastery in the entire kingdom of Bhutan perched on the edge of a steep cliff, which lies 900 m above the valley. The hike to the viewpoint will take about an hour and it will take 2 to 3 hours to the monastery. Lunch at the Taktsang cafeteria. Walk back down. "+"Drive to ruin Drukgyel Dzong built in 1646 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel. From there one can see Mt. Jumolhari (mountain of goddesses) if the weather is clear. And drive back to visit Kyichu Lhakhang. Overnight at hotel.

After breakfast drive to Punakha (3 hours’ drive from Thimphu) en route for tea at Dochula cafeteria(3050meters) where on a clear day you can get a spectacular view of the Himalayas. Continue drive to Punakha, on the way stop at Lobesa and walk to Chhimi Lhakhang which was built in 15 Century (dedicated to Lama Dukpa Kinley also known as divine mad man). It is a pilgrim site especially for childless couples. After lunch drive to Punakha to visit Pungthang Dechen Phodrang Dzong. Built in 1637 by Zhabdrung and it is one of the most beautiful dzong in Bhutan. After visiting the Punakha Dzong walk around the town. Overnight at hotel.

After breakfast, you will attend the first day of the Punakha Drupchhen (festival). You will watch some dances. This is the occasion where the local people, dressed in their finest clothes, come to attend the festival with packed lunches.

After breakfast, you will attend second day of Punakha Drupchhen (festival). After lunch hike to Khamsum Yuelley Namgyel Choeten which will take an hour hike from the road point. Overnight at hotel.

After breakfast drive to Bumthang via Pele la (3420m). Driving time is approximately 6-7 hours. Stop for lunch at Trongsa. Visit Trongsa Dzong- which was built in the year 1648 and it is the longest Dzong in the country then visit Ta Dzong, known as watch tower. Now been renovated and transformed into a museum. Continue drive to Bumthang. Overnight at hotel.

• Chakhar Lhakhang. Besides the main road, a short distance beyond Jambay Temple is Chakhar (Iron Castle) Lhakhang. Although it is easy to mistake it for a house and drive right by, this is an interesting temple and is worth a short visit. It is one of the 108 monasteries built by Tibetan King Songtse Goempo to subdue evil spirits in the Himalayan region.
• Kujey Lhakhang (Kujey means, "Body imprint"). The temple to the right is the oldest and was built by Minjur Tempa in 1652. It was built around the cave in which Guru Rimpoche meditated and left his body imprint.
• Tamshing Lhakhang. This temple is also known as Tamshing Lhendrup Chholing (Temple of the Good Message).
• Jakar Dzong, "castle of the white bird". According to legend, when the lamas assembled in about 1549 to select a site for a monastery, a big white bird rose suddenly in the air and settled on a spur of a hill. This was interpreted as an important omen, and the hill was chosen as the site for a monastery and for Jakar Dzong. The fortress is now used as an administrative center of the valley and summer residence of Trongsa monks.

After early breakfast, drive to Phobjikha valley. You will visit Gangtey Gompa (monastery) which now houses one of the only Nyingmapa monasteries in Bhutan. Walk around the valley which is also the winter home to the rare black-necked cranes, which migrate, from remote parts of Tibet, China and Siberia during winter to this valley. Overnight at hotel.

After breakfast drive to Thimphu visit WangduePhodrang Dzong. Lunch at Dochula Cafeteria. Continue drive to Thimphu. Visit centennial Farmers market. Overnight at hotel.