Peaceful Dragon (8 Days)
Day 1: Bagdogra – Phuntsholing
The representative of Bhutan Takin Trails will receive the visitors from Bagdogra Airport/Siliguri and drive you to Phuntsholing, the border town of Bhutan. The journey is through the West Bengal tea plantations and small towns, which takes about 3 to 4 hours. Overnight in hotel.
Day 2: Phuntsholing – Paro
After breakfast visit Kharbandi Monastery and continue the journey to Thimphu with lunch stop at Bunakha. Then after lunch you cross Chapcha-la 2,525 m. From the confluence you follow the Paro Chu and drive up the winding road till you reach Paro. The journey is initially through the dense forest of sub-tropical and after lunch through the conifer forest of Temperate Zone, from typical southern Bhutanese Nepalese houses to typical Bhutanese houses. Overnight in hotel.
Day 3 Paro - Sightseeing
In the morning drive to Paro for sightseeing of the valley. Drive through the winding road northwest up the Pa Chu to Drugyel Dzong, the ruined Fort (destroyed by fire in 1950.) which once defended this valley from the Tibetan invasion. From here one can have the view of sacred Mt. Jhomolhari on clear days. On the way back make a visit to a typical Bhutanese farmhouse and stop for a view of Taktsang (tiger’s nest) Monastery where the saint Guru Padma-sambhava landed on the flying tiger and mediated there. After lunch drive to Ta Dzong former Watch Tower which now houses the National Museum and then walk down passing close by the Paro Dzong, crossing the typical Bhutanese wooden roofed bridge to Paro town. After a short stroll in town drive back to hotel for the night halt.
Day 4: Paro – Thimphu
After breakfast drive to Satsam Chorten and hike to Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest) till the viewpoint which will take about two hours. Lunch will be served at Taktsang Cafeteria. After lunch hike back to the motor able road where the vehicle will meet you and drive you back to the hotel. Tea and snacks in the hotel and drive to Thimphu which will take about two hours. Overnight in hotel.
Day 5: Thimphu – Punakha – Thimphu
After breakfast, full day excursion to Punakha the ancient capital of Bhutan where visitors are allowed to enter the Dzong if the Je Khenpo (chief Abbot) and the central monk body is in Thimphu in their summer residence. Lunch will be served at Wangdiphodrang. On the way back to Thimphu halt for sightseeing at Dochula pass, alt. 3,080 m from where you can see the beautiful Himalayan mountain range. Drive back to Thimphu. Overnight in hotel.
Day 6: Thimphu – Sightseeing
After breakfast drive for sightseeing of the Thimphu valley. Visit the Memorial Chorten built in memory of the Late King, King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, the Father of Modern Bhutan. Then visit the National Library, Zelukha Nunnery and Simtokha Dzong, which now houses the school for national language, Dzongkha. After lunch make a visit to Handicraft Emporium and after that you can stroll in the town. Overnight in Hotel.
Day 7: Thimphu – Phuntsholing
After breakfast short visit to Sunday market in Thimphu and then start the drive to Phuntsholing, which is about 6 to 7 hours drive. Stop for lunch at Bunakha. Continue driving to Phuntsholing. Overnight in hotel.
Day 8: Phuntsholing – Siliguri to Bagdogra Airport
The drive is about 3 to 4 hours through the West Bengal tea plantations. Depart from Bagdogra.