Explore Bhutan: Land of the Thunder Dragon

Squashed into a high pocket of land between Sikkim, Assam, Tibet and Arunachal Pradesh in the northeast of India, Bhutan is an extraordinary country, home to a fascinating and unique culture, stupendous scenery and a truly charming people.

This trip explores a land that has been cut off from the rest of the world - both through geographical positioning and its own political desires - so much so that in many places things have barely changed at all over the last 500 years. Take time to explore the vast, 17th century dzongs and monasteries perched spectacularly atop high cliffs or beside thundering rivers; take in the jaw-dropping scenery peppered with clusters of ethereal prayer flags; experience colourful displays of dance and story-telling and allow yourself be transported back over the centuries.

This is a land of demons and spirits, steeped in mysticism, from the jungle covered lowlands to the forested hills rich in flora and fauna and the snow-capped peaks, Bhutan will have you gasping in wonder at the natural beauty of this unspoilt, far-flung land.

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Itinerary / Highlights

Day 1: Delhi (India): Arrive lunchtime in Delhi. Transfer to our hotel to check in and rest. Later we will meet for a group chat and have some lunch before taking a look around the old town and then grabbing dinner out in town.
Hotel (L, D)

Day 2: Delhi & Phuntsoling (Bhutan): Transfer to airport for morning flight to Bagdogra. We'll drive to Phuntsoling where we'll cross the border into Bhutan before checking into our hotel for supper.
Hotel (B, L, D)

Day 3: Phuntsoling - Paro After breakfast drive to Paro & a spectacular drive from the Gangetic plain through the steep and verdant Himalayan foothills. We'll have lunch on the way and arrive in Paro in time to visit the museum or Dzong before dinner back at hotel.
Hotel (B,L,D)

Day 4: Paro: Morning walk or take ponies up to the Taktsang Goemba, known as the Tiger's Nest monastery, stopping en route at the viewpoint to which we will return for lunch. This is without doubt the most spectacular monastery in Bhutan, built on a rock ledge a thousand metres above the valley floor. It commemorates Guru Rinpoche who is said to have flown here on the back of a tiger, to meditate in a cave on the rocky ledge. The walk to the viewing point takes about 1½hrs with another 2½ hrs to get to the monastery and back. In the afternoon we will visit the ancient ruined dzong of Drukgyel situated at the end of the Paro Valley. There is also a very pleasant nature walk close by and the possibility of watching archers competing at the foot of the old fort. Time to look around town before supper.
Hotel (B, L, D

Day 5: Paro & Thimpu: We will make an early start, driving to Thimpu, to arrive at the capital city by mid morning. We will visit the Cultural Heritage Museum, the Takin Park to see Bhutan's national animal, and in the early evening we will visit the dzong.
Hotel (B, L, D)

Day 6: Thimpu & Wangdue. After breakfast we will visit the Dechen Phodrung Monastery where Wild Frontiers has supported the young monks' education for some years. We will then drive up to the Dochu la Pass for lunch. Continuing to Wangdue, we will check into the hotel.
Hotel (B, L, D)

Day 7: Wangdue & Punakha & Wangdue: Drive 9kms to Punakha & en route we'll stop for a few hours to take a beautiful walk up to the small temple built for the present king by his mother. Wandering back down through the villages and along the riverbank takes us through an idyllic rural setting. After lunch we'll visit the dzong, former capital of Bhutan, spectacularly positioned at the confluence of two thundering rivers and noted for its huge prayer hall with three giant Buddhas and wonderful painted thankas. On our way back to Wangdue we will visit a local farm and hopefully sample some Tibetan style butter tea and their homemade chhang beer. Drive back to Wangdue for supper at the hotel.
Hotel (B, L, D)

Day 8: Wangdue & Gangtey: After breakfast we will drive to Gangtey where we can explore the valley and have a good chance to see the black neck cranes which will be wintering here.
Guesthouse (B, L, D)

Day 9: Gangtey to Bumthang: We'll drive to Bumthang via Trongsa for lunch and visit the dzong. In the afternoon we'll continue to Bumthang stopping en route at the Chumey Yatha textile industry's outlet before checking into the charming family-run guesthouse near to the ancient 7th century Jambay Lakhang temple or overlooking the Tamshing Goemba.
Guesthouse (B, L, D)

Day 10: Bumthang: All day in Bumthang to visit the local dzong and market. Bumthang is the spiritual heartland of Bhutan and home to its most ancient and precious Buddhist sites. The region encompasses four major valleys; the main one, Choskhor, is home to the most important dzongs, temples and palaces. Jakar, at the foot of the Choskhor valley, is the base from where we will explore. Jakar Dzong, founded in 1549, is the largest in Bhutan. Further along Choskhor valley, the temple of Jampa Lakhang was built in 659 and hosts one of the kingdom's most spectacular festivals, the Jampa Lakhang Drup.
Guesthouse (B, L, D)

Day 11: Bumthang & Mongar: Today we drive over the 4000m high Thumshing la pass, the highest driveable pass in Bhutan. Cross your fingers for the chance of spotting a Red Panda. We'll picnic at Sangor, half way between Mongar and Bumthang. At this point the vegetation changes from alpine to sub-tropical and then to almost tropical. It is warm enough at Limithang for local people to extract oil from the lemon grass growing wild in the region. Cross the Kurichu River to climb up hill again to Mongar and stay overnight in a hotel.
Hotel (B, L, D)

Day 12: Mongar & Trashigang: This morning we will visit the festival and the the dzong, before driving on to Trashigang to visit the dzong there. We will then drive on to our guesthouse, a simple place perched on the hillside above the monastery at Rangjung.
Guesthouse (B, L, D)

Day 13: Festival Trashigang (Rangjung): We will spend the day enjoying the festival, or visiting a beautiful nunnery and walking through the terrace fields to a farm for lunch and to see traditional raw silk dying and weaving. Walking up to the farm, we may well meet hill people from the nomad communities of Sakteng and Merak on the border with Arunachal Pradesh, who come down to sell their yak butter and other products, often dressed in animal skins. Our last night in Bhutan, we will celebrate our experiences around an open fire.
Guesthouse (B, L, D)

Day 14: Trashigang & Guwahati (India): Early Morning departure for the long drive down from the mountains to the plains of Assam, crossing the border and continuing to Guwahati to stay overnight at a hotel in the centre of the bazaar area of the city.
Hotel (B, L, D)

Day 15: Guwahati & Delhi: Transfer to Guwahati airport for flight to Delhi. Check into our hotel again. The afternoon is free to explore more of this fascinating city or to simply relax before our journey home.
Hotel (B, L, D)

Day 16: Delhi: The tour ends this morning after breakfast at the hotel.
(B)

Wild Extensions:
Arrive early to adjust to a new time zone or just to get a feel for the country before your tour starts. Explore the country after your tour on a bespoke Wild Extension or just allow a few days to relax afterwards. Maybe choose all of the above and get cheaper flights mid-week?

A)Taj Extension. Not yet seen the marble wonder of the world that is the Taj Mahal, take an extra couple of days after the tour to visit this amazing site coupled with the deserted waterless city that is Fatehpur Sikri.

B)Ever been to the Sikh pilgrimage site of the Golden Temple in Amritsar? Experience the tranquillity of this grand gold plated temple and travel across then to Chandigarh & the green city.

C) Want to combine anything above or have you seen something else in India you want to explore…
…then please just contact the office, where we can tailor your needs to suit your extension.

Other Details

Accommodation Details

Accommodation will be in a 4* hotel in Delhi and small hotels and guesthouses with Western style bathrooms.
All hotels mentioned in the itinerary are subject to availability and if not available substitutes will be of a similar quality.

Transport:
Transport will be by local style jeeps and a minibus coaster.

Responsible Travel: Responsible travel and sustainable tourism are fundamental ideas that Wild Frontiers has been committed to since our birth. It is our strong belief that these words should not be simply ‘tagged on´ to dossiers and websites but should be at the very core of each trip, and our adventures are therefore designed with the local people, culture and eco-system in mind. We believe that a successful trip not only delivers a unique and unsurpassable journey for our clients, but that it also benefits the peoples whose lands we are privileged to visit.

Departure Dates, Options & Prices

16 days, Fri 05 Nov 2010 to Sat 20 Nov 2010
15 days, Sun 19 Dec 2010 to Sun 02 Jan 2011

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