Day 1: Arrive Paro and Drive to Thimphu, (50 km, 1 hour drive) If you are arriving on a bright sunny day, your holiday begins with the panoramic view of the Himalayan range from your Drukair seat, where you?ll be greeted by Mt. Everest and Mt. Kanchenjunga, and our very own Mt. Jomolhari and Mt. Jichu Drakey. An unparalleled feeling while you are descending over Bhutan is a feeling which is of total abandonment, a feeling which is inexplicably compassionate and full of suspense as visibly seen in the growing communion between the passengers. Upon arrival you?ll be received by our friendly professional guides who will help you settle into your comfortable car and will take you for a short spin around Paro valley which will include a visit to the 7th century Kyichu Lhakhang temple. After lunch, you?ll be heading to the capital city, Thimphu. Call it an easy night to make sure you have ample rest to kick start your Bhutan holiday with much gusto. We have a policy to usually host you in a hotel further away from the main bustling streets of Thimphu as we understand the importance of a proper sleep for the first night, and stray dogs in the city square may just jeopardise that objective. Day 2: Thimphu Sightseeing Wake up to the sound of the birds and after a sumptuous meal, your travel escort will take you to some of the treasures of the capital - Visit the National Folk Heritage Museum, the Zorig Chusum school of 13 traditional arts/crafts, the Textile Museum, the Memorial Chorten (stupa) and the Simtokha Dzong. Visit the colourful vegetable market where proud villagers behind pyramids of their agricultural produce greet you with stone weights in their hands and smiles on their faces. It is interesting to see what may seem to you as „weird vegetables and forest products? that actually enriches the Bhutanese Palate. Take a stroll around the Takin Reserve Center in the evening to see the national animal of Bhutan – the Takin. Enjoy a fantastic meal in some of the best restaurants with choice of Bhutanese, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Italian, or Thai culinary. Day 3: Drive to Punakha (77 km, circa 4 hours drive) Take further to the mountains and its winding characteristics to reach the Dochula Pass (3140 m) to experience one of the Bhutan?s most symbolic, recent glory and an awe-inspiring view of the eastern Himalayan range. Situated at the backdrop of a spectacular Himalayan range and the fluttering prayer flags, the Druk Wangyal Chortens, a collection of 108 chortens (stupas) was built to exemplify the greatness of the Fourth King. Wind down to the low-lying rice valley of Lobesa and pay your respects to one of Bhutan?s most charming and eccentric historic figures nicknamed „The Divine Madman? at the Chhimi Lhakhang, the fertility monastery. Continue to Punakha Valley and visit the most beautiful fortress of Bhutan - the Punakha Dzong juxtaposed in between a confluence of two mighty rivers. You?ll be amazed by the fabulous woodwork that represents the myriad Bhutanese architecture. If the weather is good, you also have the option to camp next to the river (superb camping grounds) with a bonfire as many of our guests likes combining their cultural holiday with camping. Day 4: Drive to Phobjikha (80 km, circa 3 hours drive) On the way you?ll be taken to Nalanda Buddhist Institute where you can interact with little monks. Drive to Wangue Phodrang town. The small incongruous town square of Wangdue is a hullaballoo of activities; cab drivers yelling names of nearby towns for customers, a gas station queued up with vehicles and power-tillers, vegetable vendors, dairy products on sale, smiling old faces of out shop windows with dripping betel from their mouths. Phobjikha is host to the endangered „Black necked cranes’ (Grus Nicorocolis) in the winter who migrate from Tibet and parts of China. The government has given much importance towards the preservation of the bird, and its part time migratory habitat by designating its roosting areas as restricted areas. Before you reach your hotel, we recommend you to take a walk through the village to get a feel of the rural life. Option to continue camping next to the river with a bonfire. Day 5: Phobjikha Sightseeing You will visit the Observatory for some information on the endangered Black Necked Cranes and if you are here towards late Fall and winter, you can have a close-up on the birds aided by a telescope. Lunch will entail a pleasant 4 km hike around the periphery of the roosting area which eloquently ends into the entrance of the Gangtey Gompa monastery sitting atop a hill overlooking the whole valley. After visiting this special temple that has been renovated recently with fine examples of Bhutanese architecture, you will be picked up by your driver and driven back to your hotel or your camp. The hike is a recommended activity as we ourselves enjoy it every single time we are there as the weather is usually superb for a photographers and the object to be captured is an underlying valley that probably prompted the early visitors to Bhutan to compare the country with Switzerland. We can also augment this day with mountain biking and motorcycles as the valley offers some good collection of dirt roads. Day 6: Drive to Thimphu (100 km, circa 6 hours) Drive back to Thimphu and visit the Bhutan Post Office, to see the famous stamps of Bhutan and to post some cards to your loved ones. Continue to the Traditional Paper Factory to see how traditional paper is made from Himalayan shrubs- Daphne and Edgeworthia. Visit the Handicrafts Emporium for a rich collection of handicrafts and can buy some souvenirs to take home. After a few days of travel, we understand you will be missing your western food and the Season?s Pizzeria is the best for it. The chef would boast of giving you an absolute Italian delight no lesser than in Italy itself. After dinner, we?d like you to delve into a social evening and unwind yourself by paying a visit to some of the most interesting bars for some drink, music and conversation. After all these days of showing you our rich heritage and culture, you may most probably be taken aback to experience the most outspoken, friendly and gregarious urban dwellers of Thimphu who are keen to give your their perspective of the current affairs and the general observations of the world. If you like (no restrictions through) we?ll take you to a friendly discotheque to show you some of your local choreography. Day 7: Drive to Paro (60 kms, 1 hour) Even if you are suffering from a hangover, we?ll take you to Taktshang monastery (translated Tiger?s nest) as we believe that we?ve saved the best for the last. A two hours hike would prove worth it by just a look of the temple clinging on a 1000 feet craggy cliff. The view of the temple as our clients have been saying is “nothing short than spectacular”. The temple was built in 1692 by Gyaltse Tenzin Rabgye. Your guide will complement the experience with its story. In the afternoon, visit to the National Museum will further augment your Bhutan experience and knowledge by witnessing some of the most treasured collections of arts, artefacts, textiles, stamps, statues etc. An exclusive feature of „The Bhutan Red Chillies Tours & Travels?, we have teamed up with a local theatre company to provide you a cultural evening at the hotel which will showcase some of our traditional music and dances, mask dances and folklore. After dinner, a dip in the traditional hot-stone bath may help you unwind and reflect about your journey before departing. Day 8: Farewell After a few thanksgivings and words promising to keep the new found friendship, your escort will fare you well at the airport.

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