Today all tour members will rendezvous at the Bangkok International Airport for their flight into Bhutan on the kingdom's national carrier - Druk Air. If the weather is clear view Kangchenjunga, Mt. Everest, and Chomolhari, Bhutan's sacred mountain.

Your guide will meet you outside the terminal. After short tea or coffee break, your sightseeing of Paro will start. Our first stop this morning will be the impressive Ta Dzong - the ancient watchtower above the Paro Dzong which now houses the National Museum. The museum houses some of the ancient Buddhist status besides housing finest thanka, scrolls. It also houses Bhutan animals, birds and other interesting Bhutan way of life. Drive to Thimphu for night halt.

Overnight at Hotel.

Our first stop this morning will be the impressive Memorial Chorten – build in memory by the Queen Mother for her late husband, the third King of Bhutan. Here, the faithful circumambulate the shrine dedicated to the late king. We will go to visit Simtoka Dzong, the dzong built in 1629 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal (the man who unified Bhutan). Simtoka is the oldest of the Dzongs, originally serving as a fortress to protect the region, an administrative center, and the center for the monks' religious activity. Its prayer wheel alcoves contain slate carvings of Buddhist deities which date ffom the construction of the dzong. Simtoka now houses a language school where scholars of all ages study Dzongkha, the national language.

Besides the above, other interesting place to visit will be; Takin, a national animal, School of Arts and Crafts, national library, handicrafts emporiums, weekend markets (if in weekend), temples and probably archery, the national sport.

After breakfast you will drive to Punakha, with a stop en route for tea at Dochu La (3,100 meters), where on a clear day you can get spectacular views of the Himalayas. Drive to see the fortress of Wangdiphodrang and begin following the Puna-tsang chhu up towards Punakha. We will visit Punakha dzong, the ancient capital of Bhutan, The massive dzong built at the confluence of the Po (male) and Mo (female) Rivers, was built in 1632 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal and is the winter home of the central monk body. The monk body moves from Thimphu to Punakha during the winter months.

Overnight in hotel.

This morning we start our drive back to Paro with stopover in Thimphu, if you want to. On the way to Thimphu, you can take a 25 minute walk through the rice fields to Chimi Lakhang, a temple which is a famous for fertility blessing. In the evening walk to see some shops, if interested.

Overnight in Hotel

This morning we drive the winding road beside the Pa Chu (chu means river or water) to Satsam Chorten. From this point, we begin the challenging hike to Taktsang – “The Tiger's Nest.” A vantage point directly across a gorge from the temple can be reached in about 2 hours. This magical monastery clings to a vertical granite cliff 2, 000’ above the valley floor. Legend says that Guru Padmasambhava flew to a cave on this cliff riding a tiger - hence the name - to meditate. The tiger was actually his favorite consort, Yeshe Tsogyel, whom he transformed to a flying tiger for the purposes of this journey. They meditated in the cave and when the Guru left he instructed that the monastery be built. Nothing like a day hike to finish your wonderful stay in Bhutan.

Optional: If you are not able to do day hike of Taksang, please do inform your guide. Your guide will arrange something for you.

Standard Price Included:

• All transportation in Bhutan
• Accommodations in good hotel of Bhutan based on twin/double sharing
• All meals  B= Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner
• Evening teas/coffee and sightseeing (as outlined in the day-to-day itinerary)
• Entry fee to all the museums and indicated sights
• English Speaking Local Guide
• Farm house visit, if interested

Special Offers:

• Drinking mineral water in car
• Dinner with some Bhutanese Government/Private officials (to be informed by outside agency, so that right people are invited and also subject to time and group size.)
• Cultural Show (mask dance and traditional cultural dance show)
• Meeting with any government or private individuals on request basis
• Any other special request on the tour programme can be adjusted.
• Special Permits to restricted temples and monasteries.
• Tourism development fee USD 10 per person, paid by Geocultural for this Spring season only if booked before May 2010.

Price excluded:

• Personal expenses, Tips, Others meals and any others those than mentioned in itinerary.
• Visa fees USD 20, medical immunizations prior to departure
• Medical services while on the trip including hospitalization
• Items of a personal nature such as liquor, laundry, mail, phone calls, and cables
• Trip cancellation travel delay or baggage insurance.
• Excess baggage charges and airport taxes
• Riding Horse
• Hot Stone Bath

Remarks:

• Confirmation of room & price are subject to space availability at the time of booking only.
• All above itinerary is flexible, depending on arrival or departure flights of passengers
• Only with 6 person
• Ground operator reserved the right to amend or adjust itinerary to match with real situation.

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