INTERIOR BHUTAN TOUR
(9 DAYS / 8 NIGHTS)
<div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; line-height: normal; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Segoe UI", "sans-serif";">Day 1 Arrival. Drive
Paro to Thimphu</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Segoe UI", "sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Segoe UI", "sans-serif";">Pick up from Paro International Airport (2280m). Depending on the
arrival time of the Druk Air flight, you will either be served a meal in Paro
or be driven straight to Thimphu, the capital city, which is about 53
kilometres away. The drive normally takes about an hour and a half. If Thimphu
is reached early, you can go out in the town and mingle with the Bhutanese
people. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Segoe UI", "sans-serif";">Dinner will be served in the hotel.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; line-height: normal; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Segoe UI", "sans-serif";">Day 2 Thimphu
Sightseeing</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Segoe UI", "sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Segoe UI", "sans-serif";">Sightseeing in Thimphu (2320m) includes visits to National Library which
was established in 1967 and has many ancient Dzongkha and Tibetan texts;
Painting School or the National Institute for Zorig Chusum (the 13 traditional
arts and crafts like painting, woodcarving, embroidery and statue making;
National Memorial Chorten which was built in 1974 in memory of the third King
of Bhutan; Semtokha Dzong which is about five kilometres south of Thimphu.
Semtokha Dzong was built in 1629 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. Today it houses
the Institute for Language and Culture Studies.); Tashichhodzong is the seat of
the government of Bhutan. It houses the secretariat, the Throne Room, His
Majesty's secretariat, the Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs and the
Ministry of Finance. If the sightseeing falls on the weekend you can visit
Thimphu's open vegetable market where farmers from the nearby regions gather to
sell their produce.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; line-height: normal; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Segoe UI", "sans-serif";">Day 3 Thimphu to
Punakha/Wangduephodrang</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Segoe UI", "sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Segoe UI", "sans-serif";">The first stop on this road journey is at Dochula pass at 3,140 meters.
Dochula is about 23 kilometres from Thimphu and during a clear day it offers a
clear view of the Himalayas. After refreshments in Dochula the journey
continues to Punakha. Lunch will be served at the hotel. After lunch
sightseeing in Punakha and Wangduephodrang. Punakha Dzong was built in 1637 and
was the former capital of Bhutan. It lies at the confluence of the Mo Chu
(female river) and the Pho Chu (male river). Punakha Dzong still serves as the
winter residence of the Central Monk Body. Wangduephodrang is about 21
kilometres from Punakha and its dzong which sits on the top of the high ridge
was built in 1638. The ridge provides a panoramic view of the valley.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Segoe UI", "sans-serif";">Return to hotel where dinner is served.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; line-height: normal; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Segoe UI", "sans-serif";">Day 4
Wangduephodrang/Punakha to Trongsa</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Segoe UI", "sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Segoe UI", "sans-serif";">After breakfast drive to Trongsa. Trongsa is 129 kilometres from
Wangduephodrang. Check-in to hotel.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; line-height: normal; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Segoe UI", "sans-serif";">Day 5 Trongsa
Sightseeing, drive to Gangtey</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Segoe UI", "sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Segoe UI", "sans-serif";">After breakfast visit Trongsa Dzong, one of Bhutan¹s oldest historical,
political and religious monuments also known as Druk Minjur Chhoekhor Rabtentse
Dzong. Built 463 years ago, Trongsa dzong sits high on a ridge overlooking the
Mangde Chhu (river) and<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Segoe UI", "sans-serif";">represents an important link with Bhutan¹s precious institution of
monarchy. It was the dzong where future Kings formalised their ascension as
Chhoetse Penlop before ascending the Golden Throne. His Royal Highness the
Crown Prince, Dasho Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck's investiture ceremony as
the Chhoetse Penlop in Trongsa Dzong took place on October 30, 2004. Visit Ta Dzong,
the watchtower of the Trongsa Dzong. The chapel inside the tower is dedicated
to the Jigme Namgyal, the 19th-century Trongsa penlop (governor). After lunch
drive to Gantey<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; line-height: normal; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Segoe UI", "sans-serif";">Day 6 Gantey
Sightseeing</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Segoe UI", "sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Segoe UI", "sans-serif";">Gangtey Goempa overlooks the large green expanse of Phobjikha valley, a
glacial valley on the western slopes of the black mountain range. The valley is
an important wildlife centre in Bhutan and is the roosting ground of the
endangered blacked-necked cranes that fly there from the Tibetan plateau during
the winter grounds. Overnight in Hotel.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; line-height: normal; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Segoe UI", "sans-serif";">Day 7 Gangtey to
Paro Via Thimphu</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Segoe UI", "sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Segoe UI", "sans-serif";">Drive to Paro after breakfast. Lunch on the way to Thimphu. Overnight
Halt at Paro.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; line-height: normal; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Segoe UI", "sans-serif";">Day 8 Paro
Sightseeing</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Segoe UI", "sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Segoe UI", "sans-serif";">After breakfast, visit the National Museum housed in the Ta-Dzong which
was built in 1656 and served as the watch tower of Paro Dzong in the past.
Visit Paro Dzong, also called the Rinchen Phug Dzong, which means fortress on a
heap of Jewels. Paro Dzong is one of the most impressive and well-known dzongs
of Bhutan and was built in 1644. After lunch in town, proceed towards Drukgyel Dzong,
14 kilometres from Paro town. Also known as the fortress of victory Drukgyel
Dzong was built by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1649 to commemorate the victory
over Tibetan invaders in 1644. En route to Drukgyel, you can view the Taktshang
monastery perched on a cliff about 900 metres above the valley floor. Legend
has it that Guru Rinpoche, who brought Buddhism to Bhutan in the eighth century
flew to a cave in Taktshang spot on a tigress and mediated for three months. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Segoe UI", "sans-serif";">Return to the hotel. Dinner in the hotel.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; line-height: normal; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Segoe UI", "sans-serif";">Day 9 Departure</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Segoe UI", "sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Segoe UI", "sans-serif";">After an early breakfast, our representative will see you off at the
Paro International Airport.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div>
