Address Thimphu, Thimphu 11001, Bhutan +97517880467 - +97502332336

11 days 10 nights Awesome Punakha Winter Trek

Tour information

  • 4 star and 5 star accommodations and meals (optional)
  • Airfares (optional)
  • All entrance fees to museums and monuments
  • All internal taxes and fees
  • All meals ( breakfast
  • All meals ( breakfast, lunch, dinner & light refreshments) at 3 star hotels/tourist standard restaurants
  • All necessary trekking equipments like sleeping tents
  • All necessary trekking equipments like sleeping tents, dinning tents, kitchen tents, toilet tents, sleeping mats, sleeping bags
  • All transfers and excursions by private vehicles
  • Bhutan Government Royalty of US$ 65/person/night
  • Bhutanese Tourist Visa fee of US$40/person (must be paid in advance with tour cost)
  • charge
  • Charges for porters ponies/mules for transportation on trekking trail
  • dinner & light refreshments) at 3 star hotels/tourist standard restaurants
  • dinning tents
  • English speaking tour guide service
  • Fees for Trekking cooks/ all meals on trekking
  • FIT surcharges of US$40/person/night for a single traveler and US$30/person/night for a double
  • kitchen tents
  • lunch
  • Mineral drinking water
  • Other personal expenses like overseas calls, laundry,etc
  • Single room supplement of US$40/room/night during low season and US$ 50/room/night during high season (optional)
  • sleeping bags
  • sleeping mats
  • toilet tents
  • Travel inssurance (recommended)
  • Twin sharing hotel rooms at 3 star hotels
Free
Schedule
Tour Map
Reviews

11 days 10 nights Awesome Punakha Winter Trek

11 days 10 nights Awesome Punakha Winter Trek

Seasons: low altitude trek over the hills from Dechenchholing to Punakha and suitable during the winter season.

Day 01: Arrive Paro

After your placid flight touch down at Paro International Airport, you will be able to feel and breathe in the freshest of freshest air from the pristine natural environment of Bhutan, coz we have managed to maintain our country a carbon negative country. After your immigration formalities you will be welcomed by the representative of Advent Bhutan Tours who will be your Bhutan tour guide throughout your entire travel in Bhutan.

Check into the hotel. Afternoon relax. In the evening, visit the Paro market and town.

Overnight  in Paro.

Day 02: Paro Sightseeing

After breakfast, drive 18km up to the Drukgyel Dzong.The Dzong was built by Tenzin Drukdra in 1649 at the directive of  Zhabdrung Rinpoche, to honour victory over an invasion from Tibet during the 17th century. On a clear day, you can see a spectacular view of  Mt. Chomolhari from the approach road to Drukgyel Dzong. Then visit the Kichu temple, It is one of the 108 temples built in the 7th century by the Tibetan King Songsten Gampo. The Jowo Temple of Kyichu is one of the oldest temples in Bhutan. To overcome a giant demon who prevented the spread of Buddhism, laid on the whole area of Tibet and the Himalayas, King Songtsen Gampo build 108 temples placed on all the points of her body.

In the afternoon visit Ta Dzong (watchtower). Ta Dzong- National Museum of Bhutan is a cultural museum in the town of Paro established in 1968. Built on top of the hill above Rinpung Dzong, it was originally used to defend Rinpung Dzong and the Paro valley during times of war.

Here, an intriguing collection of finest samples of Bhutanese art, including masterpieces of bronze statues, paintings, suitable galleries are elegantly displayed on scientific lines, which collectively will lead to the wonderful introduction to the rich culture and heritage of the Kingdom.

Walk down to the Paro Dzong, a Buddhist monastery and fortress which houses the district Monastic Body and government administrative offices of Paro Dzongkhag, a fine example of Bhutanese historic architecture.  It was built in 1645 to defend the valley against Tibetan invaders. From the Dzong, march further down to Nyamai Zampa, a traditional cantilever bridge which lies below the sheer walls of  Rinpung Dzong. Stroll through Rimpung Bridge ( The oldest bridge in Bhutan) . Overnight at the hotel in Paro.

Day 03: Paro-Thimphu(2Hours-55Km)

After breakfast, Voyage to Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan, is an hourly drive journey.  The road runs down through the Paro valley, characterised by the narrow-gauged with high, rocky cliffs on the left. You can stop on the way to visit the magnificent Tamchhog Lhakhang, the hereditary place of worship for Bhutan’s iron bridge builder. Then passage through  Chuzom, is the entrance to the Thimphu valley,  the Confluence of Paro and Thimphu rivers. The road passes along  the Simtokha Dzong, (Dzong means ‘castle-monastery’) – It is the oldest Dzong built in 1629 by Zhabdrug Ngawang Namgyal (who unified Bhutan). The Dzong functions as a monastic and as well as administrative centre. Today, it is one of the pre-eminent Dzongkha language (National Language) learning institutes.

After lunch in Thimphu, visit the Tashichho Dzong – It is a Buddhist monastery and fortress of the glorious religion on the northern edge of the city of Thimphu, built in 1641 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel. It was rebuilt into the present structure by the late King, His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck in the year 1962-1969. It houses the secretariat building, the throne room and the office of the king, and the central monk body.

And the Memorial Chorten– Also known as the Thimphu Chorten, was built in 1974 to honour the third Druk Gyalpo, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck (1928–1972), who is regarded as “The Father of Modern Bhutan”.   Buddhist call the monument “The mind of the Buddha”. It is an honored landmark in the city with its golden spires and bells, widely known as “the most visible religious landmark in Bhutan”.

In the evening ,stroll around the town.

Overnight at the hotel in Thimphu.

 

Day 04: Day Long Thimphu sightseeing

A Day Long Thimphu sightseeing includes visits to the following places:

The National Library– The National Library of Bhutan (NLB), which houses an enormous collection of ancient Buddhist texts and manuscripts, was established in 1967 under the patronage of Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Phuntso Choden for the purpose of “preservation and promotion of the rich cultural and religious heritage” of Bhutan.

The School of Thangka Painting-The traditional arts is known as zorigchusum (zo = the ability to make; rig = science or craft; chusum = thirteen). These traditional crafts depict hundreds of years of knowledge and ability that has been passed down through generations.The students undergo a six-year course to consummate learning the 13 traditional arts and crafts of Bhutan.

 

The Institute of traditional medicine– The Institute of traditional medicine sprawled on a hilltop with the Traditional Arts Center and National Library just below, was established in 1978. This institute collect medicinal plants from far-flung areas of the Bhutanese Himalaya, such as Lingzhi, Laya and Lunana, conducts research on Bhutan’s medicinal plants to identify the ingredients to help develop new health product and then dispense pills, tablets, ointments and medicinal teas to regional health-care units around the country.

The folk heritage museum– The museum was launched on 28 July 2001 under the initiative of founder Queen Mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo. The outdoor museum give an insight into rural life.The museum exhibit diverse materials associated with the Bhutanese culture and way of life.The exhibition comprises of rural households’ artifacts, equipment, objects and tools  National Textile Museum – Art of traditional weaving being kept alive and preserved through exhibition and has a good collection of old textiles which are rich in colours and designs.

The National Textile Museum is located near the National Library of Bhutan. It was established in 2001 and operated by the National Commission for Cultural Affairs. Ever since its establishment, the museum has gained national and international recognition and has generated a important collection of antique textile artifacts.

Then, stroll down the  Handicrafts Emporium and local crafts shops, aligned neatly below Norzin Lam, opposite to Nehru Wangchuk Cultural Center, to witness Bhutanese fine traditional arts. Here you can buy hand-woven textiles, thangkha paintings, masks, ceramics, slate and wood carvings, jewelry, and other eye-catching items made from local materials.

Overnight at the hotel in Thimphu.

 

Day 05: Thimphu – Dopshing Pang (5-6 hours-17km-2,800m)

The drive leads to the north of the Thimphu valley towards Dechenchholing Palace, Thimphu river flowing to the right side of the road. After driving about an hour through Kabesa village we will reach Shong Pang, where the trek begins.The trek trail ascends gradually to Sinchu-la (3,200m). you can see Phajoding monastery from the pass on a clear day and after a walk about 2 km, the view of Thinleygang village, Talo monastery and the roadway to Punakha is visible. Slowly walk down from the pass till we reach our overnight campsite.

Day 06:Dopshing Pang – Chorten Ningpo(6-7 hours-18km-2,700m)

The trek trail to Chorten Ningpo will take you through dense forests, villages and rice fields, gradually descending till we reach our overnight campsite.

 

 

Day 07:Chorten Ningpo – Kabesa/Punakha(1 hour-5km)

After an hourly trek through the villages, we reach the motor road, where Advent  Bhutan transport meets us to transfer us to Punakha. After a drive to 7Km, visit Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten(stupa),(also known as Nyizergang Chöten and Punakha Zangdopelri). It was built in 2004 by the Queen Mother Ashi Tshering Yangdon Wangchuck. The establishment of the stupa is to bring peace and firmness in the world. Enjoy the amazing view of Punakha and Wangdue valleys from there.

Overnight at the hotel in Punakha.

 

Day 08:Punakha – Limukha(5-6 hours-15km)

Travel on road to Punakha Dzong, majestically sprawl between the Pho Chu (Male River) and the Mo chu (Female River). Then cross the Pho Chu (river) which runs down the remote Lunana region. After walking for about 15 minutes, the trek gradually ascends through chirpine forest and after 3 hours enter shrub forest. Along the trails, you will be accompanied by a wonderful view of Punakha valley and Dzong, and snow-capped mountain peaks to the north.

Campsite near Limukha village

 

Day 09: Limukha – Chungsakha – Wangduephodrang(5-6 hours-15km)

The trek is about 15Km to reach the destination in which the trek trail passes through serene forests surrounded by oak and rhododendron. Then slowly descend through thick forest via  small lhakhang on the way which is built in dedication to Lama Drukpa Kuenley, who used it as a winter residence in the 15th century.  After reaching  Chungsakha, you will see the valley to Samtengang. Slowly descend downhill till we reach the road, where Advent  Bhutan transport will be ready and drive us to Wangdue. Overnight at the hotel in Wangduephodrang.

 

Day 10: Wangduephodrang /Punakha – Paro (3Hours30Minutes – 115Km)

After breakfast, a drive to Wangdue (25 Minutes journey from Punakha). Visit Wangdue Dzong. It was founded by the Zhabdrung in 1638. In the 17th century, Wangdue played a critical role in unifying Shar Chog Khorlo Tsebgay (the western, central and southern regions of the country). It is one of the largest dzongkhags (districts) in the country covering 4,308 sq km and ranges from 800-5800 m in altitude. In 24 June 2012, the dzong caught fire and was burnt down.The renovation is still ongoing and is expected to continue until 2021. Then drive up onto the road to Punakha, and visit Punakha Dzong-the old capital of Bhutan and presently the winter residence of the central monk body. It is also known as Pungtang Dewa chhenbi Phodrang (meaning “the palace of great happiness or bliss). It is the second oldest and largest dzong built in 1637 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal (Unifier of Bhutan) to serve as the religious and administrative seat of the region.After lunch, drive to Paro.

Overnight at the hotel in Paro.

 

Day 11:Depart Paro

Advent Bhutan Tours & Travels (your local Bhutan travel agent) will see you off at the Paro International Airport for your onward destinations.

End of the Tour

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Advent Bhutan Tours and Travels

  • Advent Bhutan Tours and Travels, Thimphu, Bhutan

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