Royal Highland Festival

Arrive at Paro international Airport. Representatives from the company will meet you at the airport, after which you will drive for about an hour to Thimphu, Bhutan’s capital city.

On the way to Punakha,

• Visit the famous iron bridge which connects to Tagchogang Temple. The iron chain bridge dates back to the 15th century and was constructed by iron builder Drupthop Thangthong Gyalpo.
• Dochula (Pass) at 3000 meters, which offers one the first glimpse of the snow-capped eastern Himalayan Mountains ranging from 6000 to 7000 meters. Dochula is a flora and fauna haunt. Its beauty is magnified by the 108 stupas build around a mound and the Druk Wangyel Temple, built for Bhutan’s Fourth King, Jigmi Singye Wangchuck.
• From then, the route traverses through changing landscapes as we near the valleys of Punakha and WangduePhodrang. We near “The Fertility Temple” and walk for a few minutes to the temple, Chimi Lhakhang.

In the morning, visit

• Punakha Dzong

and move towards Gasa for your night halt. Gasa altitude 2850m.

Overnight: Homestay in Gasa.

Laya village – Altitude: 3,800m

Trekking Distance: 4-5hours

• Start early morning and drive to Tonchu Bridge (2 hours) and start your four-hour trek towards Laya village, a picturesque village, , the highest settlement of highland people and home to the Royal Highland Festival.

Overnight: Homestay in Laya

• Activities: Attend Royal Highland Festival – Immerse yourself in cultural performances, traditional sports, and local food while engaging with the vibrant Layap community. Take a hike up in the mountains and areas nearby or yar herders camp!

Overnight: Homestay in Laya

Attend the morning part of the Royal Highland Festival and after lunch hike to Tongchu and drive back to Gasa. Relax in famous Gasa hot spring – a healing water for many ailments.

Overnight: Homestay in Laya

Drive back from Gasa to Thimphu with stops for sightseeing.

• Conclude the day with visit of Trashichhoedzong, a beautiful medieval fortress/monastery.

• After breakfast, visit Simply Bhutan, a living museum and studio showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Bhutanese people. Play archery and watch the live painting by the in-house residence painter.
• Then visit the Textile Museum for deep insight into one of Bhutan’s most distinctive art forms.
• Visit to the Institute of Zorig Chusum or Arts & Crafts School where the the techniques of traditional thangkha paintings, calligraphy, embroidery, wood carving, sculpture etc are taught.
• Then drive to Kuenselphodrang, to see the largest statue of Buddha in the country.
• Takin Preserve Center – It’s a wildlife reserve area for the takin, Bhutan’s national animal and you can also find barking deer living peacefully with the Takin. The Motithang Takin Preserve in Bhutan, provide a safe habitat where the animals.
• Visit the Postal Museum in Bhutan, located in the capital city of Thimphu, which showcases the rich history and development of the Bhutanese postal system. You can also get personalised own stamps as souvenirs or can send postcards with your own customed stamps.

In the evening transfer to Paro.

Overnight halt at hotel, Paro.

A visit to Bhutan without seeing Taktshang Monastery (The Tiger’s Lair) is incomplete. One of Bhutan’s most revered religious sites and a pilgrim’s dream, Taktshang embodies the religious and architectural wonder of Bhutan.

We begin the trek to the monastery along an old trail, with prayer wheels driven by water and flags adorning the route. It will take us about 5 hours to go up and return.

The moment you see Taktshang, you will be shell shocked, for the monastery stands perched on a cliff about 3000 meters from the ground, overlooking the valley. How the spectacular monastery was built is a myth.

Legend has it that Guru Padmasambhava came riding in a wrathful form, on a tigress to subdue evil forces that were obstructing the spread of Buddhism. Meditating in a rock temple nearby, he achieved his objective. Later, several Buddhist Masters, including the Guru’s consort, Yeshi Tshogay meditated at the site.

Our representative will escort you all the way to Paro airport for your journey out of Bhutan.