On arrival at the airport, meet & greet by the local representative. Then transfer to the hotel.
Tour Duration: 9 Days
Season: July ( Tshechu Festival Time)
Group Size: Any
Includes: Visa and tourist fees, accommodation in hotel, English speaking tour guide, Transport, Meals, Fees to enter sites and applicable taxes
Excludes: Flight fare, personal expenses like phone calls, laundry, shopping, travel and medical insurance, excess baggage and extra supplement cost
On arrival at the airport, meet & greet by the local representative. Then transfer to the hotel.
In the morning you will be taken directly to Bumthang. The road trip would be via (Thimphu, Dochula, and Wangdue). It will be a long ride but a beautiful one.
The “the Sacred Festivals of Bhutan” program is part of a series that centers around festivals that happen during different parts of a year in different regions of Bhutan. This particular one is around ‘Kurjey Tshechu’.
The sacred festival in Kurjey, Bumthang – central Bhutan is in the place that Guru Rinpoche visited first and right around the cave that he meditated in, leaving behind ‘kurjey’ – ‘body print’ on the rocks! For more details, contact us or our partners in your country!
We will be returning with a stopover in beautiful Gangtey. Gantey valley on its own one paradise. It is one of the winter habitats for the rare bird species called Black Necked Cranes.
We will visit the bird center to learn more about this endangered species.
We will be halting in the beautiful valley of the Punakha, which once used to be the capital of the country. Today Punakha serves as the winter residence for Je-Khenpo and the whole monk body.
Next morning we will move towards the capital city of the country. We will be visiting the Botanical Park at Lam Pelri and Dochula Pass. Dochula Pass a mesmerizing view of some of the highest peaks of the country.
We will start the day & do local sightseeing around Thimphu. The sightseeing includes;
Buddha Dordenma: The Buddha Dordenma is located atop a hill in Kuenselphodrang Nature Park and overlooks the Southern entrance to Thimphu Valley.
Personalized stamps: This is the unique thing you can do, you can make stamps out of our own picture and you can send it to all the country.
Simply Bhutan: A “living” museum, with an interactive environment where you can presume to live a life of a traditional Bhutanese lifestyle in just one visit.
Evening return backs Paro for night stay.
Today’s hike to Taktsang Monastery will be the main highlight of your trip. Visiting the Paro Taktsang Monastery will be an unforgettable experience due to its unique location and the views of majestic mountains and green valleys. This temple is one of the holiest sites in the kingdom and clings impossibly to a sheer cliff face 900 meters above the Paro Valley. Later retrace the drive back to Paro & evening at leisure. Overnight in Paro
Bhutan is a year-round destination. There are four seasons: summer (June to August), autumn (September to November), winter (December to February) and spring (March to May). But because of the range of altitudes in the country, and the influence of the north Indian monsoons, the climate is incredibly varied.
In the south, the humid, subtropical climate is fairly consistent year-round, with temperatures between 15oC and 30oC. Central Bhutan, with its temperate forests, has a more seasonal climate, with warm summers and cool, dry winters. The northern regions are much colder during winter. Because of the high altitude, mountain peaks are snowy year-round and the lower reaches remain cool in summer.
In summer, the Indian monsoon season runs from late June or July to late September, mostly affecting the southern regions. Most farming activities take place in the summer, when crops thrive in verdant landscapes.
Autumn, from late September or early October to late November, follows the rainy season. It is characterised by bright, sunny days and some early snowfall at higher elevations. It’s the season of feasts and festivals as farmers reap the fruits of their work.
From late November until March, the crisp, clear and sunny winter sets in, with frost throughout much of the country and snowfall common above elevations of 3,000 metres. The winter northeast monsoon brings gale-force winds at the highest altitudes through high mountain passes, giving Bhutan the name Drukyul, which means Land of the Thunder Dragon in Dzongkha (Bhutan’s national language).
Bhutan’s generally dry spring starts in early March and lasts until mid-April. It is a botanist’s delight, with nature in full bloom. Summer weather commences in mid-April with occasional showers and continues to late June.
Visitors of all nationalities, except those from India, require a visa before entering Bhutan. For all visitors, except those from Bangladesh and the Maldives, this visa must be applied for and approved in advance of travel. Visitors from Bangladesh and the Maldives also require a visa, but this can be applied for and approved either in advance of travel or upon arrival in Bhutan.
Visitors from India are able to apply for a permit but are required to hold an Indian passport or an Indian voter ID card. For Indian nationals under the age of 18, a passport or a birth certificate can be used to enter and they must be accompanied by a legal guardian.
Nationals from Switzerland and Thailand holding diplomatic or government-official passports are eligible for a visa at their port of entry.
A correctly input visa application can take up to five days to process.
The Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) is a daily levy paid by visitors to support Bhutan’s development. Since the kingdom first opened its doors in 1974, guests have played a critical role in our country’s growth.
The SDF is collected by the national exchequer and funds are allocated to various projects that create long-term, sustainable opportunities for the Bhutanese people, through free healthcare, education and training, upskilling the tourism and hospitality industry, improved infrastructure, environmental preservation and conservation, cultural preservation programmes and initiatives that support local businesses and economies. The SDF is also a vital means of maintaining the exceptional forest cover and carbon-neutrality for which our small nation is world-renowned and globally critical. The SDF also helps us to ensure that we can continue to offer guests tranquillity and an intimate experience.
The SDF is USD 100 per night for adults from all countries except for India. Children aged between 6 years and who have not yet turned 12 are eligible to pay USD 50 per night. Children who have not yet turned 6 years old do not have to pay any SDF.
The SDF for Indian nationals (showing a valid Indian passport or Voter ID card) is Nu. 1,200 (or the equivalent amount in Indian rupees) per person, per night. Children aged between 6 years and who have not yet turned 12 are eligible to pay Nu./INR 600 per night. Children who have not yet turned 6 years old do not have to pay any SDF.
