Day 2
OCT 7 PARO SIGHTSEEING – THIMPHU (B,L,D)
After breakfast at the hotel, full day Paro Valley Sightseeing. The people of Paro are known for their hard work which they like to show in their big and traditional country houses. If you marry a girl from Paro, be prepared to put metal roofing over the traditional shingle roof in your wife’s house and purchase farming machineries, to show that you are capable and well-to-do husband, so we joke among ourselves.

Paro’s sightseeing is full of gems such as the 200 year old Watch Tower which has been renovated and converted into National Museum in 1968. It houses a fine collection of national costumes and fabrics, gallery of thangkas, an impressive stamp gallery with three dimensional and CD stamps issued as early as 1960 that are remarkable and other galleries showcasing armour and silverware with the handsome Royal tea pots. On the top floor there is a four sided temple complex depicting the history of Buddhism and its propagation. Visit Drugyel Dzong, although mostly now in ruins. Built in 1647 by Shabdrung Nawang Namgyel to commemorate the victory over Tibetan Invaders, which indicates by the name of the Dzong meaning Victorious Bhutanese Fort. Visit Drugyel High School and Kychu Lhakhang, the oldest monastery in the valley built in 7th. century. Evening drive to Thimphu. Overnight Thimphu at the hotel.

Day 3
OCT 8 THIMPHU – WANGDUE, FESTIVAL (B,L,D)
Morning drive to Wangdi Phodrang via Simtokha and Dochula Pass. Afternoon go to see Wangdi Festival. Overnight Wangdi.

Day 4
OCT 9 WANGDUE FESTIVAL (B,L,D)
Morning watch festival and Wangdue Valley sightseeing. After lunch, Drive to Punakha Valley for sightseeing and visit to Punakha Dzong. Punakha was the winter capital for over 300 years until the time of second King. Punakha Dzong which dominates the whole area was built in 1637 by Shagdrung Nawang Namgyel, and established the central monastic body with 600 monks. Today, Punakha is still the home for Je Khempo (Chief Abbot) and the central monastic body. Punakha Dzong is undergoing major re-construction after it was destroyed by fire in 1986. You can see the craftsman at work. It is one of the most impressive Dzongs in the country. Overnight Wangdue.

Day 5
OCT 10 WANGDUE – THIMPHU, FESTIVAL (B,L,D)
Morning drive back to Thimphu. Afternoon, watch Thimphu festival. O/n Thimphu.

Day 6
OCT 11 THIMPHU FESTIVAL (B,L,D)
Watch festival whole day and sightseeing. Lunch at the hotel. O/n Thimphu.

Day 7
OCT 12 THIMPHU FESTIVAL (B,L,D)
Watch festival whole day and sightseeing. Lunch at the hotel. O/n Thimphu.

Some of the areas of interest in Thimpu that we will visit in addition to watching the festival are
- Change money from the Bhutan National Bank
- Opportunity to purchase the world’s most beautiful postage stamps, collector’s items and postcards at face value from general post office which is right next to Bhutan National Bank.
- Visit Arts and crafts school where one can see young children at work.
- Visit Memorial Chorten built in 1974 to honour memory of Late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, popularly known as the Father of Modern Bhutan. A multi-storied stupa that will introduce you to the vitality of Tantric Buddhism.
- Observe traditional paper making from Daphnia and Edgeworthia shrub to the finished product and purchase some beautiful writing sets from the factory.
- Visit Botanical garden where one can see Yak and Takin, the National wild animal of Bhutan.
- See downtown Thimphu on foot visiting Handicrafts Emporium and other Arts & Crafts stores. Buy stunning kiras which can be used and bed covers or wall decoration and jewelry.

Day 8
OCT 13 THIMPU MARKET/PARO (B,L,D)
Experience the Thimphu Weekend Market where you will encounter Bhutanese from all over the country including expats from International agencies who work and live in Bhutan. As you walk through the huge sheds, see merchants selling staples; Datse (yak and cow cheese), Ema (red and green peppers), Red rice, Brick tea and full range of vegetables and fruits with handicrafts & souvenirs at one corner which delights the eye of a visitor. Evening drive to Paro. Morning, time at leisure. After lunch, walk around Thimphu town for 1 to 2 hours for last minute souvenir shopping. Evening drive to Paro. Overnight Paro.

Day 9
OCT 14 EXCURSION TO TAKTSANG MONASTERY (B,L,D)
Day hike to Taktsang Monastery view point. Taktsang, meaning “Tiger’s nest,” is built around a cave in which Guru Rimpoche (Padmasambhawa) mediated, clings seemingly impossible to a cliff of rock at 3,000 feet above the valley floor. For the local people it is a place of pilgrimage, but for a tourist, a hike up to the viewpoint opposite the monastery is exhausting, thrilling and mystical. The legend has it that Guru Rimpoche is said to have flown to the site of the monastery on the back of a tigress from Tibet and meditated in the cave there for three months. Although the main building of the temple was destroyed by fire on 19 April 1998, the hike up to the viewpoint is still worth a visit once in a lifetime. The re-construction works have already started and soon it will be restored in its original form. Overnight Paro.

Day 10
OCT 15 DEPARTURE
Have early morning breakfast. After breakfast drive to Paro Airport for departure to Bangkok by Druk Air flight. Your guide will assist you to complete the departure formalities and bid TASHI DELEK! (B)