Happiness Bhutan

“TRAVEL WITH US TO FEEL THE GROSS NATIONAL HAPPINESS OF THE DRUKPA PEOPLE”

 

You can combine Happiness Bhutan 6 nights 7 days Travel with any of the local festivals if the dates coincide with your travel month and dates. Since it’s a special trip we are open to organize through out the year. If you wish to custom design this trip then feel free to email us and we can together make it as you desired.

Day 01: Paro-Thimphu

Distance: 60kms, Driving Time: 1hour, Elevation: 2200mtrs-2300mtrs

Drive from Paro to Thimphu takes about an hour,on the way stop at Tachog to visit the Old Bridge that dates back to the 15^th century built by the Iron Bridge Builder(Thangtong Gyalpo).Continue your drive to Thimphu and when you reach Thimphu visit:

Weaving Center: Weaving is one the oldest traditional art and craft practiced in Bhutan. It is quiet popular still in Eastern and Central Bhutan. You would be able to see the ladies weaving and the collection of the textiles.

Post Office: The post office has the collection of one of the most beautiful stamps in the world. The most interesting thing about the post office here is that they gives you the opportunity to make a personalized stamp of your picture which is one of the best souvenir from Bhutan.

Simply Bhutan Museum: This museum show you the style of an old Bhutanese traditional farm house and their daily lives. The museum also gives you the opportunity to play archery, experience the traditional dancing, etc.

Weekend Market: This place is open on the weekends for the people of Thimphu to buy their vegetables and fruits from the farmers who stay nearby. The farmers whatever they grow on their farm they bring some to this market to sell and buy back home the other necessary stuffs.

Overnight at the hotel.

 

Day 02: Thimphu-Punakha

Distance: 72kms, Driving Time: 2 Hours, Evevation: 2300mtrs-3100mtrs-1300mtrs

Drive to Punakha after breakfast. Stop at

Dochula Pass: Stop here for a beautiful picture and wash room,tea and coffee. Dochula pass is the highest point between Thimphu and Punakha situated at 3100meters above the sea level. On a clear day you would be able to view the Eastern Himalayan Range. The group of 108 stupas there is also known as the Druk Wangyel Chorten built to commemorate the victory over the insurgents from Inida in 2003.

Continue your drive down for about an hour to get to Punakha. In Punakha visit:

Chimi Lhakhang: Popularly known as the “Temple of Fertility” built in the 15^th century by the Divine Madman. People also go to this temple for fertility blessing. Those couples who are not able to conceive go to this temple for the blessing from the Divine Madman.

Punakha Dzong: This dzong was built in 1637 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. It is the ancient capital of Bhutan until 1953. The dzong here is considered to be the most beautiful and the importasnt dzong in the whole of Bhutan. It is situated just between the the two rivers Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu, and is also the winter residence for the chief abbot of the country.

Overnight at the farm house. Experience the local life of the Bhutanese farmers.

 

Day 03: Punakha

Driving Time: 2-3hours, Distance: 73kms, Elevation: 1300mtrs-3300mtrs-2900mtrs

Have breakfast with the farmers and than go around with the farmer’s family and experience the daily livelihood.  One can also see how they milk the cows and than one member of the family will take the cows to the forest or sometimes take them around in the valley to let them feed on their own. See how they work on the farms and if interested try and help the farmers do some work on their farm or garden. Lunch with the family. In the late afternoon the cows will come home themselves or sometimes they might have to collected back from the valley into their shed. Dinner with the family. Overnight at the farm house.

 

Day 04: Punakha-Thimphu

Driving Time: 2-3hours, Distance: 73kms, Elevation: 1300mtrs-3100mtrs-2300mtrs

After breakfast bit farewell to the family and drive back to Thimphu. In Thimphu visit:

Buddha Point: Is the largest Buddha statue in the world of that image. The whole statue is made from bronze and is about 169feets(51 mtrs). You can also have the view of the whole Thimphu city.

Takin Preserved Center: Here you would be able to see the National Animal of Bhutan which is commonly known as Takin. The local believe that this animal was been made by one the famous saint who was known as the Divine Madman by joining the head of the goat to the body of the cow.

Zorig Chusum: This school was opened up by the king to preserve the 13 different traditional arts n crafts of the country. The students here get specialized in any of those 13 different arts and crafts and attain the course for about 4-6 years depending on their classes.

Hand Made Paper Factory: Here they made paper from daphne plant. They make the paper without using any machine. The quality of the paper which is made here is considered as one of the finest paper.

Simtokha Dzong: Dzong actually means a “Fortress”. This dzong is the oldest and the first dzong built in Bhutan by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1629. It was used as an Institude For Language and Cultural Studies and the whole dzong was renovated in 2008. The dzong is used as the Central For Monastic Arts at the moment.

Leisure in the town. Overnight at the hotel.

 

Day 05: Thimphu-Paro

Driving Time: 1hours, Distance: 60kms, Elevation: 2300mtrs-2200mtrs

After breakfast drive all the same way back again to Thimphu and than to Paro. In Paro visit:

Paro Dzong: Built in the 17^th century by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. Paro Dzong is also known as the “Paro Rinpung Dzong” also means “ Heap Of Jewel”. A popular Hollywood movie “Little Buddha” was shot here in this dzong.

Ta Dzong: Popularly known as the Ta Dzong which means the Watch Tower. Was built in the 17^th century to guard the Rinpung Dzong that’s why is known as the Ta Dzong, “Ta” means to see, “Dzong” fortress/tower. It was turned into National Museum in 1968 to keep the olden paintings, thangkas, artifacts, etc.

Kichu Lhakhang: One of the oldest temple in the whole country built in  the 7^th century by the first king of Tibet Tsongtsen Goenpo. Includes in one of the 108 temples built by Tsongtsen Goenpo. This temple was built on the left knee of the ogress.

Overnight at the hotel.

 

Day 06: Paro Taktsang

After breakfast drive about 20 minutes to reach the base of the Taktsang. Hike up to Taktsang takes about 2-3 hours one way. Taktsang, popularly known as the “Tigernest” among the tourist is the icon of the country. It is also the dream of every Bhutanese citizen to go to this monastery ones in their life time. The monastery originally was built in the 17^th century wehile the site of the monastery was founded in the 8^th century after Guru Padmasambhava meditated in the cave there for 3months.

After Tigernest one can experience the Herbal Hot-Stone Bath at the farm house. Herbal Hot-Stone bath is considered to be very good for your joints, back-bone and knees pain. One can also experience the Cultural Show performed by the local people if its more than 10 people in the group.

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 07: Depart to the airport to fly back to your destination. Goodbye and tashi delek!!!