When to travel?

Tour and trekking in Bhutan is possible all the year round except in the months of July and August when it is little wet for tour.  Spring (months of March, April & May) and Autumn (months of September, October & November) are the best seasons for travel to Bhutan as there are couple of festivals in different places in these months.  Spring season is warmer with flowers blooming around, while Autumn although little colder in mornings and evenings, days are warmer with clear blue sky for great mountain sceneries.

Transportation

The cost that we provide normally includes land transport within Bhutan including airport transfers.The vehicle and driver is available with you through the day. We take utmost care of your safety and comfort while travelling in Bhutan. We always provide well maintained cars with experienced drivers. 

We use comfortable SUVs or 4WD cars such as Toyota, Land Cruiser, Prado and cars like Tucson, Santa Fe and Terracan for upto 3 pax. 

.For group of upto 5 people,we provide comfortable Hyundai H-1(or similar vehicles) and for five people and above, we provide AC ToyotaHi-ace / Coaster buses

Transportation and Travel situation in Bhutan
 

Ground transportation is by private vehicles selected on the basis of number of travellers. We provide clean Air conditioning and heating in vehicles. However, you may have to expect bad roads with uphill and narrow tracks too, and actual travel time might delay due to weather conditions.

Packages

•  Hiking

 1. HikingHolidays

Duration: 05 Days / 04 Nights
Places Covered : Paro, Thimpu, Punakha
Date: All months

Day 01| Paro, Bhutan – Thimphu Tours (1 Hr)
Day 02| Thimphu – Punakha Tours (2 ½ Hrs)

Day 03| Punakha – Paro Tour (3 ½ Hrs)
Day 04| Paro Sightseeing 

Day 01| Arrival in Paro – Thimphu valley tour
Arrive by morning flight to Paro,Bhutan (Please check the flight timing).On your arrival at Paro airport our guide will welcome you and arrange your transfer to Thimpu(1½ Hr drive)

Lunch in the hotel at Thimpuand later drive pass by Memorial Chorten (temple) built in memory of the late 3rd King. Visit ChangangkhaLhakhang, the oldest temple in the valley offering a nice view of the valley. Pass by the enclosure where Bhutan’s national animalTakinsare kept and drive up to a grand statue of Buddha atBuddha Pointatop a hill which also offers a magnificent view of entire Thimphu valley. Could walk down to the hotel.
 

Overnight: Thimphu | Altitude: 2300m

Day 02| Thimphu – Punakha (2 ½ Hrs)

Morning visit the traditional Hand Made Paper Mill, School of Arts and Crafts where students learn 13 different arts used predominantly in Bhutan, Folk Heritage Museum, National Library and the Traditional Institute of Medicine. Drive to the Zilukha nunnery to meet the nuns and interact with them. Lunch in the town and drive to Punakha through Dochula pass (3200 mts) If the weather permits one can enjoy a spectacular view of the highest mountains of Bhutan at a site that stretches almost 180 degrees. Walk around the 108 stupas and continue to sub tropical valley of Punakha. On arrival, if time permits hike to the temple of ChimiLakhang, the temple of fertility associated with religious art of phallus. 
 

Overnight: Punakha | Altitude: 1350m

Day 03| Punakha – Paro 

Morning drive to visitPunakhaDzong (fortress) which houses the most elaborated temple in the country. This is a fine example of Bhutanese rich Art and Architecture. Retrace the drive back to Paro. After lunch visit ParoDzong (Fortress) on foot and continue walking through the oldest wooden bridge still in use. Continue further to stroll around the old Paro town and peep into some local handicrafts stores. Could get some opportunity to see the traditional game, Archery match going on. Evening back to the hotel and enjoy the facility in the hotel. 
 

Overnight: Paro | Altitude: 2200m

Day 04| Paro Sightseeing

Morning drive to the base for the hike (2 hrs uphill) to Tiger's Nest, the most revered temple in the country that literally hangs on a granite cliff overlooking the Paro valley. Lunch in the cafeteria. Most of the day will go on the hike. Back to the hotel and enjoy the facility. Hot stone bath for standard package.

Farewell dinner in the town. 
 

Overnight: Paro

Day 05| Departure:
Morning transfer (10 minutes) to the airport for your departure flight. Your guide will bid you farewell at the airport.

• Trip to the Tigers Nest 

Duration: 06 Days
Places Covered : Paro, Thimpu, Punaka / Wangdue
Date: All months.

Day 01| Arrival in Paro, Bhutan – Thimphu Tour (1½ Hr)
Day 02| Thimphu – Punakha Tour (2 ½ Hrs)
Day 03| Punakha sightseeing Tour
Day 04| Punakha – Paro Tour (3 ½ Hrs)

Day 01| Arrival in Paro – Thimphu valley tour
Arrive by morning flight to Paro, Bhutan (Please check the flight timing).On your arrival at Paro airport our guide will welcome you and arrange your transfer to Thimpu(1½ Hr drive)

Lunch in the hotel at Thimpu and later drive pass by Memorial Chorten (temple) built in memory of the late 3rd King. Visit ChangangkhaLhakhang, the oldest temple in the valley offering a nice view of the valley. Pass by the enclosure where Bhutan’s national animalTakins are kept and drive up to a grand statue of Buddha atBuddha Point atop a hill which also offers a magnificent view of entire Thimphu valley. Could walk also down to the   .

Overnight: Thimphu | Altitude: 2300m

Day 02| Thimphu – Punakha (2 ½ Hrs)

Morning visit the traditional Hand Made Paper Mill, School of Arts and Crafts where students learn 13 different arts used predominantly in Bhutan, Folk Heritage Museum, National Library and the Traditional Institute of Medicine. Drive to the Zilukha nunnery to meet the nuns and interact with them. Lunch in the town and drive to Punakha through Dochula pass (3200 mts) If the weather permits one can enjoy a spectacular view of the highest mountains of Bhutan at a site that stretches almost 180 degrees. Walk around the 108 stupas and continue to sub tropical valley of Punakha. On arrival, if time permits hike to the temple of ChimiLakhang, the temple of fertility associated with religious art of phallus. 

Overnight: Punakha | Altitude: 1350m

Day 03| Punakha tours

Morning drive to visit PunakhaDzong (fortress), which houses the most elaborated temple in the country. This is a fine example of Bhutanese rich Art and Architecture. Drive further up to visit the Souvenir Making Center for girls supported by Youth Development Fund. Interact with the students and back to the  hotel  for lunch. A beautiful hike takes you to the regal hamsumYuelleyNamgelChorten, which was built to remove negative forces and promote peace, stability and harmony in the changing world. The Chorten dominates the upper Punakha Valley with commanding views across the Mo Chhu and up towards the mountainous peaks of Gasa and beyond. 

Overnight: Punakha

Day 04| Punakha – Paro (3 ½ Hrs.)

Retrace the drive back to Paro. After lunch visit ParoDzong (Fortress) on foot and continue walking through the oldest wooden bridge still in use. Continue further to stroll around the old Paro town and peep into some local handicrafts stores. Could get some opportunity to see the traditional game of Archery match going on. Evening back to the hotel and enjoy the facility in the hotel.

Overnight: Paro | Altitude: 2200m

Day 05| Paro Sightseeing

Morning drive to the base for the hike (2 hrs uphill) to Tiger's Nest, the most revered temple in the country that literally hangs on a granite cliff overlooking the Paro valley. Lunch in the cafeteria. Most of the day will go on the hike. Back to the hotel and enjoy the facility. Hot stone bath for available on Clients personal expenses. Farewell dinner in the town. 

Overnight: Paro

Day 06| Departure:

Morning transfer (10 mins) to the airport for your departure flight. Your guide will bid you farewell at the airport.

Ground transportation is by private vehicles selected on the basis of number of travellers. We provide clean Air conditioning  and  heat in vehicles. However, you may have to expect bad roads with uphill and narrow tracks too, and actual travel time might delay due to weather conditions too.

•          The Drive In

Duration: 07 Days
Places Covered : Phuentsholing, Thimpu, Punakha/Wangdue, Paro
Date: Flexible.

Day 01| Phuentsholing – Thimphu Tour (6 Hrs)
Day 02| Thimphu Sightseeing Tour
Day 03| Thimpu - Punakha Tours (2 ½ Hrs)

Day 01 | Flyfrom  IndiatoParo or  enter through Jaigaon-Phuentsholing-Thimpu by Road

Fly directly to Parowhere our tour Guide greets and conducts you to your drive to Thimpu.

If you arrive by road, our guide meets you atPhuentsholingborder - drive north climbing uphill through ever changing forests with views of the cascading water falls, mountains and valleys as you pass several villages and towns. En-route stop at Rinchending temple and other places for photos and lunch stop. It takes about 6 hours to cover the distance of approximately 180km. Upon arrival in Thimphu, check into the hotel. In the evening, you will be taken for short sightseeing or stroll around the town or visit the weekend market (held from evening of Friday till Sunday).

Overnight: Thimphu | Altitude: 2300m

Day 02 | Thimpu Sightseeing – Punakha

Early in the morning you may choose to take a self-guided walk from your hotel to the Memorial Chorten, and enjoy its tranquil atmosphere amidst local Bhutanese chanting prayers among revolving prayer wheels. After breakfast, drive east to Punakha, the old winter capital. En-route stops at Dochu LaPass,10,000ft/3,048m to view the eastern Himalayas, including Bhutan's highest mountain, GangkarPunsum, 24,770ft/7,550m. The road then drops down through varied forest finally emerging into the highly cultivated, sub-tropical Punakha valley; with rice paddies, bananas, orange grooves and cactuses. Sightseeing and lunch in Wangdue and transfer to the hotel in Punakha. In the evening, take a pleasant 20 minutes walk through the fields and village to visit ChimiLhakhang temple dedicated to Bhutan's popular saint DrukpaKunley, also known as the "divine madman" ( 1455-1529). He is very popular to date because he preached in n the way that is unlike the stiffness of clergy and society of the time; he dramatized the teachings using songs and outrageous sexual humor. ! Bold Phallus symbols and paintings on the houses or temples come as a result his influence.

Overnight: Punakha | Altitude: 1350m

Day 04 | Punakha  & Wangdue Valley

Punakha and Wangdue Valleys are at lower elevation of approx. 1400m and therefore it is warmer and has semi-tropical vegetation with cactuses, bananas and orange groves. PunakhaDzong used to be the winter capital of Bhutan until 1958 and even today the head Abbot and central monastic body move here from ThimphuTashichoDzong, in the winter months.

In the morning, drive to the idyllic countryside, north of PunakhaDzong and walk uphill for 20 minutes to KhamsumYuelleyNamgyalChorten, which is perched high on the hill. Visit this temple, which has some beautiful and incredibly complex Buddhist paintings. It was recently completed in 1999 after taking almost 9 years to build. Return downhill and walk on the mostly levelled path along the east bank of the river. The transport will meet you and drive you to Punakha. Visit PunakhaDzong and the areas around Punakha. Visit the new town settlement and free afternoon for rest or to walk on your own to the nearby villages.

Overnight: Punakha | Altitude: 1350m

Day 05 | Drive to Paro.

After leisurely breakfast, drive down the valley to the town of Wangdiphodrang. Here again there is a very large fortress (Dzong) built in the shape of a sleeping bull. After sightseeing in Wangdiphodrang, we retrace our drive back to west across Dochula Pass, providing one more opportunity to view the peaks of the eastern Himalayas. At the pass, there is a small restaurant, where we can sip tea and enjoy the views. Descend from the pass in time for a late lunch at the restaurant in Thimphu and proceed to Paro. En-route to Paro, we will stop to visit farm houses  Upon arrival in Paro, check into your hotel.

Overnight: Paro | Altitude: 2200m

Day 06 | Paro Valley tours 

You will be provided an option either to hike to Taktsang Monastery or to stay in the valley. Those who choose not to hike will be transferred to the festival grounds to spend the morning.Taktsang hike: Drive about nine miles north of Paro town to the trailhead where we start our 1½-hour hike to a tea house, from where you can enjoy a great view of Taktsang Monastery (its name means "tiger's nest"), perched on a cliff 2,700' above the floor of the Paro Valley. The hike is a steep and the trail passes through the villages and pine forest. After a break with tea and cookies at the tea house, you have the option to sit outside the building and admire the monastery and its beautiful surroundings or, if you feel energetic, to continue another thirty minutes or so to a closer viewpoint. After lunch at the Teahouse we descend to the valley floor and upon available time, visit the festival. In the evening, take a stroll around the town, shop for handicrafts and enjoy the farewell dinner at the local restaurant.

In the afternoon, visit National Museum, housed in the Ta Dzong, a former watchtower above ParoDzong. The museum has wide varieties of collections; from fine arts, handcrafts, arms &armors, bamboo crafts, stuffed animals, display of stamps, bronze statues and also a fine chapel.

Day 07 | Paro-Delhi or Calcutta /Departure 

Transfer to airport for flight.

For Road travellers , start after breakfast and  retrace your journey by road to Phoentsholing/ Jaigaon.

The above are some of the popular itinerary and  tourist destinations to help you make out a broad travel plan.

Rasoi Tours and Travels offers you many more customised tour plans and destinations depending on your moods and needs. Please feel free to consult the travel desk of Rasoi Tours and Travelsto work out private or customised packages that are convenient to you.

Bhutan Festival Tour 2016

• Bhutan Festival Dates

• Punakha Drubchen/Festival - 13th – 16th February, 2016

• Punakha Tshechu/Festival -17th – 19th February, 2016

• Trashiyangtse Chorten Kora Festival -22nd Feb & 10th March, 2016

• Paro Tshechu Festival Tours - 19th – 23rd March, 2016

• Private Tour - Paro Festival - 19th – 23rd March, 2016

• Nimalung Festival Tours - 13th – 15th June, 2016

• Haa Summer Festival Tours

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