Royal Bhutan
Ura Yakchoe Spring Festival Itinerary
Day 1 - Friday 11 April
Australia - Bangkok
Depart today on our flight to Bangkok, arriving this afternoon. Those leaving from Melbourne will leave late afternoon and arrive Bangkok mid-evening. You are met and transferred to the hotel.
Day 2 - Saturday 12 April
Bangkok
Today has been set aside to visit two examples of traditional Thai architecture and gardens. In the morning we will travel to the outskirts of the city where a special visit has been organised to the extraordinary, private house and museum of Mr Prasart Vongsakul. You will be delighted at the large and wonderfully maintained tropical gardens, dotted with antique pavilions, temples and statues. We will then travel back to Bangkok to Jim Thompson’s house and museum - an exquisite wooden building in the old Thai vernacular, set in a delightful small garden on the banks of a klong. After our visit and lunch we return to the hotel later this afternoon. BL
Day 3 - Sunday 13 April
Bangkok - Paro - Thimphu, Bhutan
Transfer to the airport early this morning for our flight to Paro, Bhutan. We will be met in the traditional way before we drive to Thimphu. The capital town of Bhutan and the center of government, religion and commerce. Thimphu is a lively place, an interesting combination of tradition and modernity. Thimphu maintains a strong national character in its architectural style.
Weekend Market: Most of the Thimphu’s population and many valley dwellers converge on the bustling weekend market, held by the river. A wide range of foodstuffs and local arts and crafts are sold at the market which runs from Friday afternoon to Sunday. A visit to the market provides great photo opportunities, as well as the chance to mingle with the local people. BLD
Day 4 - Monday 14 April
Thimphu
During today’s sightseeing excursions in Thimphu, you will marvel at the colour, design and beauty of the temples, monasteries and dzongs.
National Memorial Chorten: The building of this chorten was originally the idea of Bhutan’s third king, H.M. Jigme Dorji Wangchuck (“the father of modern Bhutan”) who had wished to erect a monument to world peace and prosperity, but was unable to give shape to his idea in his lifetime.
Tashichhodzong: The “fortress of the glorious religion” was initially erected in 1641 and rebuilt by King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck in the 1960s.
Institute for Zorig Chusum: Commonly known as the Painting School, the Institute offers a six-year course on the 13 traditional arts and crafts of Bhutan.
National Institute of Traditional Medicine: In Bhutan, equal emphasis is given to both allopathic and traditional medicines. The rich herbal medicines made up from medicinal plants abundant in the kingdom are prepared and dispensed here.
Changangkha Temple: It’s one of the oldest temples in Thimphu valley, built by a descendant of Phajo Drugom Shigpo, the founder of the Drukpa school in Bhutan.
Drubthob Monastery: (Nunnery) The monastery was founded by a later emanation of Drubthob Thangthong Gyalpo (1361-1485) who built temples and iron-chain bridges in Bhutan and Tibet.BLD
Day 5 - Tuesday 15 April
Thimphu - Punakha
We drive to Punakha (70 Km) via Dochula pass. Punakha served as capital of Bhutan until 1955 and still is the winter seat of the Je Khenpo (Chief Abbot). Afternoon sightseeing will include a visit to Punakha Dzong, placed strategically at the junction of the Pho Chu and Mo Chu rivers. We then visit Wangduephodrang located south of Punakha and the last town before central Bhutan. Wangduephodrang Dzong stretches along the hilltop above the confluence of the Punakha Chu and Tang Chu rivers, the imposing Wangduephodrang Dzong is the town’s most visible feature.BLD
Day 6 - Wednesday 16 April
Punakha - Gangtey
After breakfast, we drive up a winding mountain road through oak and rhododendron forests and over a high pass down into the Phobjikha valley, surely one of the loveliest high altitude valleys in Bhutan. Phobjikha is one of Bhutan’s few glacial valleys and chosen winter home of black-necked cranes, migrating from the Tibetan plateau. We explore the Phobjikha valley and also visit Gangtey Gompa (Monastery), the only Nyingmapa monastery in western Bhutan. BLD
Day 7 - Thursday 17 April
Gangtey - Trongsa
This morning we drive to Trongsa across Pele-la pass. This pass is traditionally considered the boundary between western and central Bhutan. Further down the road we stop to visit Chendebji Chorten erected in the 18th century by a Tibetan lama to cover the remains of an evil spirit that was subdued at this spot. It is built in the Nepalese style with painted eyes at the four cardinal points. On arrival, check in at the lodge.BLD
Day 8 - Friday 18 April
Trongsa - Bumthang
Perched on steep slopes above a river gorge, it forms the central hub of the nation and is the place from where attempts at unifying the country were first launched. Sightseeing in Trongsa includes:
Ta Dzong: This watchtower which once guarded Trongsa Dzong from internal rebellion stands on a steep slope above the town. Climb up the path to visit Ta Dzong which now houses a shrine dedicated to the epic hero, King Gesar of Ling.
Trongsa Dzong: Built in 1648, was the seat of power over central and eastern Bhutan. Both the first and second Kings of Bhutan ruled the country from this ancient seat. All five Kings were invested as Trongsa Penlop (governor) prior to ascending the throne. The dzong is a massive structure with many levels, sloping down the contours of the ridge on which it is built.
After lunch we continue to Bumthang, in one of the most spectacular valleys in Bhutan and also the holy heartland of Buddhism. A most pleasant drive in the soft, late afternoon light. BD
Day 9 - Saturday 19 April
Bumthang
This lovely valley is the religious heartland of the nation and home to some of its oldest Buddhist temples and monasteries. Tales of Guru Padmasambhava and the tertons (religious treasure-discoverers) still linger in this sacred region. Sightseeing in Bumthang includes:
Jambey Lhakhang: This monastery was built in the 7th century by the Tibetan king, Songtsen Gampo. It is one of 108 monasteries built to subdue evil spirits in the Himalayan region.
Kurje Lhakhang: Located further along the valley, Kurje Lhakhang comprises three temples. The one on the right was built in 1652 against the rock face where Guru Padmasambhava meditated in the 8th century. The middle temple is built on the site of a cave containing a rock with the imprint of the Guru’s body, and is therefore considered to be the most holy. The temple on the left was built in the 1990s by H.M. Ashi Kesang, the Queen Mother. These three temples are surrounded by a 108 chorten wall.
Tamshing Lhakhang: Located across the river from Kurje Lhakhang, was founded in 1501 by Terton Pema Lingpa, a re-incarnation of Guru Padmasambhava. There are very old religious paintings around the inner walls of the temple, which was restored at the end of the 19th century.
Jakar Dzong: Constructed in 1549 by the great grandfather of the first Shabdrung, the dzong was initially built as a monastery. It was upgraded in 1646. Jakar Dzong is now used as the administrative center for Bumthang valley and also houses the regional monk body.BLD
Day 10 Sunday 20 April
Ura Yakchoe Festival
The day’s excitement starts when we set out on our drive to the Ura Valley to witness all the colour and magic of the last day of the festival. The road crosses Ura-la pass and on the approach there is a magnificent view of Mt. Gangkar Puensum. Villages in Ura have clustered houses, quite unusual in Bhutan. Above Ura village there is a new temple dedicated to Guru Rinpoche. Inaugurated in 1986, containing a huge statue of the Guru and remarkable wall paintings of the cycle of his teachings. Within the last 25 years Ura has been transformed from a marginal community to a prosperous valley. BLD
Day 11 - Monday 21 April
Bumthang - Punakha
Today we set off on the drive back to Punakha enjoying a picnic lunch en route at the famous Chendeji Chorten. We will then drive on through the mountains and down to Wangduephodrang, where we will take a short break before reaching Punakha. BLD
Day 12 - Tuesday 22 April
Punakha - Paro
This beautiful valley is home to many of Bhutan’s oldest temples and monasteries, the country’s only airport and the National Museum. Mt. Chomolhari reigns in white glory at the northern end of the valley, its glacial waters plunging through deep gorges to form the Pa Chu (Paro river). The Paro valley is one of the kingdom’s most fertile, producing the bulk of Bhutan’s famous red rice from its terraced fields.
Ta Dzong: On a ridge immediately above Rinpung Dzong is Ta Dzong, built as a watchtower to protect Rinpung Dzong. (“Ta” means “to see” in Dzongkha, so the watchtower of a dzong is always called a “Ta dzong”). Due to their function, watchtowers are always round in shape. In 1968 Paro’s Ta Dzong was inaugurated as the National Museum and now holds a fascinating collection of art, relics, religious Thangkha paintings, Bhutan’s exquisite postage stamps, coins and handicrafts, together with a small natural history collection.
Rinpung Dzong: The “fortress of the heap of jewels” was built in 1646 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal on a hill above the township. The approach to the Dzong is through a traditional covered bridge (called the Nemi Zam) and then up a paved stone path running alongside the imposing outer walls. BLD
Day 13 - Wednesday 23 April
Paro
The most famous of Bhutan’s monasteries, Taktsang is perched on the side of a cliff 900m above the Paro valley floor. It is said the Guru Rinpoche arrived here on the back of a tigress and meditated at this place, hence the monastery is also called “Tiger’s Nest”. This site, which has long been recognized as a most sacred place, was visited by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1646. It is a place of pilgrimage where Bhutanese try to visit at least once in a lifetime. Although the climb is relatively steep, you will be rewarded by the sight that awaits!
Drukgyel Dzong: This dzong, with a picturesque village nestling below its ramparts, was built in 1646 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal to commemorate his victory over the Tibetan invaders. BLD
Day 14 - Thursday 24 April
Paro - Kila Gompa - Paro
Day excursion to Kila Gompa, the serene home for 32 anims (Buddhist nuns) who lead an undisturbed life of religious studies, prayer and meditation. Later this afternoon we return to Paro. BLD
Day 15 - Friday 25 April
Paro - Bangkok
We transfer to the airport for our flight to Bangkok. Our Bhutanese guide bids us farewell and soon Bhutan, our Shangri-La for the last 12 days, disappears again behind its guardian Himalayan mountains. We arrive in Bangkok early this afternoon and transfer to our nearby hotel. Remainder of the day at leisure. B
Day 16 - Saturday 26 April
Bangkok - Australia
Transfer to the airport this morning for our flight back to Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane (those leaving to Perth will spend an extra night in Bangkok and depart early morning). You may now say you have been one of the privileged few to have visited Bhutan - The Land of the Thunder Dragon.B
