Royal Bhutan
Thimphu Tsechu Autumn Festival Itinerary
Day 1 - Tuesday 7 October
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 - Wednesday 8 October
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 - Thursday 9 October
Bangkok - Paro - Thimphu, Bhutan
Transfer to the airport early this morning for our flight to Paro. On arrival 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. Home to civil servants, expatriates and the monk body, Thimphu maintains a strong national character in its architectural style.BLD
Day 4 - Friday 10 October
Thimphu Tsechu Festival
Today’s sightseeing includes a visit to the colourful Thimphu Festival inside Tashichhodzong, “fortress of the glorious religion”. It was initially erected in 1641 and rebuilt by King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck in the 1960s. This afternoon we visit the 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 due to pressures of state. BLD
Day 5 - Saturday 11 October
Thimphu
Morning to enjoy the weekend markets and handicrafts shops, where a wide assortment of colorful, hand woven textiles and other craft products are available for purchase at the government-run Handicrafts Emporium and many smaller crafts shops around the town. This afternoon we visit Drubthob Monastery (Nunnery), founded by a later emanation of Drubthob Thangthong Gyalpo (1361-1485) BLD
Day 6 - Sunday 12 October
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, the dzong was built in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal to serve as the religious and administrative center of the region. 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 7 - Monday 13 October
Punakha - Gangtey - Trongsa
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. Further on we 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 into our lodge. BLD
Day 8 - Tuesday 14 October
Trongsa - Bumthang
Today’s sightseeing in Trongsa includes Ta Dzong, a 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. We also visit Trongsa Dzong, built in 1648, it 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. After lunch we continue to Bumthang, a most pleasant run in the soft, late afternoon light. BLD
Day 9 - Wednesday 15 October
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 - Thursday 16 October
Excursion to Ura Valley
Today we set out on our drive to the Ura Valley. Sheep pastures line the road for up to 20 km behind the southern tip of the Tang valley. 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 and 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 - Friday 17 October
Bumthang - Punakha
This morning we set off on the drive back to Punakha, enjoying a picnic lunch en route at a 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 - Saturday 18 October
Punakha - Paro
This area encapsulates a rich culture, scenic beauty and hundreds of myths and legends. It is home to many of Bhutan’s oldest temples and monasteries, the country’s only airport, and the National Museum. Afternoon sightseeing includes:
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.
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 - Sunday 19 October
Paro
This 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”. The excursion to the Taktsang viewpoint involves a relatively steep walk (it may also be done on horseback) on a well defined path up through pine forest to a hill top cafe overlooking the ravine and monastery.
Ta Dzong: On a ridge immediately above Rinpung Dzong, built as a watchtower. (“Ta” means “to see” in Dzongkha, so the watchtower of a dzong is always called a “Ta dzong”). 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. BLD
Day 14 - Monday 20 October
Paro - Kila Gompa - Paro
Day excursion to Kila Gompa. It is a 45 Km drive from Paro and 20 minutes hike to this gompa, nestled in a craggy patch on the mountainside below the Chele-la pass surrounded by numerous huts, perched precariously along the rock face. Kila Gompa is 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 - Tuesday 21 October
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 - Wednesday 22 October
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
