Flight: EY290 Abu Dhabi - Kathmandu 10.50 - 17.10

Private transfer: Upon arrival in Kathmandu, you will be welcomed to Nepal by your local guide and transferred to the Hotel Tibet in a chauffeur driven car for a two-night stay.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Hotel Tibet (Deluxe Room)

Private transfer: After an early breakfast this morning, you will be met by your guide & driver, then transferred to the airport for your flight to Bhutan.

Flight: KB205 Kathmandu - Paro 09.10 - 10.25

Lunch in Paro: On arrival in Paro, you will be met by the guide and driver, and they will transfer you into the town to have a look around and then have lunch. Paro is situated in a beautiful valley at 2280 metres and is a fitting introduction to this charming kingdom. 

Road journey to Haa: In the afternoon you will drive to Haa at 2670 metres – the drive is around 2.5 hours.  You will cross the Chele La Pass at 3800m from where you will have a view of Mount Jomolhari to the north as well as down to the Haa Valley, and then continue down to Haa itself. Haa is little visited by tourists and the town is still very small, as there are only one or two basic restaurants and local heritage lodges, so the area remains quite remote. This is a great opportunity to view this beautiful rural scene and late afternoon you may like to walk around the town.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Soednam Zingkha Heritage Lodge (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Hike along the Haa Panorama hiking trail: Today you can hike this newly designed hiking trail which gives a panoramic view of the Haa Valley throughout the day.  Drive through Yangthang village and up the hill to the temple where you will start your hike. Walk along the forested path through the valley, occasionally emerging from the forest canopy. You will continue across a stream and over a small pass (with prayer flags) until you reach Katsho Gompa. Descend a little to visit the temple and then return to the path to continue a short distance to Juneydrak Hermitage, a cliff-side retreat which contains a footprint of Machen Labdrom (1055 -1132) - a female Tibetan tantric practitioner. If there is no one meditating inside the temple then you can go in and take a look at the footprint. Afterwards continue your walk along the trail to Wangtsha Village where your driver will meet you and then take you back to the lodge to relax. 

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Soednam Zingkha Heritage Lodge (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Ancient Trans-Bhutan Trail – Day 1 (Haa to Paro): After breakfast at your hotel, you will be transferred to Katsho where you will begin your first day of trekking on the ancient Trans Bhutan Trail. For generations, the people of Haa followed the route you will walk today to trade with the Parops in the neighbouring valley. There, they would barter 20 drey (approximately 30 kilograms or 66 pounds) of Shakam (dried meat) for 20 drey of rice at Paro Tshongdu (market) because the harsher climatic conditions in Haa are unsuitable for rice cultivation. The age-old trail follows the beautiful Haa River as it gently rises out of the Katsho Valley, passing through yak pastures before heading into forests of pine and rhododendron. The Trail continues to climb until it reaches the pass at Kaleyla, where it crosses the ridge trail between Chelela and Sagala. At Kaleyla, you will enjoy stunning views of the Himalayan Range to the north, including on the clearest days vistas of Mount Jomolhari. From Kaleyla, the trail descends through rhododendron and bamboo forest into the Paro Valley. The last few kilometres to Paro will then be on tracks which meander through traditional Bhutanese farming villages. On arrival in Paro, you will check into your hotel for the night.

Today’s walk: will cover 17km and take around 8 hours.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Olathang Cottages (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Ancient Trans-Bhutan Trail – Day 2 (Paro to Thimphu): After breakfast start the trek with a climb up to Jelila at 3760m.  From here the Trail drops gently down into the Tsalunang Valley, passing through forests of blue pine and rhododendron on its way. From Tsalunang, the Trail climbs through mid-altitude forests and through yak pastures before it reaches the pass at Pumola. Herders from Punakha would once bring their cattle here over the summer to escape the heat of the lower-lying Punakha valley.  From Pumola again the trail drops gently down into the Thimphu Valley, and you will make your way to your accommodation for the next two nights.

Today’s walk: will cover 25km and take around 9 hours.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Pelyang Boutique Hotel (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Guided sightseeing in and around Thimphu: In the morning drive about 15 minutes to Pangri Zampa, Bhutan’s most important college for Traditional Astrology, founded in the 16th century.  The college institute releases the official Bhutanese calendar annually and has the responsibility of deciding on dates for any important national events in Bhutan. Astrologers are available for private readings (for a fee). Here we can also arrange for you to offer a thousand butter lamps for future good health. From here drive about 30 minutes to Kuensel Phodrang where you will visit the huge statue of Buddha Dordenma, which commands a tremendous view of Thimphu Valley. The impressive 3-storey throne holds several chapels and the body itself is filled with 125,000 smaller statues of Buddha. Then take a hike to Changangkha which takes around one hour or so passing through beautiful blue pine and rhododendron forest, and which also gives a fantastic view of Thimphu Valley. In the afternoon you can visit the School of Traditional Arts and browse the striking collection of intricate textiles at the National Textile Museum.  If you would like to view or buy Bhutanese handicrafts you can walk through the Craft Bazaar which has an array of stalls run by local handicraft shops selling purely home-made articles with no imports and then walk down to visit the weekly market.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Pelyang Boutique Hotel (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Ancient Trans-Bhutan Trail – Day 3 (Dochu La Pass to Thimphu): In the morning drive about 45 minutes to Dochu La pass where you will continue on the Ancient Trans Bhutan Trail. Dochu La Pass offers one of the most spectacular sunrises anywhere in Bhutan and so we recommend rising early this morning. At clearer times of the year, you enjoy panoramic views of the Himalayan range in the distance as the sun rises. From here you head down into the adjacent valley and join a section of the Trail known as the ‘Divine Madman Trail’. You are now following in the footsteps of the Divine Madman himself, Drukpa Kuenley, when he came to Bhutan from Tibet in the 16th century to fulfil his destiny of suppressing evil energies. Over the coming days, you will come across a number of important cultural sites and extraordinary stories related to the life of Drukpa Kuenley. Continue your journey through Thinleygang Lhakhang (temple) and to Toeb Chandana as you commence the ascent towards Sew Drangsa. In recent years, the central monastic body occasionally uses this route to reach its winter residence in Punakha and to return to Thimphu in the summer. At Sew Drangsa, you will find a clearing marked with prayer flags, which is where the monks stop for lunch en route, as you will do today. From here, the trail descends towards Punakha Dzong (fortress), offering spectacular views of the Punakha Valley on the way as you make your way to your hotel for the next two nights.

Today’s walk: will cover 22km and take around 8 hours.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Zhingkham Hotel (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Guided sightseeing in Punakha: In the morning hike an hour or so up to Khamsum Yuelley Namgyel Chorten, high on the hill across the other side of the valley. The temple is 30 metres tall and is dedicated to the fifth King.   From the top you will see a beautiful view of the valley and surrounding villages.  On the way back visit the imposing Punakha Dzong, “Palace of Great Happiness”. Built in 1637, it is strategically placed at the confluence of two rivers, the Po Chu and the Mo Chu.  You can also walk across one of the longest suspension bridges in Bhutan.  Late afternoon you will take a pleasant walk for an hour or so across the terraced fields of Sopsokha village to Chimi Lhakhang (Temple of Fertility) built in the 15th century by the ‘Divine Madman’ (Lama Drukpa Kuenley). 

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Zhingkham Hotel (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Ancient Trans-Bhutan Trail – Day 4 (Punakha to Semtengang, via Limbukha): In the morning drive about 15 minutes to one of the longest suspension bridges in Bhutan, just behind Punakha Dzong, where you will start today’s hike. The trail from the suspension bridge through Mendagang Village winds through paddy fields and then climbs relatively steeply until reaching a chorten (stupa) for about 4 hours where you will meet your driver and drive to Lingmukha valley for a picnic lunch. The valley is commonly referred to as Lingmup Sher gi Zhom, which translates as “the golden bowl”, on account of the many rice fields which lie beneath ridges to either side. From Linmbukha the Trail heads east towards Samtengang. Historically, this section of the Trail would have often been used by natives of Lingmukha and the people of Phangyul in the adjacent valley. Although the two villages are separated by a steep ridge, they strongly believe themselves to be close blood relatives who share the same cultural roots. The Trail rises from deep in the Lingmukha Valley, climbing steeply through dense forest until it reaches a rest stop built at a pass. From the pass, you will descend sharply through deep forest till above Dachu Lhakhang where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the Shar Valleys. Your driver will be waiting at Dachu Lhakhang, or just above Chungsey Gompa, to take you to Wangdi where you can put your feet up.

Today’s walk: will cover 25km and take around 9 hours.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Wangdi Eco Lodge (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Road journey to Bumthang: In the morning drive approximately 2.5 hours to Trongsa, the gateway to central Bhutan at 2180 metres. Set amidst spectacular scenery, Trongsa Dzong, the ancestral home of Bhutan’s royal family, commands the eye from miles away. You can also visit Ta Dzong, the museum in the watchtower dedicated to the Wangchuk Dynasty, which tells the stories of the Dzong and the valley it has watched over for centuries and features personal belongings of the Kings and Queens of Bhutan. After lunch continue a further 2.5 hours through some of Bhutan’s most beautiful landscapes to Bumthang Chumey Valley, an area of high valleys at 2580 to 3100 metres. Here you will check into your overnight accommodation.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Chumey Nature Resort (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Ancient Trans-Bhutan Trail – Day 5 (Chumey Geytsa to Bumthang Jakar): After breakfast, head out to an historic section of the Trail which would traditionally have been used by the Royal Family when they transferred between Trongsa and Bumthang, or Bumthang and Kuenga Rabten, and where His Majesty the Second King had his summer residence. From Geytsa, the Trail rises through pine forests towards the Kikila Pass, where it briefly follows the route of the Owl Trek. From Kikila, the Trail descends gently into the Bumthang Valley, offering spectacular views of Jakar Dzong (fortress) on the way down to your hotel.

Today’s walk: will cover 17km and take around 6 hours.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Valley Resort (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Private transfer: After breakfast, you will be met by your guide & driver and then transferred to the nearby airport for your flight to Paro.

Flight: KB250 Bumthang - Paro 09.10 - 10.25

Private transfer: Upon arrival in Paro, you will be met by your local guide and transferred to your hotel to check in and freshen up. 

Afternoon guided tour of  Paro: This afternoon you can visit the National Museum located in the Ta Dzong (watch tower) which was built on top of the hill above Rinpung Dzong to defend Rinpung Dzong and the Paro valley during times of war, in an unusual circular construction resembling a conch shell.  The Ta Dzong houses a magnificent collection of Bhutanese artifacts – costumes, religious paintings, arms, textiles and a fascinating collection of Bhutan stamps. From the National Museum, take a leisurely 1-hour hike along the forested hillside to Zuri Dzong.  The walk passes Gonsaka Lhakhang and then Zuri Dzong and provides wonderful views down over the valley and of Paro Dzong. Zuri Dzong dates from 1352 and is home to the valley’s local protector gods. Continue your walk down to the Uma Resort junction where you turn right towards Paro Dzong and here again you should have a good view of Paro Dzong and town. Your driver will be waiting at the Paro bridge to pick you up and take you back to the hotel.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Olathang Cottages (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Guided visit to Tiger’s Nest Monastery: Today you will take a daytime walk to the ‘Tiger's Nest’, the sacred Taktshang monastery which clings to the rock face 900 metres above the valley floor. Guru Rinpoche is said to have flown to the site riding on a tigress. He subsequently meditated here for three months. It is one of Bhutan’s most holy sites and draws pilgrims not only from Bhutan but also from neighbouring Buddhist countries. You can have lunch at the Taktshang cafeteria from where you get a spectacular view of the monastery. If there is any time left for sightseeing after your hike your guide will suggest something for you to see in Paro before returning to the hotel.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Olathang Cottages (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner