Bumthang Cultural Tour | Best Bhutan Tour

Country/Region Bhutan / Bumthang

Duration 10 Days

Max Altitude 3,880m / 12729.66ft

Transportation Car + Jeep

Accommodation Hotel

Meals Lunch + Dinner + Breakfast

Bumthang Cultural Tour will fill you with a sense of adventure, Nature with Culture. This tour has only just become possible with the opening of the entry point at Samdrup Jongkhar, a sub-tropical region that borders India. Completely off the beaten path, you will be able to visit the heartlands of Bhutan, including the eastern provinces and town of Trashigang and Mongar where the people are semi-nomadic.

Bumthang Tour A Best Culture Tour in Bhutan

Journey on to the more frequently visited destinations of the Bumthang Valley, Trongsa, Gangtey, Punakha, Thimpu and Paro, each of which has its own attractions including Dzongs, markets and stunning vistas. The infrastructure and accommodation for the first few days in Bhutan will be a far cry from a luxury holiday, but you will be more than compensated with the experience of exploring the mystical kingdom.

Bumthang Tour with its original Culture is the most popular Cultural and authentic tour in Bhutan. Bumthang Cultural Touring is one of the best options for the average adventure lover to experience the traditional and ancient Bhutanese culture, lifestyle, arts and more.

Bumthang - Cultural Heart of Bhutan

Bhutan Bumthang Cultural tour explores through several virgin villages providing an excellent opportunity to interact with the rural life of Bhutan. Bumthang culture trip in the splendid Bumthang Valley, the cultural heart of Bhutan. This Cultural tour in Bhutan passes through several traditional villages on its meandering route through Bumthang countryside which dipped into nature and culture. Furthermore, this culture tour provides an exceptional chance to get close to the remote rural life of Bhutan.

Months of April and May is considered as the best season for the Bumthang cultural touring because of the Rhododendron blossom. With Trekking Trail Nepal's Bhutan Tour Expert will arrange the Best package of Bumthang Culture Tour according to your holiday needs and interest.

Itinerary

Day

Arrive in Paro.

On clear weather you will be able to see the massive peak of the eastern Himalayas, including Kanchenjunga (third highest mountain in the world) and Bhutan holy mountain, Chomolhari. Upon arriving the Paro Valley and after completing visa formalities, you will be met by Trekking Trail Nepal representative at the airport.

In the afternoon, we will visit Ta Dzong (watch tower) which houses the National Museum. The museum has an interesting collections of different costumes and thangkas from various parts of Bhutan. After Museum visit, we drive towards the north to see the Drukgyel Dzong, in ruins. It was built by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1649 to commemorate a victory over the Tibetan forces. Unfortunately the fortress was destroyed by fire and was never rebuilt. On clear weather, we will be able to see Mt. Chomolhari from the Drukgyal Dzong and the Tiger Nest on our way back to Paro. En-route, visit Kichu Lhakhang, one of the two oldest monasteries built in Bhutan by the King of Tibet, Songtsen Gampo in the 7th century

Paro sightseeing.

Paro is a valley of religion and myth. The most famous landmark, the Taktsang Monastery (Tiger Nest), stands on a granite cliff about 800 m above the valley. Legend has it that Guru Rinpoche, a famous Buddhist saint, flew to Paro on a tigress and meditated at Taktsang. The monastery, considered a national treasure, was burnt in April 1998 and still the cause is unknown.

The hike to Taktsang would take us around two and half hours. To reach a cafeteria, a point from where one can enjoy a great view of the monastery is more than an hour walk from the road-head uphill. Those interested can walk further 45 minutes uphill to get a closer view of the monastery and return to the cafeteria for lunch. The journey downward to the road-head would take us less than one and half hours

Paro to Thimphu.

Upon arrival in Thimphu,visit some of the handicraft shops where young men and women are trained to continue the handicrafts tradition. Some are busy making masks for the religious dances while others learn the ancient art of thangka (scroll) painting. Stay overnight in a hotel.

Thimphu sightseeing.

Visit the Sunday Market(if the day coincides), where the people buy vegetables and fruits and stock to last for one week. The market starts from Friday and continue till Sunday. Here, we can witness how Bhutanese people, especially the farmers carry out commerce. Next, visit the Mini Zoo to see Takin, the national animal of Bhutan. When we return, en-route visit Changangkha Lhakhang, built in the 14th century and the Memorial Chorten, built in memory of the third king. If an archery contest is in progress, we can also have a look.

Thimphu to Trongsa

We will have early breakfast and drive to Trongsa, an ancestral home of Bhutanese kings. The journey would take us around six and half hours. Cross over the two high passes Dochula (3,050m) and Pelela (3,300m). On clear weather, we can see the view of a chain of mountains towards north. Overnight stay in a hotel.

Trongsa to Bumthang.

Visit the Trongsa Dzong, the biggest fortresses in Bhutan in the morning; then drive to Bumthang located two and half hours away. On our way, we pass by a weaving center, where professional weavers weave fine fabrics out of wool and yak hair known as Yathra in different patterns. Bumthang is known for its four spectacular valleys and is the seat of the government till the second king. The place is known for its historical sites. Next, we visit Jambay lhakhang, one of the two oldest monasteries built in Bhutan by a Tibetan king in the 7th century. Next, proceed to see Kurji Lhakhang, Tamshing Lhakhang, Kenchog-sum Lhakhang, and Swiss Farm, only farm in Bhutan which makes Bhutanese assorted wines, beer and cheese.

Ura Excursion.

Morning we will take an excursion to Ura village located 48km away from Bumthang towards east. Visit Ura Lhakhang and travel back to Bumthang. While coming back, en-route visit Mebar Tsho Burning Lakeâwhere Terton Pema Lingpa, a treasure revealer is believed to have taken out a hidden treasure from the lake. These treasures were believed to have been hidden by Guru Rinpoche in the 8th century to be revealed by special persons at a propitious time. Late afternoon, visit Jakar Dzong, the seat of the district administration.

Jakar to Punakha.

We will have early breakfast and drive to Punakha, the old capital of Bhutan. We begin our explorations of Punakha valley with a visit to Punakha Dzong, located between Pho(male) and Mo (female) rivers. It was the national capital until 1966. It is also the winter residence for the central monastic body in Thimphu, as the area provides with more comfortable temperatures. The Punakha Dzong contains the body remains of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal and is considered one of the holiest of the dzongs in the country. Punakha valley is one of the richest agricultural regions of Bhutan. People grow rice as their staple crop.

Punakha to Paro.

On our way to Thimphu, hike to Chhimi Lhakhang, the monastery dedicated to Lama Drukpa Kuenley the Divine Madman. The Lama was known for his eccentric behavior and the monastery for its power of fertility. Many Bhutanese and even westerners make a pilgrimage to the monastery to get themselves blessed. Stop briefly for tea at Dochula Cafe and continue our journey to Thimphu for our lunch. Next, visit the handmade paper factory in Thimphu and do our last shopping, if we need to & drive to paro.

Final Departure.

After Breakfast drive to airport for departure.

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Trip Info

Please note:

The tourism infrastructure of Bhutan continues to develop. Therefore, the accommodation and transport standards may be different than what you are accustomed to when traveling to other destinations. Hotels are standard and comfortable with basic amenities. Flights may be delayed and ground transportation may be limited, thus causing adjustments to your scheduled itinerary. To avoid disappointment, we ask you to consider these factors when traveling to Bhutan

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Bumthang Cultural Tour | Best Bhutan Tour