Victory Vision 

The highlight of this 8 day tour is a full day excursion to the picturesque, remote Haa valley (2,430m) which has only recently been opened to tourism. The first three days of the tour will be spent sightseeing in the beautiful Paro valley. On the fourth day, we will travel to Haa from Paro via a high mountain pass, have a picnic lunch on arrival, and then sightsee locally. In the late afternoon we will continue on to Thimphu via the low road which follows the river to Chuzom, where it meets up with the main highway to Thimphu. We will stay two nights in Thimphu, before driving over a high pass to Punakha for local sightseeing and an overnight stay. We will drive back to Paro late afternoon on the seventh day of the tour, for our final night in Bhutan..

Day 01: Arrive Paro
The first gift from Bhutan will be the cool, clean fresh air as you step out of the plane at Paro. Bhutan Majestic Travel representative will meet you on arrival and take you to your hotel. Afternoon free for activities or at leisure. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 02: Paro (2,200m/7,218ft)
This beautiful valley 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. Mt. Chomolhari (7,300m) 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.

Sightseeing will include visits to the following places:
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. Though largely destroyed by fire in 1951, the towering outer walls and central keep remain an imposing sight. On a clear day there is a splendid view of Mt. Chomolhari from the approach road to Drukgyel Dzong, which is located 15 km north of Paro town, at the head of the valley.

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. The valley’s annual springtime religious festival, the Paro Tsechu, takes place in the courtyard of the Dzong and on the dance ground on the hillside above.

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’). On account of 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.

Farm Houses: The natural beauty of Paro valley is enhanced by picturesque farm houses dotted about the fields and on the hillsides. The two to three-storied Bhutanese farm houses are handsome in appearance, with colorfully decorated outer walls and lintels, and are traditionally built without the use of single nail. All houses follow the same architectural style. A visit to a farm house gives an interesting glimpse into the lifestyle of a farming family. Overnight at the hotel in Paro.

Day 03: Paro – Taktsang excursion
After breakfast, we take a morning hike up to Taktsang Monastery, also known as ‘Tiger’s Nest’. The climb up to the viewpoint will take around 3 hours and from there you will enjoy a spectacular view of the monastery clinging to the side of the cliff. It is said that in the 8th century Guru Rinpoche flew on the back of a tigress from eastern Bhutan to this place and meditated in a cave here for 3 months. There have been shrines at this sacred place for many centuries. The principal Lhakhang of the present monastic complex dates from 1692. Taktsang was damaged severely by fire in 1998 but has now been fully restored to its former beauty. After lunch at the viewpoint cafeteria, walk back down to the road and drive back to the hotel. Rest of the afternoon free for strolling around Paro town. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 04: Paro – Haa – Thimphu
We start the day early for the drive to Haa via Chele-la pass. After driving 4 km. to Bondey village, we take a side road and begin the steep climb up the hillside to Chele-la (3,810m/12,573ft), reaching the pass after a 45 km. drive upwards through blue pine & rhododendron forest. On a clear day there is a superb view of Mts. Chomolhari and Jichu Drake from this point, so if the weather is favorable we will stop here briefly to stroll around and enjoy the lovely mountain scenery. Then continue on to Haa (2670m/8,811ft), descending all the way for another 22 km., finally reaching Haa after about an hour’s drive.
After a picnic lunch by the river near the new Haa Dzong, we visit two famous monasteries, Lhakhang Karpo (White Temple) and Lhakhang Nagpo (Black Temple) The central shrine in Lhakhang Nagpo is said to be almost identical to that of the Jowo temple in Lhasa. Legend has it that local deities assisted in the construction of Lhakhang Karpo. As a result, the place came to be locally known as ‘Hay’ (meaning ‘surprise’) which later became ‘Haa’ due to varying interpretations and pronunciations over time.
The three giant hills looming over the fringes of Haa valley were called ‘Me Rig Puen Sum’ especially after the event of the Lhakhang Karpo construction. Today the three hills are popularly known as ‘RigSum Gonpa signifying three deities, Jambayang, Chana Dorji and Chenrezig (known in Sanskrit as Manjushri, Varjapani and Avalokiteshvara, respectively). These are the three principal bodhisattvas (Buddhas to be) among the thousand future Buddhas to come, and representations of them are to be found in every Lhakhang (temple) and household shrine room.
Later, other Buddhist saints like Guru Rinpoche and ‘Machi Labdorn’ came to this place, Jungney Drag, in Haa and blessed the locality. After Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal unified the country under the Drukpa Kagyupa sect of Mahayana Buddhism in the early 17th century, the chief guardian deity of Haa became Ap Chundu.
We leave for Thimphu (109 km.) in the late afternoon, traveling by the lower road which follows the river and passing two dzongs en route, at Betikha (34 km. from Haa) and at Dobji (65 km. from Haa). We reach Thimphu in the evening, and check in at our hotel.

Day 05: Thimphu (2,400m/7,875ft)
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. Home to civil servants, expatriates and the monk body, Thimphu maintains a strong national character in its architectural style.

Sightseeing will include following:
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. After His Majesty’s untimely death in 1972, the Royal Family and Cabinet resolved to fulfill his wishes and erect a memorial that would perpetuate his memory and also serve as a monument to peace. The National Memorial Chorten was consecrated on July 28, 1974. The finely executed wall paintings and delicately fashioned statues within the monument provide a deep insight into Buddhist philosophy.

Tashichhodzong: The ‘fortress of the glorious religion’ was initially erected in 1641 and rebuilt by King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck in the 1960s. Tashichhodzong houses some ministries, His Majesty’s secretariat, and the central monk body. It is open to visitors during the Thimphu Tsechu (held in autumn) and while the monk body is resident in its winter quarters in Punakha.

National Library: The National Library was established in the late 1960s primarily to conserve the literary treasures which form a significant part of Bhutan’s cultural heritage. It now houses an extensive collection of Buddhist literature mostly in block-printed format, with some works several hundred years old. This collection, known as the Choekey Collection, mainly comprises Buddhist literature written in Choekey, the religious script of Northern Buddhism, but also includes works written in Tibetan and in Dzongkha, Bhutan’s national language. There is also a small Foreign Books Collection, stock of which mainly comprises works written in English, with subject interest on Buddhist studies, Bhutan, the Himalayan region and neighboring countries.

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. On a visit one can see students learning the various skills taught at the school.

Day 06: Thimphu – Punakha – Wangduephodrang
After breakfast proceed to Punakha (70 km.) stopping briefly about 45 minutes’ drive from Thimphu at Dochu-la pass (3,088m/10,130ft), from which there is a superb view of the eastern Himalayan ranges on a clear day. Then descend to Punakha (1,300m/4,265ft).

Punakha served as the capital of Bhutan until 1955 and is still the winter seat of the Je Khenpo (Chief Abbot). Blessed with a temperate climate and fed by the Pho Chu (male) and Mo Chu (female) rivers, Punakha is the most fertile valley in the country. 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. Damaged over the centuries by four catastrophic fires and an earthquake, it has in recent years been fully restored to its original splendor.

After visiting Punakha Dzong, we drive back down the valley to Wangduephodrang (1,300m/4,265ft). The higher reaches of the Wangduephodrang valley provide rich pastureland for cattle. This district is famous for its fine bamboo work, stone carvings, and slate which is mined up a valley a few kilometers from the town. Located south of Punakha and the last town before central Bhutan, Wangduephodrang is like an extended village with a few well-provisioned shops. Stretched 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.
We conclude today’s sightseeing with a visit to the Dzong, and then drive back to Punakha and check in at our hotel for the night.

Day 07: Punakha – Paro (124 km. and 5 hours’ drive)
En route we visit Semtokha Dzong. This Dzong, built in 1627 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, stands on a low ridge 8 km. down the valley from Thimphu. The Institute for Language and Cultural Studies is located here. The most noteworthy artistic feature of the Dzong is the series of over 300 finely worked slate carvings behind the prayer wheels in the courtyard. Drive on to Paro and check in at our hotel.

Day 08: Depart Paro
After breakfast, drive to airport to catch flight to onward destination.