Assemble at the Airport for your departure flight to Bangkok. Free at your own leisure. Stay 1N at Bangkok.

Assemble at the Airport for your departure flight. Upon arrival we will drive into town for lunch. We'll visit the National Museum, housed in an old watchtower above the Paro Dzong. The museum's collections include displays of spectacular thangkas (religious scroll paintings), bronze statues, Bhutan's beautiful stamps, and the Tshogshing Lhakhang (Temple of the Tree of Wisdom), with its carvings depicting the history of Buddhism. Time permitting; we will also visit the Paro Dzong itself, built in 1644 by the Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal.

Day 03: Paro/Thimpu (B/L/D)
Morning we will drive to Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan, where we check into our hotel. In the afternoon we will visit some of the sites in town. These may include Tashichho Dzong, seat of Bhutan's administrative and religious center; the Traditional Hospital of Herbal Medicine; and a school that trains students to paint, sculpts, and carves religious artwork.

Day 04: Thimphu/Punakha (B/L/D)
Morning we will drive across the Dochu La pass at 10,000 feet, where we might view the snow-covered peaks of the eastern Himalaya (weather permitting). The pass is marked by hundreds of colorful fluttering prayer flags and is an awesome sight. Continue to Punakha, winter seat of the highest lama in Bhutan until the 1950s. Lunch on the way. After lunch we will hike to chimmi lhakhang and visit punakha Dzong.

Bumthang is the cultural heart of Bhutan and is considered the most beautiful valley in the country, a haven for hikers and religious pilgrims. Numerous monasteries and pilgrimage sites are located here, making it the cultural and historic center of Bhutan. One could spend months exploring this fascinating valley: almost every little valley or hill has a background of interesting myths and legends. Bumthang is dotted with the religious relics left by the famous Guru Rimpoche and his reincarnation, the Treasure-Finder, Terton Pema Lingpa, who is known to have found the sacred Ters of Buddhist texts after diving into Membartsho Lake (which we will visit on an optional hike). Places of interest are the Jakar Dzong, the Jambey and Tamshing Lhakhangs, two of the oldest temples dating as far back as the 7th century, and Kurje Lhakhang. While in Bumthang, we will visit the many temples and monuments of this picturesque valley.

After breakfast we’ll retrace much of our route across the country to Wangdue Phodrang, the site of an impressive monastery perched on a promontory above the river. Wangdue Phodrang Dzong is noted for its silver-shingled roof and narrow courtyards with long balconies.

Drive back to same road via Dochula pass. Stop lunch at Thimphu and drive to paro.

Flight details:
Sin – Bangkok            ETD: 1225       ETA: 1345 | Bangkok – Paro         ETD:  0650      ETA: 1015
Paro – Bangkok         ETD: 1110       ETA: 1610 | Bangkok – SIN           ETD: 1925       ETA: 2245