Spring in Bhutan

April 7:  Arrival in Bhutan - Paro
Welcome to the land of the thunder dragon; Bhutan remains a mystery to many, and landing in Paro is where the excitement starts. Cruising over the treeline, slowly zigzagging into the country, the international airport pops up pretty last minute. Still, with only a few pilots that are trained enough to fly this route, it’s going to be smooth sailing. Upon arrival, you will be mesmerized by the small, artsy, and charismatic airport and customs will feel like being greeted by an old friend rather than a government clarity. You will be greeted by your personal guide and driver and visit the National Museum of Bhutan before you take off to Paro Eco Lodge, where you will check in and rest. In the evening, we will go out and explore the local market and Paro town and watch people who are already in a celebratory mood. Enjoy our first dinner in the town. 

April 8: Paro Festival - Colors, masked dances and rituals 
Today, we will be spending the day at the Paro Tsechu. The Paro festival is one of the biggest in the country. It attracts hundreds of local people who come in their finest clothes to watch masked dances, religious rituals, and comedic entertainment. It’s an absolute must-see and a highlight of our stay in Bhutan. Overnight at Paro Eco Lodge.

April 9: Hike to the iconic Tigers Nest 
In the morning, we will be picked up from our hotel and taken to the starting point for your trek to the famous tiger's nest / Taktsang Monastery. This will take approximately 3 hrs uphill. After a visit to the iconic Tigers nest, sitting on a cliff above the Paro Valley, you will hike back down, which takes approximately 2 hours. After you head back down, a delicious picnic lunch will be waiting for you, and we will head to the hotel, where we can freshen up and change before we head to the riverside for a game of traditional archery and a delicious local dinner. 

April 10: Old and new Bhutan, our stay in the capital city, Thimphu 
After a leisurely breakfast, we will be heading towards the capital city of Bhutan. Where many expect skyscrapers, neon lights, and busy streets in an Asian capital city, Thimphu is quite the opposite.  The city has no traffic lights, but rather one traffic controller, no sky scrapers but traditional buildings, but we will still be able to find some great hidden gems in the capital. Upon arrival in Thimphu, we will check into our hotel, The Capital Hotel, and head out to visit the Memorial Chorten and the craft bazaar. If time allows, we will visit the local crafts and art school as well, where we can learn more about the teaching of all the details that you see in the temples, monasteries, and local buildings. We will enjoy dinner in the city, and whoever is up for it will join the locals for some karaoke songs. 

April 11: Thimphu, something old, something new
After a hearty breakfast, we will visit Buddha Point, where you will visit the impressive Buddha and see more than 100,000 small Buddhas inside. From the Buddha, we will take a leisurely 2 hr hike to the other side of town, where we will be picked up and taken for lunch. After lunch, we will visit the Takin Preserve, home to Bhutan's national animal. After this, we will head out to the school of astrology and visit the farmers market, where we will buy ingredients for Momo night. We are heading to a local family home where we will learn how to prepare and fold Momo and enjoy this family dinner with some butter tea or local wine called Ara. Overnight at The Capital Hotel

April 12: Thimphu - Gangtey, reaching new heights 
After breakfast, we will leave the capital city behind and depart for Gangtey. This journey will take approximately 4 hours, but we will make several stops along the way. Our first stop will be Dochula Pass, where you will have lovely views over the Himalayas on a clear day. Our second stop will be in Gangtey at the black-necked crane centre, where we have the opportunity to learn more about these special birds that migrate from Tibet to Bhutan every winter and how Gangtey Valley protects them. We will check into ABC Lodge for our dinner and overnight. 

April 13: Gangtey Valley: A Glacial Valley 
Today, we will explore more of Gangtey and Phobjikha Valley, also known as Bhutan's beautiful glacial valley. We will start with a visit to the Gangtey Monastery and continue on a beautiful nature walk in the valley, enjoying stunning sights and beautiful nature. We will stop at a local house for tea and some chit-chatting before we continue our walk. In the evening, we will head off to Punakha, with a short stop at Lawa La Pass. Upon arrival in Punakha,  we will check into a local farm and stay for the next two nights, where we will learn more about the daily Bhutanese life. Overnight at Ama Oms Homestay. 

April 14: Gangtey - Punakha: The old capital 
After breakfast, we will start our day exploring the old capital of Bhutan and start with a visit the Punakha Dzong, one of the country's most significant and beautiful dzongs. After a visit to the Dzong, we will continue to the iron suspension bridge, where we will cross the longest suspension bridge in Bhutan. After lunch, we will visit the nunnery and learn more about the local life of the nuns before we head back to Ama Oms Homestay. 

April 15: Punakha - Paro 
After breakfast, we will depart to Khamsum Yulley Namgyel Chorten for a beautiful 45-minute hike up to the Chorten, offering some of the best views over Punakha Valley. We will visit the chorten, hike back down, and continue to Lobesa, the village of the divine madman, also known as the fertility village. You will enjoy your lunch here overlooking the village and the temple before you take a walk to the village, where you will be surprised by the “decoration” on the local houses. You will visit the temple, where you can learn about the story of the divine madman and why this temple is so important for young families trying to conceive. We will then proceed to Paro for our last night in Bhutan at Paro Eco Lodge.

April 16: Paro International Airport
After breakfast and a leisurely morning, you will be taken to the airport for your departure flight as you bid farewell to the last Shangri-la.