Glimpse of Bhutan

A glimpse of Bhutan tour offers an enthralling and unspoiled cultural and natural greatness. Enjoy Bhutanese hospitality, admire the ever-changing landscapes and immerse yourself in Bhutan’s rich Buddhist lifestyle at some point in your glimpse tour of Bhutan. The complete glimpse tour of Bhutan is designed covering all the famous sightseeing destinations and hazard to peer outstanding artifacts of Bhutanese regular tradition and historical spots.

Bhutan Trip Plan
3 nights and 4 Days

SEM-ZANG Tours is a Bhutanese tour operator who provide Bhutan tours and Bhutan travel services across Bhutan.

High Season Months: March, April, May, June, September, October and November.
Lean Season Months: January, February, July, August, and December.

Itinerary
Day 01: Arrival – Paro to Thimphu
Day 02: Thimphu
Day 03: Thimphu to Paro
Day 04: Departure

Highlights:
This 4-day Bhutan Travel will help you to have a relaxing holiday in the three top tourism districts in Bhutan. You can have better understanding about Bhutan’s capital city and its arts and festivals. You will have a paranormal view of each district and find out the secret of happiness in this tiny Buddhist country. With a trek to the Paro Taktsang (Tigers Nest), get a good view of the beautiful buildings and picturesque landscapes, what an unforgettable Bhutan trip!

Start your Bhutan Travel with a contact of the SEM-ZANG Tours Team. As your Bhutan Luxury Tour Package specialist, we are happy to do the rest for you in advance to be sure you can enjoy a unique Bhutan Luxury Holiday in your style.

Day 01: Arrival – Paro to Thimphu
Day 1: Arrive Paro-Thimphu (Airport Pick-up, National Memorial Chorten, Folk Heritage Museum, Buddha Dordenma Statue)

Tashi Delek and welcome to Bhutan. With your flight landing at the only international airport in Bhutan that is located in Paro (2,262m). Then head to your Hotel (58km, about 1.5h) and check in.

After settling in your hotel, according to your time and interests, you can visit Buddha Dordenma Statue (the largest sitting Shakyamuni statue in the world), National Memorial Chorten (a landmark of Thimphu city) or stroll on the main street of Bhutan’s capital city-Thimphu (2,320 m). Sure, you can also choose to stay at your sweet hotel for a good rest while getting used to the time difference.

Meals： Dinner
Accommodation: Thimphu

Day 02: Thimphu – Cultural Sightseeing
Day 2: Thimphu (Thimphu Tashicho Dzong, Dochula, Takin Preserve, Folk Heritage Museum)

Today, you will explore Tashichho Dzong (Thimphu Dzong) and the most famous festival Thimphu Tshechu. If it is during the weekend you will be happy to walk around the local market in Thimphu. After the rich experience in Thimphu you can relax at you lovely hotel.
Tashichho Dzong (Thimphu Dzong) is located on the right side of the Wangchu River in the northern part of Thimphu city. As the “Fortress of the glorious religion”, it houses the throne room of His Majesty the King, government offices, and the central monk body. Thimphu Dzong was initially erected in 1641 and rebuilt by King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck in the 1960s. There are two main entrances in the Tashichho Dzong. One leads to the administrative section to the south and the other one (at the north) leads to the monastic quarter where festivals and dances are performed.

Dochula Pass
Later, we will stop over for tea at Dochula Pass (3,100 m), where on a sunny day, you can get
stunning views of the Himalayan ranges. The Dochu La Pass is probably the best known
mountain pass in Bhutan. Located at an altitude of 3150 meter above sea level, the Dochu La
Pass is about 30 kilometer away from the capital city Thimphu and the road to Punakha.

On a clear day the pass offers visitors a spectacular view of the majestic eastern Himalayan
Ranges. A cup of hot coffee or tea at the pass has almost become part of tradition for people
travelling to and fro from Punakha to the capital city.

There is a small cafeteria at the pass that offers a chance for travelers to enjoy a hot beverage or a snack, it is located just off the road and overlooks the pass and is an ideal place to sit back, relax and enjoy the view. Another striking feature at the pass is the 108 Druk Wangyal Khangzang Chortens that were built for the well-being of all sentiment beings on earth. The 108 Chorten were built as a tribute to the Kings of Bhutan for their selfless service and leadership they offer to the people of Bhutan. These Stupas or Chortens also represent the peoples love, appreciation and loyalty towards the country’s King.

Motithang Takin preserve
The Motithang Takin Preserve also known as the Thimphu Zoo by many is a small natural
preserve for the Takin Bhutan’s national animal. It was originally a mini zoo, but it was
converted in a preserve later on as the Takin.

The mini zoo contained a small number of Takin but the King of Bhutan later decreed that it was improper for a Buddhist nation to keep an animal in captivity. The animals were set free and the zoo was shut down, but for some reason the Takin refused to leave the area for the forests nearby. Instead the animals were frequently found roaming around the streets of the capital city in search for food. As a result the government decided to demarcate an 8 acre fenced location as the Motithang Takin Preserve. The preserve is a forested preserve that mimics the Takin’s natural habitat, in addition to the Takin there are a few musk deer and barking deer that live inside the preserve. There are plans to expand the preserves collection to include other rarely seen animals that live in Bhutan, currently the preserve plans to add the Red Panda and the Himalayan Serow to the preserve.

Folk Heritage Museum.
The folk heritage museum was open to the general public in 2001 upon completion. It treasures
Troves of culture and rich Bhutanese heritage provide rich insights into the Bhutanese ethos. Try to schedule your visit during the morning hours since the museum is less crowded at that time and there is plenty of sunlight to go around. The folk heritage museum is housed in a replica traditional Bhutanese house learn first-hand about Bhutan’s rich cultural traditions, its deeply rooted heritage which spans thousands of years and the Bhutanese way of life. The tour of this almost living museum will also give you a glimpse onto how many rural folk of the country live today following the ancient Bhutanese ways.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Thimphu

Day 03: Thimphu to Paro – Cultural Sightseeing
Day 3: Paro (Tiger’s Nest Monastery, Kyichu Lhakang)

Today we will drive early in the morning from Thimphu to Paro then to the start point of the hiking route of the Tiger’s Nest Monastery. It takes about 2.5 hours to reach Tiger’s Nest by foot (5 hours for a round trip), and you can have a rest at the view terrace which is located at the halfway point of the hiking road. Also, you can choose to ride a horse (self-paying) from the camp base to the Taktsang Cafeteria (lunch spot). Then have a visit to one of the oldest monastery in Bhutan-Kyichu Lhakang before head back to your hotel.

Tiger’s Nest Monastery (Taktsang Goemba, Takhtsang Lakhang, and Paro Taktshang), first built in 1692, is the iconic landmark of Bhutan. As a world cultural heritage, it is sited on the side of a cliff at a height of 900m above the Paro valley. It is said that Guru Rinpoche (a Buddhist saint) rode a tigress to the current site of the monastery and meditated in a cave for 3 years 3 months and 3 days. Now it is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Bhutan and a sacred religious site for Bhutanese to pilgrimage at least once in a lifetime.

Kyichu Lhakhang is one of the oldest monasteries that marks the beginning of Buddhism in Bhutan. It was built in 659AD by King Songtsen Gompo (Tibetan Emperor) as one of the 108 monasteries he made. In 1971 a Guru Temple was added by Her Majesty Azhi Keshang Choden Wangchuck, the wife of the Third King of Bhutan. You can see the original 7th-century Jowo Sakyamuni Statue (the same era as the one in Lhasa’s Jokhang Temple) and Chenrezig with 11 heads and 1000 arms there. There is also a magical orange tree outside the courtyard that is said to bear fruits all year round.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Paro

Day 04: Departure

Time to say goodbye and your journey in Bhutan, the beautiful Himalayan country. Your local guide will meet you at your hotel and guide you to the international airport. Happiness is a place, wish you get happiness and great memories from the Bhutan trip with us. We look forward to seeing you again, Tashi Delek!

Meal: Breakfast