Day 1: Landing in Paro
You will be greeted by Bhutan Gateway Travel at the Paro airport. In the afternoon you will drive to Drugyal Dzong (a ruined fortress - 16kms from Paro town). Although in ruins, this Dzong is of great historical importance. It was here that the Bhutanese finally defeated the invading Tibetans and drove them back. From here, the peak of Mount Jumolhari ("Mountain of Goddess") can be seen on a clear day. In the evening you can explore Paro town. Overnight in Paro. Yors Yang Hotel
Day 2: Paro sightseeing and drive to Thimphu (2-hour drive)
After breakfast you can visit the Paro Rinpung Dzong. It was built in 1646 and now houses government offices and religious institutions, as do all the dzongs (forts) currently. You can then visit Kyichu Lhakhang, the oldest temple in the country.
In the afternoon you will drive to Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan. The drive to Thimphu is along a winding road following the Paro and Thimphu rivers. In the evening you can explore Thimphu town and visit local shops and handicraft stores. Overnight in Thimphu. Hotel Phuntsho Pelri
Day 3: Thimphu sightseeing
After breakfast you will visit the following places:
-- King's Memorial Chorten (built in memory of the third King of Bhutan)
-- Chang Gangkha Monastery
-- Radio tower (for a great view of Thimphu Valley)
-- Drak-Tsho Vocational Training Center for Disabilities
-- Takin Reserve (which contains the national animal of Bhutan)
-- Nunnery Temple and National Library (which houses ancient manuscripts)
-- School of Arts and Crafts (also known as the painting school)
-- Folk Heritage Museum and the Textile Museum
-- Tashicho Dzong (summer residence for monks and chief abbot)
Overnight in Thimphu. Hotel Phuntsho Pelri
Day 4: Thimphu day hike Tango and Cheri monasteries
After breakfast you will drive 12km north of Thimphu to hike to Tango and Cheri monasteries. It will take about 45 minutes to hike to each monastery. Tango Monastery is a Buddhist college, and it's the residence of the Desi Tenzin Rabgye, a young boy who is the reincarnation of the 16th-century monk who built Tango. Afterward, if you wish, you can wander through Jigme Dorji Wangchuk National Park. Overnight in Thimphu Hotel Phuntsho Pelri
Day 5: Thimphu - Wangduephodrang (3-hour drive)
After breakfast you will drive to Wangduephodrang. The drive takes you across the Dochula Pass (10,230 ft), which is marked by a large Bhutanese chorten (Buddhist monument) and prayer flags. You will stop on the pass for tea, and if the weather is clear, you will take in beautiful views of the high peaks of the eastern Himalayas. The road to Wangdue winds down from the pass, meandering through magnificent pine and rhododendron forests, giving you a glimpse of some of the most picturesque countryside in Bhutan.
After lunch you will drive to Punakha, the former capital of Bhutan, and visit Punakha Dzong, which is noteworthy both for being one of the most beautiful dzongs in Bhutan and also for having been built by the first Shabdrung in 1637. On the way back from Punakha, you will stop at Metshina Village and take a 20-minute walk through the rice fields to Chimi Lakhang, which is a fertility temple, where you may receive a special fertility blessing if you wish. Overnight in Wangdue. Dragon’s Nest Resort
Day 6: Wangduephodrang - Trongsa (5-hour drive)
You will begin the day by driving to Gantey. You'll pass through dense forests of oak trees and rhododendrons and arrive at Gantey village, where you'll visit Gantey Gompa, the only Nyingmapa monastery in western Bhutan. From Gantey, you can see the picturesque Black Mountain range as well as Phobjika Valley, the winter habitat of the black-necked cranes. From there you'll head to Trongsa, the ancestral home of the royal family. The route is along a spectacular winding road, crossing 3,300-meter-high Pele La. You can browse through the Trongsa shops and town in the evening. Overnight in Trongsa. Yangkill Lodge
Day 7: Trongsa - Bumthang (3-hour drive)
In the morning you'll visit Trongsa Dzong, the masterpiece of Bhutanese architecture, and you'll also see Ta Dzong, the watchtower built to defend this dzong. After lunch, you'll proceed to Bumthang, the religious heartland of the nation, with lush valleys and hilly forests. Along the way you will stop at a yethra (textile weaving) factory, where the yethras are designed with patterns unique to Bumthang, and you can even watch some of the weavers at their looms. You can spend the evening strolling through Bumthang town. Overnight in Bumthang. Wangdi Cholling Lodge
Day 8: Sightseeing in Bumthang valley
After breakfast you will visit the following places:
-- Jakar Dzong (fortress)
-- Jambey Lhakhang (one of the oldest monasteries in Bhutan)
-- Kurjey Lhakhang (temple of Guru Rinpoche's body print)
-- Tamshing Lhakhang (see old Buddhist paintings)
-- Mebar Tsho (Burning Lake)
-- Short hike to Thangbi Monastery in the afternoon
You can spend the evening exploring Bumthang town. Overnight in Bumthang. Wangdi Cholling Lodge
Day 9: Bumthang – Wangduephodrang (6-7 hour drive)
You'll begin the day at the Bumthang market, and then drive to Wangduephodrang, where you can stroll through the town and visit the shops. The nearby villages are known for their slate and stone carvings and bamboo work. Overnight in Wangduephodrang. Dragon’s Nest Resort
Day 10: Wangduephodrang – Paro (5-hour drive)
In the morning you will drive back to Paro. On the way to Paro you can visit the Simtokha dzong, which is the oldest dzong in Bhutan. From Simtokha you will continue to drive to Paro. In the evening you can explore Paro town. Overnight in Paro. Yors Yang Hotel
Day 11: Paro (hike to Tiger's Nest Monastery)
After breakfast you will hike to Taktsang (Tiger's Nest) Monastery, which is Bhutan's most famous monastery. It is perched on the edge of a steep cliff, about 900 meters above Paro Valley. The hike to reach the viewpoint to the monastery makes for a nice half-day excursion. Later you will visit the National Museum, formerly the watchtower for the dzong. It now houses a collection of fine arts, paintings, thankas, statues, and antiques.
In the evening you can visit a traditional farmhouse and, if you wish, enjoy a typical Bhutanese dinner and a hot stone bath at a farm house. Overnight in Paro. Yors Yang Hotel
Day 12: Depart Paro
| 
