Bhutan Thunder Dragon Tour

Overview And Highlights

Trip Facts

Trip Type

Sightseeing Tour

Duration

10 Days

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Bhutan Thunder Dragon Tour is one of the most popular cultural tours in Bhutan that blends unique and amazing culture, nature, adventure and history of Bhutan. The 10-day tour covers all the popular spots in Bhutan and combines experiences in all three major cities: Paro, Thimphu and Punakha.

This incredible tour begins with short but scenic mountain flight from Nepal to Bhutan. Some unique highlights of the program includes learning about ancient skills of Thankga painting, paper making and medicinal practices, visiting Punakha Dzong on the confluence of Po Chu and Mo Chu Rivers, exploring Thimphu Valley & Dochula Pass and enjoying spectacular views of Mt. Jhomolari (highest peak in Bhutan). The tour includes visit to many popular Dzongs and monasteries which are the center of belief and lifestyle of Bhutanese people.

Bhutan tour can be done over different duration but the 10-day Bhutan Thunder Dragon Tour is probably the best to experience Bhutan.

Itinerary Expand All Close All

Day 1 : Arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu.

Food

Welcome Drink

Accomodation

Hotel

Elevation

1400

Upon your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, you will be welcomed by our airport representative and transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon, you can take a stroll around and visit local shops. Stay overnight at hotel in Kathmandu.

Day 2 : City Tour of Kathmandu

Food

Breakfast

Accomodation

Hotel

Elevation

1400

Enjoy your morning breakfast, after which your tour guide will pick you up from hotel and take you for city sightseeing. You will visit popular world heritage monuments in Kathmandu including Kathmandu Durbar Square, Boudha Stupa, Swoyambhu Stupa, and Pashupatinath along with Kopan Monastery. By late afternoon you will arrive back in your hotel. Stay overnight at hotel in Kathmandu.

Day 3 : City Tour of Patan and Bhaktapur

Food

Breakfast

Accomodation

Hotel

Elevation

1400

Today too, after breakfast, the tour guide will pick you up from your hotel and visit Patan, one of the three medieval cities of Kathmandu Valley. You will enjoy and revel at the many architectural wonders of Patan Durbar Square including Krishna Mandir, statue of Bhupatindra Malla, Golden Temple, Namo Buddha and so on. The experience of walking through the narrow cobbled alleyways and discovering the age-old culture and tradition of Newari people will take you back in time.

Later you will visit Bhaktapur Durbar Square, another world heritage site. Bhaktapur has so much to offer to the tourists from medieval temples and statues to pottery square to local delicacioes. 55-Window Palace, Nyatapola Temple, Pottery Square are some of the sites you will visit in the square. Following the completion of the tour in Bhaktapur you will drive back to Kathmandu. Stay overnight at hotel in Kathmandu.

Day 4 : Kathmandu - Paro - Thimphu, 1 hr. Drive

Food

Breakfast/lunch/dinner

Accomodation

Hotel

Elevation

2248

Today, you will take a morning flight from Kathmandu to Paro, Bhutan. The short mountain flight provides fascinating views of the Himalayas. From mid air you can observe green fertile valleys, forested mountains and magnificent snowcapped peaks together with Paro dzong In the evening, you will have free time to explore the city. Stay overnight at hotel in Thimphu.

Day 5 : Sightseeing in Thimphu

Food

Breakfast/lunch/dinner

Accomodation

Hotel

Elevation

2248

The day starts with warm delicious breakfast prepared in your hotel. Today you will enjoy full day sightseeing in and around Thimphu. First stop is the National Library, that is stocked with ancient Buddhist manuscript and the Painting School where traditional art painting Thangkas (sacred Buddhist religious scrolls) is still kept alive. You will then visit Traditional Medicine Institute where medicines are prepared based on ancient practices, Handicraft Emporium followed by Bhutanese traditional paper making factory. You will also go to Memorial chorten built in the memory of the late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck and the impressive 15th century Changangkha Monastery. Thereafter you will drive down to beautiful Thimphu valley.

After lunch you will go for a hike to Tango Monastery. It takes 1 hr, a climb of about 280m, to reach the monastery. Stay overnight at hotel in Thimphu.

Day 6 : Thimphu - Punakha, Drive - 3 hr.

Food

Breakfast/lunch/dinner

Accomodation

Hotel

Elevation

1200

After breakfast, you will go on a morning drive to Punakha. The road heads up from Simtokha Dzong into the pine forest occasionally passing by local villages before arriving at the northern ridge of the mountains. As you approach the Dochula Pass (10,500 feet) you will witness a spectacular panorama of full range of Himalayan peaks of Bhutan. You will also visit 108 memorial chortens and the Druk Wangyal Lhakhang. It takes another hour or more to reach Punakha from here.

Punakha served as the capital of Bhutan until 1955. The town of Punakha, while dominated by its Dzong, developed in 1990's through several government sponsored programs. Visit Punakha Dzong considered one of the most important and also one of the most beautiful Dzongs in the kingdom situated in the middle of two rivers (Pho chu and Mo chu).

After lunch, hike to the beautiful Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten, dedicated to the Fifth King of Bhutan and built to remove negative forces and to provide peace, stability and harmony in an ever changing world. It took eight and half years to build the three leveled chorten. Stay overnight at hotel in Punakha.

Day 7 : Punakha - Paro, Drive - 4 hr.

Food

Breakfast/lunch/dinner

Accomodation

Hotel

Elevation

2266

Following breakfast, take a morning walk to Chimi Lhakhang chorten. Built in 1499 by the 14th Drukpa hierarch, Ngawang Choegyel, the site was blessed by the famous ‘divine madman’, Drukpa Kunley. The Chorten is a pilgrim site especially for women who wish for fertility. Enjoy lunch before driving to Paro. Following hotel check-in, you will have free time to relax. Stay overnight at hotel in Paro.

Day 8 : Sightseeing in Paro

Food

Breakfast/lunch/dinner

Accomodation

Hotel

Elevation

2266

Today you will enjoy a full sightseeing in and around Paro. You will start off with a short hike up to popular Taktsang monastery (Tiger’s nest). The monastery is a sacred site where Guru Padmasambava is said to have landed on the back of a tiger in the 8th century, and mediated there for three months. The monastery also serves as a great viewpoint. Next visit the ruins of Drukgyal Dzong, an old fort which offers a scenic panorama of Bhutanese landscape. On a clear day you can get a glimpse of Mt. Jhomolhari(7314m/24000 feet) from here.

Afterwards visit the Ta Dzong (built in 1656 and renovated in 1968), an ancient watchtower, which now houses the National Museum. This unusual round building is in the shape of a conch shell. Further down from here is Paro Rimpung Dzong, meaning 'Heap of Jewels', whch was built in 1646 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal and acts as the centre of civil and religious authority in this valley. The dzong is a finest example of Bhutanese architecture.

Next you will visit Kichu Lhakhang, built by the Tibetan king Srongsen Gampo in 659AD. This monastery is one of the 108 monasteries built across the Himalayan region by the King Srongsem to subdue the Demons. Stay overnight at hotel in Paro.

Day 9 : Paro - Kathmandu

Food

Breakfast & Dinner

Accomodation

Hotel

Elevation

1400

After morning breakfast, your guide will escort you to the airport. Enjoy the short mountain flight from Paro to Kathmandu. Our representative will receive you at the airport and transfer you to hotel in Kathmandu. Stay overnight at hotel in Kathmandu.

Day 10 : Departure

Food

Breakfast

Elevation

1400

Our office representative will drive you to Kathmandu International Airport for final departure.

What Is Included ?

a) Kathmandu

All airport pick-up and drop-off services by private vehicle
5 night hotel accommodation with breakfast and lunch at 3 star standards hotel
2 full days sightseeing in and around Kathmandu valley as per the itinerary with English speaking tour guide/s and transport by private vehicle
One farewell dinner in Kathmandu with live cultural performance at authentic Nepali restaurant on the last evening

b) Trekking

Trekking guide/s
One porter for every two participants (1 porter carries 25 kilograms of luggage)
All meals three times a day (breakfast, lunch & dinner)
Accommodation at best available lodges/ hotels
Entry permits for Shivapuri National Park
Land transportation from Kathmandu to Sundarijal and Panauti to Kathmandu by private vehicle
Meals, accommodation, insurance and equipment for guides and porters
First aid kit
Tax, VAT and our service charge
Rescue assistance (In case of emergency while trekking in mountains, we will organize prompt and professional rescue services. To arrange timely evacuation/rescue by helicopter, you must be well insured from a reliable travel

c) Bhutan tour

All airport pick-up and drop-off services by private vehicle
Tour guide
Visa for Bhutan
Travel permit
All land transportation by private vehicle
All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) during the trip
Hotel accommodation at 3 star standards hotel
All entry fees
Sightseeing
Tourist Development Fee (TDF)

What Is Excluded?

Personal nature expenses (Telephone calls, internet, toiletries, battery recharge, hot shower, laundry, soft drinks, beers and any alcoholic beverages)
Travel insurance
Tips for guides and porters
Dinner in Kathmandu
Entrance fees while sightseeing in Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur