2025 Punakha Festival & overland to Bumthang
Private journey
From March 09-21, 2025
Service includes:
Guides, drivers, private vehicles, lodges, meals, visas, permits, admissions to temples & monuments, museums & all ground costs & fees (***Tips & Gratuities are not included***)
Attend a colorful masked dance festival
Visit lovely Punakha valley, ancient Bhutanese capital
...an event at the 💗 of the kingdom's spiritual traditions
First stop: Paro, West Bhutan
...a place of serene rice fields and ancient temples
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Next, drive 4 hours to Punakha
Follow the lush Mochu River Valley
...to arrive at the mythically-inspired Pemako
Fly from Bangkok to Paro, March 9, 2025
Return flight from Paro to Bangkok March 21, 2025
Drive 3 hours from Punakha to Gangtey
Check in at the Gangtey Tented (safari style) Camp; visit the Black-necked Crane center to learn about local conservation efforts to save the endangered cranes; hike the serene nature trail where you may see a few final remaining flocks of cranes before they fly off to the Tibetan Plateau.
Enter the grand fortress of Punakha & get festive with the local people of Punakha. Join them at their biggest religious mask dance festival of the year, walk the longest suspension bridge in Bhutan, and meet our dear friend, the celebrated national artist, Kama Wangdi, in his open-air village studio.
Tour and photograph the magnificently-restored Wangduechhoeling Palace Museum; Take the 'Pilgrim's walk,' visiting temples and monasteries from 7th to 17th centuries; Taste Red Panda Beer, local Swiss cheese, apple juice and fresh homemade Stroopwafel for the young & young-at-heart 💛
Take relaxed rambles through the scenic countryside and walk to villages upriver on both sides of the Chamkhar River, stopping at local heritage sites like Thangbi and Ngang Lhakhang with delicious picnic lunches in between discovering spectacular local temples in the cultural heart of the kingdom.
Next, explore the lovely valleys of Bumthang
Take a 2 hour drive along winding mountain roads to Tang, where we cross a bridge and hike uphill through frozen-in-time villages to the Ogyen Choling Manor and Museum. Stay overnight and discover why this lovely place has been featured in Dwell Magazine and the NYTimes.
Drive 4-5 hours from Gangtey to Bumthang, royal heart of the kingdom
Includes all guides and ground services, lodges, meals, visas, permits and all entrances, fees and attractions
Return after breakfast to the Tang Nunnery and trek over the mountain pass to Jakar; spend the late afternoon at a Buddhist lamp lighting ceremony at the Kharchu Dratshang monastery before returning to the lodge.
Drive to Thimphu to check in at your secluded lodge set amid pine trees; Visit the Bhutan Foundation offices & meet Country Director Norbu Dema for an interesting conversation about their projects. See the city's markets, meet artisans, visit the textile museum & the school of traditional arts and crafts.
Visit the 14th century Changangkha Temple & light butter lamps for world peace, followed by a 2-hour uphill hike to the giant Buddha. Lunch is at our secret spot for the tastiest Himalayan dumplings in town, followed an afternoon stroll through the interesting centenary farmer's market.
Drive to 1.5 hours to the trailhead in Paro and hike up to famous Tiger's Nest Monastery; in the afternoon, a final opportunity to browse the Paro market and buy local gifts and souvenirs, or enjoy a round of traditional archery with your Bhutan Himalaya Expeditions crew.
Includes all guides and ground services, lodges, meals, visas, permits and all entrances, fees and attractions
Take the domestic flight from Bumthang to Paro
To read more about the lodges on this trip, please visit the following links:
Pemako Punakha | Gangtey Tented Camp | Mountain Resort, Bumthang | Ogyen Choling Heritage Lodge, Tang | The Zhiwa Ling Ascent, Thimphu | The Paro Uma Resort by COMO
We bid farewell following a final breakfast, after which we bring you back to the airport in time for your return flight to Bangkok & onward connections home.