Heart of the Himalayas

We meet you at Paro airport and drive to Thimphu. In the afternoon we visit the National Memorial Chorten and the Buddha Dordenma, and call at Tashichho Dzong once the offices have closed. Dinner is at the hotel.

A day in the capital. We visit the National Institute for Zorig Chusum and the Textile Museum in the morning, and Changangkha Lhakhang and the Takin Preserve after lunch. There is time to walk the craft bazaar on Norzin Lam, where most of what is sold is made in Bhutan.

From Dochu La and its 108 chortens the road falls nearly 1,900 m to the Punakha valley. We visit Chimi Lhakhang on foot through the rice fields, and then Punakha Dzong, built in 1637 on the tongue of land between the Pho Chhu and the Mo Chhu.

A short walk across the suspension bridge starts the day. We then drive past Wangdue Phodrang and up into the Black Mountains, reaching Phobjikha by early afternoon. We visit Gangtey Goenpa and walk the nature trail down to the valley floor while the light is good.

This is the big travelling day. The road crosses Pele La, the traditional boundary between western and central Bhutan, where yaks graze beside the road in the colder months. Lower down we stop at Chendebji Chorten, a white stupa beside a stream.

Trongsa Dzong comes into view across a gorge long before we reach it. We have lunch in the town, walk through the dzong's stepped courtyards and visit the museum in the watchtower above. Then one more pass, Yotong La, and the descent into Bumthang through the weaving villages of the Chumey valley.

The temples of the Chokhor valley lie close enough together to walk between. We begin at Jambay Lhakhang, founded in the 7th century, and continue to Kurjey Lhakhang, where a rock in the oldest temple bears the imprint of Guru Rinpoche's body. A footbridge leads across the river to Tamshing Lhakhang, founded in 1501, whose wall paintings are among the oldest in the country.

After lunch we visit Jakar Dzong above the town and leave time to walk the single main street.

The flight from Bumthang to Paro takes about 25 minutes and, on a clear day, runs alongside the high Himalaya. In Paro we visit the National Museum in Ta Dzong and walk down to Rinpung Dzong. The rest of the afternoon is yours.

We climb to Taktsang in the cool of the morning. The round trip takes four to five hours with the visit, and there is a teahouse halfway for a rest. After lunch we stop at Kyichu Lhakhang, which was built in the same century as Jambay Lhakhang in Bumthang and, by tradition, by the same king.

Your guide and driver take you to the airport after breakfast.