Day 2
Jan 04 : PARO, HIKE TO TAKTSANG MONASTERY/Thimphu (B,L,D)
Day hike to Taktsang Monastery view point. Taktsang, meaning “Tiger’s nest,” is built around a cave in which Guru Rimpoche (Padmasambhawa) mediated, clings seemingly impossible to a cliff of rock at 3,000 feet above the valley floor. For the local people it is a place of pilgrimage, but for a tourist, a hike up to the view point opposite the monastery is exhausting, thrilling and mystical. The legend has it that Guru Rimpoche is said to have flown to the site of the monastery on the back of a tigress from Tibet and meditated in the cave there for three months. Afternoon, to Thimphu, the capital city for Overnight at Hotel Pedling.

Day 3
Jan 05 : THIMPHU (B/L/D)
Full day sightseeing in and around Thimphu Valley, The largest and Capital City of Bhutan. Some of the attractions include;
- Purchase world’s most beautiful postage stamps, collector’s items and postcards at face value from general post office which is right next to Bhutan National Bank.
- Visit Arts and crafts school where one can see young children at work.
- Visit Traditional Medicine Institute where the ancient healing arts are still practiced.
- Visit Memorial Chorten built in 1974 to honour memory of Late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, popularly known as the Father of Modern Bhutan. A multi-storied stupa that will introduce you to the vitality of Tantric Buddhism.
- Observe traditional paper making from Daphnia and Edgeworthia shrub to the finished product and purchase some beau,tiful writing sets from the factory.
- Visit Botanical garden (Zoo) where one can see Yak and Takin, the National wild animal of Bhutan.
- Drive up to view point and take a hike beyond to see the clear picture of Thimphu Valley.
- Downtown Thimphu on foot visiting Handicrafts Emporium and other Arts & Crafts stores. Buy stunning kiras which can be used as bed covers or wall decoration, jewelries and many more. Overnight Thimphu at Hotel Pedling.

Day 4
Jan 06 : THIMPHU – TRONGSA (B/L/D)

After Breakfast at the hotel, Depart Thimpu and a drive across Dochula Pass (10,500 feet) to the valley of Tongsa is the ancestral home of Bhutan’s Royal Family. Both the First and Second King ruled the Kingdom from this ancient seat. All the Kings of Bhutan has to become Tongsa Penlop (Honorary post of Governor) prior to being crowned as the Druk Gyalpo (King of Bhutan). Tongsa Dzong (fort), one of the largest in the country was first built is 1648 and later enlarged many times. Because of being situated on a highly commanding position on the only connecting route between the eastern and western sectors (where trail actually runs through the Dzong), the Tongsa Penlop was able to control the whole of eastern region very effectively for many centuries. Visit the ancient watch tower (Ta Dzong), which is situated just above the town. Continue to Trongsa. Overnight Yangkhil Hotel/Resort overlooking Tongsa Dzong and the watch tower.

Day 5
Jan 07 : TRONGSA TSECHU (FESTIVAL) (B/L/D)
Enjoy the annual Trongsa Festival full day inside Trongsa Dzong. Details of today’s festival program will be provided by your guide. Overnight Trongsa

Day 6
Jan 08 : Nabji Trail TREK: Tongtongphey(1,000m)- Jangbi( 1,350m), circa 3 hours (B/L/D)
After furnishing yourself with ample information about the trek from the information booth at the Park Range office in Tongtongfey, the Jangbi village guide steers you down to the Mangdi river where you cross a suspension bridge. The first day brings you in contact with the Monpas who are believed to be the first inhabitants of Bhutan. A glimpse on their lifestyle further validates their ethnicity, coupled by mythical legends about their origins. The campsite in Jangbi stands on the valley sill, which offers a resplendent view of the Mangdi valley.

Day 7
Jan 09 : Jangbi(1,350m) - Kudra(1,500m), circa 6 hours (B/L/D)
The morning allows you to further interact with the Monpas. Before you proceed, you could pay a visit to the orchid garden till your thirst for botanical photography gets satiated. The hike to Kudra provides a nuance of jovial atmosphere because this part of the trail meanders along stone imprints of Guru Rinpoche’s footprints, dagger and phallus, festooned by stories that espouse Guru’s praxis. Lunch is served just before you reach Ugyendra, a steep cliff below Phrumzur, one of the few villages of the Monpa communities scattered around the trail. With renewed energy from lunch, you could visit the village lhakhang and then proceed to the campsite in Kudra.

Day 8
Jan 10 : Kudra(1,500m) – Nabji(1,300m); circa 6 hours (B/L/D)
You wake up with the distant call of the Rufous-necked hornbill. This part of the trek is a collage of streams, waterfalls and thick forests that will give you an invigorating feeling of being out in the wild. The Great Himalayan Squirrel, Rhesus Mecaques, and small snakes are often spotted along the trail. Unseen but present, are Himalayan black bear, Red pandas, tigers, Clouded leopards and many more. Upon arrival at the holy tree in Nabji, the people will give you a heartwarming reception. Nabji is a beautiful village with endless paddy fields demarcating the valley and surrounding the campsite.

Day 9
Jan 11 : Nabji village (1,300m)- Korphu(1,500m), circa 3 hours (B/L/D)
En route to Korphu, the Nabji temple is located in the middle of the paddy fields. Inside, there remains a stone pillar on which Guru Rinpoche, while traveling through Bhutan in the 8th century, brought consensus between two warring kings: King sindha Gyelp of Bumthang, and King Noeche, by imprinting their thumbs on each side of the stone. Korphu is situated on a mountaintop at an altitude of 1,500m. The most striking thing about Korphu is that the people exemplify hospitality almost treating you like ‘A King on accession to throne’. You have the option of being welcomed with a traditional ‘Chipdrel’ procession and a ‘Marchang’ ceremony, singing traditional songs of praise and wellbeing for new visitors. They also perform the traditional ‘Tashi Labey’ dance to bid you farewell. If you are interested, you can participate in the quintessential Bhutanese games of ‘Khuru’, ‘Dego’, ‘Sok-sum’, and ‘Gee-dum’, all on the brink of disappearance. You could also pay a visit to the village temple that houses the sacred relics of Pema Lingpa, the famous ‘Treasure revealer’ of Bhutan. The village campsite provides a spectacular bird’s-eye view of Nabji and surrounding areas.

Day 10
Jan 12 : Korphu (1,500m) – Nyimshong ( 1,300m), circa 5 hours (B/L/D)
The hike from Korphu to Nyimshong is pleasant and arguably the best birding spot which can boast a bird list of more than 395 species, with among others the elusive Rufous Necked Hornbill who has its nesting holes adjacent to the trail. The walk is mixed with waterfalls and, streams and cantilever bridges. The evening brings you to Nyimshong, a village with its reticent architecture and lifestyle. The women of Nyimshong have a penchant for singing and dancing and a cultural show would be ideal to express certain euphoria to end your trek. Of course this is optional.

Day 11
Jan 13 : Nyimshong (1,300m) – Reotala (1000m), circa 3 hours (B/L/D)
If you are lucky, the Golden langurs will lead you to the exit. You descend down to the Mangdi river again to see some herons and River-lapwings. An hour’s steep ascend to the road and your driver will drive you back to Trongsa for Overnight at Yangkhil Hotel/Resort.

Day 12
Jan 14 : TRONGSA – PUNAKHA via GANGTEY & PHOBJIKHA VALLEY (B,L,D)
After breakfast drive to Gangtey and Phobjikha valley. Phobjikha valley has been declared as the first eco-tourism destination of Bhutan by the Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN). The valley falls under the Black Mountain Natural Park. Phobjikha valley is the winter home to rare and endangered Black Necked Cranes (Grus Nigricllis), which migrate, in large flocks to Bhutan from Tibet & Sikang, Yunnan and Tonkin in eastern China. For centuries the cranes have captured the human imagination with their intelligence, poise, sociality, beauty and freedom, which have given rise to several myths, legends, folktales and songs. In 2006/07 there were about 250 cranes and the numbers are increasing. You will have the opportunity to see these most beautiful birds. There are also lots of other wild animals in the surrounding valleys like wild boar, barking deer, Himalayan black bear, red fox, leopard and many species of birds. Also included are visits to the Nature Education center, the carpet factory and the Sacred Gangtey Monastery, which dominates the valley. Continue to Punakha for Overnight at Zangdho Pelri Hotel.

Day 13
Jan 15 : PUNAKHA/PARO (B,L,D)
Punakha was the winter capital for over 300 years until the time of second King. Punakha Dzong, which dominates the whole area, was built in 1637 by Shabdrung Nawang Namgyel, and established the central monastic body with 600 monks. Today, Punakha is still the home for Je Khempo (Chief Abbot) and the central monastic body. Punakha Dzong is one of the most impressive Dzongs in the Kingdom. Afternoon, transfer to Paro for Overnight at Hotel Holiday Home.

Day 14
Jan 16 : PARO/Katmandu (B)
After breakfast, transfer to Paro Airport for flight to Bangkok. Tashi Delek!!!