Jakar Festival Tour (Bumthang)

Morning transfer to Gangtey.

The distance is 175 km and is about 5 hour drive.

Gangtey, or the Phobjikha Valley, is the Bhutan of postcards. Flanked by the towering Black Mountains, the enormous glacial valley is completely free of trees and is instead, a quilt of bucolic fields, farmed by rosy-cheeked villagers and criss-crossed by epic hiking trails. Surveying the scene is the Gangtey Monastery. Perched high up in hills, it’s an important outpost for Nyingma Buddhism, the oldest of all the Tibetan schools, and a dawn visit in summer will reveal the monks chanting their morning prayers and playing marbles

Morning transfer to Bumthang.

Distance is 180 km and is about 5 hour drive.

Evening relax / rest at Hotel.

Today enjoy the Jakar Festival, held at Jakar Dzong in Bumthang. It is located in Choekhor Valley and is also called – Castle of the White Bird. The dzong hosts the Jakar Festival, one of the most popular festivals among locals and tourists alike.

Home to four beautiful mountain valleys and an array of ancient monasteries and temples, Bumthang takes its place as the most historic of all districts in Bhutan. Considered to be the spiritual centre of the Himalayan Kingdom, Bumthang is a beautiful place to visit if one has a keen interest in religion, spirituality and history.

Directly translating to "Beautiful Field", the region gets its name from Jambay Lhakhang. Spanning over 4500m it is known to be the religious heartland of the kingdom with several old monasteries and Buddhist temples. Bumthang is comprising of four valleys of Ura, Chumey, Tang and Choekhor. Endowed with the most picturesque views of the Ura La Pass, rhododendron forests surround the valley at a slightly higher altitude. When in Bumthang, there is a lot to be accomplished. Apart from visiting the major sightseeing spots like the Kurjey and Tamshing Lhakhang; one must go trekking up the mountainside or taste cheese and buckwheat delicacies the region has to offer. If not, you can check out the palace museum or head to the burning lake of Bhutan.

Today morning transfer from Bumthang to Punakha.

The total distance is 215 km and is about 5 – 6 hours drive.

Arrive Punakha and check in at Hotel.

Rest of the time relax at the Hotel.

Morning visit the famous Punakha Dzong or Palace of Great Happiness, built at the junction of the Phochu and Mochu rivers in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. This majestic dzong served as both the religious and the administrative center of Bhutan in the past. Inside are courtyards and religious statuary that hint at the depth of history and spiritual tradition embodied here.

Then transfer to Thimphu City (75 KM – about 2.5 hour drive).

On the way stop at Dochula Pass.

Check in at Hotel.

Today sightseeing in Thimphu valley including visit to the following: Textile and Folk Heritage Museum, a fascinating testimony of the Bhutanese material culture and living traditions.

Then visit King's Memorial Chorten continuously circumambulated by people, murmuring mantras and sspinning their prayer wheels. Construction of this landmark was the idea of Bhutan’s third king, His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuk (“the father of modern Bhutan”) who has wished to erect monument to world peace and prosperity. Completed in 1974 after his untimely death, it serves both as a memorial to the Late King and as a monument to peace.

Then visit Trashichhoedzong, “fortress of the glorious religion”. This is the center of government and religion, site of monarch’s throne room and seat of Je Khenpo or Chief Abbot. Built in 1641 by the political and religious unifier of Bhutan, Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, it was reconstructed in 1960s in traditional Bhutanese manner, without nails or architectural plans.

Also visit Buddha Point (Kuensel Phodrang). Located at a short drive from Thimphu city centre, visitors can get a good overview of the Thimphu valley from the Buddha point (Kuensel Phodrang). You can pay your obeisance and offer prayers to the Buddha, the largest statue in the country and then walk around and take a glimpse of the valley.

Evening transfer to Paro (55 km – 1 hour and 15 minute drive)

After breakfast excursion to Taktsang Monastery also called Tiger Nest (hike): It is one of the most famous of Bhutan’s monasteries, perched on the side of a cliff 900m above the Paro valley floor. It is said that Guru Rinpoche arrived here on the back of a tigress and meditated at this monastery and hence it is called ‘Tiger’s Nest’. This site has been recognized as a most sacred place and visited by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1646 and now visited by all Bhutanese at least once in their lifetime.

After return back to Hotel, take rest at hotel.

Morning transfer to the airport for flight to onward destination with sweet memories of Bhutan visit.