Need to Know. Understanding itinerary Planning

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1 BHUTAN Bhutan is also popularly known as 'Land of Thunder Dragon.' The land consists mostly of high and steep mountains crisscrossed by a network of swift rivers, which form deep valleys. The country has the world s highest unclimbed peak, Gangkhar Puensum, at 24,836 feet. An interesting fact about Bhutan - the general prosperity of the country is measured by the Gross National Happiness index, explained by its four pillars - sustainable development, good governance, cultural preservation and environmental protection. Rich in cultural diversity, every village in Bhutan has a unique festival, Tshechu is the most important and widely celebrated of all festivals.

2 Need to Know Currency: Bhutanese currency is Ngultrum (Nu.) and is officially pegged to the Indian Rupee (Rs.). Also, Indian Rupee is acceptable all over Bhutan, except Rs 500 and Rs 2000 currency notes. Language: Dzongkha or Bhutanese is a Sino-Tibetan language spoken by over half a million people in Bhutan; it is the sole official and national language of the Kingdom of Bhutan. Visa: All Indian Nationals visiting Bhutan do not require a visa to enter Bhutan. Travel documents required are passport or voters ID card. For US Citizens the Bhutanese visa is required and passport must be valid for at least six months following the date of arrival to Bhutan. Best time to Visit: October to December is the ideal time to visit Bhutan as the air is clear and fresh with sunny skies. January and February are colder, but from then until April the climate remains dry and pleasant. Understanding itinerary Planning SIC Tours Stands for Seat in Coach. Guests will share the vehicle with other tourists, staying in different Hotels. There will be strict departure timings and designated pick up points. Maximum waiting time is minutes. Any delay can result in termination of the tour. Private Tours Guests do not have to share the driver or guide with other tourists. Departure timings can always be customized to suit party s requirement. However, guests will have to be ready by the confirmed time. Maximum waiting time will be minutes. Any delay can result in termination of the tour. Car at Disposal Tours A private vehicle will be at your service for transfers, chargeable on hourly basis Irrespective of the running time or waiting time. The car will be with you until the last hour booked.

3 DAY 1 ARRIVE AT PARO THIMPHU Arrival Leisure (PM) Arrive at Paro International Airport. Complete your Visa permit formalities. You will be received by our Bhutan representative who will assist you in boarding your vehicle for transfer to Thimphu. Distance: 50Kms Duration: 01½ to 02hrs Evening is for Leisure. You can stay at the Hotel or explore the city on own basis Dinner Pre-booked or own arrangements Hotel of your choice in Thimphu DAY 2 THIMPHU Breakfast at the Hotel in Thimphu Thimphu city tour Visit Memorial Chorten the Iconic Buddhist stupa featuring a gilded spire, a vaseshaped upper story & 4 ornate portal. Tashichho Dzong a Buddhist monastery and fortress on the northern edge of the city with many shrines, plus flower gardens & city views. Buddha Dordenma statue overlooking the valley & perched above a temple filled with art & exhibits a gigantic Shakyamuni Buddha statue in the mountains of Bhutan. Changangkha Lhakhang a vibrant Buddhist temple offering sweeping views, an annual festival & spinning prayer wheel. Motithang Takin Preserve, located in the Motithang district of Thimphu, Bhutan is a wildlife reserve area for takin, the national animal of Bhutan Drubthob Goemba monastery also called Zilukha nunnery is located on the slopes, looking down at Golf course and Tashicho Dzong with around 70 or so resident nuns. National Library established in 1967 for "preservation and promotion of the rich cultural and religious heritage" of Bhutan. (Closed on Saturday, Sunday & National Holiday) National Institute for Zorig Chusum this institute, commonly known as 'the painting school'. Students here specialize in painting, woodcarving, embroidery or statuemaking (clay). The showroom sells good-value pieces made by students.(closed on Saturday, Sunday, National Holiday & During Summer & Winter Vacations) Textile museum is worth a leisurely visit to get to know the living national art of weaving. Changing exhibitions introduce the major weaving techniques, styles of local

4 dress and textiles made by women and men. (Closed on Saturday, Sunday & National Holiday) Leisure or Shopping Duration:4-5 Hours Basis: Private or Car at disposal Opening Hours: NA Lunch Pre-booked or Own arrangements Evening is for Leisure you can explore the city with guide or go for shopping Dinner Pre-booked or Own arrangements Hotel of your choice in Thimphu DAY 3 THIMPHU PUNAKHA Hotel Check-out Transfers Breakfast at the Hotel in Thimphu Pack your luggage and complete your check-out process at the hotel in Thimphu Transfers will be waiting for you at the hotel to transfer you to Punakha Distance: 85 Kms Duration: 3 Hours Dochu La Pass Drive to Punakha. The last town on the highway before entering Central Bhutan. The drive is over Dochu La pass(3080mts / 10102Fts) which is very scenic with fascinating view of mountains of Bhutan. Duration: 40mins Basis: Private or Car at disposal Opening Hours: NA Lunch Pre-booked or own arrangements Punakha Dzong

5 (PM) Visit Punakha Dzong the administrative center of Punakha District Imposing palace & fortress dating to the 17th century in a serene setting overlooking the river. If time permits visit Suspension Bridge and Chimi Lhakhang Hotel Check-in Duration: 1-2 hours Basis: Private or Car at disposal Opening Hours: 09:00 17:00 Complete your check in process at Hotel in Punakha of your Choice Dinner Pre-booked or own arrangements Hotel of your choice in Punakha DAY 4 PUNAKHA Breakfast at the Hotel in Punakha Phojikha Valley Start the day early for full day excursion to Gangtey or Phobjikha Valley one of the most beautiful spots in Bhutan. The surprise of finding such a wide, flat valley without any trees after the hard climb through dense forests is augmented by an impression of vast space, and extremely rare experience in Bhutan where most of the valleys are tightly enclosed. A few kilometers beyond the Gangtey Monastery, on the valley floor lies the village of Phobjikha. At Gangtey visit Black-Necked Crane Information Centre and Gangtey Goempa Distance: 80kms Duration: 3 Hours Duration: Full day Basis: Private or Car at disposal Operation Hours: NA Lunch - Pre-booked or own arrangements at the Valley Dinner - Pre-booked or own arrangements Hotel in Punakha of your choice

6 DAY 5 PUNAKHA PARO Hotel Check-out Transfers (PM) Breakfast at the hotel in Punakha Pack your luggage and complete your check-out process at the hotel in Punakha Transfers will be waiting for you at the hotel to transfer you to Paro. Distance: 135kms Lunch Pre-booked or own arrangements Royal Botanical Gardens Duration: 5 Hours Stop at Lamperi to visit Royal Botanical Garden it was established in April 1999 by the Royal Government of Bhutan to display Nation s flora to the visitors and study it scientifically. The master plan of the Garden involves landscaping, soil improvement, irrigation systems and technical capacity. Duration: 1-2 Hours Basis: Private or Car at disposal Opening Hours: Hotel Check-In Complete your check in process at Hotel in Paro of your Choice Evening is for Leisure. You can stay at the Hotel or explore the city on own basis Dinner Pre- booked or own arrangements Hotel in Paro of your Choice DAY 6 PARO Breakfast at the Hotel in Paro Paro City Tour Visit Ta Dzong the undefended dzong and renovated in 1968 to house the National Museum. The unusual round building is said to be in the shape of a conch shell, with 2.5m-thick walls. Until then a sample of the exhibits are currently on display in an adjacent annexe (National Museum-Closed on Saturday, Sunday & National Holiday). Rinpung Dzong a large dzong - Buddhist monastery and fortress - of the Drukpa Lineage of the Kagyu school in Paro District, Bhutan. It houses the district Monastic

7 Body and government administrative offices of Paro Dzongkhag. Kyichu Lhakhang location is in the north of Paro town. It is one of the ancient, quiet and beautiful temples in Bhutan. It also goes by the names LhoKyerchu or Kyerchu, and it is the sacred Jewel of Bhutan. Duration: 3 Hours Basis: Private or Car at disposal Opening Hours: NA Leisure or Shopping Lunch Pre-booked or own arrangements Evening is for Leisure you can explore the city with guide or go for shopping Dinner Pre-booked or own arrangements Hotel in Paro of your choice DAY 7 Paro Taktsang (Tiger s Nest Monastery) Breakfast at the Hotel in Paro Tiger Nest Monastery Start the day early. Tiger Nest Monastery is one of the most sacred religious monastery of Bhutan situated about 15km north of Paro Valley in Drukgyel Dzong.Tiger Nest Monastery also known as Taktsang hangs on a cliff and stands above a beautiful forest of blue pine and rhododendrons that offers spectacular view of the valley. It takes about 2 hours walk from the parking area that passes through coniferous forest, up a steep path to the view point. Duration: 5 Hours Basis: Private or Car at disposal Opening Hours: NA Leisure or Shopping Lunch Pre-booked or Own arrangements Evening is for leisure or you can go for shopping in the market Dinner - Pre-booked or Own arrangements Hotel in Paro of your choice DAY 8 DEPARTURE Breakfast at the Hotel in Paro

8 Departure Flight Pack your luggage and complete your check-out process at the hotel Transfers will be waiting for you at the hotel to transfer you to the airport ACTIVITIES Haa Valley via Chelela Pass Hiking Golf Thimphu Archery Paro Visit to Traditional farm house and traditional dinning with local family Paro River Rafting & Kayaking Punakha The Valley is a nestled paradise connecting Paro, Chhukha, and Samtse districts of Bhutan. Located at a mere 13 miles distance from the disputed India-China border in Doklam, this place holds a strategic position stretching over 1700 sq km. Hiking is the most thrilling activity in Bhutan passing through the most beautiful elevations in Thimphu: Tango Cherry Monastery, Phajoding Monastery Punakha: Khamsum Yulley Monastery Paro: Tiger nest Monastery The golf course is a 9-hole, Par 35 course & can be played as a 18 hole, 5851 yard, Par 70 course from 2 different sets of tees. Archery is the National Sport of Bhutan and is celebrated all over the Kingdom. Learn the skill of archery on our exclusive archery session and bring out the adventurer in you. Experience the farm houses and Immerse yourself in a cultural experience with a local family and dining with the local family. The most rejuvenating rafting experience in Bhutan. It is an inflatable rubber raft or kayak over roaring waves and swirling fast-moving water using paddles. Raft along the Pho Chu river for 16 kilometers with about 15 rapids of class 2-4 and also at Mo Chu river with 10 KM course comprising around 10 rapids with 2 or more than 2 rapids.

9 Best Accommodations THIMPHU PUNAKHA PARO Hotel Druk Address: Wogzin Lam, Clock Tower Square, P.O.Box 1178, Thimphu, Bhutan Dhensa Boutique Resort Address: Wolakha Punakha 117, Bhutan, Punakha 13001, Bhutan Paro Penlop Dawa Penjor Heritage Farm House Address: Address: Paro, Bhutan City Hotel Address: Dungkhor Lam, Thimphu, Bhutan Drubchhu Resort Address: Punakha, Bhutan Le Meridien Paro Riverfront Address: P.O. Box # 1265 Shaba, Paro, Kingdom of Bhutan, 1265 Paro, Bhutan Jigme Suits Address: Tshalu Lam 0, Thimphu, Bhutan Hotel Zangto Pelri Address: Walakha PO Box 15, Punakha, Bhutan Naksel Boutique Hotel & Spa Ngoba Village, Paro, Paro, Bhutan Hotel Norbuling Address: Bldg #5, Chang Lam Street, PO Box 1187,, Thimphu, Bhutan Khuru Resort Address: Punakha, Bhutan Rema Resort Sangchoker Road, Nemjo Remphakha, Near royal construction office, Paro, Paro, Bhutan