The Bhutan Luxury Tour (3 nights, 4 days) starts from Paro Valley, Punakha Low Altitude Valley, and Thimphu. Paro to Thimphu is a 2-hour drive. 3 Nights 4 Days A luxury tour in Bhutan provides the best luxury hotels in Bhutan, depending upon your choice.
After you land in Paro, which has an elevation of 2320 m. You will be received by representatives from Bhutan Himalayan Holidays at Paro International Airport. Drive to Thimphu, which covers 65 km with a 1 1/2-hour drive. The road from Paro to Thimphu is good enough. On the way to Thimphu, you can view Tachog Monastery, built by Thangthong Gyalpo in the 15th century. Thang Thong Gyalpo (1385 – 1464) was a saint from Tibet who came to Bhutan in 1433 looking for iron ore. He built 108 bridges across Tibet and Bhutan, out of which 8 were built in Bhutan.
After lunch, visit the Memorial Chorten, a monument dedicated to the Third King of Bhutan, the late Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. The inside paintings and statues provide a very rare insight into Buddhist philosophy.
In the evening, visit the Tashichho Dzong, the royal secretariat, and the seat of the Central Monastic Body, including the summer residence of the Je Khenpo, the chief abbot of Bhutan. Dinner and an overnight in a hotel. Options: Hotel Le Meridien, Six Senses, Aman Kora.
Second day of the Bhutan Luxury Tour (3 nights, 4 days). After breakfast, drive to Punakha, and it takes 3 hours of driving without sightseeing. En route to Dochula Pass (3100 m). We stop at Dochula Pass with its 108 stupas. If the weather is good, you can see the snow-clad Himalayan Mountains. Visit the Royal Botanical Garden.
The Royal Botanical Park is also known as the Rhododendron Botanical Garden. The recorded species in the area are the Monal pheasant, blood pheasant, musk deer, tiger, leopard, red panda, and leopard cat.
On the way to the visit, visit Chimi Lhakhang (the fertility temple). It was built by Lama Drukpa Kuenley (popularly known as “The Divine Madman”) in the year 1499. He subdued the demons with his “Magical Thunderbolt” and built the temple on top of a hillock. The temple is also known as “the Temple of Fertility.”
Lama Drukpa Kuenley (1455 – 1529) was one of Bhutan’s favorite saints who was born in Tibet, trained at Ralung Monastery, and was a contemporary and a disciple of Pema Lingpa. He traveled throughout Bhutan and Tibet as a “Neljorpa” (yogi) using songs, humor, and outrageous behavior to dramatize his teachings of salvation through sex.
After lunch, visit Punakha Dzong, built in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal and situated between Pho Chu (Male River) and Mo Chu (Female River). In the evening, drive back to Thimphu. Have dinner and stay overnight in the hotel. Option: Hotel Le Meridien, Pemako, Six Senses, Aman Kora.
After breakfast, visit Buddha Dordenma, measuring 169 feet tall and facing the Thimphu valley. It is one of the tallest Buddha statues in the world. Visit Changangkha Lhakhang, the Takin Preserve center; Sangaygang viewpoint; and Dupthop Lhakhang, one of the few surviving nunneries in Bhutan.
After lunch, visit the Post Office, where you can make personalized stamps of you and your near and dear ones, and the Folk Heritage Museum to witness a Bhutanese archery match.
In the evening, be free to stroll in Thimphu’s downtown for shopping and photography. Dinner and an overnight in a hotel. Options: Hotel Le Meridien, Pemako, Six Senses, Aman Kora.
After breakfast, hike to Tiger’s Nest or Paro Taksang. Drive to Satsam Chorten, Paro, and take a 2-hour uphill hike to the monastery. The primary Lhakhang of the monastery was built around Guru Rimpoche’s meditation cave in 1684 by the Penlop of Paro Gyaltsen Tenzin Rabgay. This incredible monastery clings to the edge of the granite rock cliff that plunges 900 meters above the Paro Valley. Legend says that Guru Padmasambhava, the tantric Buddhist guru who brought Buddhism to Bhutan, flew here on the back of a tigress, whom he believed was his consort.
After lunch, drive to the Drukgyal Dzong, the ruined fortress. It is 16 km up the valley, built in 1647 by Shabrung Ngawang Namgyal. The dzong was destroyed by accidental fire and left in ruins. On the way back, visit Kichu Lhakhang, built in 659 A.D. by the Tibetan king Srongsen Gampo. He was a Tibetan king who married a Chinese princess, Wenchen, in 641. As a part of her dowry was a statue called “Jowo,” which was an Indian image of Buddha, Sakyamuni, as a small boy.
In the evening, be free to stroll in the town. Dinner and an overnight in a hotel.
Options: Hotel Le Meridien, Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary, Hotel Zhiwaling, Six Senses, Aman Kora Resort.
After breakfast, drive to Paro Airport and bid farewell; this is the end of the Bhutan luxury tour for 3 nights and 4 days.