Walking Tour

Day 01: arrival/Paro
Flying in to the country’s only airport, in the beautiful Paro valley, the clear mountain air, forested ridges, imposing monasteries and welcoming Bhutanese people in their striking national dress, provides a breath-taking first impression.
On arrival at Paro airport, after immigration and custom formalities, your guide from Bhutan Wilderness Travel will welcome you and transfer you to the hotel. In the evening, you can stroll along Paro downtown to see the people and the local stores.
Overnight: Tandiling resort/ Kich resort

Day 02: Hike to Tiger’s Nest
Today we hike up to the famous cliff-hermitage called Taktsang, the Tiger’s Nest. This monastic retreat is built into a sheer cliff face high above the Paro valley. Legend has it that the Tibetan Buddhist saint Padmasambhava flew across the Himalayas on the back of a tiger and landed here, bringing Buddhism to Bhutan. The trail to the monastery climbs through beautiful pine forest and an occasional grove of fluttering prayer flags.
As you know, normally we go up to the Tiger’s Nest and then turn back but if you like I don’t mind walking extra miles with you. After Tiger’s Nest, we can climb to the temples that are on top of the ridges further up. It’s so peaceful on top and the views are stunning. A perfect place of contemplation! Here you will come across some monks who have not gone down to town for ages – knowing the real nature of this world. There is one elderly monk in particular who had been living here for 25 years in solitude. Perhaps! Depending on if he is not under meditation, we can take some prayer flags and request him to perform a consecration ceremony. To come back, we follow a different path that takes us through the pristine thick forest of oaks and rhododendrons festooned with Spanish mosses.
Overnight: Tandiling resort/ Kichu resort

Day 03: Chele La Hike
Today, we will take a drive to Chele La (3750m), the highest motor able pass in the country and hike up along the meadow to Kung Karpo La (4100m). Weather permitting; we will enjoy the breathtaking views of the snowcapped mountains while walking above the tree line along the ridge that divides Paro and Ha valley. The short steep descent from the top will take us to the nunnery of Kila Gompa. Here the nuns, called anims, live a life of contemplation and seclusion, with daily prayer and spiritual practice. The temple itself is surrounded by numerous meditation huts, and many hidden caves lie inside the rocky cliffs. The gompa is surrounded by a lush forest dominated by tall firs. Sparkling mountain streams wind down the slopes, which are covered with a variety of wildflowers and plants.
About 30 anims, or nuns, live here, ranging in age from about 20 to 80 years. The community is one of the oldest of seven nunneries in Bhutan, and was initially established in the early 9th c. as a meditation site. After being destroyed by fire, the temple was rebuilt and officially established in 1986 as an anim dratshang (religious community of Buddhist nuns).
Kila Gompa is historically significant as a sacred meditation site. Many renowned Buddhist saints have come here to find peace and seclusion. The main temple houses ancient statues of Chenrezig (Avalokiteswara) and Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) among others.
Life here is simple. The day begins and ends with prayers. The anims arise at 3 AM and study Buddhist scripture until 8 AM when they go to the temple for prayers. The first simple meal of the day (rice, vegetables and tea) is eaten at 10 AM, after which studies continue until 9 PM when a simple supper is served. The nuns retire after a final session of prayer. Most of the nuns have given up properties and left their families to live with the bare minimum of material things. Their studies and subsistence are supported by the government.
Some of the older nuns have retired into meditation, while many of the younger ones pursue basic Buddhist studies and perform religious ceremonies. The course takes 5-6 years, after which they begin meditation, which can range from four months to three years. One young nun, when asked why she had chosen this life, replied. There is peace in thinking about others, apart from yourself. Another said If I was given back my youth, I would still choosethis life but I would start it earlier. I have never been more at peace with myself.
The walk down from here to the road is lined with small white chortens and it will take us about an hour.
Overnight: Hotel Jomulhari/ Kisa

Day 04: Hike to Cheri Monastery
We will take a drive up the valley towards north along Thim Chhu (river) for a short hike to Cheri Monastery. The short drive through the countryside surrounding Thimphu brings us to the Jigme Dorji Wildlife Sanctuary, the largest protected area in the country. The park is home to several endangered species including the takin, snow leopard, blue sheep, tiger, red panda, and the Himalayan black bear. More than 300 species of birds have been cataloged within the park and it’s so rich in plants.
Our walk begins from the small village of Dodena as we go across the covered bridge over the Thim Chhu to climb up steadily to Cheri, a small monastery perched on the hill with a view over the Thimphu Valley. Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel built this monastery in 1620, and this is where the first community of monks in Bhutan was established. The monastery is considered very sacred as it contains the ashes of Tempi Nima, the father of the first Shabdrung of Bhutan, and beautiful frescoes of Buddhist saints. Shabdrung also spent three years in retreat here and it’s a renowned meditation place even today. After our visit to the monastery, we descend back the way we came, keeping our eyes open for the goral (wild goat) that are often spotted on the cliffs nearby. We will have picnic lunch along the clean and unpolluted Thim Chhu.
In the afternoon, you can have free time on your own to walk along the street to see the people and the local stores. Thimphu has a special charm and it is fascinating to sit and watch a gathering of local people in the town square, wearing the traditional dress and going about their business in a typically unhurried Bhutanese way.
Overnight: hotel Jomulhari/ Kisa

Day 05: Thimphu/Punakha (03 hours)
We take a drive for about an hour along the east-west highway till Dochu La (3050m) to begin yet another hike. The view of the Himalayas from Dochu La is spectacular to the north when the sky is clear. The pass is marked by 108 chortens (Stupa) which are Buddhist reliquaries, memorials to the teachings of the Buddha. Sometimes actual relics of the Buddha or revered monks are inserted into the dome of the stupa, but whether or not there are relics inside, the stupas mark the landscape with reminders of the Buddha’s teachings.
We will hike up to the isolated temple called Lungchuzay which dates back to 14th century. The trail gradually goes up through the forest of rhododendrons, magnolias, birches, firs, hemlocks and bamboos, occasionally passing by meadows that are being used as the yak pastures.
Overnight: hotel YT/ Damchen resort

Day 06: Punakha
In Punakha, we will visit the Dzong that was built by Shabdrung, in 1637, on a strategic place at the confluence of Pho Chu and Mo Chu rivers. The Dzong has played a hallowed role in the history of Bhutan. It served as the seat of Shabdrung’s government, several foreign delegations were received here in 18th and 19th century, the election and coronation of the first King was observed in 1907 and the Third King convened the first National Assembly in the Dzong. The central monastic body continues to reside here in winter. The embalmed bodies of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal and Terton Pema Lingpa are housed on the top floor of the main tower. Damaged by four catastrophic fires and an earthquake, the Dzong has been fully restored by the present King from the latest fire in 1987.
Next in line, we will take a drive to Talo, the native home town of the queens for our short downhill walk following the beautiful track that links the village of Talo and Nobgang.
Overnight: hotel YT/ Damchen resort

Day 07: Punakha/Gangtey (03 hours)
Drive to Wangduephodrang and visit the Dzong which is perched on a spur at the confluence of two rivers. The position of the Dzong is remarkable as it completely covers the spur and commands an impressive view both up and down the valley. Wangdue district is famous for its fine bamboo work, stone carvings, and the slate which is mined up the valley a few kilometers from the town. Then drive up a winding mountain road through oak and rhododendron forest, and over a high pass down into the Phobjikha valley, surely one of the loveliest high altitude valleys in Bhutan. Phobjikha is one of Bhutan’s few glacial valleys, and chosen winter home of black necked cranes, migrating from the Tibetan plateau. Explore Phobjikha valley and also visit Gangtey Gonpa (Monastery), the only Nyingmapa monastery in western Bhutan.
Overnight – hotel Dewachen.

Day 08: Hike over Kayche La
We take a drive till Longtey Village after the Pele La along the east-west highway to start another hike of about 06 hours across Kayche La (3700m) and back to Gangtey. We climb up gradually through the thickets of dwarf bamboos, birch, rhododendron, hemlock and fir to Kayche La, marked with some prayer flags. The other side of the pass is mostly meadows, and it’s all downhill walk to Gangtey through the long and beautiful stretch of meadows and farms. This place holds a special interest as you can experience the Black Mountain Range and the Phobjika Valley which is famous for the winter habitat of the black-necked cranes.
Overnight: hotel Dewachen

Day 09: Gangtey/Thimphu (05 hours)
Today, we will hike along the path that is being used by the people of this valley to move down to their winter homes in the warmer region of Wangdue called Chitokha. We begin our hike gradually up through farms, thicket of dwarf bamboos, and meadows to Shasi La (3300m) which is marked by a chorten (stupa). On the other side of the pass, the path gets into thick forests of birch, rhododendron, hemlock, fir and then down into sub tropical deciduous forest of oaks and rhododendrons with lots of orchids.
Overnight: hotel Jomulhari/ Kisa

Day 10: Departure
After breakfast in the hotel, drive to Paro in time to catch up your onward flight to Kolkotta. Your escort from Bhutan wilderness Travel will bid you farewell and soon the remote and legendary Dragon Kingdom disappears again behind its guardian mountains.
Tashi Delek!