Bhutan Tangbi Mani Festival Tour
Join the Bumthang Festival Tour. Visit Bhutan at the time of Jambey Lakhang, Nalakhar and Jakar Festivals - some of the grandest festivals in Bhutan. The Bumthang Festivals are religious festivals where masked dances are performed to instruct the onlookers in the ways of Buddhist Dharma. These are also occasions where Bhutanese people dress in their finest ethnic costumes. During the Bumthang Fesitval Tour you can witness various religious masked dances performed in the courtyards of the Dzongs of the area. The special Bumthang festival tours visit Bhutan during the famous and colourful festival in the picturesque valleys of Bumthang.
Day 1: Arrival Paro International Airport.During the journey to Paro, one will experience from the left hand side of the plane, breath taking view of Mount Everest, Kanchenjunga and other famous Himalayan peaks, including the sacred Chomolhari and Mount Jichu Drake in Bhutan. On the arrival at Paro International Airport, The representative, your tour guide will receive you and escort you to the hotel. After a brief rest at the hotel and tea/coffee, you can drive to the Paro village town and explore the town. Altitude of Paro is 2260m.
Overnight: Hotel in Paro.
Thimphu is the Capital City of Bhutan but for the Buddhist Monk body moves to Punakha in Winter and their Summer Capital District is Thimphu but Winter s Punakha because it is cold in Thimphu during winter and Punakha is just perfect at 1300mts.Day 2: Paro – Thimphu: Distance (65 Kms, 2 Hrs Drive, 2260mts) After breakfast drive to Thimphu, the drive will take roughly Two Hours. Thimphu is the capital city of Bhutan since from 1974. Punakha used to the capital city of Bhutan before that.
For the first one hour you will follow the Pa-Chu (Paro River) and reach Chuzom where the Thimphu River meets the Paro River and forms Wang-Chu (Chu means Water, River or Stream). Chuzom is a four direction motor road junction where one road leads to Thimphu, one to Phuentsholing the border town to India, one to Haa valley and one where you drove from Paro. It will take another One hour from here to Capital city, Thimphu. Check in the Hotel.
After Lunch drive to Tashi Chodzong to witness the Thimphu Festival. After that drive to town and visit the National Memorial Stupa, built in 1874 by Royal Queen Mother and dedicated to the father of Modern Bhutan, the Late His Majesty the Third King of Bhutan.
Overnight: Hotel in Thimphu.
Day 3: Thimphu – ThimphuAfter breakfast drive to Dzong to witness the festival. After lunch drive to the BBS Tower to get the magnificent picture and view of Thimphu and you can also see our Queens Palaces. Visit to Thimphu Mini Zoo where you can see our National Animal “TAKIN” which has a head of a goat and body of a cow, believed to be made by great Devine Madman in the 16th Century. Visit national Library, School of Thirteen Arts and Crafts, National Institute of Traditional Medicines.
Overnight: Hotel in Thimphu
Day 4: Thimphu – Punakha (77 Kms, 3 hours, 1300mts)After breakfast drive to Punakha, the old capital of Bhutan. On the way stop at Dochula Pass (3100 Mts), which offers a breathtaking view of the eastern Himalayas on a clear day. On reaching Punakha chek in the hotel and have lunch. After lunch, visit the Punakha Dzong. The Punkaha Dzong is one of the most religiously important dzongs in Bhutan as it was the main head quarter of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgye, the founder of Bhutan. Besides visiting several holy temples, you can also visit the new temple built inside the Dzong which is really very beautiful. Drive up to Nynzergang to see the view of the Khamsung Yuelley Namgyal Stupa which was built for the crown prince. If you are interested to visit this stupa, you have to walk about 20 minutes uphill from the motor road.
Overnight: Hotel in Punakha
Day 5: Punakha – Bumthang (210 Kms, 8 hours, 2500mts)After breakfast drive to Bumthang via Wangdi village town. While passing through Wangdi, you can also visit the Wnagdi Phodrang Dzong and continue driving to Bumthang. Have the pack lunch around the Pelela pass (3390 Mts) or you have the option to continue to Chendebji Stupa. Chendebji Stupa is a massive stupa built in Sherpa style. We have only two such stupas in Bhutan and the other one is in Tarshi Yangtse, eastern Bhutan. After lunch, drive onto Bumthang via Trongsa. At Trongsa, stop to visit the Trongsa Dzong which is one of the most magnificent Dzongs in Bhutan with many old and holy temples inside the Dzong. Also visit the ancient WatchTower which has a temple dedicated to Ling Geyser (Alexandra the Great) and have your evening tea and continue to the Bumthang for the night.
Overnight: Hotel in Bumthang
Day 6: Bumthang – Bumthang – Tangbi Mani FestivalWitness the Tangbi Mani Festival. After lunch drive to visit the Tamshing temple, Kharsumpey temple, Kenchosum temple, Jakar town and the Swiss Farm where they produce Bhutanese Red Panda Beer and Swiss cheese.
Overnight: Hotel in Bumthang
Day 7: Bumthang – Ura - Bumthang Day excursion to beautiful Ura Valley and visit to Burning Lake
Overnight: Hotel in Bumthang
Day 8: Bumthang – Trongsa (3 hrs drive, 2100mts)After breakfast drive to Kurjey monastery and Jakar Dzong, District Administration Centre.
Overnight: Hotel in Trongsa
Day 9: Trongsa – Wangdue/Punakha (3 hrs drive)After breakfast drive to Wangdue and if time permits then drive to Gangtey/Phobjikha which is located in one of Bhutan’s most picturesque valley, Phobjikha. Visit Gangtey Gompa, which now houses one of the only Nyingmapa Monasteries in Bhutan. The valley is also the winter home to the rare Black-Neck cranes (Grus Nicorocolis), which migrate from remote parts of Tibet, China and Siberia to winter in this valley.
Day 10: Punakha – ThimphuAfter breakfast drive to Thimphu. On the way hike to the legendary Chimi Lhakhang built in 15th Century by a saint popularly known as Devine Mad Man “Drukpa Kuenley”. It is believed that the couple who are married for so long years and doesn’t result in pregnancy, they go there and pray and in next coming months the wife gets pregnant.
Overnight: Hotel in Thimphu
Day 11: Thimphu – ParoAfter breakfast drive to Paro. Check in the Hotel, after brief rest drive to the National Museum (Ta-Dzong). This was actually the Watch Tower of Paro Rinpung Dzong. It was converted to the National Museum in 1968. Visit the Paro Rinpung Dzong. This massive fortress is located on a hill top above the Pachu (Paro River) of Paro Valley. You have to walk about 15 minutes by crossing an ancient wooden bridge built in typical Bhutanese architect. The Dzong houses the District Administration Office and the District Monk Body. It was built in 1645 A.D. Lunch at Hotel. After Lunch Visit Kyichu Lhakhang (Lhakhang means Monastery). Kyichu Lhakhang was built in 659 A.D. by King Songtsen Gampo of Tibet. It is considered one of the holiest places in Bhutan as it marks the advent of Buddhism in the country. It is one of the 108 such temples built by him for spreading Buddhism in this region. Drives to Drugyal Dzong and on the way enjoy the view of the Taktsang Monastery, also known as “Tiger’s Nest temple”. Near the Drugyal Dzong, if the sky is clear we can see the Mt. Chomolhari on the background.
Day 12: Paro – ParoAfter breakfast drive for 15kms and reach the base of Famous Tiger’s Nest “TAKTSANG” Monastery and hike up which would take Two Hours up and approximately One Hour down. Stop at Taktsang Tea House “Cafeteria” for refreshment of Tea & Coffee and on your return back from monastery you will have your Lunch here.
Taktsang is at 2900mts. Hike for another half an hour and you reach the Great and Magnificent Taktsang where you will be greets by the monks who live there and Special Bhutanese Butter Tea will be served with Snacks.
Visit the most important monastery were the Guru Rimpoche was flying on a Flamming Tigress from Singye Dzong in Eastern Bhutan to here and meditated for Three Months and flourishment of Buddhism in Paro started from 8th Century.
Walk down to the Tea House for Vegetarian Lunch.
After Lunch walk down hill and drive to Paro valley town to explore the town and shopping.
Overnight: Hotel in Paro
Day 13: Depart BhutanEarly morning drive to Airport and board flight to Delhi.
Wishing you safe journey and thanks for visiting Bhutan with us