Photographer’s Ride-TIGER’S NEST TEMPLE

Welcome to Bhutan, the Land of the Thunder Dragon. Touching down at Paro International Airport, you will be greeted by your guide upon exiting the arrival hall. Today, we will take it easy to acclimatize to the altitude. Will take 2 hrs Drive to Thimphu, check in to the hotel and let’s have your first taste of Bhutanese cuisine and some light sightseeing in Thimphu.
The largest Sitting Buddha Statue- a 53.5 meters long Buddha statue can be amazingly viewed from Thimphu town and drive up to capture a great shot of Buddha and entire Thimphu valley.
Tashichhodzong (ThimphuDzong) - The largest Dzong, also the seat of the office of the King of Bhutan.
National Memorial Chorten - This was built in honor of the late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk.
Takin Reserve- it is located in upper Thimhpu town. Takin, the goat-antelope is the national animal of Bhutan. According to Bhutanese Mythology, a divine Madman created its using bones of a Yak and Goat.

Overnight at Hotel Gakyil or Similar. Thimphu.

Dochula Pass - The 108 chortens was built by the present Queen Mother of Bhutan Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck to commemorate Bhutan’s victory over Indian militants and to liberate of the souls lost.

PunakhaDzong - Built in 1637, the dzong continues to be the winter home for the clergy, headed by the Chief Abbott, the Je Khenpo. It is a stunning example of Bhutanese architecture, sitting at the fork of two rivers, portraying the image of a medieval city from a distance. The dzong was destroyed by fire and glacial floods over the years but has been carefully restored and is, today, a fine example of Bhutanese craftsmanship.

ChhimiLhakhang - A 20 minutes walk across terraced fields through the village of Sopsokha from the roadside to the small temple located on a hillock in the centre of the valley below Metshina. Ngawang Chogyel built the temple in 15th century after the ’divine Madman’ Drukpa Kuenlay built a small chorten there. It is a pilgrim site for barren women. Along the way you will come across with colorful “phallus symbols” in Tobesa village which the houses are all painted/decorated with it. It actually symbolizes “the crazy wisdom” of lama Drukpa Kuenlay.

Overnight at Meri Phuensum Resort or similar Punakha.

The Palace of Fifty five Windows: This magnificent palace was built during the reign of King Yakshya Malla in A.D. 1427 and was subsequently remodeled by King Bhupatindra Malla in the seventeenth century. Among the brick walls with their gracious setting and sculptural design, is a balcony with Fifty five Windows, considered to be a unique masterpiece of woodcarving.

In the morning, we will also visit JambayLhakhang, built in 659 by Tibetan King SongtsenGampo to pin down a demoness who was obstructing the spread of Buddhism. We will also visit KurjeyLhakhang, one of the most sacred monasteries in Bhutan. Built by the Guru Rinpoche in 7th century, it houses a rock with his body imprint. Legend has it that Guru Rimpoche manifested as a Garuda to defeat the demon ShelgingKarpo who had taken the form of a white lion. Then, we will visit to chamkhar town to take photography of unique paintings and architectures of Bhutanese buildings. Then,visit to Ura village via Shetangla Pass. Lunch will be serve at Ura.
URA MATSUTAKE FESTIVAL
The Matsutake Festival gives the cheerful Uraps a reason for celebration and to have some fun. After an exciting day of picking mushrooms with the people of Ura, sampling some truly delicious meals, learning about their art and crafts, their traditional lifestyle, folk songs and dances, regional food and drink. Participate in the song and dance, glitter and gaiety as the villagers gather in the festival arena, in full costume to cultivate a deeper insight into the rhythms of Bhutanese village life. Sample freshly gathered mushrooms; try some wild honey or high altitude medicinal herbs and potions, along with other local dishes of wheat and barley. Shop for textiles, cane, bamboo and other regional products.

Overnight at Araya Zomlha Hotel or Home Stay or Similar. Bumthang.

Photographing landscapes, monasteries and village life along the way back to Phobjikha valley.
The Valley of Phobjikha is well known as the winter home of the Black Necked Crane (Grus Nigricollis). Bhutan is home to around six hundred black-necked cranes with Phobjikha being one of the popular places that the birds migrate to in the winter months from the Tibetan plateau. The elegant and shy birds can be observed from early November to end of March. Overlooking the Phobjikha valley is the GangteyGoempa. This is an old monastery that dates back to 17th century.

Gangtey Monastery is one of the main seats of the religious tradition based on Pema Lingpa's revelations and one of the two main centres of the Nyingmapa school of Buddhism in the country. The well-known Terton Pema Lingpa makes the Monastery in the late 15th century.
Packed lunch will be serve at Chendibji Chorten.

Over night at Dewachen resort or home stay or similar Phobjikha Gangtey.

Thimphu the modern capital of Bhutan is made up of just three main streets. It is only one of 2 capitals in the world without traffic lights. We will visit to Famers weekends vegetable market –Witnesses organic vegetables by famers from different villages. Followed by Paper Making Factory - Witnesses the art of papermaking
Five miles from Thimphu, on a lofty ridge, stands SemtokhaDzong, the oldest fortress in the Kingdom.

Overnight at Peaceful Resorts or similar Thimphu.

On the way will visit to wonderful Tamchog Temple.
Tamchog Temple- on the way, you will come across with this old 13th century temple built by Saint Thangthong Gyelpo, the iron bridge builder. You take a photo of iron chain bridge, one of a few remaining of the many that Thangthong Gyelpo Built.

Paro Valley - The beautiful valley is home to many of Bhutan’s old monasteries and temples. The country’s only Airport is in Paro. The valley is also home to mount Chomolhari (7,300 meters) situated at the northern end of the valley whose glacier water forms the Pachu flowing through the valley. The following are some of the prominent places to visit in Paro.

ParoDzong – This 15th century massive fortress/monastery is also the administrative center of the dzonkhag. It is also known as RinpungDzong.
Ta Dzong – Built as a watchtower the Ta Dzong has since been turned into the national museum.
After lunch, going around the Paro villages, Town and valley to get some best photo shots.

Overnight at Bhutan Mandala Resort or similar. Paro.

Drive to Haa through Chele La (3,988m). From the pass you can see Paro valley on one side and then Haa valley on the other. You can also have a picnic at Chele La if you like to. In Haa, some sightseeing and then going to katsho village and visiting the KatsoLhakhang.

The valley of Haa was only opened to Tourist in 2002 and Haa is the least visited valley in Bhutan due to the lack of Tourist infrastructure. This has helped in keeping Haa the way it has always been, with Bhutanese families living their traditional and simple life. There are no tourist standard hotels in Haa valley so we return back to Paro for the night.
Packed Lunch at Chele la

Overnight at Bhutan Mandala Resort or similar. Paro.

A morning drive, north of Paro valley brings us to the ruins of DrukgyalDzong. Built in 1647 by the great Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, father and unifier of medieval Bhutan, the Dzong was destroyed by an accidental fire and left in ruins as an evocative reminder of the great victories it was built to commemorate. Explore the ramparts and relive the memories of a glorious past.

Beyond SatsamChorten, we hike up to the Taktsang Monastery (Tiger’s Nest). The 1.5-hour hike to the cafeteria is also a vantage view whereby you can enjoy the stunning view of the monastery. Prayer flags adorn the cliffs and this is also where Guru Padmasambhava landed on the back of a tigress in the 8th century. After a sumptuous local lunch, we will retrace our steps to visit KyichuLhakhang, one of the oldest temples in Bhutan.

Overnight at Tashi Namgay Resort or similar Paro.

Today we will bid fond farewell to this beautiful Himalayan country and take an early flight back to your own destination. We hope by now you would have made some friends and also kept many photos and beautiful memories of Bhutan! And we look forward to seeing you again in this beautiful land of endless Enchantments! Tashi Delek!