9 Nights 10 Days Discover Bhutan Tour is the best way one can explore all the important natural, historical, and cultural sites of Bhutan. Throughout the tour, the untouched beauty of nature in the form of rivers, valleys, mountains, and forests welcomes you at every corner. Bhutanese people practice their traditions in their day-to-day life, wear their traditional clothes and perform various daily rituals. This tour is also a way to learn more about the mystical culture and traditions of these people. You will visit five major cities, Thimphu, Punakha, Bumthang, Gangtey, and Paro and you will also walk past the city of Trongsa, the ancestral home of the Royal family of Bhutan.
As you reach Bhutan, you will instantly see that this place is different than any other place you’ve ever been to. Bhutan is isolated from modernization and most people still make their living by farming, making handicrafts, teaching, trading, etc. The houses are made in traditional style and everything sits perfectly on the lap of nature. 9 Nights 10 Days Bhutan Tour takes you to several beautiful and important places in a private vehicle without worrying about anything. Our experienced tour guides will let you know all the amazing myths and stories related to different places. Only some places require you to walk for hours on foot. Taktsang, also called the Tiger’s Nest Monastery is the most strenuous place you will go to during the whole tour during which you have to walk a steep uphill and return the same way. In case you don't want to walk, you can also choose to go sightseeing in another place.
Major cultural sites showcasing unique Bhutanese architecture like Dzongs are prevalent in each city. This tour takes you to the major Dzongs, administrative and religious centers of each district and many other major tourist attractions are the Memorial Chorten, Buddha Point, Gangteng Monastery, Kichu Lhakang, the National Museum, the ruins of Drukgyal Dzong, Motithang Takin Preserve, and more. Monasteries and temples are decorated with prayer flags and prayer wheels while all the major cultural sites are full of Buddhist art and crafts like sculptures, paintings, scriptures, images of deities, etc.
The hospitality and kindness of Bhutanese people will make you feel at home. Also, try their amazing food and take some recipes home. Bhutanese people show utter respect towards the Royal family who does their best to keep the happiness index of Bhutan high. Most of the cultural and historical sites are built by members of the Royal family to preserve culture and art. Spending 10 days in Bhutan exploring the extraordinary culture, way of life, and history lets you know more than you thought you'd learn about the Land of the Thunder Dragon.
9 Nights 10 Days Bhutan Tour Highlights
- A scenic flight covered with mountains towards the Paro airport
- Check out Motithang Takin Preserve and observe the national animal of Bhutan
- Reach Kunselcholing Viewpoint with a large statue of Buddha and views of Thimphu valley
- See Tashichho Dzong, Centenary Farmers Market, and Memorial Chorten built in memory of King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck
- Visit the National Folk Heritage Museum, National Textile Museum, and Jungshi Handmade Paper Factory
- Reach Dochula Pass at 3,080 meters for views of Masagang, Tsendagang, Gangkar Puensum (the highest peak in Bhutan), etc.
- Visit Punakha Dzong and explore the beauty of Khamsum Yuley Temple
- Visit Bumthang valley and explore Tamzhing Goemba, Kurjey Lhakhang with Guru Rinpoche’s body imprint, Jambay Lhakhang which is one of the 108 temples built on the same day, and Jakar Dzong and Thangbi Lhakhang located in a beautiful valley
- Get to Trongsa Dzong with its historical importance and the Tower of Trongsa, a Royal Heritage Museum
- Explore Gangtey Goemba sitting atop a hill, an excellent example of Tibetan architecture
- Get to Paro Dzong built with stones and the government center of Paro and explore Ta Dzong, a watchtower serving as a National Museum of Bhutan holding several artifacts and art pieces
- Hike up to Taktshang Monastery also known as Tiger’s nest
- Get to Kyichu Lhakhang Temple, the oldest temple in Bhutan, and Dumtse Lhakhang
- Enjoy the amazing natural beauty and picturesque landscapes throughout the tour
Amazing Views of the Himalayas
Bhutan is a small Himalayan kingdom and you will witness the beauty of this country throughout the tour. Starting from the flight, you will see several snow-peaked mountains including Everest on a clear day. The views of green lush forests, exotic animals, rivers flowing from the mountains, and ancient houses leave you spellbound. Before reaching Punakha, you will catch some awesome views of the mountains from the Dochula Pass. Several mountains can be seen from here like Masagang (7,158m), Tsendagang (6,960m), Terigang (7,060m ), Jejegangphugang (7,158 m ), Kangphugang (7,170 m ), Zongphugang (7, 060 m ), and Gangkhar Puensum (7,570 m). Paro is also an amazing place to view Chomolhari Mountain.
Thimphu
Thimphu is the capital city of Bhutan and home to Motithang Takin Preserve, where several animals live including Takin, the national animal of Bhutan. Besides that, Thimphu is home to many ancient religious and historical sites. Buddha Viewpoint, built on the ruins of Kuensel Phodrang, has a large sitting statue of Buddha and is an amazing viewpoint of the whole of Thimphu valley. Local Farmers and craftsmen gather at the bank of the river to sell their products every weekend at the Centenary Farmers’ Market. National Folk Heritage Museum, National Textile Museum, and Jungshi Handmade Paper Factory have done their best to preserve ancient methods of production and craft-making in Bhutan. Another popular place in Thimphu is the National Memorial Chorten, built in memory of Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, who wanted to build something representing the mind of Buddha. This Chorten has several larger-than-life-size images of Buddhist deities. Simtokha Dzong is the oldest fortress in Bhutan just outside Thimphu consisting much Buddhist paintings and crafts. Thimphu Tashichho Dzong is also a very popular site, where the present King of Bhutan has his office along with the major monastic body.
Punakha
On the way to Punakha, you will get to witness 108 Druk Wangyal Chortens built by the Queen Mother of Bhutan for the peace of souls of Bhutanese soldiers who died for the country. Punakha Dzong is beautifully located on the confluence of two rivers surrounded by lavender Jacaranda trees. This grand and beautiful building with brilliant architecture holds the administrative and religious activities of the Punakha district. The carefully built four-storied Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten can be reached after an hour of walking and after crossing green fields and a suspension bridge. This temple is decorated with prayer flags and upon arrival offers a scenic view of the whole city.
Bumthang
Guru Rinpoche is the father of Buddhism in Tibet and Bhutan. He helped spread Buddhism throughout the country and is said to have saved it from several demons and mythical creatures by building many temples. He built about 40 temples while he stayed in Bhutan. Kurjey Lhakhang is believed to have a rock that saved an imprint of Guru Rinpoche after he subdued a very strong demon. Amazing Goemba is another important monastery in Bumthang. Satsang Gambo built 108 temples on the same day, including two in Bhutan, to pin down a demoness. Jambay Lhakhang is one of these two temples in Bhutan and it hosts a colorful festival every October.
Jakar Dzong is also known as the castle of White Bird and stays at the top of a hill. The tour in Bumthang ends as you reach Thangbi Lhakhang. It is situated such that you can only reach there on foot after crossing a suspension bridge.
Gangtey
Gangtey is another district in Bhutan with amazing religious and historical places to visit. Along the way, you will get to Trongsa, the ancestral home of Wangchuck where the first temple was built. Trongsa Dzong is an important site consisting of high walls and controlling the trade between East and West. Taa Dzong is a former watchtower built during the war that now serves as a Royal Heritage Museum consisting of several royal artifacts and art pieces. It is also known as the Tower of Trongsa. Gangtey Valley is a wildlife preserve and home to different species of flora and fauna. Gangtey Goemba sits on top of a hill with views of the entire valley. This Goemba is equally beautiful and grand, consisting of a prayer hall and a Nyingma temple that was built here to fulfill a prophecy.
Paro
Paro is a scenic valley where several tourist sites and the only international airport lies. A visit to Paro’s administrative and religious center named Paro Dzong or Rinpung Dzong lets you explore the unique architecture of this building built using stones. This city is also home to Chomolhari mountain which can be seen from several viewpoints. Ta Dzong used to be a watchtower but now it’s used as a National Museum of Bhutan which consists of several antique pieces, weapons, art, and craft representing the tradition, culture, and history of Bhutan.
Paro Taktsang or Taktsang Monastery is the most photogenic place in Bhutan, lying on a sheer cliff only accessible on foot. A tour inside the monastery lets one into the rich art and culture of Bhutan. It is believed that Guru Rinpoche came there to meditate on the back of a tigress thus also called Tiger’s Nest. This place is also an outstanding viewpoint and snow-peaked mountains can be seen. The ruins of Drukgyal Dzong are another beautiful place in Paro visited fondly by tourists. The last place on the tour is Kyichu Lhakhang, one of two temples in Bhutan built by King Sontsen Gambo on the same night altogether making 108 temples.
People and Culture
As you land in Paro, the view of the city will astonish you because it is like nowhere else. The ancient heritages covered in prayer flags and people in their traditional dresses and beautiful landscape make up a unique scene. This may make you feel like traveling to a mythical place, you are because the country is known as the Land of the Thunder Dragon. Bhutanese people preserve their ancient and unique culture in their day-to-day lives. This country doesn’t care about the happiness standards imposed by the outside world, which are based on luxury products and the modern way of life. Rather, their happiness lies in the independent economy and spiritual growth. While you stay in Bhutan, try to wear the striped Ghos and brightly colored Kiras as the locals do and visit the temples to pay homage to Buddha and Bodhisattvas offering prayer flags and diving into the sacred tradition of these amazing people.
