<h3 class="">Tour Itinerary</h3><p><br></p><ul><li><b>Day 1 Arrival. Drive Paro to Thimphu</b></li></ul><p>Pick up from Paro International Airport (2280m). Depending on the arrival time of the Druk Air flight, you will either be served a</p><p>meal in Paro or be driven straight to Thimphu, the capital city, which is about 53 kilometres away. The drive normally takes about</p><p>an hour and a half. If Thimphu is reached early, you can go out in the town and mingle with the Bhutanese people. Dinner will be</p><p>served in the hotel.</p><ul><li><b>Day 2 Thimphu Sightseeing</b></li></ul><p>Sightseeing in Thimphu (2320m) includes visits to National Library which was established in 1967 and has many ancient</p><p>Dzongkha and Tibetan texts); Painting School or the National Institute for Zorig Chusum (the 13 traditional arts and crafts like</p><p>painting, woodcarving, embroidery and statue making; National Memorial Chorten which was built in 1974 in memory of the third</p><p>King of Bhutan; Semtokha Dzong which is about five kilometres south of Thimphu. Semtokha Dzong was built in 1629 by</p><p>Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. Today it houses the Institute for Language and Culture Studies.); Tashichhodzong is the seat of the</p><p>government of Bhutan. It houses the secretariat, the Throne Room, His Majesty's secretariat, the Ministry of Home and Cultural</p><p>Affairs and the Ministry of Finance. If the sightseeing falls on the weekend you can visit Thimphu's open vegetable market where</p><p>farmers from the nearby regions gather to sell their produce.</p><ul><li><b>Day 3 Thimphu to Punakha/Wangduephodrang</b></li></ul><p>The first stop on this road journey is at Dochula pass at 3,140 meters. Dochula is about 23 kilometres from Thimphu and during a</p><p>clear day it offers a clear view of the Himalayas. After refreshments in Dochula the journey continues to Punakha. Lunch will be</p><p>served at the hotel. After lunch sightseeing in Punakha and Wangduephodrang. Punakha Dzong was built in 1637 and was the</p><p>former capital of Bhutan. It lies at the confluence of the Mo Chu (female river) and the Pho Chu (male river). Punakha Dzong still</p><p>serves as the winter residence of the Central Monk Body. Wangduephodrang is about 21 kilometres from Punakha and its dzong</p><p>which sits on the top of the high ridge was built in 1638. The ridge provides a panoramic view of the valley. Return to hotel where</p><p>dinner is served.</p><ul><li><b>Day 4 Wangduephodrang/Punakha to Trongsa</b></li></ul><p>After breakfast drive to Trongsa. Trongsa is 129 kilometres from Wangduephodrang. Check-in to hotel.</p><ul><li><b>Day 5 Trongsa Sightseeing, drive to Gangtey</b></li></ul><p>After breakfast visit Trongsa Dzong, one of Bhutan¹s oldest historical, political and religious monuments also known as Druk Minjur</p><p>Chhoekhor Rabtentse Dzong. Built 463 years ago, Trongsa dzong sits high on a ridge overlooking the Mangde Chhu (river) and</p><p>represents an important link with Bhutan¹s precious institution of monarchy. It was the dzong where future Kings formalised their</p><p>ascension as Chhoetse Penlop before ascending the Golden Throne. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, Dasho Jigme Khesar</p><p>INTERIOR BHUTAN TOUR - (9 DAYS / 8 NIGHTS)<br></p><p>Namgyel Wangchuck's investiture ceremony as the Chhoetse Penlop in Trongsa Dzong took place on October 30, 2004. Visit Ta</p><p>Dzong, the watchtower of the Trongsa Dzong. The chapel inside the tower is dedicated to the Jigme Namgyal, the 19th-century</p><p>Trongsa penlop (governor). After lunch drive to Gantey</p><ul><li><b>Day 6 Gantey Sightseeing</b></li></ul><p>Gangtey Goempa overlooks the large green expanse of Phobjikha valley, a glacial valley on the western slopes of the black</p><p>mountain range. The valley is an important wildlife centre in Bhutan and is the roosting ground of the endangered blacked-necked</p><p>cranes that fly there from the Tibetan plateau during the winter grounds. Overnight in Hotel.</p><ul><li><b>Day 7 Gangtey to Paro Via Thimphu</b></li></ul><p>Drive to Paro after breakfast. Lunch on the way to Thimphu. Overnight Halt at Paro.</p><ul><li><b>Day 8 Paro Sightseeing</b></li></ul><p>After breakfast, visit the National Museum housed in the Ta-Dzong which was built in 1656 and served as the watch tower of Paro</p><p>Dzong in the past. Visit Paro Dzong, also called the Rinchen Phug Dzong, which means fortress on a heap of Jewels. Paro Dzong is</p><p>one of the most impressive and well-known dzongs of Bhutan and was built in 1644. After lunch in town, proceed towards Drukgyel</p><p>Dzong, 14 kilometres from Paro town. Also known as the fortress of victory Drukgyel Dzong was built by Shabdrung Ngawang</p><p>Namgyal in 1649 to commemorate the victory over Tibetan invaders in 1644. En route to Drukgyel, you can view the Taktshang</p><p>monastery perched on a cliff about 900 metres above the valley floor. Legend has it that Guru Rinpoche, who brought Buddhism to</p><p>Bhutan in the eighth century flew to a cave in Taktshang spot on a tigress and mediated for three months. Return to the hotel.</p><p>Dinner in the hotel.</p><ul><li><b>Day 9 Departure</b></li></ul><p>After an early breakfast, our representative will see you off at the Paro International Airport.</p>