8 Days Western Bhutan with Haa Valley

Paro · Thimphu · Punakha · Phobjikha · Thimphu · Haa · Chelela Pass · Paro

1. Day1

   Arrive Paro — Excursion in Paro — Thimphu

   Overnight Thimphu hotel

   Fly into Paro on Drukair or Bhutan Airlines; on a clear day the great Himalayan ranges are visible on the approach, and the green mountains and the Paro river open up below. Your guide and driver meet you at the exit gate and drive you the 55 km to Thimphu, about an hour and a half. Check in, settle, and explore the capital — the only capital city in the world without traffic lights or commercial billboards. Later in the afternoon, after 5 pm, visit the Tashichho Dzong, the Fortress of the Glorious Religion, which houses the throne room, the ministries and the summer residence of the Chief Abbot.

2. Day2

   Thimphu — Punakha Valley

   Overnight Punakha hotel

   After an early breakfast, a short visit to Buddha Point and the 169-foot bronze Buddha Dordenma, which overlooks the whole Thimphu valley, before driving the 74 km to Punakha over the Dochu La at 3,150 m, marked by the 108 Druk Wangyal chortens. The road drops more than 1,900 m into the subtropical valley. Near Lobesa, walk 20–30 minutes through terraced paddy fields to Chhime Lhakhang, the temple of fertility, and afterwards visit the Punakha Dzong at the meeting of the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers.

3. Day3

   Punakha — Transfer to Phobjikha Valley

   Overnight Phobjikha (Gangtey) hotel

   A two-and-a-half-hour return hike to Khamsum Yulley Namgyel Choeten, on a ridge above the Punakha valley — cross the suspension bridge over the Mo Chhu (the female river), follow the trail through paddy fields, and climb to the temple, consecrated in 1999. Then drive on to the Phobjikha valley, a vast U-shaped glacial valley also known as Gangtey, where the black-necked cranes come down from the Tibetan plateau. In the afternoon, the Gangtey Nature Hike — about two hours and the most beautiful of the short trails in Bhutan.

4. Day4

   Phobjikha Valley — Transfer to Thimphu Valley

   Overnight Thimphu hotel

   After breakfast, visit the crane centre and drive to Thimphu. On arrival, stop at Simtokha Dzong, the oldest dzong in Bhutan, and explore the capital at leisure.

5. Day5

   Thimphu — Haa

   Overnight Haa hotel

   Drive to the Haa valley, which borders China and was opened to tourism only in the early 1990s — about 90 km, three hours, via Chunzom and the Dobji Dzong. On arrival, explore the valley and visit Lhakhang Karpo, the White Temple, and Lhakhang Nagpo, the Black Temple. Overnight in Haa.

6. Day6

   Haa — Transfer to Paro via Chelela Pass

   Overnight Paro hotel

   After breakfast, drive uphill for about 45 minutes to the Chelela Pass, one of the highest road points in Bhutan at around 3,900 m, then on to Paro. Visit the National Museum of Bhutan in the Ta Dzong watchtower above Rinpung Dzong, and the Rinpung Dzong itself — the fortress of the heap of jewels, built in 1646 and still the administrative and monastic centre of the west. Walk from the dzong to the covered wooden cantilever bridge at Nemeyzampa.

7. Day7

   Paro — Hike to Paro Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest)

   Overnight Paro hotel

   After an early breakfast, a four- to five-hour return hike to Taktsang, the Tiger’s Nest, on the face of a sheer 800-metre cliff at 3,120 m — about two hours uphill to the monastery, which Guru Rinpoche is said to have reached flying on a tigress in the 8th century. Lunch at the Taktsang cafeteria, then hike back down. In the afternoon visit a Bhutanese farmhouse, and if you wish, try a traditional hot-stone bath.

8. Day8

   Departure from Paro

   Breakfast at the hotel, then transfer to Paro International Airport for your flight onward. Tashi Delek!