Bhutan: The Land of Thunder Dragon

The flight towards the Himalayan kingdom, Nepal reveals stunning views of the great peaks Mount Dorje Lakpa, Mt Ganesha, Mt Purbi Chhyachu, Mt Langtang, etc., (weather permitting).

You will arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport. After customs, immigration procedures and baggage claim, a representative from Sampurna will greet you upon leaving the arrivals terminal, welcoming you and transferring you to your hotel (Check-in: 1400 hours).

(Optional: Early morning an optional Mount Everest flight tour – The Highest Mountain on Earth).

Today we visit the most important monuments of the Nepalese capital. Visit the Kumari Palace (Living goddess) where the Kumari acknowledges their greetings from her balcony window, Kathmandu Durbar square (The World Heritage site) filled with the temples, courtyards & palace of the Malla Kings, who ruled over the city. The palace is known as Hanuman Dhoka, the statue of Monkey god adjoining to the palace entrance. The main courtyard of the palace is the place where Kings of Nepal were crowned and have their coronations solemnized.

Next to the palace we have gigantic figure of Kal Bhairab (the God of Destruction) and beautiful temples.

We will visit the Patan Durbar Square (World Heritage Site), the city of fine arts & craft in metal, stone, terracotta, officially known as Lalitpur Metropolitan City and one of the largest cities of Nepal, it is famous for its rich cultural heritage, where you will see in its ancient palace with golden gate and window, temples of Krishna, Shiva, Golden temple (Hiranya Barna Mahabihar) as well as monasteries & beautiful courtyard. Overnight at hotel.

Boudhanath, "UNESCO World Heritage site", its massive mandala makes it one of the largest spherical Stupa in the world, where many Tibetan refugees residing since 1960, in its premises have built more than 50 Buddhist monasteries. The Stupa is said to have buried the remains of Kassyapa Buddha. Overnight at hotel in Kathmandu.

In the morning at the arranged time, transfer to the airport for departure to Bhutan, on arrival you will receive at Paro Airport (7,000ft) and then transfer to Thimphu, drive through the beautiful valleys of Paro and Thimphu to the capital of Bhutan - Thimphu. 

In the afternoon if time permit, visit the famous King's memorial Chorten built in the memory of Lt. His Majesty the King by Royal Queen Mother, where one could see the devotion of the local layman spinning prayer wheels and murmuring mantras, while circumambulating the Chorten, 

Full day visit in Thimphu, first we proceed to Changangkha Lakhang/ temple is one of the oldest temples in the Thimphu Valley, founded by Phajo Drugom Zhigpo, founder of the Drukpa lineage in Bhutan, the temple houses a statue of Avalokiteshvara with a thousand arms, as seen the prayer mill and sacred writings unusually large in size,

Visit Kuensel Phodrang 2,655 m - the largest Buddha statue of 51.5 meter, "to bestow blessings, peace and happiness on the whole world" is still under construction amidst the ruins of Kuensel Phodrang, Buddha Dordena on Mt. offering the magnificent view of Thimphu Valley, The statue houses more than one hundred thousand smaller Buddha statues;

Visit of the “Motithang” small zoo to see the national animal "Takin". Later we visited the National Library to see the large collection of traditional books, you can even see the display of the model of the Punakha Dzong and Chorten architecture, national museum where you can see the typical Bhutanese house and their way of life, the School of local arts and crafts,

Visit Tashichodzong, (Thimphu Dzong) impressive fortress-monastery, situated on the banks of Wang Chhu. It is home of the National Assembly and the summer residence of capital's venerated monastic community. The Dzong is the impressive result of a redesign of the original medieval structure sanctioned by the Third King, HM Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, an office that has been combined with royalty since the creation of the monarchy in 1907,

It is currently secretary of the government, could visit only with special permission according to time,

Morning transfer to Punakha over the Dochula pass, (3,050Mt) from where one can see the beautiful view of eastern Himalayan range on the clear sunny day. 

Visit Punakha Dzong, stands at the confluence of the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers, which is the winter home of the head of Central Monastic Body led by HH the Je Khenpo (the chief abode), this place is the old capital of the country and the seat of government until 1955, later the capital was moved to Thimphu.

The Dzong was constructed by Tuebi Zaow Balip in 1637; the country's most beautiful Dzong. The Dzong houses the most sacred relics of the Southern Drukpa Kagyu School including the Rangjung Kasarpani, in 1907, Punakha Dzong was the site of the coronation of Ugyen Wangchuck as the first King of Bhutan. Three years later, a treaty was signed at Punakha whereby the British agreed not to interfere in Bhutanese internal affairs and Bhutan allowed Britain to direct its foreign affairs. Later walk around the Punakha valley to see the farmhouse and the Bhutan architecture.

In the afternoon visit Chimi Lakhang, an important Buddhist monastery/ temple in Punakha, Bhutan. It stands on a round hillock and was built in 1499 by the 14th Drukpa hierarch, Ngawang Choegyel, after the site was blessed by the "Divine Madman" the maverick saint Drukpa Kunley (1455–1529) who built a Chorten on the site.

He was known as the "Mad Saint" or “Divine Madman” for his unorthodox ways of teaching Buddhism by singing, humor and outrageous behavior, which amounted to being bizarre, shocking and with sexual overtones. He is also the saint who advocated the use of phallus symbols as paintings on walls and as flying carved wooden phalluses on house tops at four corners of the eves. The monastery is the repository of the original wooden symbol of phallus that Kunley brought from Tibet. This wooden phallus is used to bless people who visit the monastery on pilgrimage particularly women seeking blessings to beget children. The tradition at the monastery is to strike pilgrims on the head with a wooden phallus (a symbols of a male organ) by which in Bhutan have been intended to drive away the evil eye and malicious gossip.

Visit Gangtey village, located in the central Bhutan overlooking the vast U-shaped glacial Phobjikha Valley of marshy land. The Nake Chu River runs through this valley. Above the Black Mountain Region is inhabited by nomadic shepherds and yak-herders.

We visit an important Gangtey monastery or Gangtey Gompa, the monastery's history traces back to early 17th century to the prophecies made by the well-known Terton (treasure finder) Pema Lingpa, which is one of the main seats of the Pema Lingpa tradition and one of the two main centers of the Nyingma-pa school of Buddhism in the country. The Phobjikha Valley, is the place here the black-necked cranes migrate to roost from Tibet. 

In the afternoon drive back to Paro and take rest,

Drive an hour to Paro, transfer to Taktsang Monastery base point, later we hike to Taktsang Palphug Monastery (known as Tiger's Nest), a prominent most sacred site located in the Cliffside of the upper Paro valley. Built in 1692, the Taktsang cave where Guru Padmasambhava is said to have meditated for three years, three months, three weeks, three days and three hours in the 8th century. Padma Sambhava is credited with introducing Buddhism to Bhutan and is the tutelary deity of the country where most people visit in their lifetime. 

Visit to the ruins of Drugyel Dzong. This Dzong is of historical importance, from whose ramparts the Bhutanese repelled Tibetan invaders. On a clear day one can view the sacred Mount Chomolhari, Mountain of Goddess (24,000 ft.).

Walk to the traditional wooden bridge and visit Kyichhu Lakhang / Jowo Temple of Kyichhu is one of the oldest temples in Bhutan, built in the 7th century by the Tibetan Emperor Songtsen Gampo. It is considered to be one of the four (4) border taming temples he built. Ever since then the annual rites of great accomplishment for the deities Vajrasattva, Palchen Heruka, and Vajrakilaya have been held in this temple for the wellbeing of the country under the patronage of Kesang Choden Wangchuck. 

Later we will cross the traditional wooden bridge and visit Paro Rinpung Dzong (monastery/fortress Built in 1645 A.D), On the hill above the Dzong stands an ancient watchtower called Ta Dzong which since 1967, has been the National Museum of Bhutan, a fascinating place housed in an old museum holds a fantastic collection of Bhutanese national treasures ranging from ancient armor to textiles and Thangka paintings. Overnight at hotel in Paro.

At the arranged time, transfer to the airport for departure flight to Kathmandu, on arrival you will be greeted and welcome by Sampurna Adventure personal & transferred to your Hotel, Rest of the day for personal activities, you can explore the narrow lively and endless streets of Thamel where you will find all kinds of good restaurants, full of typical Nepali handicraft, fine jewelry and clothing and trekking gear store. Overnight in the hotel.

Leisurely breakfast, In the morning free for personal activities, later at the arranged time transfer to the airport for final departure to connect onward flight. We wish you a safe flight and hope to serve you back in near future. End of Service.