Bhutan Tour with Phobjikha Valley – 8 Nights 9 Days

As the day starts, have a nice breakfast at the hotel and then get ready for what lies ahead. On the 2nd day of the Bhutan package from Delhi, you will be travelling from Phuentsholing to Thimphu, the glorious capital of the country of Bhutan. It is a journey of arosund 150 km but before you embark on it, collect all the required permits and documents from the immigration office at Phuentsholing. For that, everyone is required to carry their passports and a few passport-sized photographs. Once everybody is done with the procedure, the journey towards the capital starts.

The scenery is mesmerizing almost throughout the ride and the mountainous setting with the road snaking around will definitely remind you of a Ruskin Bond story. It is an exciting drive and you can also take a few stops in between.

As soon as you reach your destination for the day, have some rest after checking in to the hotel and later you can go out and take a walk around the neighbourhood. Afterward, call it a day after having dinner at the hotel.

Thimphu rejoices with a plethora of sightseeing options for travellers of all sorts and kinds to choose from. The most popular attraction in the capital is the Tashichho Dzong (a.k.a. Thimphu Dzong) which is a Buddhist monastery and fortress that boasts of an excellent architecture. The most striking feature of the monastery is the triple-tiered golden roofs and the dzong includes a total of 30 temples, chapels, and shrines. It also hosts the famous yearly festival of tsechu which is attended by many people.

Afterward, you can go to the National Library of Bhutan and expand your knowledge by learning things about the history of Bhutanese people and their culture and then you can also visit some other places in the city which include the likes of Changangkha Lhakhang, Tango Goemba, National Memorial Chorten, National Folk Heritage Museum, and Clock Tower Square. As the evening starts to set in, reach Buddha Point and revel in the kaleidoscopic landscape presented by the setting sun and then, spend the remainder of the evening strolling around the local marketplace and eating some treats. Also, make sure to get the permits for Punakha and Chele La pass and then conclude your day at the hotel after having dinner.

On day 4 of your Bhutan trip, you will be traveling from Thimphu to Punakha and, hence, will be covering a distance of approximately 85 km. So, have a filling breakfast and then get ready to head towards your next destination. Punakha is another beautiful Bhutanese town and you will also cross Dochula Pass along the way. Dochula Pass is a Himalayan mountain pass nestled at an altitude of 3,100 metres and the views during the journey are also very appealing. A few stops during the journey are also mandatory in order to click some pictures and make memories.

The ride will only take around 3 hours so once you reach Punakha, you can rest for a while and then go on and take a closer look of the town. One of the major attractions of Punakha is the Punakha Suspension Bridge which also holds the record of being the longest suspension bridge of Bhutan. Then, end the day by spending some time with your travel mates.

This day is reserved for traveling to Phobjikha which is an extremely stunning valley located at a distance of 80 km from Punakha. Start early on the day’s activities as you will also be returning back to Punakha the same day.

The best thing about Phobjikha Valley is that it delivers to you an authentic taste of nature and rural lifestyle. It houses a diversity of flora and fauna and one can spot plants like dwarf bamboos, turnips, potatoes, rhododendrons, and maples and animals such as black-necked cranes, barking deer, wild boars, Himalayan black bear, Himalayan serow, leopards, and foxes. The overall views, which comprise of mountains and rivers like Nake Chuu and Phag Chuu, offered by the valley are also very calming. Photography enthusiasts also enjoy this place as it brims with all things nature.

Once you have appreciated the valley enough, head back to Punakha and after reaching your hotel, have a nice dinner and conclude the day.

As usual, eat a delicious breakfast at the hotel and bid adieu to Punakha and start your journey towards Paro, which is located at around 125 km from Punakha and takes approximately a 4-hour long ride to reach. This journey is also just as wonderful as the rest of your Bhutan trip and you would have also got used to the mountain roads until now. Paro is a drop-dead gorgeous valley and is also blessed with a number of holy sites. Moreover, it is also a very popular romantic destination in Bhutan and many couples also prefer Bhutan honeymoon packages to enjoy the place with their loved ones.

Once you reach Paro, check-in to your hotel and rest for the day or take a walk around the neighbourhood.

For most people, the hike to the famous Tiger’s Nest, also known as Paro Taktsang, is the most awaited part of any Bhutan package. It is a monastery which is nestled in the cliffside of the upper Paro valley and perfectly blends spirituality and adventure. You are required to have a fuelling breakfast as you will be hiking for a total of 8 kms.

As you start the hike, you will notice that it is very doable and requires only basic level of fitness. The setting of the monastery is picture-perfect and is also a testament to the architectural genius of the past centuries. Legend has it that Guru Padmasambhava, an 8th century Buddhist master who introduced Bhutan to Buddhism, meditated here for 3 years, 3 months, 3 weeks, 3 days, and 3 hours in the 8th century. The trail is adorned with blue pine trees and prayer flags and one can also buy several items of worship on the way to Tiger’s Nest. The famous Bhutanese festival, tsechu, is also celebrated here annually and once you reach the monastery, you get a mind-blowing view of the Paro Valley. Spend some time in the spiritual corners of the place, seek blessings, and meditate for a while before leaving.

Once you are back from Tiger’s Nest, you can go around exploring some local cafes, marketplace, and eateries.

It is advisable to start early on the 8th day of your travel as today, you will be covering a few places to visit in Paro as well as you will also be taken to Chele La pass and then return to Phuentsholing. After enjoying the breakfast, you can opt to visit a few of the local attractions in Paro which include National Museum of Bhutan, Rinpung Dzong Monastery, Dasho Nishioka Chorten Museum, Namgay Artisanal Brewery, and others. After you are done with the local sightseeing, get ready to go on a ride to the highest motorable point in Bhutan, i.e. Chele La pass, which rests at an altitude of 3,988 metres. The journey to the pass is as gorgeous as the destination and you can also get a bewitching view of the Paro Airport form the Airport View Point which falls on the way to the pass.

Eventually, head back to Phuentsholing which is at a distance of around 140 km from Paro and would require around 3 to 4 hours to reach. As you reach Phuentsholing, check-in to your hotel, have dinner, and sleep for the night.

On this day, the journey reaches it finale and you will be dropped at Bagdogra Airport /New Jalpaiguri Railway Station, where you will probably reach by 1 p.m. so plan your return tickets accordingly.