Cultural Bhutan 6 Day Tour

Day 1: Arrival Paro airport and transfer to hotel: You will be received at the Paro airport by our company representative and transferred to your hotel. Afternoon visit the Paro National Museum which houses collection of art and art facts from all over Bhutan. The Museum is housed in the ancient watch tower to Paro Dzong. Later visit the Paro Dzong, ancient castle fortress built in 1645 and it houses the Paro monastic body and office of Paro district civil authority. Evening visit to a traditional Bhutanese farm house. Overnight hotel.

Day 2: Morning hike/horse-ride to the legendary Taktsang Monastery, perched on a cliff 800 mtrs. above Paro valley; Afternoon visit the ruins of the Drukgyel Dzong which was built in 1647 in commemoration of the Bhutan victory over the ancient Tibetan invasion. The dzong was burned down by tragic fire accident in 1951 and since then has been in ruins. Then on visit the 7th century Kyichu Monastery built by the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo and finally visit the Dungtse Monastery built in1421. Evening drive to Thimphu ( 1 hr. 15 mins. drive / 63 kms).

Day 3: Thimphu sightseeing: visit the Memorial Stupa built in memory of the late third king of Bhutan, 15th century Changankha Monastery, Takins(national animal of Bhutan) zoo. Thimphu view point. From the view point, a pleasant hike to Wangtse Monastery would also be refreshing. Then visit: Zilukha Nunnery, one of the very few monasteries for female monks still in existence, visit the National Library, Folk & Heritage Museum, Traditional School of Arts and Craft, Indigenous Hospital, Textile Museum, Handicraft Emporium and the Hand-made Paper factory. Evening leisurely explore Thimphu city.

Day 4: Morning drive to Punakha/Wangdi valley ( 3 hrs. drive / 73 kms): The drive will take you via the Dochula pass (3150 mtrs. altitude). A wide range of the east Himalayan ranges are visible from the pass on a clear day. Also on the pass, you will see the 108 Druk Wangyel Stupa built by one of the queen mothers of Bhutan. In Punakha visit the Punakha Dzong (ancient castle fortress built 1637), take a short hike to Chimi Lhakhang passing through village houses and rice fields. Chimi Lhakhang is a special monastery for sterile women, a place of worship for fertility.

Day 5: Morning drive north of Punakha valley and hike to the Khamsum Yulay Namgyal Stupa: The stupa is located on a mountain side overlooking Punakha valley. Later drive to Wangdi to visit the Wangdi Dzong(1638) and the clustered Rinchending village, the best of stone masons comes from the village. Late afternoon drive to Paro and enjoy Traditional Hot Stone Bath.

Day 6: Departure: Options to note: Your entry/exit point in Bhutan is a choice by flight or overland drive via Phuntsholing (Bhutan`s border town to India).

When to go: All year around	Tour Costs: Prices are for 2012 Based on 3 participants: 1175usd per person double occupancy Discounts available for groups of 6 or more. Discounts available for travel in Jan,Feb,June,July,Aug,Dec Minimum 3 Participants; Maximum 15 participants
Tour Cost Includes: Three meals in a day Accommodation in 3-4 star hotels (standard twin bedded room on sharing basis) Guided service Transportation Entrance fee to museums	Tour Cost Does Not Include: Airfares, Personal stuff such as Sleeping bag; Any activities described as optional or not indicated in the itinerary, Optional tips to local guides, drivers, and hotel/restaurant staff, Travel insurance, Bhutannese visa fees; Other expenses of a personal nature (liquor, laundry, and…);
Trip Payment Schedule At time of reservation: $300 60 days prior to departure: Balance *Upon receiving your deposit we will send you a confirmation letter, detailed trip itinerary, hotel confirmations for Chinese visa applications (if required), travel insurance application, and a pre-departure information booklet with clothing and equipment list, suggested reading list, and general information needed to prepare for your trip.	Cancellation Fees: Minimum fee: None 45 – 60 days prior to departure: 25% of tour cost 31 – 45 days prior to departure: 50% of tour cost 30 days or less: 100% of tour cost
Reserving Your journey Early reservations are recommended. Once you have submitted your reservation request, one of our travel consultants will contact you during our next business day to confirm your arrangements, and to charge the initial $300 per person deposit. If you prefer, you can email your request to us, or feel free to call us at 0086-28-8597-6082. Our office hours are Monday through Friday from 9:30AM to 5:00PM China Standard Time (GMT+8).	Single supplement Costs are based on double occupancy. If you wish to have a single room, you must pay the single supplement fee. If you are willing to share accommodations, we will match you with a roommate if one is available. If we cannot match you with a roommate, the “forced single supplement” is listed if applicable

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