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Wild East West Festival Tour
Fully Escorted Tour – 13 Days / 12 Nights

Paro-Thimphu-Trongsa-Bumthang-Mongar-Trashigang-Mongar-Bumthang-Punakha-Paro

Accommodation – Best available (including Uma and Aman resorts where available)

Starts Nov 15 to take in festivals

BEST SEASON – September to April

The isolated Kingdom of Bhutan is a Himalayan Buddhist hideaway, known by few and experienced by even fewer. Calm, beautiful and uniquely in touch with its traditional roots, celebrated in festivals throughout the year, Bhutan remains one of the planet’s last cultural frontiers. Here we take you on a festival tour.

Experience the real Bhutan with impromptu opportunities to see an archery competition, taste and even learn to cook the local cuisine at a farm house, meeting and meditating with monks at local monasteries, visit a local Karaoke centre. You may even be lucky enough to see a fashion show attended by members of the Royal family.

Day 1 and 2 - arrive Paro – drive to Thimphu (about 2 hours) - Thimphu is a bustling town on the banks of the Thimphu Chu and set gloriously in the hills of the Thimphu valley. It is home to the Bhutanese Royal Family

Visit

Zorig Chusum Institute

Hand Made Paper Factory

Tashichho Dzong

Sangaygang view point

Memorial Chorten

Mini zoo- here we can see Bhutan’s national animal known as Takin. This is an extremely rare member of the goat family. Found in herds in the very high altitudes (13,125ft and over).

Weekend market- market days are absolutely central to the lives of the Bhutanese, but there are many reasons to visit other than the delicious fresh food on offer every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Take a hike to Cheri Monastery (Includes Dodina and Jigme Dorji Wild life Sanctuary): Hike of about 2 hrs leads to Cheri Goemba (Cheri Dorji Dhen). The trail starts by crossing a lovely covered bridge that spans the Wang Chu, and then climbs steps to the monastery. Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal built this monastery in 1620.

In the evening enjoy the recent trends of the younger Bhutanese, who spend their evenings in the discotheques, or in the entertaining hubs where there are live performances of Bhutanese songs and dances.

Day 3 – drive from Thimphu to Trongsa . (about 7 hours) - driving towards Trongsa, we come across a pass known as Dochula (3140m, 10362ft) from where a beautiful panoramic view of the Himalayan mountain range can be seen, especially on clear winter days.

Day 4 – drive from Trongsa to Bumthang (about 3 hours)- this fascinating valley is the religious heartland of the nation and home to some of the oldest Buddhist temples and monasteries. Its gentle sloping hills offer plenty of walking opportunities to the many temples that dot this valley. The valley is also famous for its production of honey, cheese, apples and the yathra- a woollen material that has multiple uses.

Visit
Trongsa Dzong:
Hand Loom Factory

Day 5 – drive from Bumthang to Mongar (about 7 hours) the journey from Mongar to Bumthang is one of the most beautiful in the Himalayas crossing the 3,800m high Thrumsingla pass. Mongar marks the beginning of eastern Bhutan. The second largest town in the sub tropical east, Mongar, like Trashigang further east, is situated on the side of a hill in contrast to other towns of western Bhutan which are built on the valley floor.

Later visit

The Famous Mongar Festival: The day begins with the famous mask dances. Festivals in the Land of the Thunder Dragon are rich and happy expressions of its ancient Buddhist culture. These festivals are held in all districts in honor of Guru Rinpoche, the saint who introduced Buddhism to Bhutan in the 8th century. There is simply no better way of experiencing the colour, passion and sheer vibrancy of Bhutan than by attending one of the numerous religious festivals that take place around the year. Tsechus are held on auspicious days and months in the Bhutanese calendar, and last up to four days in which a series of highly stylized masked dance rituals are performed.

Attendees adorned in astounding colour gather from far and wide, sporting exotic masks and taking part in the myriad events that are on offer, from games of chance at the local fairs to elaborate mystic rituals. An experience that is not to be missed!

Day 6 – drive from Mongar to Trashigang. ( about 4 hours )

This is the largest district in Bhutan and it lies in the Far East on the banks of the river Gamri Chu. It was once the center of a busy trade with Tibet. Today it is the junction of the east west highway with roads connecting to Samdrupjongkhar and then to the Indian state of Assam. The nomadic people from Merak and Sakten who are remarkable for their exceptional features and costumes use this town as their market place mostly during winter.

Visit

The famousTrashigang Festival.

Day 7 – drive from Trashigang to Tashi Yangtse (about 3 hours) and then to Mongar (about 6 hours)

Morning excursion to Tashi Yangtse with picnic lunch

Visit

Chorten Kora
GomKora
Zorig Chusum Institute

Day 8 and 9 - drive from Mongar to Bumthang (about 7 hours )

Visit

Kurjey Lhakhang
Tamzing Lhakhang
Kenchosum Lhakhang
Mebar Tsho(Lake of Burning Fire) a sacred lake
Chakhar (Iron Castle) Lhakhang
Jakar Dzong

Day 10 – drive from Bumthang to Punakha. (about 8 hours)

Visit

The Famous Bumthang Festival

Day 11 and 12 – drive from Punakha to Paro. (5 hrs drive) - this beautiful valley is home to many of Bhutan’s oldest monasteries and temples.

Visit
Kham Sum Yule Lahkahang
Punakha Dzong

Take a hike to the famous Taktshang Monastery (Tiger’s nest): This is Bhutan’s most recognizable cultural icon perched 800m/2,640ft up a seemingly sheer cliff. Although it was tragically and mysteriously consumed by fire in April 1998 it has now been restored to its former glory.

Visit a local farm house, stroll around the town and see how locals live.

Day 13 – flight from Paro to onward destination

If you wish to extend your stay to include India we can organize for you to drive to Phuentsholing where an Indian car and guide will take you to Sikkim or Darjeeling.

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