13 days exploring eastern Bhutan's wilderness

paro bhutan - Paro Rinpung Dzong - Kichu Lhakhang, Paro

Tag 1: Welcome to Paro!

Fly into Paro valley on any of our national carriers. You will have a glorious view of the snow-capped Himalayas. The remarkable and steep descent into the Paro valley is an awe-inspiring beginning to an adventure of a lifetime.

Paro is the gateway to Bhutan, home to the only international airport. This is where you begin the journey to the land of happiness. After visa formalities and collection of baggage, you will be welcomed by us.

Tigerst Nest, Paro - Paro Valley - Tadzong Paro

Tag 2: Tigers Nest

Today is the big day, hike to the famous Tiger’s Nest.

Shrouded in mystery and myths with stories of numerous miracles associated with the monastery. From great saints to famous Hollywood celebrities, not to forget the Prince of England to the Princess of Japan have hiked to witness the hidden beauty of this icon of Bhutan, which is perched at the edge of a cliff at 3120m above sea level.

The hike to the temple is an awe-inspiring journey that will amaze you with its beauty and charm. With glorious views of Paro valley amid the hike to the entrance of the monastery with alluring waterfalls is a treat for you and your camera for a #picoftheday Instagram post

Thimphu - Buddh� Dordeonm - Tashichh� Dzon�g

Tag 3: Thimphu - The Capital of Mery Land

Thimphu is the capital city of Bhutan, it combines a natural smalltown feel with a new commercial exuberance that constantly challenges the country's natural conservatism and Shangri La image. Thimphu has some cafes, bars, nightclubs, and restaurants. Finding a balance between the esoteric and espresso – the old and the new – is the key to getting the most out of this charming city.

Dochula Pass - Chimmi Lhakhang - Punakha Dzong

Tag 4: Punakha - Palace of great bliss

Today we will drive to Punakha from Thimphu.
It’s a two and half hours drive from Thimphu.
Punakha is the winter paradise for Bhutanese people due to its warm climate even during the winter season.

Sitting on the confluence of the male and female rivers, below the mountain shaped like an elephant's trunk lay the magnificent fort of Punakha. Punakha is arguably the most beautiful dzong in the country, especially in spring when the lilac-colored jacaranda trees bring a lush sensuality to the dzong's characteristically towering whitewashed walls. This dzong was the second to be built in Bhutan and it served as the capital and seat of government until the mid-1950s. All of Bhutan's kings have been crowned here. The dzong is still the winter residence of the dratshang (official monk body).

Punakha - Trongsa - Bumthang

Tag 5: Bumthang - the Mini Switzerland of Bhutan

Nestled between jaw-dropping valleys and surrounded by dazzling Himalayan mountains. An exact replica of a must-visit country Switzerland lay in the last Shangri la, tucked away miles from the western world.

Bumthang is home to some of the country's most ancient and precious pilgrimage sites. Not forget, it is known as the birthplace of Buddhism in Bhutan.

The drive to the beautiful landscapes of Bumthang over rural villages and passes marks the gateway towards the eastern part of Bhutan. Stopover at Trongsa Museum will offer varieties of antique galleries.

Further towards Bumthang, textile lovers will enjoy the sightseeing at Yatra textile center in Chumey valley, home to one of Bhutan's oldest weaving communities in the valley. It will be a treat for textile lovers.

Bumthang - Membertsho - Kurje Lhakhang

Tag 6: Day Trip to Kurje Lhakhang

Kurje Lhakhang is a spectacular majestic temple built in 1962 and holds a spiritual resemblance to Guru Rimpoche - The second Buddha in Vajrayana Buddhism. Kur means Body & Je means print. It has imprints of Guru's body print preserved in a cave inside the oldest of the buildings.

Alternatively, you can also visit Membertsho, the burning lake. Membertsho is a holy lake revered by Buddhist people. Pema Lingpa (a treasure discoverer) discovered several sacred terma (hidden Buddhist teaching) from the lake & a story anecdote surrounding it. The lake is renowned for its beauty, serenity, and spiritual significance It is said that enlightened beings can see the temple at the bottom of the lake.

Bumthang - Membertsho - Mongar

Tag 7: Bumthang to Mongar – Eastern Bhutan

Eastern Bhutan is extremely isolated as it comprises mostly sharchokpa language-speaking communities although some other minorities also exist. The charm & biodiversity of eastern Bhutan is not lost even in these modern times and it will provide you with plenty of opportunities to explore nature.

Travelers can still see the old culture & tradition being practiced in their original form. Weaving is a popular occupation among their women and they produce beautiful fabrics mainly silk and raw silk. Farming is also still a major part of their lives and people reside in old traditional houses while herding livestock. The best time to visit eastern Bhutan is in Spring and autumn season as during summer, the rainfall leads to blockage of roads and soil erosion, while the winter ice & snow makes it a little dangerous for Vehicles to pass by.

Mongar - Gom Kora - Trashigang

Tag 8: Tashigang - the Jewel of the East

The most unexplored part of Bhutan is on the Eastern side & Trashigang is truly rural, with minimal development and almost negligible commercial activities. This place is where wanderers feel alive and awesome. What it lacks in infrastructure, Trashigang makes up in natural wonders. This is why people often call Tashigang it “Jewel of the East.” Since the region is mostly in the range of 600 meters to 4,000 meters, you’ll need to be aware of acclimatization.

Trashigang - Sakteng - Sakteng Lower Secondary Schoo

Tag 9: Drive to Sakteng

Today we will be driving to Sakteng. The road is mostly bumpy with no tar. The people (Brokpa tribe) living in Sakteng area are semi-nomadic yak herders with a unique and fascinating culture in the world. They speak a different dialect, have their own deities, and wear a unique style of dress. They wear headgear made out of yak hair with five tentacles designed to draw away the rain.

Sakteng - Donmong Chu - Merak

Tag 10: Meet the Locals in Sakteng

Sakten valley is situated in eastern Bhutan under Trashigang Dzongkhag at an altitude of 3000 meters. It is inhabited by a semi-nomadic people known as the Brokpas. Living close to nature in this pristine wilderness, the Brokpas way of life has remained virtually unchanged through the years and they still mainly depend upon yak rearing and animal husbandry for their livelihoods. Most of these products are bartered for food grains, especially maize and rice. Sakteng valley remains untouched and unspoiled by the influence of the outside world.

We will be interacting with locals and experiencing their lives through a homestay program. We will be enjoying some delicious cuisines of nomadic herders & become familiar with the daily lifestyle activities.

Sakteng - Merak - Trashigang

Tag 11: Sakteng to Trashigang Town

Today, after lunch we will drive back to Trashigang town and go for a stroll around Trashigang town in the evening. If time permits, we will go to explore the first accredited college in Bhutan.

Sherubtse College, located in Kanglung in the district of Trashigang in east Bhutan, is one of the oldest and largest colleges in the Royal University of Bhutan. The college was established as a Public School in 1968 and became a Junior College in 1976. It became a constituent college of the Royal University of Bhutan in 2003. Spread over a sprawling lush green campus with an authentic rural flavor, Sherubtse College is only 10 minutes drive from the Yongphula airport.

Trashigang - Kanglung - Samdrupjongkhar

Tag 12: Driving to Samdrupjongkhar

It will take us the whole day to drive to Samdrupjongkhar and this will be the last day in Bhutan.

The gateway to eastern Bhutan, Samdrup Jongkhar is situated in the southeastern region of the country and shares borders with the Indian state of Assam. The town in Samdrup Jongkhar is one of the oldest in Eastern Bhutan and has seen gradual development over the years. It is a bustling little town with shopkeepers and hawkers coming from the nearby border of Assam to sell their wares. It also houses the oldest cinema in the country that is popular among the Assamese from across the border for the Bollywood films it screens. In the past, British Political Officers stationed in Sikkim took the route from Samdrup Jongkhar to enter Bhutan.

Samdrup Jongkhar - Guwahati - Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport,guwahati

Tag 13: Goodbye Bhutan!

The next day early morning, we will bid a fond farewell from the magical kingdom and wish you a happy journey back home.