DEPART AMERICA

Board your flight for your tour of Mystical Himalayan Kingdoms.

ENROUTE

ARRIVE DELHI

Arrive in Delhi, India's bustling capital city. You will be greeted with a traditional Indian welcome and escorted to your hotel. New Delhi reflects the legacy left behind by the British. The division between New and Old Delhi is the segregation between the capitals of the British and Mughals.

DELHI/PARO

Fly to Bhutan, a spectacular experience as one flies over the great peaks of theHimalayas. Paro is home to many of Bhutan’s oldest temples and monasteries. On arrival take an orientation drive through the picturesque Paro valley with its quaint clusters of hamlets amid terraced paddy fields. Afternoon walking tour of the markets and visit a typical Bhutanese farmhouse.

PARO

Choose from one of the following sightseeing option:

A: Hike to Taktsang: The trip involves walking on narrow mountain trails and some steep climb. After breakfast, drive to Satsam Chorten to begin hiking to Taktsang Monastery’s viewpoint. The terrain to the monastery climbs through beautiful pine forests. Taktsang means "Tiger's Nest”, built around a cave where Guru Rimpoche meditated. The 8th century monastery is perched on a rock overlooking a sheer drop and clings seemingly impossibly to a cliff of rock at 9678 feet above the valley floor. Stop at local villages on the way. Afternoon, visit Ta Dzong National Museum, one of the best in Asia; whose exhibits include an ancient watch tower and a fine collection of natural and historic artifacts, old Thangkha paintings, textiles, weapons. Later, walk through the market followed by a visit to a typical Bhutanese farm house

B: CITY TOUR: Visit Kyichu Lhakhang, said to have been built by King Songtsen Gampo of Tibet in 659, Satsam Chorten and Rinpung Dzong also known as the Fortress of the Heap of Jewels, the old ruined fortress of Drugyel Dzong an ancient monastic and administrative complex/fortress, from the ramparts of which the Bhutanese repelled Tibetan invaders. On a clear day, you will be overawed by the sight of the 24,000 feet white-domed peak of the sacred Mt Jhomolhari that looms overhead. Afternoon, visit Ta Dzong National Museum, one of the best in Asia; whose exhibits include an ancient watch tower and a fine collection of natural and historic artifacts, old Thangkha paintings, textiles, weapons. Later, walk through the market followed by a visit to a typical Bhutanese farm house

 

PARO/THIMPHU

This morning, drive through spectacular mountain vistas and peaceful countryside to Thimphu, a small, charming capital city in the heart of the Himalayas at 8,500 feet. After lunch, visit the Memorial Chorten, built in 1974 in memory of the late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, exhibiting a multi-storied stupa and numerous paintings providing a rare insight into Buddhist philosophy. The National Library, houses a vast collection of ancient Buddhist Manuscripts, the Academy of medicine, the Indigenous Medicine Hospital, where herbal medicine, acupuncture and the ancient art of healing is practiced. Visit The Folk Heritage Museum and National Textile Museum. Thangkha Painting School is where young students learn the traditional arts and crafts.

THIMPHU

Visit the Zilukha Nunnery, meet with Buddhist nuns to learn about their life and Buddhism.Visit the Mini Zoo to see the Golden Takins, Bhutan’s national animal. Stop at a traditional paper factory where paper is made from Daphnia and Edgeworthia shrub. Visit a silver and goldsmith village. Time to shop at the Handicrafts Emporium to buy traditional crafts and textiles also wander through Thimphu’s bazaar.

THIMPHU/PHUNTSHOLING

Early morning, after breakfast, visit Thimphu’s Weekend Market. Mingle with the localswho travel from nearby villages to buy fruits, vegetables, rice, grains, chilies and other fresh foods: the crowded stalls offer a variety of local items such as yak tail dusters, butter tea cups, turquoise from Tibet and musical instruments. Proceed to Phuntsholing, border town in the southern part of Bhutan. En route, visit Kharbandi Gompa built in a garden of tropical plants and flowers. Enjoy the beautiful view over the plains and the town of Phuntsholing.

PHUNTSHOLING/GANGTOK

Depart Bhutan, making several stops en route. Break for lunch at Siliguri. Gangtok, the Capital of Sikkim, emerges through the clouds in the shadow of the Kanchenjunga or Kangchendzonga.

RHUMTEK EXCURSION

Embark on an excursion to Rhumtek Monastery, the seat of the Gyalwa Karmapa and head of the Kagyu-pa sect of Tibetan Buddhism. The main monastery was recently built by the Gyalwa Karmapa according to Buddhist architecture. Visitors are welcomed and can par take in the prayer and chanting sessions. Visit the Namgyalk Institute of Tibetology to see the collection of Lepcha, Tibetan, Sanskrit manuscripts, statues and Thangkas.

TIGER HILL & CITY TOUR

Early morning, excursion to Tiger Hill, the highest spot in the area (2,590 meters), to see the sunrise (weather permitting) on the Kanchenzonga Range with a possible view of Mt. Everest. Visit Ghoom Monastery, housing the image of Maitreyee Buddha (future Buddha). After breakfast, tour Darjeeling, visit Tibetan Refugee Self Help Village established in 1959 to help facilitate the refugees on arrival in India: Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and Everest Museum, adjacent to the High Altitude Wildlife Park. Visit the only snow leopard breeding center in India. Afternoon, visit Lloyd’s Botanical Garden and local market.

DARJEELING

Darjeeling conjures visions of serenity, vibrant green hills steeped in splendor crowned by the majestic Himalayas. It is one of the most magnificent hill resorts in the world. Spend the day at leisure.