DEPART AMERICA

Board your flight for your tour of Mystical Himalayan Kingdom.

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EN ROUTE

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 the Himalayas. 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.

PUNAKHA EXCURSION

Leaving Thimphu, the road climbs steeply through a forest of pine and cedar, festooned with hanging lichen high up near Dochula pass (3,050 meters). This pass offers panoramic views of the Himalayan mountain ranges, descending along a series of hairpin bends to the fertile valley of Punakha (1,350 meters). En route stop at Simtokha Dzong built in 1629 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, a theological university. Today, it is the winter seat of Je- Khenpo (the Chief Abbot) and the Central Monk Body. Visit Punakha Dzong (1250 meters), built in 1637 by the first Shabdrung of Bhutan, Ngawang Namgyal, serving as a religious and administrative center of Bhutan. Stroll through the town market before returning to Thimphu.

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 locals who 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/ DOOARS (Gorumara National Park)

Leave Bhutan for India today. After completing border formalities a three hour drive takes you to Gorumara National Park. Stop en route to take pictures, visit local villages and farms etc. Arrive at the Riverwood Retreat, a eco friendly jungle resort your home for 2 nights. A land between the plains and the mountains, where the tall trees rise up amidst rows of tea bushes, where dense forests are ruled by majestic beats, a land of peace, tranquility and mysteries too. Embark on a wildlife safari this afternoon. As the sun sets enjoy a presentation of local folk dances and music followed by dinner. RIVERWOOD FOREST RETREAT.

GAME DRIVES, VILLAGE EXPERIENCE & TEA GARDENS

The Gorumara National Park is located in the Dooars plains of North Bengal. The Dooars or Duars are flood plains and the foothills of the eastern Himalayas that stretch across West Bengal and Assam, two states in East and North-East India, around Bhutan. The Gorumara National Park is famous for its natural population of the Great Indian one-horned Rhinoceros. Lying on the banks of the river Murti, the park has vegetation of riverine grasslands interspersed with savannah woodland. The most common and valuable trees found here are Teak, Simul, Siris, Khair, Sal etc. The park offers some breathtaking landscape with its rivers and mountain ranges.
Besides the one horned rhinoceros, other major fauna of the park includes Indian Elephant, Indian Bison, leopard, and different species of deer, turtles, pythons, and monkeys along with more than 200 species of birds. The forest department has recently built several watchtowers inside and along the edges of the forests that offer a unique opportunity to observe wildlife in its natural habitat. The forest department has recently built several watchtowers inside and along the edges of the forests. These watchtowers are the best places to observe wildlife in their natural environment. Game drives by jeeps or Elephants (subject to availability).
In between game drives learn tea processing (special kind of tea CTC is grown here) or walk to the nearby village to see village market and to see life in houses built on stilts.

DOOARS / GANGTOK

After Breakfast travel overland to Gangtok, the Capital of Sikkim, emerges through the clouds in the shadow of the Kanchenjunga or Kangchendzonga. Visit Do Drul Chorten, the most important ’stupa’ of Sikkim, the Enchey monastery or the solitary temple, Orchid Sanctuary with its marvelous collection of orchids and the picturesque Tashi Ling offering an astounding view of the Kanchenjunga peak. The Namgyal Institute of Research and the Tsuk la Khang the principal place of worship for the local Buddhists housing a large collection of scriptures are other places that are worth visiting.

GANGTOK/DARJEELING

Travel overland to Darjeeling, en route stop at Rongpoo, Sikkim’s major border town. The drive is uphill to the Teesta Valley meeting point of Teesta and Rangit Rivers. Visit Peshok Tea Garden and Teesta Bazaar with beautiful views of the Northern range of Kanchenzonga. Continue to Darjeeling, nestled in the Himalayas at an altitude of 2,134 meters. It is derived from the Tibetan word 'Dorje' means precious stone or ecclesiastical scepter.

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.

DARJEELING/BAGDOGRA/DELHI

Fly to Delhi connecting with your onward flight home filled with memories of your exciting tour of Mystical Kingdoms of Himalayas.

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