Bhutan Cultural Tours

The unique culture and beauty of Bhutan make cultural tours a real treat! From vising monasteries to seeing ancient artwork, Bhutan has something for everyone! These tours offer the traveler insight into the Bhutanese life as it has been lived for hundreds of years. Come visit this unique vacation destination!

Central Bhutan Cultural Tour - 11 Days

Day 1: Paro

A Bhutan Dukar Tours and Travels representative will meet you at the Paro airport and will take you to your hotel to check in and get settled. From there we will travel by car to see the following sites:

• The Ta Dzong Museum: This museum contains antique paintings, textiles, weapons, and armour.
• The Rinpung Dzong: This is an old fortress that protected the valley from Tibetan invaders. This building is now houses administrative offices and a school for monks.
• The Drukgyal Dzong: This fortress now lies in ruins, but was once a testament to the great victory of Shabdrung over Tibetan invaders.

Day 2: Paro to Thimpu

After a restful night's sleep at the hotel in Paro, we will drive to Thimpu, which is the capital of Bhutan. While there we will visit the following:

• National Textile Museum: This museum features exhibits about the living national art of weaving. Exhibits include major weaving techniques, styles of dress, and various textiles made by local men and women.
• National Folk Heritage Museum: This museum displays the cultural life of the Bhutanese and will give you insight into the life a typical Bhutanese individual.
• The Traditional Painting School of Arts & Crafts: This school teaches children centuries old arts and crafts techniques. You can watch classes that are in session to see the teaching style as well as the talent of the children.
• Trashi Chhoedzong: This fortress was burned in 1771 and rebuilt by the third King in 1866. It now houses the secretariat, the throne room and the offices of the King and the ministries of home affairs and finance.

We plan this cultural tour around the largest festivals in Bhutan, the Thimphu Tsechu. On day two of your journey you will see the first day of the festival which will showcase the dance of the four stags, the Dance of the Three Kinds of Ging (with swords, sticks, and drums), the Dance of the Heroes, the Dance of the Stag and the Hounds, and the Dance of the Guitar.

After all of the days activities you will stay overnight at the hotel in Thimphu to rest for another exciting day in Bhutan.

Day 3: Thimpu

Day three of your journey corresponds with day two of the Tsechu. On this day, you will have the opportunity to visit the following places:

• Tsechu: You will spend some time visiting this religious festival. You will see Bhutanese from all walks of life come to be blessed. The locals will wear their finest clothing and jewelry and you will get a chance to see their culture in action.
• The Bhutan Post: At this museum you will view the collection of exotic metal and silk stamps commemorating all the major world events.
• The Farmers Market: You will have a change to explore and shop in the weekend market where the locals come to sell their produce.
• Takin Zoo: This zoo houses a number of exotic animals, including the Takin which is native to and only located in Bhutan.

Day 4: Thimpu to Wangdue

Day four of your journey will allow you to see several more dances during the Tsechu festival as well as visit some beautiful scenery. You will see:

• Dances: Locals will perform the Dance of the 21 Black Hats, Dance of the Nobleman and the Ladies, dance of the 16 Drum Beaters from Dramitse, and the Dance of the Stag and the Hound.
• Wangue Valley: Once the dances are over we will drive an hour to the Angdue Valley which highlights the beauty of the Himalayan Mountains, the magnolia trees, and the Rhododendrons.

Day 5: Wangdue to Trongsa

Day five is a photographers dream come true.We will visit the following places:

• Pele la Pass: This pass is at an altitude of 3,150 meters, which shows off the beautiful countryside of Bhutan.
• Trongsa Dzong: This is the most impressive fortress in Bhutan, it dates back to 1644.

Day 6: Trongsa to Bumthang

Day six is also a great opportunity to take photographs. We will visit the following sites:

• Bumthang: This beautiful valley is the heart of Buddhism in Bhutan. There are beautiful blue pines, clean streams, and yak grazing on the side of the road.
• Yatha Weaving Center: Yatha cloth is produced in this area, and the weaving center allows you to see how it is made.
• Wangdichholing Palace: This is the first palace that was not built as a fortress. It was built in 1857 on a battle camp site.
• Jampa Lhakhang: This temple was built in approximately 659 by the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo.
• Kurjey Lhajhang: This is another temple, which is located above Jamba Lhakhang and it consists of three temples built in approximately 1652.

Day 7 : Choskar to Tang Valley

Day seven is a walking tour of the Choskhor Valley. This tour will include the following:

• Tamshing Temple: This temple, founded in 1501 has many beautiful religious paintings of Buddha and Taras. The walk to this temple includes a footbridge up the mountainside to a trail. You will also see a stone bridge leading from the Kurjey Temple to the Tamshing Temple.
• Tang Valley: This beautiful valley is where people raise sheep and yak and is a remote place to take photgraphs.
• Ugyen Chholing Palace: This 16th century palace will be reached by a 45 minute climb up the mountainside.

Day 8 :Tang Valley to Trongsa

Day eight will be filled with more sight seeing in Bumthang, then there will be a chance to relax! Some of the things you will see are:

• Winter Palace of King Jigme Wangchuk (the 2nd King): This will give you insight into the everyday life of the King in those days.
• Eundu Chholing: This was the winter palace of the First King and again will give you a chance to see what day to day life was like for royalty in those days.

Day 9 : Trongsa to Wangdue

Day nine will be the long drive back to Wangdue. We will stop often for you to take pictures and have a bite to eat.

Day 10 : Wangdue to Paro

Day ten is another driving day. We will travel back to Paro.

Day 11 : Paro to Bangkok

Day eleven is the last day. We will escort you back to the airport for your return trip home.

Bumthang Cultural Tour- 12 Days

Day 1: Paro

Day one of this tour begins with the breathtaking arrival into Bhutan. On this flight you will see Mt. Everest as well as other mountain peaks in the Himalayas. When you arrive at the airport one of our tour guides will greet you and take you to the airport to get checked in. After lunch we will visit the following sites:

• Ta-Dzong: This fortress was built in the 17th Century as a watch tower for Paro. It was later converted into the National Museum and houses thangka paintings, textiles and armour.
• Rinpung Dzong: This fortress was also built in the 17th Century, and it served to defend the valley against Tibetan invaders. It currently operates as an administartive center.

Day 2: Paro

Day two will have you on a driving tour to sight-see across Paro. You will visit the following places on this tour:

• Drugyel Dzong: This fortress, built in 1647 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, commemorated his victory over the Tibetans in 1644. Drugyel Dzong means ‘fortress of the victorious Drukpas’.
• Kyichu Lhakhang: This is one of the oldest temples in Bhutan. It was built by Tibetan King, Songtsen Gampo, in the seventh century.

Day 3: Paro to Thimphu

Day three will begin with a drive to the capital of Bhutan, Thimphu. While in Thimphu, you will visit the following:

• Memorial Chorten: This is the Traditional Medicine Insitutte where medicines made of local plants are made.
• The Painting School: This school is famous for it's teaching and collection of Thangkha paintings
• The National Library: This library houses ancient Buddhist texts.
• Tashichho Dzong: This dzong is known as the "fortress of the glorious religion". This dzong has been damages by fire and restored several times since it was first built in the 13th Century.

Day 4: Thimphu to Tongsa

Day four begins with a drive to Tongsa via the Cohula pass. While on this drive you will experience two of the three climates:

• Temperate Forests: This is the first part of the journey and you will see rhododendron and magnolia
• Semi-Tropical: During this leg of the journey you will see orange trees, banana tress, and cacti.

Day 5: Tongsa to Bumthang

Day five will take you from Tongsa to Bumthang along a beautiful route perfect for taking pictures! We will visit:

• Tongsa Dzong: This is the ancestral home of the Wangchucks, the Bhutan royal family.
• Ta Dzong: This fortress was built to protect the royal family living in the Tongsa Dzong.
• Jakar Dzong: This fortress in Bumthang was built in the 17th Century.
• Kurji Temple Guru Padmasambhava was said to have left his body imprint in this area in the 8th Century. The temple was built in the 17th Century.

Day 6: Bumthang to Ngang Lhakhang

Day six begins the trekking part of the tour. We will walk about 6 hours and camp overnight. You will see the following on this trek:

• Chamkhar River
• Blue Pine Forests
• Bamboo

Day 7: Ngang Lhakhang to Ugyenchholing

Day seven involves 7 to 8 hours of walking. During this leg of the journey you will see:

• Phephe la Pass
• Juniper Forests
• Tang Valley

Day 8: Ugyenchholing to Bumthang

Day eight includes a morning walk. This part of the journey will take you to the following:

• Ugyenchholing Dzong: This fortress was also a monastery until the middle of the 19th century. It now houses a museum about the history and life of Ugyenchholing.
• Membertsho Lake: This lake is sacred and many offerings are made by the Bhutanese people at this lake.

Day 9: Bumthang to Punakha

Day nine begins with tours in Bumthang and ends with a drive to the next destination. While in Bumthang you will visit:

• Jambey Lkakhang: This monastary was built in the 7th century.
• Tamshing Lhakhang: This monstary holds beautiful religious paintings and is another important temple within Bhutan.

Day 10: Punakha to Paro

Day ten is another busy day! You will travel from Punakha to Paro and visit the following places:

• Punakha Dzong: This fortress was built in 1637 and acted as the country's winter capital for over 300 years. The first King was crowned here in 1907.
• Paro Market: You may stroll and shop through this market with local produce, textiles, and arts and crafts.

Day 11: Paro to Taktsang to Paro

Day eleven consists of a day hike. You will see the following on this hike:

• Taktsang Monastary: This is one of Bhutan's most sacred sites.
• Paro Valley: From the monastery you will have a breathtaking view of the valley. This is a perfect opportunity for photographs!

Day 12: Paro

Day twelve is the last. We will escort you to the Paro airport for your return flight.

To book one of these, or any other of our cultural tours, contact us.