Bhutan is a small nation and rich cultural heritage with wide diversity of ethnic groups. Her national identity is intimately bound up with its religious identity as a Buddhist nation. Religious beliefs are evidenced in all aspects of life. 

A large percentage of Bhutanese are rural residents and nearly all these rural houses are surrounded by some land that is used for agriculture. As a traditional society, the Bhutanese follow a highly refined system of etiquette, which is called "driglam namzha." This traditional code of conduct supports respect for authority, devotion to the institution of marriage and family, and dedication to civic duty. It governs many different sorts of behavior, including how to send and receive gifts, how to speak to those in authority, elderly people, and guest, how to serve and eat food at public occasions, and how to dress.

The Festival tour includes:

EXPERIENCE BHUTAN

An excellent introduction to western Bhutan, this 7-day trip combines fabulous scenery with plenty of fascinating religious and historic sites. You arrive at Paro, located in one of the most beautiful valleys in Bhutan. Paro is a good example of a typical district town in Bhutan. A one-hour drive along the scenic Paro and Thimphu rivers takes you to Bhutan’s capital city, Thimphu. As you might expect, there’s plenty to see and do here, including visiting the Memorial Chorten and Changangkha temple, seeing live traditional crafts such as thangkha painting at the National Institute of Arts and Crafts, learning about Bhutanese textiles at the National Textile Museum and the opportunity to shop for souvenirs in local handicraft shops or markets. A morning’s drive takes you to the Punakha and Wangdue valleys via the Dochu La Pass, from which you’ll enjoy spectacular Himalayan views on a fine day. Highlights in this area are the Punakha Dzong and the 15th-century ‘Temple of Fertility’ (Chimi Lhakhang). Return to Paro for a day of sightseeing in the valley, including a day hike to the famous ‘Tiger’s Nest’ monastery which clings to the edge of a sheer cliff.

CENTRAL BHUTAN TOUR

This 12-day tour offers you the highlights of Bhutan’s rich cultural, religious and historical background in the western and central regions, as well as driving through stunning landscapes and venturing into remote valleys with centuries-old villages. In the west you’ll be able to explore an array of ancient fortresses (dzongs), monasteries and temples, including the dramatic ‘Tiger’s Nest’ or Taktshang monastery near Paro. (Legend has it that Guru Padmasambhava, known in Bhutan as the second Buddha, arrived here on the back of a flying tigress and meditated on the spot where the monastery now stands.) Paro and the capital, Thimphu, are home to an impressive number of fascinating museums and other places of interest, such as the Institute of Traditional Medicine. Travelling eastwards through pine-scented forests towards Punakha you climb the first major pass, the Dochu La. The journey continues through magnificent territory to historic Trongsa, the gateway to central Bhutan, and then onto Bumthang, an ideal base for exploring the beautiful surrounding valleys as well as key historic and spiritual landmarks. The beautiful, high-altitude village of Gangtey, home to the black-necked crane in winter, is your easternmost destination before returning to Paro.

BLISSFUL BHUTAN TOUR

This 5-day itinerary starts with a short drive to Bhutan’s bustling capital, Thimphu, with its many interesting museums and temples.  You will have a full day to explore the sights of the capital.  Then you head east over the Dochu La pass (where you should get some stunning views of the Himalayan range) to Punakha where you can visit the magnificent Punakha Dzong and take a short walk to a fascinating temple of fertility.  From Punakha you return west to Paro where you can visit the impressive Paro Rinpung Dzong and the beautiful Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest temples in Bhutan.  Your trip culminates with a hike to the famous Tiger’s Nest monastery that clings to sheer cliffs over the Paro valley, the highlight of any trip to Bhutan!

Note:

You can customise the itinerary based on your requirements so please contact us and we will provide you with detailed itinerary