Haa Summer Festival

Welcome to Bhutan, the Land of the Thunder Dragon. Touching down at Paro International Airport, you will be greeted by your guide upon exiting the arrival hall. Today, we will take it easy to acclimatise to the altitude. Drive to Thimphu, check in to the hotel and let us have your first taste of Bhutanese cuisine.

Situated at an altitude of 2400m, Thimphu is the centre of government, religion and commerce. The capital has an interesting combination of tradition and modernity and includes some of the most advanced and remotest parts of the kingdom. It is home to the Kings and the Royal family members, civil servants, expatriates, politicians, business persons and monks. Enjoy this cultural mix based on livelihood. Of culture, we will take you through temples, dzongs, chortens, museums, handicraft stores, nunneries, parks and many more. Allow yourself to meet both traditional and contemporary artist.

We will set off early from Thimphu after breakfast. Then proceed to Punakha, the ancient capital of Bhutan, about 2 1/2 hours drive from Thimphu across Dochu-la pass. Once you cross the pass, you wind down into a warm fertile valley and meander along a gently flowing aquamarine river that leads you to the Punakha Dzong, the second dzong to be built in Bhutan.

Day Hike to Khamsum Yulley Chorten and have a lovely lunch near the river.

The beautiful valley of Paro is home to many of Bhutan's old monasteries and temples. The country's only Airport is in Paro. The valley is also home to mount Chomolhari (7,300 meters) situated at the northern end of the valley whose glacier water forms the Pachu flowing through the valley.

Right after breakfast, we will drive to Haa through Chele La (3,988m) to witness the Haa Summer festival. From the pass, you can see Paro valley on one side and then Haa valley on the other. In Haa, some sightseeing and then going to kensho village and visiting the Katso Lhakhang. The valley of Haa was only opened to Tourist in 2002 and Haa is the least visited valley in Bhutan due to the lack of Tourist infrastructure. This has helped in keeping Haa the way it has always been, with Bhutanese families living their traditional and simple life. There are no tourist standard hotels in Haa valley so we return back to Paro for the night.

Are you ready? We will be making the hike up to one of the key highlights in Bhutan today! Tiger's Nest aka Taktsang Monastery Taktsang Monastery They say, "a visit to Bhutan is not complete without climbing up to the Tiger's Nest". Taktsang Monastery, famously known as the Tiger’s Nest, is Bhutan’s most iconic landmark, dramatically perched on a cliffside 3,120 metres above sea level in Paro Valley. According to legend, Guru Padmasambhava flew to this site in the 8th century on the back of a tigress and meditated in a cave that now lies at the heart of the monastery. Built in 1692, the complex includes temples, meditation caves, and stunning viewpoints that seem to defy gravity. Reaching the monastery involves a scenic 2–3 hour hike through pine forests and fluttering prayer flags—a spiritual and physical journey that rewards you with breathtaking views and deep serenity.

Today we will bid a fond farewell to this beautiful Himalayan country and take an early flight back, We hope by now you would have made some friends and also kept many photos and beautiful memories of Bhutan! And we look forward to seeing you again in this beautiful land of endless Enchantments! Tashi Delek!