The Last Shangri La

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Highlights

  • Carbon-negative country, healthcare guarantee

  • Trek in Himalayan Mountains, visit temples/monasteries

  • Explore local destinations, Bhutanese cuisine, culture

  • Local guides with years of experience

Summary

It was never on anyone’s vacation wish list, and it just opened its doors to tourists a few years ago. Since then, Bhutan has miraculously become a hotspot for nature enthusiasts who come to experience the country’s rawness

Tour info

Duration
1 day - 1 month 2 weeks 5 days 13 hours 30 minutes 54.0 seconds
Group Size
500
Pricing (From)
adult: (18-120 years)
$450.00
Commentary
English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Czech, Dutch, Japanese, Korean, Hindi
Meeting Point
Dropoff location

Why take this tour?

The Last Shangrila Bhutan Travel package offers a unique tour experience of the "Last Shangri-La" with local guides who have years of experience. The tour includes breakfast, private transportation, all fees and taxes, and bottled water, but lunch, alcoholic beverages, and the use of a bicycle are not included. You can explore local destinations, try out Bhutanese cuisine, experience the unique culture of the "Happiness People", visit temples and monasteries, and trek in the Himalayan Mountains. Bhutan is a great example of development achieved without sacrificing the environment and is the only carbon-negative country in the world. The package comes with a 24/7 healthcare and money-back guarantee, ensuring a relaxed Bhutan tour experience.

Day 01: Arrive at Paro
On a clear day, the journey to Paro is one of the most breathtaking of all mountain flights. Mt. Everest, Kanchenjunga, Makalu, and several peaks in Bhutan, including Chomolhari, Jichu Drake, and Tsering gang, can all be seen. The first gift you’ll receive from Bhutan will be cool, pure fresh air as you exit the plane. Upon arriving at Paro airport, our representative will greet you and transport you to your accommodation. Take a stroll through Paro’s market and town in the evening. In Paro, spend the night in a hotel.

Day 02: Paro
Paro is a lovely valley with tiny hamlets nestled among terraced paddy fields. The architecture and basic way of life in the town still maintain traditions. A morning visit to Ta Dzong, or the National Museum, one of Asia’s top natural history museums. Ta Dzong’s collections are one-of-a-kind and diverse, spanning from ancient armor to textiles, thangka paintings, and natural life. Then continue down the trail to Paro Dzong (Rinpung Dzong), which was established in 1646 under the reign of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. It now serves as the site of the Paro monastic school and the civil administration’s office.

Rinpung Dzong is also the site of the Paro Tshechu, which takes place once a year in the spring. Drive up the valley in the afternoon to the Drukgyel Dzong, or Fort of Drukpa Victory. Bhutanese have repulsed Tibetan invasions from this fortification throughout history. The snow-capped top of Mt. Chomolhari looms over the smoldering wreckage. Traditional Bhutanese Farm House, tucked beneath the dzong, is a must-see. Then drive to Paro town, stopping along the way to see Kyichu Lhakhang, one of Bhutan’s oldest monasteries and a symbol of Buddhism’s introduction to the country. In Paro, stay at a hotel for dinner and the night.

Day 03: Paro – Thimphu (55 km, 2 hours)
After breakfast an excursion to Taktsang Monastery viewpoint. It is one of the most famous of Bhutan’s monasteries, perched on the side of a cliff 900 m above the Paro valley floor. It is said that Guru Rinpoche arrived here on the back of a tigress and meditated at this monastery hence it is called ‘Tiger’s Nest’.

Drive to Thimphu, Bhutan’s capital, through gorgeous countryside, villages, and paddy fields. Visit the Simtokha Dzong, one of the country’s oldest fortifications, which today serves as the home of the School for Religious and Cultural Studies. In Thimphu, spend the night in a hotel.

Day 04: Thimphu
A visit to the National Library, which houses a great collection of ancient Buddhist literature, manuscripts, modern academic publications, and printing blocks for prayer flags, is included in today’s full day of touring in Thimphu valley. Traditional thangka paintings are famous from this Arts & Crafts or Painting School. The Textile and Folk Heritage Museum is a wonderful showcase of Bhutanese material culture and living traditions. The exquisite Memorial Chorten was created in honor of Bhutan’s third King. The monument’s murals and statues provide a comprehensive insight into Buddhist philosophy.

Tashichhodzong is a magnificent fortress/monastery that contains the Secretariat, the King’s Throne Room, and various government offices. The Handicrafts Emporium, which shows a broad variety of wonderfully hand-woven and produced handicrafts, is also the summer house of Chief Abbot. In Thimphu, spend the night in a hotel.

Day 05: Thimphu – Punakha (75 km, 3 hours)
Morning tour of the local market and town in Thimphu. Then cross the Dochula and pass on your way to Punakha (3, O8Om). A big Bhutanese Chorten and prayer flag mark the passes in Bhutan. On a clear day, Dochula pass provides the most stunning vista of the eastern Himalayas’ high peaks. Check into the hotel when you arrive at Punakha. Punakha was the capital of Bhutan until 1955, and it is now the winter residence of Je Khenpo, Chief Abbot. Punakha Dzong was erected in the 17th century by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal and is located at the confluence of the Pho Chu and Mo Chu rivers. In Punakha, spend the night in a hotel.

Day 06: Punakha – Wangduephodrang -Gangtey (Phobjikha) (70 km, 3 hours)
Drive to Wangduephodrang after breakfast and see the Dzong, which is located on a spur at the junction of two rivers. Dzong’s location is exceptional because it totally covers the spur and boasts a commanding view of both the north-south and east-west directions. Wangdue is also known for its bamboo handicrafts, slate carving, and stone carving. The road to Phobjikha Valley passes through an oak and rhododendron woodland. Phobjikha is one of Bhutan’s few glacial valleys and the preferred home of black-necked cranes migrating from the Central Asian Plateau to avoid the hard winters. Explore the Phobjikha Valley and pay a visit to Gangtey Monastery, Western Bhutan’s sole Nyingmapa monastery. Overnight stay in a guest house or a camp.

Day 07: Gangtey (Phobjikha) – Trongsa (128 km, 4.1/2 hours)
Morning explores Phobjikha valley for Black Neck Cranes and later drives to Trongsa across Pelela pass (3,300m) (3,300m). This pass has long been regarded as the dividing line between western and central Bhutan. Stop along the route at Chendebji Chorten, a Nepalese-style temple built in the 18th century. The scenery around Trongsa is breathtaking, and the dzong seems to tease you for miles, making you wonder whether you’ll ever get there. Check into the lodge as you arrive. In Trongsa, stay in the lodge for dinner and the night.

Day 08: Trongsa – Bumthang (Jakar) (68 km, 3 hours)
Morning tour to Trongsa Dzong, which is located at the top of the mountain. It is Bhutan’s most spectacular dzong, standing at 2,200 meters and was erected by the Shabdrung in 1647. Then go to the Ta Dzong, which was erected to protect Trongsa and stands on the edge of a mountain. After lunch, travel to Bumthang, one of Bhutan’s most beautiful valleys and the spiritual heartland of Buddhism. Cross Yutong La pass (3,400m) 29 kilometers ahead of Trongsa, and the environment changes again, with deep coniferous forests stretching for miles. Bumthang’s arrival is marked by the broad, manicured Chumey valley. In Bumthang, spend the night at the lodge.

Day 09: Bumthang
Bumthang refers to a group of four valleys — Chumey, Choekhor, Tang, and Ura – with elevations ranging from 2,600 to 4,000 meters. Visit to Kurje Lhakhang, one of Bhutan’s holiest sites, where Guru Rinpoche meditated. A tarmac road leads south from Kurje monastery along the right bank of the river to the Jambay Lhakhang. This temple, like Kyichu Lhakhang in the Paro valley, is considered to be the first built by King Songtsen Gampo of Tibet in the 7th century. Afternoon visit Pema Lingpa’s Tamshing Lhakhang, which he founded in 1501. It houses some fascinating Buddhist paintings from the past. Later, see the Jakar Dzong, or “White Bird Dzong.” Take a stroll through the Bumthang market district in the evening. In Bumthang, stay at the lodge for dinner and the night.

Day 10: Bumthang – Mongar (198 km, 7 hours)
The route continues eastward, weaving through more challenging terrain. The 7-hour drive will take you through breathtaking scenery. Pass past Bumthang’s Ura village before climbing steeply to the Kingdom’s highest motorable pass, the Thrumshingla pass (4000m). As you descend to Sengor, keep an eye out for cascading waterfalls. At 700 meters, the fall comes to a halt on a bridge across the Kurichu. Return to Mongar town via pine forests, maize fields, and eastern hamlets. Visit Mongar Dzong, which, despite its recent construction, follows the architectural traditions of historic dzongs. In Mongar, spend the night in the lodge.

Day 11: Mongar – Trashigang (96 km, 3 hours)

Day 12: Trashigang (excursion to Trashiyangtse)
Visit the Gom Kora temple, located 24 kilometers from Trashigang on a small alluvial plateau overlooking the river. Guru Rinpoche is said to have defeated a monster at Gom Kora. Further on, you’ll come to Doksum village, where you’ll observe ladies weaving traditional Bhutanese fabric and a 15th-century chain bridge. Visit Trashiyangtse Dzong, which is located at an elevation of 1,850 meters. Trashiyangtse was once a major center due to its location on one of the caravan routes connecting western and central Bhutan. The dzong is brand new, and the Art school and the famed chorten Kora are both nearby. Return to Trashigang in the evening. In Trashigang, stay at the lodge for dinner and the night.

Day 13: Trashigang – Samdrup Jongkhar (180 km, 6 hours)
The Trashigang – Samdrup Jongkhar road was finished in 1965 and takes about 6 hours to travel. Pass past Sherubtse College, the country’s lone college, which was created in 1978. Visit the Zangtho Pelri shrine, which the late Minister of Home Affairs established in 1978. Guru Rinpoche’s utopia is represented by it. Continue on to Khaling to see the Blind School and the Weaving Centre. Deothang, 80 kilometers east of Khaling, is the home of the Technical Training College and the East’s road maintenance headquarters. The road drops quickly to the plain from here, passing through a deep tropical forest with plenty of teak, bamboo, and ferns. In Samdrup Jongkhar, spend the night at the lodge.

Day 14 : Depart Samdrup Jongkhar
After breakfast, transfer to the Bhutan border, where you will be met by an Indian agent and taken to your next destination.

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What’s included?

  • Visit to most sacred temples and monastery in Bhutan

  • Exclusive Bhutanese village visits

  • Experience firsthand Bhutanese lifestyles

  • Trek in Himalayan Mountains

  • Bar Bills

  • Laundry Bills

  • Tips and gratuity to Guides and hotel staffs

Things to know

Before you book

  • Bhutan: paradise for nature lovers, committed to eco-preservation.

  • Paro journey: breathtaking mountain flight, views of Mt. Everest.

  • Bhutan has ancient fortresses, monasteries & rich cultural history.

  • Former Bhutan capital Punakha, now winter residence of Chief Abbot & home to Punakha Dzong.

Before you go

  • Bhutan, the Shangri-la, is a raw nature hotspot. Perfect for enthusiasts.

  • Bhutan emits zero carbon, a unique feat globally.

  • Explore Taktsang Monastery, Bhutan's famous cliff-side temple 900m above Paro valley floor.

Covid Policy

  • Face masks required for guides in public areas
  • Face masks provided for travelers
  • Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
  • Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
  • Gear/equipment sanitized between use
  • Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
  • Guides required to regularly wash hands
  • Regular temperature checks for staff
  • Temperature checks for travelers upon arrival
  • Contactless payments for gratuities and add-ons
  • COVID-19 vaccination required for guides
  • Proof of COVID-19 vaccination required for travelers

Cancellation Policy

    Up to 24 hours before the beginning of the activity: full refund Less than 24 hours before the beginning of the activity or no-show: no refund

Redemption information


    Confirmation necessary? Yes
    Your voucher will be collected or scanned on redemption
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Travel with Truly Bhutan in this extraordinary kingdom considered to the world as the last Shangrila. Visiting us will establish that there is still a destination like this Kingdom, hidden in the Himalayans for years nurturing a unique civilization; of pure and exotic mysticism, living in agreement with nature left overlooked by the rest of the world yet governed by a rare combination of harmony and accord. A kingdom intentionally, hidden through the centuries, protecting sacred heritage and enjoying the benefits of solitude. In this country called the Land of the Thunder Dragon, visitors will experience the medieval kingdom as well as a modern nation-state; a transition happening without corrupting the distinctive cultural and traditional heritage.

Truly Bhutan is a Travel Management company providing comprehensive Travel packages to enthusiastic travelers visiting Bhutan and Bhutanese outbound travelers. Truly Bhutan manages and coordinates, with utmost efficiency and exclusivity, cultural tours, treks, bird-watching tours, mountain biking tours, botanical tours, festivals, and textile tours. Truly Bhutan is also prepared to organize tailor-made tours to serve the best interest of travelers; those with special ideas of travel to this exotic Land of the Thunder Dragon. Truly Bhutan intends to ensure that clients are provided exceptional quality services and attention during their acquaintance with the culture and tradition of this unique Kingdom of Bhutan. Truly Bhutan assures a most memorable travel experience to our esteemed clientele and guarantees prompt response and commitment to all potential queries as well as inconveniences.

Truly Bhutan always shall be happy to answer your initial inquiries. You are most welcome to ask about ongoing fares, seasonal discounts, and new travel packages. It is, by no means, necessary to book your tickets on your first Inquire. If you are not sure about your trip, we can hold a reservation (not fares) for a limited time depending on the airline, hotels, and travel date. This provides you with sufficient time to shop around and compare offers before making a decision. And when you are ready to visit the last Shangrila with Truly Bhutan, you can call or mail us. Let Truly Bhutan take care of you while you take care of yourself!

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