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Jen Pa Leg Sho! Welcome to Bhutan. When you arrive at Paro Airport, you’ll be met by a local representative and transferred to Thimphu (2400 m) – Bhutan’s capital city. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight to meet your local leader and fellow travellers. After the meeting, join your leader for an orientation walk to get acquainted with Thimphu’s main street and visit the National Memorial Chorten – a stupa built in honour of Bhutan’s third king, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. Later, join your group and leader for a welcome dinner at a restaurant that’s popular with the locals. Learn about the rich history of Bhutanese cuisine as you tuck into a traditional feast of seasonal vegetables and ema datshi, the country’s signature dish (red rice with tasty chilli cheese). You may like to try some Bhutanese peach wine or some ara (the national spirit, served neat and hot).

After breakfast, you’ll explore Thimphu. Stop at Buddha Point, named after its giant gilded Buddha statue, and take in panoramic views of the city. Take a short hike through pine trees where your leader will help you spot takin (hoofed mammals resembling goats and antelopes) – the national animal of Bhutan. Pass by the fortress and monastery of Tashichho Dzong, sitting on the banks of the Thimphu Chhu River. After lunch, your leader will weave together the cultural heritage of Bhutan during visits to the National Textile Museum, Simply Bhutan Heritage Museum (where you can try your hand at the national sport of archery) and the Voluntary Artists Studio in Thimphu – an institution where young people receive formal education in the arts of traditional painting, sculpture and woodcarving. Thimphu has an excellent range of handicrafts, most notably woven cloth, wooden masks, thangkas, silverware, jewellery and bamboo crafts from all over Bhutan.

This morning, visit Desho Paper Factory to see a traditional method of making paper by hand. Next, travel to the fortified monastery of Simtokha Dzong, then follow the winding Dochula Pass (3100 m), marked by more than 100 chortens built in memory of Bhutanese soldiers. Continue through lush forests on the scenic drive to Phobjikha. Here, you’ll find a valley rich with wildlife – keep an eye out for serows (a goat-like animal) and muntjacs. This afternoon, visit Gangtey Goemba – a monastery with magnificent views of the valley. Your guide will provide a local perspective on Buddhism and happiness – the two most important pillars of Bhutanese culture. Here, you’ll take part in an Exclusive Experience – a prayer flag blessing ceremony. In Bhutan, prayer flags are an important symbol of the Buddhist faith. During this special ceremony, the monks of Gangtey Goemba will bless two flags for each traveller – one will be placed near the monastery and you’ll take the other one home as a keepsake symbolising good fortune, peace and prosperity. Spend the next two nights at Gangtey Tent Resort – your Feature Stay. Your deluxe tent offers views of the Phobjikha Valley and is decorated in traditional Bhutanese style.

Start the day with a visit to the centre of the Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN) where you’ll learn about the vulnerable, black-necked cranes that fly to Bhutan each winter. The Phobjikha Valley receives more of these visitors than any other part of the country and the RSPN has taken special measures to protect them, as well as 13 other vulnerable species. Learn about the cranes’ habitat and behaviour and use the centre’s spotting scopes to search for cranes in the valley. Wild cranes will only be visible during the winter months, but if you visit outside this period, you may still have the chance to see black-necked cranes that are being rehabilitated in the centre. In the afternoon, join your leader on a gentle hike around the valley and learn about the flora and fauna that call this region home.

Journey to Punakha this morning, stopping at a local village along the way where you’ll take a short walk to Chimi Lhakhang – the Temple of Fertility. Your leader will explain how people from all corners of the country visit the Lhakhang to seek a blessing from Drukpa Kunley, also known as the ‘Divine Madman’. A revered womaniser and drinker, this wandering preacher taught that sexual freedom was at the centre of Truth. On the walk through the village of Sopsokha to the temple, you’ll notice the phallic symbols painted on walls – a symbol of fertility and protection from evil.

Begin the day with a short drive to the base of a hill where you'll begin your hike up to a monastery. In this almost sub-tropical valley, you’ll head out on a hike over a suspension bridge that crosses the Mo Chhu River and passes through paddy fields before following a moderately inclined trail to the Khamsum Yulley Temple. Built by the Queen Mother, the temple is a classic example of Bhutan’s fine architectural and artistic traditions. From the top, you can take in sweeping views across the valley. After lunch, you’ll visit the white-walled, red-roofed Punakha Dzong, the administrative and religious centre and winter retreat of the Je Khenpo – the chief abbot of Bhutan. See the Dzong’s intricately carved woodwork, prayer halls and beautiful religious paintings decorating the walls and doorways. End the day at the Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Temple and Nunnery, where you’ll arrive in time for evening prayers.

This morning, begin the journey to Paro. When you arrive, you’ll have some free time to wander Paro town. In the afternoon, visit Kaja Throm – a local farmers market where you can browse fresh produce and handicrafts and watch as locals go about their shopping – before having dinner with your group.

Balanced 900 m above the valley floor sits Taktsang, or the Tiger’s Nest – a beautiful monastery and Bhutan’s most recognised building. After breakfast, begin a hike through pine forests, passing beneath thousands of brightly coloured prayer flags. Your leader will guide you up into the mountains for a closer view of the temple, sharing the legend of its history along the way. Reach a small teahouse and stop for lunch and refreshments while taking in truly unforgettable views. For those interested, it’s possible to get a closer look at the Tiger’s Nest by hiking another hour each way to reach the temple. Otherwise, you can relax at the teahouse and soak in your surroundings. Back in Paro, immerse yourself in traditional Bhutanese culture as you visit a farmhouse for a home-cooked dinner with your group.

After breakfast, your driver will transfer you to the airport for your onward flight. Please check with your leader about the exact departure time from the hotel. Please note that your leader may not be with you as the group may leave on different flights.