10 Day Ura Festival Trip, 2010
07.20.09
The trip will include:
REQUEST FOR A DETAIL ITINERARY HERE
• A visit to Taktshang Monastery(Tiger’s nest)
• A visit to the Festival
• A visit to the weekend market in Thimphu (Fri-Sat-Sun)
• A “welcome” meal on the first day
• A “farewell” meal on the penultimate evening
• An optional evening visit to “down town Thimphu” to enjoy in the bars, discotheques and see the Bhutanese live performances
• A traditional Bhutanese meal in a restaurant
• A lunch meal and hot stone bath in a Bhutanese farmhouse
• A visit to the famous sites such as fortresses, monasteries and museums.
• Exploring much deeper into central Bhutan.
Itinerary:
Day 1 – 2 Paro to Thimphu:
Arrive in the Paro Airport: Altitude: 2280m/ 7524ft above sea level. Your representative from Raven Tours and Treks will greet you, brief you about the trip and will take you to the capital city Thimphu where you will be staying. Altitude: 2320m/ 7656ft above sea level. (1 hr 30 min drive). Visit the famous Thimphu Festival, Weekend market, Mini Zoo and Tashichoo Dzong, hike to Cheri Monastery, visit hand made paper factory, 13 Arts and Crafts institute, museums, see people playing archery, stroll around the cit and a night in down town Thimphu…
Day 3 – Thimphu to Punakha/Wangdue:
Morning drive to Punakha/Wangdue. Altitude: 1350m/4455ft above sea level. (3 hrs drive). Visit the Wangdue market, Punakha Dzong, Hike to Temple of Fertility..
Day 4 – Punakha to Trongsa:
Altitude: 2200m /7260ft above sea level. Morning drive to Trongsa(7 hours drive). On the way you will come across different vegetation as you pass by. Later visit Trongsa Dzong and the museum….
Day 5 – 6 – 7 – Trongsa to Bumthang:
Altitude: 2600m/ 8580ft above sea level. Morning drive to Bumthang(3 hours drive). Visit the Famous Tangbi Mani Festival, Jakar Dzong, handloom shops, Tamzing Monastery, Kurjey temple, burning lake and Ura Valley/Ogyen Chholing Palace
Day 8 – Bumthang to Punakha:
Morning drive back to Punakha valley. (8 hours drive)
Day 9 – 10 Punakha to Paro.
Morning drive to Paro (4 hours drive). Visit national museums, Rimpung dzongs, Kichu monastery, hike to Tiger’s nest, visit farm houses, and take hot stone bath…
Day 11 – Depart from Bhutan:
Morning /Afternoon, transfer to airport for onward travel. Your representative from Raven Tours and Treks will help you out with exit formalities.
FACTS & FIGURES
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Tour Cost |
1 pax: USD 230 per person per night/USD2320 per person 2 pax: USD220 per person per night/USD2220 per person 3 pax upto 10 pax: USD195 per person per night/USD1970 per person Above 10 pax: USD180 per person per night/USD1820 per person (Includes government taxes, accommodation in roughly 3 to 4 star category hotels, 3 meals a day, guide, transportation throughout the trip, visa processing fee and museum fees only) Excludes: (airfares, airport tax (in Bangkok), Tips to guides, restaurants, hotel lobby porters, trek staff, etc.., Bottled/alcoholic drinks, room service, al a cart meals, etc…,Photography charges (if and when applicable) |
Flight Cost |
Druk Air (Royal Bhutan Airlines flies in and out of Bhutan to Kathmandu (US$442 per person), Delhi (US$705 per person), Calcutta (US$435 per person) and Bangkok (US$788 per person). |
Number of Days |
11 days / 10 nights |
Road Surface |
100% on paved surfaces |
Group Size |
Min: 1 pax and Max:16 pax |
Vehicle Support |
Luxurious SUVs/ Cars |
Staff Support |
One dedicated and professionalized English speaking guide, licensed by Tourism Council of Bhutan, Cooks if required for the trek and a driver through out the trip. |
from main town. Taking a respite at hotel home is relishing the magnificent views of Chamkhar river, Jakar Dzong, Monasteries and the villages.
valley and river, the lodge features 31comfortable rooms, done up in traditional style. All rooms are equipped with attached bath, running hot & cold water and heating. The lodge has a small library, with good selection of books on Bhutan’s history, art and culture. The utility shop here offers variety of Bhutanese hand crafted items, such as jewelry, textiles and basic traveler accessories.
crossing the 3,800m high Thrumsingla pass. Mongar marks the beginning or eastern Bhutan. The second largest town in the sub tropical east, Mongar, like Trashigang further east is situated on the side of a hill in contrast to other towns of western Bhutan which are built on the valley floor.The following are some of the prominent places to visit in Bumthang.
Yakgang Lhakhang: It is located about an 20 minutes walk from the Mongar town ship. This privately owned monastery was founded by Lama Sangdag, the 6th son of Terton Pema Lingpa, a Bhutanese Buddhist saint who lived in Bhutan in the fifteenth century. He is well-respected, prominent figure in the history of Vajrayana tradition that dominates the Himalayan region, but its especially in the kingdom of Bhutan that he is loved as a folk hero and a spiritual master which is a source of national pride and inspiration.
temples and monasteries. Its gentle sloping hills offer plenty of walking opportunities to the many temples that dot this valley. The valley is also famous for its production of honey, cheese, apples and the yathra- a woolen material that has multiple uses. The following are some of the prominent places to visit in Bumthang.
Hike across to Tamzhing Lhakhang “Temple of good message”. It was built by Terton Pema Lingpa (Treasure Discoverer) in 1501AD. We can see the paintings done by him on the wall and an iron jacket which was also made by him. It’s believed that if we wear that jacket and circum-ambulate the temple three times we will be able to cleanse some of the sins that we had committed or you can visit next day.
Excursion to Ogyen Chholing Palace: The history of Ogyen Choling begins with the visit of the great Tibetan master of Buddhism, Longchen Rabjam (1308-63). He is the most celebrated writer and philosopher of the Nyingmapa School of Tibetan Buddhism and is regarded as the synthesizer of the doctrine and methods of Dzogchen, ‘School of Great Perfection’. Oral tradition explains why the great master chose the location for his centre.
