RAVEN’S 10 DAY FESTIVAL TRIP (19 TH MAR TILL 28TH MAR)

The trip will include:

REQUEST FOR A DETAIL ITINERARY HERE

• A visit to Taktshang Monastery(Tiger’s nest)
• A visit to the Famous Paro 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 weekend market, Mini Zoo and Tashichoo Dzong, Painting School, Hand made paper factory, Textile museum, hike to Cheri Monastery,see people playing archery, stroll around the city and a night in down town Thimphu…

Day 3 – Thimphu to Trongsa:

Altitude: 2200m /7260ft above sea level. Morning drive to Trongsa(8 hours drive). On the way you will come across different vegetation as you pass by.

Day 4 -5 – Trongsa to Bumthang:

Altitude: 2600m/ 8580ft above sea level. Morning visit Trongsa Dzong and the museum….Later drive to Bumthang(3 hours drive). Visit the famous Jakar Dzong, handloom shops, Tamzing Monastery, Kurjey temple, burning lake and Ura Valley/Ogyen Chholing Palace

Day 6 – Bumthang to Punakha:

Morning drive to Punakha/Wangdue. Altitude: 1350m/4455ft above sea level. (8 hrs drive). Visit the Wangdue market, Punakha Dzong, Hike to Temple of Fertility..

Day 7- 8 – 9 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……

Next Day VISIT THE FAMOUS PARO FESTIVAL

Day 10 – 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.

REQUEST FOR A DETAIL ITINERARY HERE

RAVEN’S 7 DAY FESTIVAL TRIP (21ST FEB TILL 27TH FEB)

The trip will include:

REQUEST FOR A DETAIL ITINERARY HERE

• A visit to Taktshang Monastery(Tiger’s nest)
• A visit to the Famous Punakha 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 weekend market, Mini Zoo and Tashichoo Dzong, Painting School, Hand made paper factory, textile museum, hike to Cheri Monastery,see people playing archery, stroll around the city and a night in down town Thimphu…

Day 3 – 4  -Thimphu to Punakha:

Morning drive Punakha/Wangdue. Altitude: 1350m/4455ft above sea level. (3 hrs drive). Visit the Wangdue market, Punakha Dzong, Hike to Temple of Fertility, Hike to Kham Sum Yule Lhakhang…..
Next day VISIT TO THE FAMOUS PUNAKHA FESTIVAL

Day 5 – 6 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 7 – 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.

REQUEST FOR A DETAIL ITINERARY HERE

The trip will include:

REQUEST FOR A DETAIL ITINERARY HERE

• A visit to Taktshang Monastery(Tiger’s nest)
• 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 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 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 4 – 5 – Trongsa to Bumthang:

Altitude: 2600m/ 8580ft above sea level. Morning drive to Bumthang(3 hours drive). Visit Jakar Dzong, handloom shops, Tamzing Monastery, Kurjey temple, burning lake and Ura Valley/Ogyen Chholing Palace

Day 6 – Bumthang to Gangtey:

Altitude: 2800m/ 9240ft above sea level. Morning drive to Gangtey valley(5 hours drive). Later visit Gangtey Monastery…

Day 7 – 8 Gangtey to Punakha:

Altitude: 1350m/4455ft above sea level. (2 hrs drive). Morning visit the Crane Observation Center, Textile village and hike across the villages and the valleys. Later drive to Punakha valley. Next day hike to Kham Sum YUle Lhakhang, Hike to Chimi Lhakhang and visit Punakha Dzong..

Day 9 – 10- 11 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……Next day, day excursion to Haa valley..

Day 12 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.

REQUEST FOR A DETAIL ITINERARY HERE

The trip will include:

REQUEST FOR A DETAIL ITINERARY HERE

• A visit to Taktshang Monastery(Tiger’s nest)
• 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 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 Trongsa:

Altitude: 2200m /7260ft above sea level. Morning drive to Trongsa(8 hours drive). On the way you will come across different vegetation as you pass by. Visit Trongsa Festival, Dzong and the museum….

Day 4 – Trongsa to Punakha/Wangdue:

Morning drive to Punakha/Wangdue. Altitude: 1350m/4455ft above sea level. (6 hrs drive). Visit the Wangdue market, Punakha Dzong, Hike to Temple of Fertility..

Day 5 – 6 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 7 – 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.

REQUEST FOR A DETAIL ITINERARY HERE

Hotel TLT: This is one of the new Hotels located in the middle of the town with all modern amenities.

Contact Address:
Tel:00975-7-251470
Fax:00975-7-251188

The journey from Mongar to Bumthang is one of the most beautiful in the Himalayas 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.

Mongar Dzong: Mongar Dzong was built in 1930 and its design was similar to Lamai Geonpa in Bumthang, the official residence of the 1st King Gongsa Ugyen Wangchuck. Pristine trekking and pilgrimage opportunities exist in the Mongar region where an area of ethereal natural beauty, lush and green abounds everywhere.

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.

Thimphu is a bustling town on the banks of the Thimphu Chhu and set gloriously in the hills of the Thimphu valley. It is home to the Bhutanese Royal Family, the Royal Government to several foreign missions and development projects. Bhutan’s only golf course, a nine-hole circuit, is situated next to the magnificent Tashichoo Dzong.The following are some of the prominent places you will visit in Thimphu.

Weekend Market: The days are absolutely central to the lives of the bhutanese, but there are many reasons to visit other than the delicious fresh food on offer every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.There are regular competitions centered on the national sport of Bhutan – archery – as well as the opportunities to buy beautifully handcrafted items such as yak tail dusters and butter tea cups. The people crowd the stalls every day, dressed in full colour and gathered to meet and to barter, much like the street markets in London!

Zorig Chusum Institute (Thirteen Crafts):It was established in 1971 by the Royal Government in order to preserve the invaluable heritage and promote the arts of Bhutan. The two main objectives of the institute are a) to preserve and promote the traditional arts and crafts and b) to create job opportunities for the underprivileged group of the society, school dropouts and unemployed youths.

Textile museum:The foundation was laid in 2000 under the Royal Patronage of Her Majesty the Queen Ashi Sangay Choden Wangchuck. It was established with the aim of preserving and promoting Bhutanese textile arts. It’s a good place to see the art of traditional weaving being kept alive and preserved through exhibition and has a good collection of old textiles which are rich in colors and designs.You will also see people weaving with intricate designs.

Memorial Chorten:Chorten are memorial structures designed to evoke the same perfect symmetry and elegance of the Buddha himself, and it is traditionally good luck to pass them on the left. This particular chorten was constructed in 1974 as a memorial for the third King of the country, King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, who is widely regarded as the father of modern Bhutan. The chorten is just another example of how seriously the Bhutanese consider, and how perfectly they realize, their unique architectural style.

Tashichho Dzong :The names means – Means Fortress of Glorious Religion. It was built in 1641 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel and was reconstructed into present structure by the late King, His majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck in the year 1962-1969. It houses the secretariat building, the throne room and the office of the king, and the central monk body.

Hike to Cheri Monastery(Includes Dodina and Jigme Dorji Wild life Sanctuary):Hike about1hour leds to Cheri Goemba (Cheri Dorji Dhen). The trail starts by crossing a lovely covered bridge that spans the Wang Chu, and then climbs to the monastery. Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal built this monastery in 1620 and established the first monk body here. Silver Chorten inside the monastery holds the ashes of Shabdrung father.(Option for meditation). A chance to spot birds such as Mrs Gould’s Sunbird, Yellow-browed Tit, Yellow-rumped Honeyguide, Long-billed Thrush, Ultramarine Flycatcher.

Paper factory:The handmade paper making in Bhutan stemmed from the age old tradition originated in 8th century of Bhutanese history. It began as domestic ancient ctivity which is still in practice in remote areas. The handmade paper constitutes as valuable National heritage of Bhutanese cultural identity and is preserved through all the ages. The Traditional paper is recognized and held high esteem both in home and outside world. Jungshi Paper Factory was established in November 1990 as an undertaking of the Royal Government of Bhutan. The unit now boasts as a major and sole dealer in handmade paper and its products.

Mini zoo:Here you can see just one animal – Bhutan’s national – the Takin. This is an extremely rare member of the goat family. Found in herds in the very high altitudes (13,125ft and over). They live on a diet of grass and bamboo. It can weigh as much as 550 pounds. The zoo was emptied in accordance with Buddhist principles, but the Takin came back so the keepers decided to look after them, also in accordance with Buddhist principles!

Handicraft Emporium:The Bhutanese still vividly recall and celebrate this victory which was tremendously important to them The shop is one of the best places to buy souvenirs from Bhutan, including finely made traditional clothes, jewelry, linen work, books, and paintings. There is also a money changing facility and the shop will exchange travelers cheques.

Archery:During weekends we can also see the archery match at the Changlimithang ground. Archery is the national game of Bhutan.

Entertainment:During your trip to Bhutan the Raven Tours and Treks Team will try to include the following under your request – actual selection depends on the itinerary.

Night in “down town Thimphu”: In the evening we can make arrangements to take you to enjoy life the way the young Bhutanese do, in the discotheques, or in the entertainment areas. There are live performances of Bhutanese songs and dances (traditional and modern) by the best Bhutanese bands. If you wish you can even test your singing talents in the bars that offer Karaoke. (Guests pay for own drinks and entrance fees).

Evening Meal with music and dancing: We try to visit a local restaurant for an evening meal, where we are also entertained with performances of local dancing and signing, and much wine! (No extra charge).

Local barsThe local bars in the towns (and Thimphu) do not live up to Western standards, but the people are polite, friendly but not obtrusive. Your Raven Tours and Treks guide will be happy to escort you into town to visit such a bar. It is very unlikely that any of the bar staff will speak English, hence the need for the guide!

We will be pleased to provide standard Tour Itineraries / Tailor Made Tours and Prices. Please complete the Tour Inquiry Form below.

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“Take Luxurious to New Heights with Raven Tours and Treks”

Where luxury and travel go hand in hand. Our goal is to enhance your travel experience through enriching journeys and style. Join a small group on a pre-designed itinerary, or let one of our destination specialists create one for you.

We will put you in 5 star hotels and pamper you with 5 star luxurious facilities and participate in the festival, hike to Taktshang Monastery(Tiger’s nest), 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.

So enjoy our collections of luxury tours and vacations and savor the world’s extraordinary regions and cultures with unique experiences in absolute luxury.

Following are some of our Itineraries for 2010

Luxurious 5 Day Glimpses of Bhutan, 2010

7 Day Discover Luxurious Bhutan, 2010

Special Packages 2010

10 Day Splendor Paro Festival Trip, 2010

12 Day Luxurious Jumolhari Round Trek, 2010

Following are a range of itineraries to meet the needs of most “independent travelers”. But if you would like us to provide a tailor made itinerary with your own dates to meet your requirements then just complete the Private Journey Form here giving us an outline of your thoughts, or just asking us to contact you and we’ll plan something together.

Also please note that any of the trips mentioned in the website can be arranged for your independent private trip.

5 Day Glimpses of Bhutan

10 Day Festival Trip to Bhutan

RAVEN’S 9 day Druk Path Trek

RAVEN’S 12 Day Jumolhari Trek