RAVEN’S 12 DAY JAMBAY AND PRAKAR FESTIVAL TRIP IN BUMTHANG (18TH OCT TILL 29TH OCT)

The trip will include:

REQUEST FOR A DETAIL ITINERARY HERE

• A visit to Taktshang Monastery(Tiger’s nest)
• A visit to the Jambay and Prakar 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 Trongsa:

Altitude: 2200m /7260ft above sea level. Morning visit the Memorial Chorten and then drive to Trongsa(7 hours drive). On the way you will come across different vegetation as you pass by.

Day 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – Trongsa to Bumthang:

Altitude: 2600m/ 8580ft above sea level. Morning visit Trongsa Dzong and then 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

Next day VISIT TO THE FAMOUS PRAKAR AND JAMBAY LHAKHANG FESTIVAL

Day 8 – 9 – Bumthang to Punakha:

Morning drive to Punakha/Wangdue( 8 HOURS DRIVE). Altitude: 1350m/4455ft above sea level. (3 hrs drive). Visit the Wangdue market, Punakha Dzong, Hike to Temple of Fertility..

Day 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…

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

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

Hotel Druk Doejung: One of the few hotels in Trashigang that cater to the tourists visiting the largest district in the country. Druk Doethjung hotel is located right in the center of the town with the huge prayer wheel in the front. It has total of 12 rooms with basic amenities but it is quite well maintained.

Contact Address:
Tele: +975-4 521214
Fax: 521269

This is the largest district in Bhutan and it lies in the far east on the banks of the river Gamri Chu. It was once the center of a busy trade with Tibet. Today it is the junction of the east west highway with road connecting to Samdrupjongkhar and then to the Indian state of Assam. The nomadic people from Merak and Sakten who are remarkable for their exceptional features and costumes use this town as their market place mostly during winter.The following are some of the prominent places to visit in Trashigang.

Gom Kora: It is said that the Guru meditated in this place to subdue a demon that dwell in big rock. A temple was then built.

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.

This fascinating valley is the religious heartland of the nation and home to some of the oldest Buddhist 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.

Jambay Lhakhang: It is one of the 108 monasteries built by King Songtsen Goenpo in the 8th century to subdue evil spirits in the Himalayan region.

Kurjey Lhakhang: Means body print. It dates back to 8th century when Guru Rimpoche first visited Bhutan. It is after his visit to the Monyul (country in the darkness); Buddhism was introduced in the country. He is said to have meditated in a cave after which it is believed that he had left his body print where the old temple stands today.

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.

Mebar Tsho(Lake of Burning Fire): This is a sacred lake for Bhutanese who believe that Pema Lingpa discovered religious treasures from this lake in the 12th century. On auspicious days many Bhutanese go and offer butter lamps on this fresh water lake.

Ura Village: Ura lies in the Tang valley, a one and a half hour drive from Bumthang town. The drive is mainly through sheep pastures and along the way one can glimpse a magnificent view of Mount Gangkhar Phuensum from Ura La(Pass). The main characteristics of this village are the closely clustered houses. It is the last settlement before the climb to the highest road pass as Trumsingla.

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.
Looking up from the valley towards Ogyen Choling with the Kanyai mountain to the east, the panoramic view is that of the shape of an elephant’s head. The estate provides an excellent insight into the lifestyles and living conditions of a typical landed family over the last century. The heirs of Ogyen Choling, therefore, decided to convert parts of their ancestral home to a museum. This decision was made with the hope of sharing this heritage with as many people as possible and at the same time preserve and maintain Ogyen Choling as a religious and cultural center. The museum was formally opened in May 2001.

Jakar Dzong: The Dzong was initially built as a monastery in 1549 by the great grand father of the Zhabdrung. It is now used as the administrative center for the Bumthang district. The Bumthang Tshechu(festival) is one of the most popular. It is held mostly at night and is said to bring fertility to any woman wanting a child.