The Rural Bhutan Tour

9 Days

Activities

Cultural Tours
Maximum Altitude

3,120m/10,240 ft
Best season

March to May and September to November
Meals

Full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Accomodation

Homestays/Government approved 3 stars and Above hotels
Transportation

Private car, van or bus (Depends on group size)
Tour type

Private Tour

Overview

The Rural Bhutan Tour is the ideal program for witnessing the Dragon Kingdom in it’s time stood still villages and remote locations. The tour takes you to the countryside of Bhutan where people are into farming, livestock and have been following the profession from centuries.

Bhutan was opened up with modern development only after 1960 , so a large parts of Bhutan is still rural and untouched by modernization. In fact Bhutan is still pristine with at least 60 percent of the population involved in agriculture and livestock.

During the tour, you will visit such villages and farmlands, have a chit chat with the locals, taste the local foods and even stay at their farm houses to truly observe their daily lives.

We have also included visit to other prime locations in Bhutan like hike to Taktsang Monastery ‘Tiger’s Nest, Chimi Lhakhang ‘Fertility Temple’ dedicated to Drukpa Kunley, visits to Paro Ringpong Dzong and Punakha Dzong. Overall, Rural Bhutan Tour is mixture of both culture sightseeing and more emphasis on witnessing the villages and rural lives in Bhutan.

The Rural Bhutan Tour Outline Itinerary:

Day 01: Arrive Paro (2250m)
Day 02: Paro – Punakha (1310m)
Day 03: In Punakha/Wangdue (1310m) – Talo & Nobgang village visits
Day 04: Punakha/Wangdue – Samtengang village visit
Day 05: Samtengang – Gangtey (2320m) – Gangtey Nature trail & Phobijikha Valley Hike
Day 06: Gangtey – Thimphu (2350m)
Day 07: Thimphu – Haa Valley – Paro (2250m)
Day 08: In Paro & hike to Taktsang Monastery ‘Tiger’s Nest’ (3120m)
Day 09: Paro – Depart

Highlights

Spectacular bird’s eye view of the Himalayas while flying in/out from Paro.
Witness daily lives of Bhutanese people living in villages
Visits to Talo & Nobgang village- the home of queen mother of Bhutan
Day excursions to the beautiful Haa Valley
Hike to Taktsang Monastery ‘Tiger’s Nest’- one of the most famous monasteries in Bhutan.
Visit Punakha Dzong – the most beautiful monastery in Bhutan.
Experience Bhutanese culture, tradition and lifestyles.

The Rural Bhutan Tour Detailed Itinerary

Day
01

Arrive Paro (2250m)

Arrive Paro by the Bhutanese National Carrier flying over the world’s highest mountains and finally landing at the lush green Paro valley. A cool and clean fresh air greets the visitor as stepping down from the plane, the first gift of Bhutan.

After clearing customs and visa formalities, meet the representatives and the Bhutanese guide, and a short tour brief by the guide then transfer to Paro town for lunch. In the afternoon, visit the local villages giving glimpses of village life of Bhutan.

Also visit Paro Rinpong Dzong. O/N Hotel or Homestay. (Lunch/Dinner included)
Day
02

Paro – Punakha (1310m)

Drive for about 2 & half hours to Punakha. Climb up the mountain road to Dochula La at 3140m. On clear weather, the pass commands a wonderful panorama of the Eastern Himalayas.

From the pass, descend through varied forest and finally emerging into the highly cultivated valley of Punakha. Take a short hike through beautiful rice fields to Chimi Lhakhang, a temple dedicated to Drukpa Kuenley, who as a favorite saint of the Bhutanese people is known affectionately as “the Divine Madman”.

The temple is on a hillside in the middle of rice fields and has become a pilgrimage site for childless couples. O/N Hotel or Homestay. (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner included)
Day
03

In Punakha/Wangdue (1310m) – Talo & Nobgang village visits

Today visit the villages of Talo and Nobgang, the home of queen mother of Bhutan. After breakfast, drive up the hilly road towards the villages and upon reaching exploring around with some of the home visits to observe their daily lives, have a chat and tea with them.

Then return back to the valley and also visit Richengang village near Wangdue. O/N Hotel or Homestay. (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner included)
Day
04

Punakha/Wangdue – Samtengang village visit

Drive towards the village of Samtengang closer to Wangdue. Life here is still the same from ages and witnessing the daily lives of the farmers living in the rural Bhutan. People here are always happy to see and welcome visitors.

Overnight Hotel or Homestay. (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner included)
Day
05

Samtengang – Gangtey (2320m) – Gangtey Nature trail & Phobijikha Valley Hike

Drive to Gangtey and upon arrival in Gangtey, proceed with the Gangtey Nature trail exploring around the beautiful Phobijikha Valley. Phobjikha is one of Bhutan’s few glacial valleys, and chosen winter home of black-necked cranes, migrating from the Tibetan plateau.

O/N Hotel or Homestay. (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner included)
Day
06

Gangtey – Thimphu (2350m)

Re-trace the same route from Gangtey crossing over again the Dochula pass and proceed towards the Bhutan’s capital, Thimphu. In Thimphu, sightseeing around the city like Buddha’s point, Tashichoe Dzong etc.

O/N Hotel or Homestay. (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner included)
Day
07

Thimphu – Haa Valley – Paro (2250m)

After breakfast, drive over the Chelela pass (3899 m). From the pass, good view of the Himalayan Ranges and the valley beyond can be spotted. Then continue the drive towards Haa. Haa is made up of five counties and was closed to outside world until 2002.

There is a military camp by the Indian Army. In Haa valley, visit Wangchucklo Dzong dating back to 1915 and Lhakhang Nakpo (Black temple) is said to have been built by pigeon emanation of King Songtsen Gampo in the 7th century and Lhakhang Karpo (white temple).

After the visit drive to Paro. O/N Hotel or Homestay. (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner included)
Day
08

In Paro & hike to Taktsang Monastery ‘Tiger’s Nest’ (3120m)

After breakfast drive towards the base camp of Taktsang for the hike up to the Taktsang Monastery-Tiger’s Nest. It’s about two hours hike up the cafeteria. From this point, enjoy the spectacular view of the monastery, where Guru Padmasambhava landed on the back of a tigress in 8th century.

Then visit the Taktsang Monastery and hike back to the road point then drive to Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest and most sacred shrines in Bhutan. Afterwards, back to hotel. O/N Hotel or Homestay. (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner included)
Day
09

Paro – Depart

After breakfast, transfer to the airport to catch the onward flight. Bid farewell to the remote and legendary Dragon Kingdom disappearing again behind its guardian mountains. (Breakfast only included)

The Cost Includes

Airport pick-up and drop-off by private vehicle.
Accommodation in 3, 4 or 5 stars accommodation as per your requirements.
Bhutan visa fee – including all necessary processing
Route Permit
Three meals per day during your stay in Bhutan
A licensed Bhutanese tour guide
All land transportation by private vehicle
Camping equipment and haulage for trekking tours
Sightseeing as per itinerary
Drinking water
All internal taxes and charges
Monuments entrance fees where applicable
A sustainable development fee of $100 per person per night. (This sustainable development fee goes towards free education, free healthcare, poverty alleviation, along with the building of infrastructure.)

The Cost Excludes

Airfare & Travel Insurance
Expenses of personal nature, Tips to guides and drivers
Expenses occurred due to unavoidable events i.e. road wrecks, flight delays etc.

Note

On the day of departure, the ‘local agents’ host obligation shall be limited to providing breakfast only and any extra requirements shall be payable on a usage basis.

Our entire Bhutan tours are private journeys and tailor made programs suited for any independent travelers according to their chosen traveling dates. Should you wish, the tour can be easily customized as per your interest and activities you wish to get involve in or spend more time in your places of interest. Contact us to customize this tour as per your requirements. This tour can be undertaken round the year.