Bhutan
Day 1: Delhi, India: Arrive. After you have cleared immigrations and customs you are met by our representative in the arrival and you transfer to your hotel.
Day 2: Delhi/Paro, Bhutan: This morning our representative will meet you in the hotel lobby and assist you with your transfer back to Delhi's international airport for your flight to Paro, Bhutan. Paro has the only airport in Bhutan, thus a visit to the Kingdom begins or ends at Paro.
After you land in Paro and clear immigration and custom formalities you are met and transferred to your waiting vehicle. Your destination today is Thimphu, approximately an hour's drive. A picnic style lunch will be provided en route.
This evening you have the option of taking a stroll through the weekend market at Thimphu (held on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays).
Day 3: Thimphu: You start sightseeing with a visit to the new Textile Museum and Folk Heritage Museum. You will also visit The National memorial Chorten, which is worth a visit was the inspiration of the third King of Bhutan, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. To learn about the arts of Bhutan you stop at the traditional paper factory and the painting school.
You will continue the tour and visit the Trashi Chloe Dzong. Nearby is the 16th century Pangri Zampa that now houses a monastic training school. Your last stop is at the main street of Thimphu that offers the opportunity to browse for Himalayan jewelry as well as Bhutanese handicrafts and textiles.
Day 4: Thimphu/Punakha: The drive has some dramatic scenery, follows the course of the Paro Chu (Paro River) and the Wang Chu, crossing the high mountain pass of Dochu La. On the way you will visit 17th century Simtokha Dzong, Bhutan's first fortress monastery. At the Hongtsho Goemba monastery, you will see ancient wall paintings.
Day 5: Punakha: This morning you take a hike across a footbridge through terraces of rice, chilies and cabbage to the Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten, a monument recently built by the four queens of Bhutan. The Punakha Dzong was built in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal on a site occupied by a saint, Ngagai Rinchen.
After a picnic lunch on the banks of the Punak Chu, you walk through the village of Lobesa, ending at Chimi Lhakhang, the auspicious fertility monastery built in 1499.
Day 6: Punakha/Paro: You have an early departure today. The drive to Paro will take four and a half hours. On the way you will visit 17th century Simtokha Dzong, Bhutan's first fortress monastery. At the Hongtsho Goemba monastery, you will see ancient wall paintings.
Day 7: Paro: The day starts with a visit to the National Museum, to see an intriguing collection of artefacts. Just a short walk downhill lays the dominating Paro Dzong, a fine example of Bhutanese historic architecture. From the Dzong, the tour crosses Nyamai Zampa, a traditional cantilever bridge, and guests are then driven to the town temple, built in 1525, to view ancient wall paintings.
Day 8: Paro: In the morning, hike up to Taktsang, popularly called the Tigers Nest Built over years by monks into the side of a cliff above Paro.
The hike to Taktsang takes about an hour uphill till the viewpoint and another hour to the monastery.
India Extension
Day 9: Paro/Delhi: You will transfer to the airport to take your flight to Delhi. After clearing immigrations and customs you are met outside in the Arrival Hall by our representative.
Day is at leisure.
Day 10: Delhi: The morning tour will start at Humayun's Tomb. Your next stop is, Old Delhi where you will take a rickshaw ride in the 300 yrs. old bazaar Chandni Chowk, you will disembark at Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India. Next you will visit Rajghat, the memorial for Mahatma Gandhi and drive past Rashtrapati Bhawan, the "President's Residence" before returning to the hotel.
Day 11: Delhi/Agra: Very early you turn to Indian Railways and take the Shatabdi Express to Agra. You will be met outside the carriage and transferred to your hotel. After breakfast you will visit Agra Fort, another world UNESCO site, dating back to 1080 AD.
Return to hotel and check-in. Early evening visit Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
Day 12: Agra/Ranthambore: You may like to visit the Taj Mahal for a sunrise view. After breakfast the five hour journey brings you to Jaipur, also known as the Pink City. En-route you will stop a Fatehpur Sikri, the city dating back to 400 yrs.
After sightseeing, board the Shatabdi Express in Bharatpur, arriving in Sawai Madhopur, train station for Ranthambore early evening.
Day 13 & Day 14: Ranthambore: You have two full days to enjoy a morning and evening through Ranthambore National Park and catch a glimpse or two of the magnificent Indian Tiger.
Day 15: Ranthambore/Jaipur: Today you drive to Jaipur, the drive taking three and a half hours.
The afternoon sightseeing will start at the City Palace, the sprawling complex which has an interesting gallery exhibiting the Royal Collection. From here you visit Jantar Mantar, the observatory built in 1827.
Later visit Hawa Mahal, the Palace of Wind, and end the tour at Johori Bazaar, the main shopping area for the local people.
Day 16: Jaipur/Delhi: Today you will visit Fort Palace at Amber the history of which can be traced back to 12th century. From here you will visit a private farm for an Elephant Safari followed by lunch.
You will return to Delhi in the evening where a room will be booked for you till you are transferred to the international airport for your onward flight.
Day 2: Delhi/Paro, Bhutan: This morning our representative will meet you in the hotel lobby and assist you with your transfer back to Delhi's international airport for your flight to Paro, Bhutan. Paro has the only airport in Bhutan, thus a visit to the Kingdom begins or ends at Paro.
After you land in Paro and clear immigration and custom formalities you are met and transferred to your waiting vehicle. Your destination today is Thimphu, approximately an hour's drive. A picnic style lunch will be provided en route.
This evening you have the option of taking a stroll through the weekend market at Thimphu (held on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays).
Day 3: Thimphu: You start sightseeing with a visit to the new Textile Museum and Folk Heritage Museum. You will also visit The National memorial Chorten, which is worth a visit was the inspiration of the third King of Bhutan, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. To learn about the arts of Bhutan you stop at the traditional paper factory and the painting school.
You will continue the tour and visit the Trashi Chloe Dzong. Nearby is the 16th century Pangri Zampa that now houses a monastic training school. Your last stop is at the main street of Thimphu that offers the opportunity to browse for Himalayan jewelry as well as Bhutanese handicrafts and textiles.
Day 4: Thimphu/Punakha: The drive has some dramatic scenery, follows the course of the Paro Chu (Paro River) and the Wang Chu, crossing the high mountain pass of Dochu La. On the way you will visit 17th century Simtokha Dzong, Bhutan's first fortress monastery. At the Hongtsho Goemba monastery, you will see ancient wall paintings.
Day 5: Punakha: This morning you take a hike across a footbridge through terraces of rice, chilies and cabbage to the Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten, a monument recently built by the four queens of Bhutan. The Punakha Dzong was built in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal on a site occupied by a saint, Ngagai Rinchen.
After a picnic lunch on the banks of the Punak Chu, you walk through the village of Lobesa, ending at Chimi Lhakhang, the auspicious fertility monastery built in 1499.
Day 6: Punakha/Paro: You have an early departure today. The drive to Paro will take four and a half hours. On the way you will visit 17th century Simtokha Dzong, Bhutan's first fortress monastery. At the Hongtsho Goemba monastery, you will see ancient wall paintings.
Day 7: Paro: The day starts with a visit to the National Museum, to see an intriguing collection of artefacts. Just a short walk downhill lays the dominating Paro Dzong, a fine example of Bhutanese historic architecture. From the Dzong, the tour crosses Nyamai Zampa, a traditional cantilever bridge, and guests are then driven to the town temple, built in 1525, to view ancient wall paintings.
Day 8: Paro: In the morning, hike up to Taktsang, popularly called the Tigers Nest Built over years by monks into the side of a cliff above Paro.
The hike to Taktsang takes about an hour uphill till the viewpoint and another hour to the monastery.
India Extension
Day 9: Paro/Delhi: You will transfer to the airport to take your flight to Delhi. After clearing immigrations and customs you are met outside in the Arrival Hall by our representative.
Day is at leisure.
Day 10: Delhi: The morning tour will start at Humayun's Tomb. Your next stop is, Old Delhi where you will take a rickshaw ride in the 300 yrs. old bazaar Chandni Chowk, you will disembark at Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India. Next you will visit Rajghat, the memorial for Mahatma Gandhi and drive past Rashtrapati Bhawan, the "President's Residence" before returning to the hotel.
Day 11: Delhi/Agra: Very early you turn to Indian Railways and take the Shatabdi Express to Agra. You will be met outside the carriage and transferred to your hotel. After breakfast you will visit Agra Fort, another world UNESCO site, dating back to 1080 AD.
Return to hotel and check-in. Early evening visit Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
Day 12: Agra/Ranthambore: You may like to visit the Taj Mahal for a sunrise view. After breakfast the five hour journey brings you to Jaipur, also known as the Pink City. En-route you will stop a Fatehpur Sikri, the city dating back to 400 yrs.
After sightseeing, board the Shatabdi Express in Bharatpur, arriving in Sawai Madhopur, train station for Ranthambore early evening.
Day 13 & Day 14: Ranthambore: You have two full days to enjoy a morning and evening through Ranthambore National Park and catch a glimpse or two of the magnificent Indian Tiger.
Day 15: Ranthambore/Jaipur: Today you drive to Jaipur, the drive taking three and a half hours.
The afternoon sightseeing will start at the City Palace, the sprawling complex which has an interesting gallery exhibiting the Royal Collection. From here you visit Jantar Mantar, the observatory built in 1827.
Later visit Hawa Mahal, the Palace of Wind, and end the tour at Johori Bazaar, the main shopping area for the local people.
Day 16: Jaipur/Delhi: Today you will visit Fort Palace at Amber the history of which can be traced back to 12th century. From here you will visit a private farm for an Elephant Safari followed by lunch.
You will return to Delhi in the evening where a room will be booked for you till you are transferred to the international airport for your onward flight.
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