Description
Day 01: Delhi / Arrival
Delhi, the capital city, unwinds a picture rich with culture, architecture and human diversity, deep in history, monuments, museums, galleries and gardens. It is comprised of two contrasting yet harmonious parts, the Old Delhi and New Delhi.
Arrive in Delhi. On arrival, you will be welcomed by our staff and transferred to your hotel in Delhi (Rooms will be booked from 1200 hrs).
Overnight in the hotel.
Day 02: Delhi
In the morning have sightseeing tour of Delhi.
In Old Delhi, drive past Red fort, built in Red Sand stone this imposing fort is 3 Kms in perimeter with the height of the wall varying from 18 to 30 meters at places.
Visit Raj Ghat, as well as Jama Masjid, one of the largest mosques in India.
In New Delhi, visit Bangla Sahib Gurudwara is a pilgrimage centre for both, Hindus and Sikhs.
Drive past Janpath, Rashtrapati Bhawan, Parliament, Government Buildings and India Gate. India Gate was built as a memorial to commemorate the 70,000 Indian soldiers killed in the First World War.
Also visit 12th Century Qutab Minar. It is 238 feet in height, 47 feet at the base and tapers to nine feet at the apex. The tower is ornamented by bands of inscriptions and by four projecting balconies supported by elaborately decorated brackets.
Overnight in the hotel.
Day 03: Delhi / Ghuwahati (By Flight) / Samdrup
Morning transfer to the airport to board the flight for Ghuwahati. Upon arrival transfer to Samdrup.
Overnight in the hotel.
Day 04: Samdrup / Trashigang
After breakfast drive to Tashigang, passing through several villages. En-route visit hand loom (weaving centre) in Khaling and then visit Blind School. Continue drive to Tashigang, Vividly colored handloom cloth and end silk spun from cocoons bred from castor oils plants are local specialties. The dominant language of the region is Sharchop instead of Dzongkha. Trashigang is used as the market place for the hill people from Merak & Sakteng, who are known for their exceptional features and for their costume made of Sheep skin and Yak wool. The hat they wear is unusual but has a significance of its own. We might be able to meet a few of these people. Overnight at hotel.
Day 05: Trashigang (Excursion to Trashiyangtse)
24 km from Trashigang, visit the temple of Gom Kora, set on a small alluvial plateau, overlooking the river. Gom Kora is a famous place where Guru Rinpoche subdued a demon. Further ahead reach to Doksum village where you can see women busy in weaving traditional Bhutanese fabric and a chain bridge dating of the 15th century.
Visit Trashiyangtse Dzong, situated at the alt. of 1,850 m. In former times Trashiyangtse was important centre because it lies on one of the caraven routes leading from western and central Bhutan.The dzong is new and near by are the Art school and the famous chorten Kora.
Evening return to Trashigang. Dinner and overnight at the Hotel.
Day 06: Trashigang – Mongar
After breakfast drive to Mongar. En route stop to visit Drametse monastery was founded by Ani Choten Zangmo, Pema Lingpa’s granddaughter, who fled from Bumthang to escape a proposal of marriage from the local king. She fled east and when she found a place ideally suited for meditation and practice she named it ‘Drametse’ which literally means ‘the peak where there are no enemies’. Ani Choeten Zangmo’s kudung (remains) is preserved to this day in the monastery as the most important relic.
Continue drive to Monger. After lunch visit Mongar dzong which is built in keeping with traditional by not using any drawings or nails and then visit yaggang Lhakhang . Overnight at hotel.
Day 07: Mongar – Bhumtang
After breakfast drive to Bumthang and you would notice a change in the weather condition and that the place becomes cooler. Stop at Sengor where you would get to see the locals there. On the way there are a few places where we will stop After reaching Bumthang we can go to the small town and mingle with the locals there Overnight in hotel.
Day 08: Bhumtang
Bumthang is the general name given to a complex of four valleys — Chumey, Choekhor, Tang and Ura with alt, varying from 2,600m to 4,000m.
Visit Kurje Lhakhang, one of the most sacred places in Bhutan as Guru Rinpoche meditated here. From Kurje monastery; a tarmac road heads south along the right bank of the river to the Jambey Lhakhang. Like Kyichu Lhakhang in the Paro valley, this temple is said to be the first that King Songtsen Gampo of Tibet constructed in 7th century. Bumthang View Afternoon visit Tamshing Lhakhang, founded in 1501 by Pema Lingpa. It contains interesting and ancient Buddhist paintings. Later see the Jakar Dzong, “the dzong of the white bird”.
Evening take a stroll through Bumthang market area. Dinner and overnight at the lodge in Bumthang.
Day 09: Bhumtang – Trongsa
Morning drive to Trongsa. The landscape around Tongsa is spectacular and for miles on end the dzong seems to tease you so that you wonder if you will ever reach it.
Afternoon visitTongsa Dzong, situated at the alt. of 2,200m and built in 1647 by the Shabdrung, it is the most impressive dzong in Bhutan. Then visit the Ta Dzong, standing on the side of the mountain and built to guard Trongsa. Overnight in the hotel.
Day 10: Trongsa – Wangdi
After breakfast drive to Wangdi. On the way visit ChhimiLhakhang – this was founded in 15 Century by Lama Dukpa Kinley also known as divine mad man. It is half hour walk across a local village and rice fieldm. After lunch visit Punakha Dzong- built in 1637 by Zhabdrung. It is one of the most beautiful Dzong in the country. Later walk around Punakha and Khuruthang town. Overnight at hotel.
Day 11:Wangdi – Gelephu
After breakfast, drive to Gelephu, Gelephu is a region of the Dzongkhag of Sarpang. It is located in Southern Bhutan on the border with India and this makes it a hub for cross-border trade. Gelephu is a warm, fertile region with plenty of rainfall.
Upon arrival check in the lodge. Later enjoy the walk around the city.
Overnight in lodge.
Day 12:Gelehpu –Manas
After breakfast drive to Manas and check in the hotel.
The Manas Wildlife Sanctuary or Manas National Park, situated in the foothills of Himalaya in the state of Assam, is a Natural World Heritage Site as declared by the UNESCO. This national park, an abode of endangered and rare wildlife, is predominantly famous for its Tiger Reserve and Elephant Reserve.
Overnight in the hotel.
Day 13:Manas
Morning and afternoon enjoy the Jeep safariinto the national Park.
In the afternoon also enjoy the elephant ride to explore the forest.
Overnight in the hotel.
Day 14:Manas – Ghuwahati– Delhi – Departure
Morning breakfast in the hotel and drive to Ghuwahati airport to board the flight for Delhi. Upon arrival in Delhi connect the other flight for Europe.
