The flight to Paro is one of the most spectacular of all mountain flights. One can see the Mt. Everest, Mt. Kanchanjunga, Mt. Makalu and other peaks in Bhutan such as Mt. Chomolhari, Mt. Jichu Drakay, and Mt. Tsherimgang. The green wall of hills known as the doors, or gateways into Bhutan from the plains gets gradually higher and higher until the great snowcapped peaks of the inner Himalayas rise up to the sky. You will be received by our representative at the airport in Paro. Drive to see the Rinpung dzong, built in 1645 to defend the valley against Tibetan invaders. The Dzong is now used as an administration center and school for monks. A short visit here will give you an idea of the cultural and ecological richness of Bhutan. Lunch at a local restaurant. Drive to Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan. Check into hotel. After lunch: Visit the National Memorial Chorten built in 1974 in honor of the late King. Drive to the Takin Zoo to see Takins, the national animal of Bhutan. Drive up further to the BBS tower to get a view of the Thimphu valley by sunset/evening. Browse through local handicraft stores to shop for Bhutanese handicrafts Dinner and overnight at hotel, Thimphu

Visit Changangkha Lhakhang, the temple of Chenrizig or Compassionate Buddha. Visit the Traditional Incense and Paper Factory and the Bhutan Post to see the different Stamps and postcards of the country. Lunch at a restaurant in town. Afternoon visit the National Library, a treasure trove of priceless Buddhist manuscripts followed by the Traditional Painting School of Arts & Crafts where children are taught centuries old craft, and the National Folk Heritage Museum to get an insight into the typical Bhutanese way of life. Ramble along Thimphu town OR return back to the hotel to relax. Dinner and overnight at hotel, Thimphu .

Early morning, drive back to Paro. Check into hotel and start the hike up to the Taktsang Monastery (Tiger's nest). The climb up to the viewpoint will take appx. 3hours. Enjoy the stunning view of the monastery, where Guru Padmasambhava flew on the back of a tiger and landed there in the 8th century, and meditated for three months. The monastery was later built in this holy place in 1684. After lunch at the Taktsang cafeteria, walk back to the road point. On the drive back, visit Kyichu temple - one of the 108 temples built in the 7th century by the Tibetan King Songsten Gampo. The story goes that a giant demoness lay across the whole area of Tibet and the Himalayas and was preventing the spread of Buddhism. To overcome her, King Songtsen Gampo decided to build 108 temples, which would be placed on all the points of her body. Of these 108 temples, 12 were built in accordance with precise plans. Thus, it happened that in about the year AD 638 the temple of Jokhang in Lhasa was built over the very heart of the demoness. In the evening, visit a typical Bhutanese farm house and experience the Bhtuanese hospitality. Ramble along Paro town for some last minute shopping (optional). Dinner and overnight at hotel, Paro.

Morning your guide will escort you to the airport for your flight onwards.
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