The 3 Nights, 4 days Bhutan Tour gives you a brief introduction to the nature and socio-cultural beauty of Bhutan. Bhutan is a peaceful country that lies between India and China. The country has a clean environment, diverse flora and fauna, and a rich, preserved culture.
This short tour bundles all the major cultural heritage and popular to-do things of Bhutan. Professionally designed, the tour gives you a great experience and a memorable time.
Contents
Bhutan 3 nights, 4 days Bhutan Tour Outline Itinerary
Day 01: Arrive Paro
Day 02: Paro to Thimpu
Day 03: Paro to Punakha
Day 04: Paro – Departure
3 nights, 4 days Bhutan Tour Detailed Itinerary
Day 01: Arrival in Paro
Upon your arrival at Paro airport, the clear and crisp mountain air will welcome you. You will then have to clear immigration and customs formalities. After this, your tour guide and driver will meet you.
On clear days, you can see the breathtaking views of the great peaks of Mt. Everest, Mt. Kanchenjunga during your flight to Paro.
Your guide and driver will take you to your hotel in the beautiful Paro Valley. Once here, you can freshen up and get ready for your day in this breathtaking place.
Depending on your time of arrival, you can choose to roam around the city or relax at the hotel. If you want to witness the different festivals that take place in Paro, we plan festival-centered tours as well. A great example of this is the Paro Tsechu Festival Tour.
Must Visit Places in Paro
Taktsang Monastery
This 5 hour round walk is one of the most famous tourist destinations. Perched on the side of a cliff 900 m above the Paro valley floor is this famous monastery of Bhutan.
Guru Rinpoche arrived here on the back of a tigress. He meditated at this monastery and hence the name ‘Taktsang’. Taktsang translates to Tiger’s Nest in English. This site is one of the most sacred places in Bhutan. All Bhutanese visit this place at least once in their lifetime. The hike to the monastery makes a splendid excursion.
Chelala Pass
This pass stands at an elevation of 3,988 meters. It is one of the highest motorable passes in Bhutan. You drive through a thickly-forested road considered a botanical paradise.
The pass provides stunning views of the sacred mountain Jumolhari and Jichu Drake. You can see hundreds of prayer flags fluttering in the wind.
Dzongdrakha temple
You can visit this temple on the way to Chelela Pass. It is often called mini Taktsang.
Dzongdrakha is a cliff-side temple complex on the western side of Paro valley. Four shrines make up the complex. These complexes revere to Dolma, Tseringma, Guru Rinpoche and Maitreya. Dolma is also translated as Tara. Tsheringma is the Goddess of Longevity and Maitreya is the Buddha of the Future.
According to Local oral tradition, when Guru Rinpoche first came to Bhutan, he came from Nepal. He first landed at Drakarpo. And then Dzongdrakha before arriving at Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest) farther north up the valley.
Ta Dzong
This was originally built as a Watchtower. It is now home to the National Museum.
The Museum holds an extensive collection of antique thangka paintings, textiles, weapons & armor. It also holds some household objects and a rich assortment of natural and historic artifacts.
Rinpung Dzong
Rinpung Dzong means the “fortress of the heap of jewels”. This beautiful place has a long and fascinating history. You can find beautiful wall paintings along the wooden galleries lining the inner courtyard.
These paintings illustrate Buddhist lore such as four friends, the old man of long life, the wheel of life, scenes from the life of Milarepa, Mount. Sumeru and other cosmic Mandala.
Drugyel Dzong
This fortress is in ruins. Paro valley was fully guarded in the North from the Tibetan invasion in the early 17th century. On clear weather, you can see Mount Chomolhari (7320 meters).
Paro Weekend Market
This market takes place every Sunday on the town streets of Paro. You can shop for local souvenirs and indulge in the local farmer’s market. Most fruits and vegetable are organically grown in Bhutan.
Kira, prayer wheels, Bhutanese stamps, Tsering honey are some examples of locally made souvenirs to take home. Visit in the morning. By evening, most vendors would have left.
Day 02: Paro to Thimpu
You can spend your morning doing some sightseeing at Paro. You can choose from the different must-visit places in Paro.
After this, you will ride to Thimphu. The capital city of Bhutan is unique from the rest of the capitals of the world. You will spend your day exploring the unique art, culture, and traditions in Thimphu.
For the evening, you can enjoy the cultural program by Royal Dance Group of Bhutan. Overnight at Thimpu.
Must Visit Places in Thimphu
Memorial Chorten
You can visit this famous stupa. This is also known as Thimphu Chorten.
A stupa, built in 1974 to honour the third King of Bhutan, His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. He is popularly known as the Father of modern Bhutan.
Buddha Point (Kuensel Phodrang)
This place is home to one of the largest Buddha statue in the country. Standing tall at the height of 169 feet (51.5m), made of bronze and gilded in gold. You can get fabulous views of the Thimphu Valley below from this point.
The local people of Bhutan usually come here to get auspicious names for their newborns. Else they come here to get the blessing from the protector deity ‘Tamdrin’.
Takin Preserve
You can visit this preserve located at Upper Motithang, Thimphu. It got its name after the national animal of Bhutan, ‘Takin’.
This is a local animal of Bhutan. The Takin looks like a cross between a cow and a goat. According to the legends, a great Buddhist yogi, Drukpa Kuenley created it.
The Takin has a category of its own in the animal kingdom. It is not similar enough to any other animal to fit any of the established categories. It is unique in appearance.
National Library
It is house to an extensive collection of priceless Buddhist manuscripts. You can learn about the history of Buddhism and Bhutan in the library.
Institute for Zorig Chusum
It is also known as the Painting School. Local students undergo a 6-year training course in Bhutan’s 13 traditional arts and crafts at this school. During your visit, you can get a glimpse of the teaching methods, the art, and crafts of Buddhist people.
Textile Museum
It gives a deep insight into one of the most distinctive art forms of Bhutan.
Folk Heritage Museum
This museum connects people with rich Bhutanese Folk heritage and rural history. You can witness these through the numerous exhibits, demonstrations. You can also view the educational programs and documentation of Bhutanese rural life.
Tashichho Dzong
Also known as “the fortress of the glorious religion”. This is one of the most impressive buildings situated along the right flank of the Thimphu river.
Built in 1641 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel it is an impressive fortress. He is also responsible for unifying Bhutan. Later it was again reconstructed in 1962 by the third King, His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. It also houses the throne room of His Majesty the King and various government offices.
It is also the headquarters for the central monastic body of Bhutan. Bhutan’s spiritual leader Je-Khenpo and the monks of both Thimphu and Punakha reside here during summer. It is also the venue for Thimphu Festival in the fall season.
Day 03: Paro to Punakha.
On this day, you will drive to Punakha. It is 2.5 half hours away from Paro. Once here you can visit different dzongs like Punakha Dzong, Wangdiphodrang Dzong.
On the way back to Paro, you will drive through Dochula Pass. At a height of 10496 ft., it offers a majestic view of various Bhutanese Himalayas. Overnight at hotel in Paro.
Must Visit Places in Punakha
Punakha Dzong
Built in 1967 at the junction of Mo Chhu and Pho Chhu rivers, Punakha Dzong serves as the administrative center of the region.
It is also known as Pungthang Dechen Phodrang which translates to “Palace of Great Happiness”. The present king restored this dzong a few years ago after it suffered damages from an earthquake and four catastrophic fires.
Punakha Dzong serves as the winter residence for the chief abbot (Je-Khenpo) and the monks of Central Monastic Body. They return here to Thimphu in the summer. It is one of the great masterpieces of Bhutanese architecture.
Instead of driving here, you can hike to Punakha Dzong. This is the true way to enjoy an exhilarating experience of this region. You can breathe in the fresh air and view the majestic mountain peaks on your way.
You can enjoy the full glory of the Punakha Dzong during the Punakha festival. This festival is open to the general public.
Chimi Lhakhang
This temple is a fertility temple. The locals believe that couples who is unable to conceive are able to do so after praying at this temple.
This honored temple stands in memory of Lama Drukpa Kuenley. In the 15th century, he used songs and humor to impart his teachings, which got him the name ‘the Divine Madman’.
The temple, flanked by nearly 100 tall prayer flags, sits atop a picturesque hill.
Khamsum Yulley Namgyel Chorten
This stupa promotes harmony, stability, and peace. It dominates the upper Punakha valley. You get wonderful views of the peaks of Gasa across the Mo Chu River.
Talo
Talo is the name of the village as well as the monastery located in the village. Situated at an altitude of 2,800 meters, this Himalayan village offers majestic views of the mountains. You can visit various farmhouses, flower gardens in the villages.
Punakha Ritsha Village
This is a model rice-growing village. It is famous for its contemporary techniques of rice farming alongside traditional architecture. Every house in the village has rice fields and gardens.
Most of the gardens have fruit-bearing plants like papaya and oranges. The best time to visit this place is during the harvest season of Bhutan.
Day 04: Paro – Departure.
After an early breakfast, the tour driver will take you to the airport. This will be in time to catch your flight to your onward destination.
Things to Remember on your 3 nights, 4 days Bhutan Tour
- Remember to confirm the departure timings of your flight by calling your airlines office.
- Decide and let your tour operator know the places you want to visit before you visit Bhutan. This way, you will have more time to visit and explore different places.
- Bhutan Tours and Treks package have one single uniform rate per person per day basis. This is according to the rules and regulations of the Government of Bhutan.
- The Bhutan Tours and Treks do not have any categories like budget, standard or deluxe. Throughout the stay, you will stay at traditional, moderate hotels. All packages include a range of sightseeing activities.
- Let the tour operator know in advance what you expect from your Bhutan tour. This way they will choose the right guide for you.
- Bhutan enjoys 4 distinct seasons. Research about these to get a better and fun-filled experience. Plus you must know about the weather to ease your packing.
- You can also opt for Bhutan hiking tours to some of the must-visit places in Bhutan.
Conclusion,
The 3 nights, 4 days Bhutan tour is a brief tour. It takes you on a wide-ranging journey to Paro and Thimphu.
This short tour gives you a taste of the rich traditional lifestyle and culture of Bhutan.
You can contact us for any further queries or questions regarding the tour. We can suggest must visit places and also recommend perfect itineraries for short and long duration to Bhutan.
Drop us a mail if you wish to create a personalized itinerary for your visit to Bhutan.
