Cross Country Bhutan Cultural Tour Package
A Bhutan Cultural extravaganza of the valleys of western, central, eastern and southern Bhutan. It’s a cultural sightseeing of Bhutan across breathtaking scenery and beautiful valleys of Bhutan from west to west.
What to expect from this Cross Country Bhutan Tour
Bhutan is most popular for maintaining its age-old culture and traditions and the culture still alive and vibrant. The whole of Bhutan has often been described as a museum and a cultural treat for the tourists. The Cross Country Tour will take you through a cultural extravaganza of the valleys of western, central and southern Bhutan, spicy Bhutanese cuisine, culture and traditions, temples, monasteries, stunning landscape and warm and hospitable people.
Hike through the pristine forests with spectacular views of the snow capped Himalayas from the various high mountain passes, mingle with the locals, dip in a traditional wooden tub of hot stones and visit awesome places and enjoy the intricate art and architecture that is evident in almost everything and everywhere. Enjoy the ride through the mountains as you drive from high mountain passes to lush green valleys and riverside and be prepared for temperate to tropical weather conditions.
Special Attentions:
- Visits to all the major valleys of Bhutan
- Off the beaten path experiences
- Remote valleys of Eastern Bhutan - hardly visited by tourists
- Temperate to tropical weather conditions
- Long drives through the mountainous roads with hairpin bends
- Mix of 3 star hotels, farm-stays and home stays
Other Highlights
- Included quality wining and dining: a welcome reception with drinks at every hotels of your stay,
- Welcoming Dinner by the founders of Bhutan Swallowtail Tours and Travels,
- Throughout your holiday to Bhutan, escorted by one of the Bhutan Swallowtail’s expert tour guide- your ‘travelling concierge’, expert guide, consummate facilitator and friend in a foreign land who ensures your journey is as enjoyable as possible.
- Baggage handling everywhere on your tour.
- Free Wi-fi and Internet in most of the hotel rooms and lobbies.
- Enjoy the unique comfort of Bhutan Swallowtail’s Luxury air conditioned SUV and coach with extended leg room.
- Airport Transfers as per the scheduled flights.
Package Inclusion:
- Airport Transfers
- Stay in hotels/Farm-stays as indicated in the itinerary
- All three meals, tea and coffee
- Dedicated SUV vehicle with a driver
- English Speaking Guide throughout the Trip
- Short hikes, Packed lunches and snacks wherever required
- Monumental Fees
- Bhutan Tourism Development Fee
- Government Royalty of USD 65 per person per night – your personal contribution to the health, education and all developmental works in Bhutan
- VISA processing Fee
Package Does Not Include:
- International/Domestic Air fare
- Refreshments and bottled drinks and alcohol
- Tips/gratuities
- Cost arising out of Flight Cancellation/road blockades/ landslides and events beyond our control
- Expenses of personal nature and any other expenses not mentioned in the above cost
Transport and Other Facilities
The vehicles of Bhutan Swallowtail are all luxurious and air conditioned, catering to the comforts of our guests as well as ensuring a smooth ride over the mountainous and winding roads of Bhutan. With high ride quality and extended legroom you can enjoy the beautiful landscape from the inside of our cars. We have Toyota SUVs, Hi Ace buses and coaster buses with carrying capacity of up to 30 people in one bus. Driven by experienced and licensed drivers we will make sure you enjoy your holiday to Bhutan and the comforts of our luxurious fleet of cars.
VISA to Bhutan
All tourists must obtain a visa clearance prior to travel to Bhutan. Visas are processed through an online system by us as your licensed Bhutanese tour operator.
You are required to send the photo-page of your passport and the your visa will be processed by the Tourism Council of Bhutan (TCB) once the full payment of your holiday (including a USD $40 visa fee) has been wire transferred and received in the TCB bank account. Once received the visa clearance will be processed within 72 working hours.
At your point of entry you will be required to show your visa clearance letter, the visa will then be stamped into your passport.
Terms and Conditions:
Tour prices and dates are correct at the time of the website going live, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking. All tour information is correct at time of tours going live, however is subject to change, please confirm all details at time of booking. For full terms and conditions, please refer to our Booking Conditions page.
Gallery
Cross Country Bhutan Cultural Tour - Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 - PARO - HAA Valley - Your First Glimpse of Bhutan
- Paro International Airport
PARO – HAA VALLEY
- Drive to Haa – 3 hours
- Via Chelela Pass
- Overnight at your hotel in Haa Valley
Day 2 - HAA VALLEY EXCURSION – An off the beaten path experience
- Haa valley – remote, peaceful and beautiful valley
- Stroll through the valley
- Lhakhang Karpo and Nagpo – White and Black temples
- Juneydrak Hermitage Hike
- Walk through the villages, interact with the farmers/villagers
- Option of many short hikes in and around the valley
- Overnight at your hotel in Haa
Day 3 - HAA VALLEY – PARO
- Drive back to Paro – 3 hours
- Enroute Chelela Pass – 3,899 meters
- Chelela Pass excursion – hike to the top of the Pass for beautiful views of the Paro and Haa valleys
- Kila Goemba – nunnery
- Continue drive to Paro
- Overnight at your hotel in Paro
Day 4 - TAKTSANG MONASTERY/TIGER’S NEST –The Most Important Cultural Icon of Bhutan
- Hike to Taktsang, approx 5-6 hours uphill climb
- Lunch either at the Cafeteria mid way or back in Hotel
- Traditional hot stone bath
- Overnight at your hotel in Paro
Day 5 - PARO TO THIMPHU – The Capital of Bhutan
- Rinpung Dzong / Fortress of Heaped Jewels
- National Museum
- Drive to Thimphu – 1.5 hours
- Enroute Tachogang Lhakhang/temple – built in the 15th Century by the great master architect, iron bridge builder and Yogi Thangthong Gyalpo
- Iron suspension bridge
- In Thimphu – check into your hotel
- Gagyel Lhuendrup Weaving Center – watch the women weave the finest Bhutanese textiles
- Weekend Centenary Farmers Market
- Changlimithang National Stadium – watch an archery match / tournament in progress
- Stroll through the town
- Overnight at your hotel in Thimphu
Day 6 - THIMPHU VALLEY EXCURSION – Combination of the Ancient and the Modern
- Buddha Dordenma – 51.5 meter bronze Shakyamuni Buddha statue gilded in gold and view of Thimphu valley
- 1 hour hike around the Buddha - optional
- Zorig Chosum – Traditional School of Arts & Crafts (gold & silver work, etc), visit the classrooms and watch the students at their different work stations
- Bhutan Postal Museum – you can make your personalized stamps of your photos and use them to send postcards to your family and friends around the world
- Craft Bazaar – single line of shops selling authentic made in Bhutan art and handicraft items
- Stroll around Thimphu main streets and town
- Overnight at your hotel in Thimphu
Day 7 - THIMPHU - WANGDUE & PUNAKHA VALLEYS
- Drive to Dochula Pass - 1 hour
- Dochulaa Pass 3,150 meters – On a clear day spectacular view of the snow capped Himalayas
- 108 chortens/stupas
- Continue drive to Wangdue and Punakha – 1.5 hours
- Chime Lhakhang / Fertility Temple
- Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Nunnery – View of Punakha and Wangdue valleys
- Interact with the nuns (many of them speak English)
- Overnight at your farmhouse or Hotel
Day 8 - PUNAKHA VALLEY EXCURSION – The Old Capital of Bhutan
- Excursion of Talo and Nobgang villages – ancestral homeland of our Queen Mothers
- Walk around the beautiful village
- Punakha Dzong – Fortress of Great Bliss
- Walk along the high Iron Suspension Bridge – the longest iron bridge in Bhutan
- Hike to Khamsum Yulley Namgyel Chorten / Stupa – 2 hour leisurely walk through the paddy fields and pine trees
- Stroll through the valley
- Overnight at your farmhouse or hotel in Punakha
Day 9 - EXCURSION OF GANGTEY, PHOBJIKA AND NEIGHBORING VALLEYS – One of the Most beautiful glacial valleys of Bhutan
- Drive to Gangtey and Phobjika valleys – 2 hours
- Excursion of Gangtey, Phobjika & neighboring villages
- Crane Observation center
- Gangtey Monastery
- Gangtey Nature Trail – 2 hours leisurely hike
- Overnight at your hotel in Gangtey
Day 10 - GANGTEY - TRONGSA – BUMTHANG
- Drive to Trongsa – 4 hours
- Pelela Pass – 3420 meters
- Chendebjee, Rukubjee & Tangsibjee Villages
- Chendebjee Stupa
- Trongsa View point
- Trongsa Dzong – Fortress of the Vanguard of Warriors
- Royal National Museum - dedicated to the Wangchuck Dynasty the Dragon Kings of Bhutan
- Drive to Bumthang – 2 hours
- Yotongla pass – 3400 meters
- Yathra Weaving Center – Yak & Sheep wool weaving
- Overnight at your hotel in Bumthang
Day 11 - BUMTHANG VALLEY EXCURSION – The Spiritual Heartland of Bhutan
- Jakar Dzong – Fortress of the White Bird
- Walk to the four temples -Jambay Lhakhang/temple
- Kurjey Lhakhang/temple
- Tamzhing Lhakhang/temple
- Kenchosum Lhakhang – one of the most beautiful temples
- Kharchu Dratsang / Institute of Buddhist Studies – sweeping view of the valley
- Swiss farmhouse/ Brewery– local beer, honey wine, Swiss cheese, clover honey, apple cider, apple brandy
- Stroll through town - many small handicraft museums and galleries
- Overnight at your hotel in Bumthang
Day 12 - TANG VALLEY EXCURSION
- Tang Valley – remote, peaceful and beautiful village
- Bumthang to Tang valley – 1.5 hours drive
- Enroute Mebar Tsho / Sacred Burning Lake
- Ugyen Choling Palace / Museum
- Rinmochen Lhakhang / Temple
- Picnic lunch at the Eco Park
- Excursion of Tang village
- Drive back and overnight at your guesthouse in Tang
Day 13 - BUMTHANG - URA – LHUENTSE
- Drive to Ura – 1.5 hours
- Ura village – beautiful and remote
- Continue Drive to Lhuentse – 6 hours
- Thrumshingla Pass – 3,780 meters
- Sengor valley
- Villages of Thridangbi, Yongkola, Lingmithang
- Autsho village
- Overnight at your hotel in Autsho
Day 14 - LHUENTSE VALLEY EXCURSION – The Ancestral Home of the Royal Monarchs and the Chief Abbot
- Drive to Takila – 2 ½ hours
- Tangmachu village
- Takilia – site of the gigantic statue of Guru Rinpoche – The Patron Saint of Bhutan
- Excursion of Naibee village
- Overnight at your farmhouse in Naibee
Day 15 - KHOMA VILLAGE – origin of the Kushuthara (intricate silk textile)
- Drive to Khoma village – 2 hours
- Khoma village excursion
- Observe women and men at their looms weaving the intricate and beautiful Kushuthara
- Drive to Monggar – 4 hours
- Overnight at your hotel in Monggar
Day 16 - MONGGAR TO TRASHIYANGTSE
- Keydekhar Lhakhang – a newly renovated temple
- Walk through the small and compact Monggar town
- Drive to Trashi Yangtse – 4-5 hours
- Enroute Gom Kora Lhakhang/temple – one of the most sacred temples and caves of Guru Padmasambhava
- Duksum village
- Stroll through the valley
- In the evening visit the workshop / shops selling wooden bowls, cups and wooden items
- Watch as men make the wooden products
- Chorten Kora / temple
- Overnight at your hotel in Trashi Yangtse
Day 17 - TRASHI YANGTSE – Eastern valley of the Black Necked Cranes
- Hike to Bomdelling National Park
- Black Necked Cranes (between November – March)
- Overnight at a farmhouse in Bomdelling or hotel in town
Day 18 - BOMDELING – TRASHI YANGTSE – TRASHIGANG
- Hike back to the town
- Zorig Chosum / Traditional School of Arts and Crafts – visit the classrooms and watch the students at their work stations
- Drive to Trashi Gang – 3.5 hours
- Trashigang to Rangjung – 1 hour drive
- Overnight at your Guesthouse in Rangjung
Day 19 - RANGJUNG & RADHI VILLAGE
- Excursion of Rangjung & Radhi
- Radhi – ‘Rice Bowl of the East’
- Meet the Brokpas – Highland nomads with unique culture and traditions
- Drive to Trashigang - 1 hour
- Overnight at your hotel in Trashigang
Day 20 - TRASHIGANG – SAMDRUP JONGKHAR
- Drive to Samdrup Jongkhar – 6 hours
- Enroute Sherubtse College – The first Degree College in Bhutan
- Wamrong & Narphung - highway settlements
- Overnight at your hotel in Samdrup Jongkhar
Day 21 - DEPART – SAMDRUP JONGKHAR – GUWAHATI (in India)
- Breakfast
- Stroll around the town
- Drive from Samdrup Jongkhar to Guwahati International Airport - 2 hours
Rates
For the month of Mar, Apr, May, Sept, Oct and Nov
USD 4,480.00 Per Person
(A Max of 16 in a group and Min of 3)
Single Supplement - USD 20
For a group of 3 and 2
USD 5,080.00 Per Person
No Single Supplement
For a Solo Traveler
USD 5,280.00
For the month of Jan, Feb, June, July, Aug, Dec
USD 3,480.00 Per Person
(A Max of 16 in a group and Min of 3)
Single Supplement - USD 20
For a group of 3 and 2
USD 4,080.00 Per Person
No Single Supplement
For a Solo Traveler
USD 4,280.00 Per Person
Details
Duration: 21 Days 20 Nights
Start Location: Paro, Bhutan
Fitness Level: Level 3 Active: Itineraries are at a very active pace, with long travel days, multiple days trekking at high altitudes and a demanding daily schedule of physical activities, i.e. hiking, trekking, kayaking, rafting, or bicycling. Rafting may be Class III/
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