Jambay Lhakhang Festival (18th-22nd October 2013)

This tour is a combination of the Cultural tour with the most famous festival of Bhutan where you can see various Mask dances performed by the Monks in the temple. "Ter Cham" or fire dance (Blessing by fire ceremony) is the highlight of this festival. (Please note that you are not allowed to take pictures). The Tour will lead you to the beautiful valley of Bumthang, the cultural and spiritual hub of Bhutan and Gangtey/ Phobjikha valley, the most beautiful glacial valleys in the Himalayas.

ITINERARY (DETAILED ITINERARY ON REQUEST)

Day 01. Arrive Paro (By Druk Air flight): (Altitude 2280 m)

- Your Guide from Yak Holidays will receive you at the airport.
- Visit Ta Dzong (built in 1656 and renovated in 1968) an ancient watch tower,
- Visit Rimpung Dzong (literally meaning "Heap of Jewels"), built in 1646.

Day 02. Paro - Thimphu, Excursion to Taktsang Monastery: (Altitude 2320 m, Distance 50 kms)

- After breakfast, a short drive takes us to Satsam Chorten,
- Then walk a short distance until we see, clearly and seemingly within reach, Taktsang monastery.
- Drive to the ruins of the Drukgyal Dzong, built in 1647 by the Great Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal,
- Experience an unforgettable view of Mt. Jhomolhari (7,314 m).
- On the way back, visit Kichu Lhakhang, built in 659 A.D by the Tibetan king Srongsen Gampo.

Day 03. Paro - Thimphu Sightseeing: (Altitude 2320 m)

- Free to stroll in the town for shopping,
- Then drive to Thimphu,
- Visit to the National Memorial Chorten (1974) built in honour of our late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk,
- And the Dupthop Lhakhang one of the few surviving nunneries in Bhutan.
- Emporium Handicrafts.

Day 04. Thimphu - Punakha: (Altitude 1310 m, Distance 76 Kms, 3 hours drive).

- After breakfast, drive to Punakha via Dochula pass.
- Stop for a while at Dochula pass to view Higher Himalayas,
- On the way, stop a while to view Chimi Lhakhang, which was built by Lama Drukpa Kuenley in 15th century,
- Visit Punakha Dzong built in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal and is situated between Pho Chu (Male River) and Mo Chu (Female river).

Day 05. Punakha - Gangtey: (Altitude 3120 m, Distance 80 kms)

- Drive to the beautiful valley of Gangtey.
- Enroute sightseeing in the valley of Wangdiphodrang includes: visit to Wangdiphodrang Dzong built in 1638,
- Visit Gangtey Gompa Monastery from outside,
- Explore Phobjikha valley, famous for the Black Necked Cranes during winter.

Day 06. Gangtey - Trongsa - Bumthang: (Altitude 2800 m, Distance 137 kms)

- Drive to Trongsa.
- Visit Trongsa Dzong, the most impressive dzong of Bhutan, built in its present form in 1644 by Chogyal Minjur Tempa,
- Trongsa Dzong is the ancestral home of the present Royal Family and first two hereditary kings ruled Bhutan from this Dzong,
- Visit Ta Dzong, an ancient Watch tower.

Day 07. Bumthang Sightseeing: (Altitude 2800 m)

- Drive to Lhakhang to witness the festival.
- Visit Membarstho which literally means, "The burning Lake".

Day 08. Bumthang Sightseeing: (Altitude 2800 m)

- After breakfast drive to Lhakhang to witness the festival.

Day 09. Bumthang Sightseeing: (Altitude 2800 m)

- After breakfast, drive to Lhakhang to witness the festival,
- Evening free to stroll in the town for photography and shopping.

Day 10. Bumthang Sightseeing:

- After breakfast drive to Lhakhang to witness the festival.

Day 11. Bumthang - Thimphu: (Altitude 2320 m, Distance 270 kms)

- Early breakfast, drive to Thimphu.

Day 12. Thimphu: Thimphu - Paro. (Altitude 2280 m, Distance 50 kms)

- After breakfast, visit Buddha point (tallest statue in the world)
- Visit Takin Preserve center,
- Visit Sangay Gang (view point)
- Visit Changangkha lhakhang
- After lunch, drive to Paro.
- Evening free to stroll in the town for photography and shopping.

Day 13. Departure:

After Breakfast, drive to Airport and Farewell