+975 16100009
shalomadventuretours@gmail.com
Upper Babesa,Thimphu Bhutan
11001
Mon - Fri: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sat - Sun: 10:00 AM - 4:00
PM
Punakha served as the capital of Bhutan until 1955 and remains the winter residence of the Chief Abbot (Je Khenpo) and thousands of monks. Set at the confluence of the male (Pho Chhu) and female (Mo Chhu) rivers at just 1,200 metres above sea level, Punakha enjoys a warm, subtropical climate — a striking contrast to the alpine landscapes elsewhere in Bhutan.
At the heart of this tour is the breathtaking Punakha Dzong — widely regarded as the most beautiful fortress-monastery in the world. Built in 1637 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, this architectural masterpiece hosts the holiest relic in Bhutan and the stunning Punakha Drubchen festival. Explore sacred temples, terraced paddy fields, traditional suspension bridges, and the iconic Chimi Lhakhang — the fertility temple of Bhutan — perched on a hillock amid golden rice paddies.
This tour is ideal year-round, though February–March offers the added spectacle of jacaranda trees blooming purple around the Punakha Dzong.
Arrive at Paro International Airport, the only international gateway to Bhutan. Transfer to your hotel. Afternoon visit to Kyichu Lhakhang — one of Bhutan's oldest and most sacred temples, believed to date to the 7th century. Stroll through Paro town in the evening. Welcome dinner with traditional Bhutanese cuisine.
A morning hike to Taktsang (Tiger's Nest) Monastery — the iconic cliffside monastery perched 900 metres above the Paro valley floor. Guru Rinpoche is believed to have meditated here in the 8th century. The 4–5 hour hike rewards with panoramic views and a profound sense of spiritual atmosphere. Afternoon at leisure in Paro. Overnight Paro.
Drive from Paro through Thimphu and up to the dramatic Dochula Pass (3,100m), where 108 memorial chortens (Druk Wangyal Chortens) frame a panorama of Himalayan peaks on clear days. Visit Druk Wangyal Lhakhang. Descend to the warm Punakha valley — the change in landscape and climate is extraordinary. Overnight in Punakha.
Morning exploration of Punakha Dzong — the most majestic dzong in Bhutan, at the confluence of Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers. In the afternoon, drive to Lobesa village and walk 20 minutes through rice terraces to Chimi Lhakhang — the fertility temple dedicated to the "Divine Madman" Lama Drukpa Kunley. Pilgrims travel from across Bhutan seeking blessings for children. Overnight in Punakha.
Hike up through rice paddies and wheat fields to the stunning Khamsum Yuley Namgyal Chorten — a 4-storey temple built to ward off evil forces and protect Bhutan. The views over the Punakha valley from here are exceptional. Afternoon walk along the banks of the Mo Chhu river, crossing traditional cantilever wooden bridges and visiting a farmhouse for butter tea with a local family. Overnight in Punakha.
After breakfast, drive back to Paro through Thimphu. Visit the National Memorial Chorten (Buddha Point) and Tashichho Dzong in Thimphu en route. Continue to Paro airport for your international departure. Carry with you the warmth of the Punakha valley and memories of a kingdom like no other.
