Amankora Journey with Tiger‘s Nest 5 Days

Tashi Delek and welcome to Bhutan. With your flight landing at the only international airport in Bhutan that is located in Paro (2,262m), you can get the immigration official stamp by presenting your visa approval letter (Bhutan E-visa) and your passport. After you clear the Immigration check, you will meet your local guide for the first time near the baggage delivery area. Then head to Amankora Thimphu (52km, about 1.5h) and check in.

On the way to Thimphu or after settling in your hotel, according to your time and interests, you can choose to visit places like Tamchog Lhakhang Iron Bridge (over 500-year-old iron chain bridge with colorful fluttering prayer flags), Buddha Dordenma Statue (the largest sitting Shakyamuni statue in the world), National Memorial Chorten (a landmark of Thimphu city), Folk Heritage Museum (a glimpse of the traditional Bhutanese lifestyle), Motithang Takin Preserve (Takin is the national animal of Bhutan), or stroll on the main street of Bhutan’s capital city-Thimphu (2,320 m). Sure, you can also choose to stay at your sweet hotel for a good rest while getting used to the time difference.

Meals：    Dinner

Accommodation：Amankora Thimphu

Today, you will explore Bhutan’s capital city Thimphu through Tashichho Dzong (Thimphu Dzong), Pangri Zampa (a monastic training school for astrologers), Cheri Goemba (the first monastic body established in Bhutan), School for Arts and Crafts, or Bhutan Post Office Headquarters. If it is the weekend you will be happy to walk around the local market in Thimphu. After the rich experience in Thimphu you can relax at you lovely hotel.

Tashichho Dzong (Thimphu Dzong) is located on the right side of the Wangchu River in the northern part of Thimphu city. As the "Fortress of the glorious religion", it houses the throne room of His Majesty the King, government offices, and the central monk body. Thimphu Dzong was initially erected in 1641 and rebuilt by King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck in the 1960s. There are two main entrances in the Tashichho Dzong. One leads to the administrative section to the south and the other one (at the north) leads to the monastic quarter where festivals and dances are performed.

School of Arts and Crafts (Thimphu National Institute for Zorig Chusum), established by the Government of Bhutan in 1971, is an institute that nurtures exemplary craftsmanship in Zorig Chusum (13 Arts and Crafts). In the Institute, thirteen skills are taught to students. These thirteen art forms are Traditional Painting (Lhazo), Sculpturing (Jinzo), Wood Carving (Shagzo), Calligraphy (Yigzo), Papermaking (Dezo), Bronze Casting (Lugzo), Embroidery (Tshemazo), Weaving (Thagzo), Carpentry (Parzo), Masonry (Dozo), Bamboo and cane weaving (Tshazo), Gold/Silver Smithy (Trozo), Black smithy (Garzo).

Bhutan Post Office Headquarters (the General Post Office) is located near Changlam Square in Thimphu. It is home to the world's largest photo book and the most interesting collection of Bhutanese stamps. Only in this post office, you can get your personalized stamps (the stamp of your face). Great surprise to send your family and friends a postcard with your face on the stamp! (Open from Monday to Saturday from 9:00 to 17:00 during Summer and 9:00 to 16:00 during Winter. Do note that it is closed for lunch from 13:00 to 14:00).

Meals：Breakfast   Lunch   Dinner

Accommodation：Amankora Thimphu

This morning we will drive from Amankora Thimphu to Amankora Paro (69km, about 2h). On the way, it is optional for you to explore one of the oldest monasteries - Kyichu Lhakhang. In the afternoon, you are recommending to enjoy a hike to National Museum (Ta Dzong), and Paro Dzong in Paro.

Kyichu Lhakhang is that marks the beginning of Buddhism in Bhutan. It was built in 659AD by King Songtsen Gompo (Tibetan Emperor) as one of the 108 monasteries he made. In 1971 a Guru Temple was added by Her Majesty Azhi Keshang Choden Wangchuck, the wife of the Third King of Bhutan. You can see the original 7th-century Jowo Sakyamuni Statue (the same era as the one in Lhasa's Jokhang Temple) and Chenrezig with 11 heads and 1000 arms there. There is also a magical orange tree outside the courtyard that is said to bear fruits all year round.

National Museum of Bhutan (Ta Dzong) is famed as Bhutan's tallest building (a cylindrical structure), which is 22 meters (72 feet) high and has 6 floors. It was completed in 1649 as a watchtower on the hill above the Rinpung Dzong. It was converted into the National Museum of Bhutan in 1968 with a rich collection of ancient artifacts like pottery, armor, thangkas, masks, stamps, photos, statues, costumes, relics, stone axes, and religious paintings...

Paro Dzong (Rinpung Dzon), the "fortress of the heap of jewels", is built in 1646 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal and is located near the crystalline Paro Chu (Paro River). Through a traditional wooden cantilever bridge, we can reach it to get panoramic views of the Paro Valley. As the office of the district administration and monastic body of Bhutan, the annual religious festival Paro Tsechu also takes place in its courtyard.

Meals：Breakfast   Lunch   Dinner

Accommodation：Amankora Paro

Today we will drive from Amankora Paro to the start point of the hiking route of the Tiger's Nest Monastery. It takes about 2.5 hours to reach Tiger's Nest by foot (5 hours for a round trip), and you can have a rest at the view terrace which is located at the halfway point of the hiking road. Also, you can choose to ride a horse(self-paying) from the camp base to the Taktsang Cafeteria (lunch spot). Then have a Hot stone bath in Amankora Paro to call it a day in Amankora Paro.

Tiger's Nest Monastery (Taktsang Goemba, Takhtsang Lakhang, Paro Taktshang), first built in 1692, is the iconic landmark of Bhutan. As a world cultural heritage, it is sited on the side of a cliff at a height of 900m above the Paro valley. It is said that Guru Rinpoche (a Buddhist saint) rode a tigress to the current site of the monastery and meditated in a cave for 3 years 3 months and 3 days. Now it is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Bhutan and a sacred religious site for Bhutanese to pilgrimage at least once in a lifetime.

Get back to Amankora Paro and try the Bhutan Traditional Hot Stone Bath in the late afternoon. A visit to Bhutan without enjoying the health benefits hot stone bath would be incomplete. After the hiking, a traditional Bhutanese hot stone bath is perfect to relax in the water heated by hot river stones roasted on the fire.

Meals：Breakfast   Lunch   Dinner

Accommodation：Amankora Paro

Time to say goodbye to Amankora Paro and your journey in Bhutan, the beautiful Himalayan country. Your local guide will meet you at your hotel and send you to the international airport. Happiness is a place, wish you get happiness and great memories from the Bhutantrip with us. We look forward to seeing you again, Tashi Delek!

Meals：Breakfast     

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