COMO Uma Bhutan Luxury Tour 7 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 COMO Uma Paro (3.2km, about 10min) and check in.

After check in, 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), Dobji Dzong (the first model Dzong in Bhutan which looms magnificently on a hilltop), or stroll around Paro town. 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：COMO Uma Paro

Today you will depart COMO Uma Paro and head to COMO Uma Punakha which is about 122km away with over 3.5 hours’ drive via a visit at Bhutan’ capital city - Thimphu.

You can explore Thimphu through the Buddha Dordenma Statue (the largest sitting Shakyamuni statue in the world), National Memorial Chorten (a landmark of Thimphu city for Koras), Tashichho Dzong (Thimphu Dzong), or Folk Heritage Museum. After the rich experience in Thimphu you can head to you lovely hotel in Punakha via Dochula Pass (3117m, a place with108 memorial chortens in honor of 108 Bhutanese Soldiers).

Buddha Dordenma Statue (Kuenselphodrang, Buddha Point) is a landmark of Thimphu city and you can have a great view of the Thimphu Valley there. With 51.5m in height, built of bronze and gilded in gold, the statue is famed as the largest sitting Shakyamuni statue in the world and there are 125,000 smaller Buddha statues placed within it. The statue was finished in 2015(built for 9years) to fulfill an ancient prophecy to emanate an aura of happiness and peace all over the world.

National Memorial Chorten is the most visited landmark of Thimphu which was built in 1974 in memory of the Third King, His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuk(the Father of Modern Bhutan) by his mother. Due to the idea of Jigme Dorji, this stupa is dedicated to world peace and prosperity. It is a Tibetan-style chorten with amazing paintings and brilliant sculptures, you can see the classical stupa pattern like the pyramidal pillar crowned by a crescent moon and sun. It is also a good place to meet local Bhutanese people circumambulating the Chorten throughout the day in a clockwise direction for praying.

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.

Meals：Breakfast   Lunch   Dinner

Accommodation：COMO Uma Punakha

A full day in the old capital of Bhutan for your exploration around Punakha Valley via the long historic monasteries and dzongs like Chimmi Lhakhang (follow the Divine Madman for the worship of phallus), Punakha Dzong (the winter home of Je Khenpo), Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten (a shrine recently built by the royal family). Then enjoy the facilities in your hotel.

Chimi Lhakhang (Fertility Temple, Chime Lhakhang) is located on a hillock among the rice field and is a pilgrimage for a childless couple to seek blessings. The monk there blesses the couple with a wooden phallus that is believed to have the power to help the childless couple conceive a child. This temple is associated with the famous Drukpa Kunley (1455-1529, Divine Madman, Tibetan saint), who is famed for using his phallus to guide people to enlightenment and subdue demons. That is why you can see the symbol of phalluses scattered everywhere. You can buy handicraft souvenirs here with the phallic symbol in various colors, shapes, and sizes.

Punakha Dzong stands at the junction of two great rivers called the Pho Chu river (father river) and Mo Chu river (mother river). As the palace of great happiness or bliss, it is also known as the most beautiful Dzong in Bhutan. It was first built in 1637 by the founder of Bhutan, Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, and was played as the administrative center and the seat of the Bhutanese official till the capital city was moved from Punakha to Thimphu in 1955. Now, this Dzong is served as the winter residence for Je Khenpo, Chief Abbot of the Central Monastic Body. In 2011, the Dzong witnessed the royal wedding ceremony of the 5th Bhutan's King, His Majesty Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck to Queen Jetsun Pema. If you visit Bhutan in May, you will be amazed by the breathtaking purple-blue jacaranda blooms outside the fortress.

Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten is on the west bank of the Mo Chhu river. After across a suspension bridge, it is about 45mins' walk from the main road to the Chorten(stupa). The stupa was built in 1990 by Ashi Tsering Yangdon Wangchuck(the mother of the 5th King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck) to drive off evil forces and bring peace to Bhutan and the world. This Chorten was a typical combination of the art, architecture, and traditions of Bhutan. It took Bhutanese carpenters, painters, and sculptors 9 years to finish this Bhutan-style pagoda. Also, you will get an excellent view of the Punakha Valley and Punakha Dzong there.

Meals：Breakfast   Lunch   Dinner

Accommodation：COMO Uma Punakha

Today you will go back to COMO Uma Paro from COMO Uma Punakha (122km, 3.5 hours) via a quick stop at Dochula Pass for another chance to view the Himalayas. Also, you will have more time to enjoy the unique culture in Bhutan’s capital city- Thimphu by getting a stamp of your image at Bhutan Post Office Headquarters and paying a visit to the School of Arts and Crafts (Zorig Chusum for 13 Arts and Crafts). After getting back to Paro, don’t forget to try Bhutanese Traditional Archery. Then enjoy the facilities in your sweet hotel

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).

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).

Meals：Breakfast   Lunch   Dinner

Accommodation：COMO Uma Paro

Today it is the time for you to find out more about Paro by monasteries, fortresses, rivers, fields, and museums. In the morning, you can hike to Ta Dzong (home to Bhutan’s National Museum) and have a bird view of both Paro Dzong (Rinpung Dzong) and Paro Valley. In the afternoon, you are recommending to pay a visit to Drukgyel Dzong (the most beautiful and famous archaeological sites in Bhutan) or Zurig Dzong (one of the oldest dzongs in Bhutan dating back to 12th century).

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 Dzong), 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：COMO Uma Paro

Today we will drive from COMO Uma 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 visit to one of the oldest monastery in Bhutan-Kyichu Lhakang before head back to your hotel.

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.

Kyichu Lhakhang is one of the oldest monasteries 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.

Meals：Breakfast   Lunch   Dinner

Accommodation：COMO Uma Paro

Time to say goodbye to COMO Uma 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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