14 Days - 13 Nights Snowman Run Bhutan Tour

Drive to Haa through Chele La (3,988m). From the pass you can see Paro valley on one side and then Haa valley on the other. You can also have a picnic at Chele La if you like to. In Haa, some sightseeing and then going to katsho village and visiting the Katso Lhakhang.

The valley of Haa was only opened to Tourist in 2002 and Haa is the least visited valley in Bhutan due to the lack of Tourist infrastructure. This has helped in keeping Haa the way it has always been, with Bhutanese families living their traditional and simple life. There are no tourist standard hotels in Haa valley so we return back to Paro for the night.

Beyond Satsam Chorten, we hike up to the Taktsang Monastery (Tiger’s Nest). The 1.5-hour hike to the cafeteria is also a vantage view whereby you can enjoy the stunning view of the monastery. Prayer flags adorn the cliffs and this is also where Guru Padmasambhava landed on the back of a tigress in the 8th century. After a sumptuous local lunch, we will retrace our steps to visit Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest temples in Bhutan.

Drive to Punakha vial Dochula Pass. The journey takes you on mountain roads, with spectacular alpine scenery. The drive will go over the Dochu La Pass at 3,050 m where on a clear day you can see Eastern western Himalayas of Bhutan.

Dochu-la Pass: We will stop at Dochu-la Pass, here we see 108 chortens built by the present Queen mother of Bhutan Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuk to commemorate Bhutan’s victory over Indian militants and to liberate the souls of people who lost their lives. Continue through the bustling market town of Wangduephodrang, and up winding mountain roads through mixed forests and over high passes before ascending into the wide and picturesque Phobjikha Valley. Phobjikha is one of Bhutan’s few glacial valleys, and chosen winter home of black necked cranes (November – March) migrating from the Tibetan plateau. Upon reaching Phubjikha, walk around the valley and visit crane center & Gantay Monastery.

On the way to Paro, halt at Chimmi Lhakhang – a 20 minutes-walk across terraced fields through the village of Sopsokha from the roadside to the small temple located on a hillock in the Centre of the valley below Metshina. Ngawang Chogyel built the temple in 15th century after the ’divine Madman’ Drukpa Kuenlay built a small chorten there. It is a pilgrim site for barren women.

Upon reaching Punakha, visit following places:

Punakha fort (Dzong): which was old Capital of Bhutan and observe the stunning view and beauty of the fort.

Punakha Suspension Bridge: This bridge is one of the longest bridges in Bhutan which conntects People form Shengana, Samdingkha, and Wangkha villages across the Tsang Chu River (aka Po Chu) to Punakha DzongThe bridge offers a spectacular view of the river and valley, and the east bank is a good starting point for multi-day treks in the nearby mountains.

Drive to Gasa (Elevation 3200 m)

Gasa to Rodophu (Elevation 4215 m)

Rodophu to Tshjo (Elevation 4069 m)

Tshojo to Pangchenmo (Elevation 4500 m)

Pangchnmo to Dhur Tshachu (Elevation 3900 m)

Dhur Tsachu to Kurjey (Elevation 2800 m)

Bumthang (Elevation 2800 m)

The Valley of Phobjikha is well known as the winter home of the Black Necked Crane (Grus Nigricollis). Bhutan is home to around six hundred black-necked cranes with Phobjikha being one of the popular places that the birds migrate to in the winter months from the Tibetan plateau. The elegant and shy birds can be observed from early November to end of March. Overlooking the Phobjikha valley is the Gangtey Goempa. This is an old monastery that dates back to 17th century.

Gangtey Monastery is one of the main seats of the religious tradition based on Pema Lingpa’s revelations and one of the two main centres of the Nyingmapa school of Buddhism in the country. The well-known Terton Pema Lingpa makes the Monastery in the late 15th century.

Buddha Point: Located at Kuenselphodrang Nature Park, the 169 feet bronze statue of Buddha Dordenma, Vajra Throne Buddha makes it one of the largest statue of Buddha in the world. The Buddha Dordenma symbolizes indestructibility, and it is said to emanate an aura of peace and happiness to the entire world. The Buddha statue will be completed soon, currently awaiting for the completed paintings but visitors can drive up to the Buddha point and view the tallest statue of Lord Buddha. The view of Thimphu valley from the Buddha point is spectacular and beautiful,, especially at night.

National Memorial Chorten: Meet the elderly generation in circumambulation at the National Memorial Chorten. Chorten means ‘Seat of Faith’ and Buddhists often call such monuments, the ‘Mind of Buddha’. Treat yourself with the fantastic depiction of Buddhist teachings in the form of paintings and sculptures at this temple. As the name denotes this National Memorial Chorten was consecrated on July 28, 1974, in memory of the Third King.

Simply Bhutan: A living museum and a photo studio with a mission to engage and empower youth entrepreneurs through preservation, promotion and showcasing of Bhutanese tradition and cultural diversity. [Opening hour Summer 09.00 AM – 17.00 PM, Winter 10.00 AM – 16.00 PM]

Today we will bid fond farewell to this beautiful Himalayan country and take an early flight back to Singapore. We hope by now you would have made some friends and also kept many photos and beautiful memories of Bhutan! And we look forward to seeing you again in this beautiful land of endless Enchantments! Tashi Delek!