Bhutan Tours - The Land of the Thunder Dragon
9 DAYS / 8 NIGHTS Tour the fabled Kingdom of Bhutan, a land shrouded in mystery and wonder, on this journey of discovery.
6 DAYS / 5 NIGHTS Extend your trip in the region to Bhutan, the ‘Land of the Thunder Dragon’ visiting Paro, Punakha & Thimphu.
10 DAYS / 9 NIGHTS Explore the Best of Northern India visiting Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Varanasi, and more.
Clinging to a sheer cliff at a height of 2,950 meters, this iconic and revered monastery is well worth the climb. It is said that Guru Rinpoche arrived here on the back of a tigress and meditated at this monastery and hence it is more commonly referred to as the ‘Tiger’s Nest’.
The Bhutanese capital (2320 m / 7,609 feet) is situated on a broad green valley surrounded by terraced rice fields. This town of about 40,000 people built along traditional lines is the administrative centre of Bhutan and was only established in the 1950s. The main street of Thimphu, Norzim Lam, is lined with shops of all descriptions mainly stocking goods imported from India and China. This is the only capital in the world where there are no traffic lights, only three roundabouts, and police boxes decorated with dragons!
Located at a relatively low altitude of 1300 m (4,265 feet) in a rainshadow, the Punakha Valley produces most of the fruit grown commercially in Bhutan. The highlight of Punakha is the Punakha Dzong, a striking fortress that has been traditionally an administrative centre, surrounded by temples that provide accommodation to the monks. Until very recently, Punakha remained the winter capital of Bhutan (there is only one capital now, Thimphu), and it is still the winter headquarters of the Head Abbott (Je Khempo) and his monks who move here every winter.
Festivals are engrained in Bhutanese culture and the chance to experience one should not be missed. A Tsechu or festival is held at a dzong or smaller village monastery in honour of Guru Rinpoche, who brought Buddhism to Bhutan. The festivals consist of masked dances and songs and usually last for several days. The Tsechus in the major cities attract relatively high numbers of foreign visitors, however visiting a smaller one can offer a more intimate experience. Thimphu Tsechu is by far the biggest and the most elaborate.
BEST TIME TO VISIT:
The climate of Bhutan is extremely varied due to vast differences in altitude and the influence of the north Indian monsoons. Southern Bhutan has a hot, humid & sub-tropical climate that is fairly consistent throughout the year. Temperatures can vary between 15-30 degrees Celsius. In Central Bhutan, the climate is cooler, changing to temperate with warm summers and cool, dry winters. In the North, the weather is cold during winter, and mountain peaks covered in snow, the summers remain cool. The Indian monsoon lasts from late June to late September and is mostly in the southern border region. Bhutan’s generally dry spring is from early March to mid-April. Summer weather starts in mid-April with occasional showers to late June. Autumn, from late September to late November is characterized by bright, sunny days. From late November to March, it’s winter with frost throughout much of the country.