Day 1. Arrive Paro. Welcome to the Kingdom of Bhutan. You will be met and transferred to Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan. The drive will take you about 1 hour. Check in to your hotel followed by lunch. Visit the Town & main market. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 2. Thimphu and Wangdi. Morning visit to the Weekend Market & the National Memorial Chorten which houses a number of religious paintings and tantric statues. Early lunch and depart for Punakha. The drive takes about 2 hours over the Dochu La situated at 10,000 feet. If the weather permits, you can see the Bhutanese Himalayas. Check in to your hotel in Wangdi.

Day 3. Wangdi-Gangtey. Visit the valley of Phobjikha, one of the most pleasant valleys in Bhutan. It is also the winter home for the Black necked cranes. Visit the Gangtey Gompa and on the return, visit the temple of Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten. Overnight in Wangdi.

Day 4. Wangdi-Punakha-Thimphu. Drive to Punakha and visit the Punakha Dzong, the winter residence for the Monk body and the old capital of Bhutan. Drive Back to Thimphu. Dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 5. Thimphu. A full day's sightseeing includes the National Library which contains a thousand manuscripts, both ancient and modern. Also visit the school of Traditional Arts and Crafts and then the National Medicine Institute

Day 6. Thimphu-Paro. D rive to Paro. Visit the National Museum housed in an ancient watchtower. The museum contains a wonderful gallery of Thangkas (scrolls) and also the Paro Dzong, the administrative center for the valley of Paro. Dinner and overnight at your hotel.

Day 7. Paro. Morning departure for a full day excursion to the spectacular Takshang also known as the Tiger's Nest, one of the most venerated sacred sites of the Himalayan world. It clings to a sheer 3000-foot cliff above the valley and the buildings enshrine a cave where the great saint Guru Rinpoche meditated. A pilgrimage to Takshang is the dream of a lifetime for the devout. Dinner at the hotel.

Day 8. Depart Paro for your next destination.

*****All itineraries are subject to change without notice.

Bhutan Country Facts

Location: Southern Asia, between China and India.

Population: 2,185,569 note: other estimates range as low as 810,000 (July 2004 est.)

Capital: Thimphu

Language: Dzongkha

Religion: Lamaistic Buddhist 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25%

Currency: Ngultrum (NU)

100 Chetrum = 1 Ngultrum. The Ngultrum is fixed to the value of Indian rupee. Tourists are advised to carry their money in the form of traveler's checks (preferably American Express) with some cash (US dollars would be best) which might be used for incidental purchases/expenses.

There are bank branches in all major towns. A few outlets in Thimphu accept payment by credit card, but with a surcharge added. Daily expenditure varies from person to person, but in general you should allow US$5-10 daily for laundry, drinks, phone calls overseas, small souvenirs, postcards and stamps.

Climate: The best time to visit is October and November and during major festivals. The climate is best in the Fall from late September to late November when skies are clear and the high mountain peaks are visible. You are likely to get wet no matter what the season, but you should avoid the monsoon period which is June-August when an average of 0.5m (1.5ft) of rain buckets down in Thimphu and up to 1m (3ft) saturates the eastern hills.

Electricity: 230-240 V, 50 cycles AC

Passport/Visa: Required.

Credit Cards: American Express, Visa and MasterCard are accepted in a few shops. Travelers Checks are generally accepted.

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