Walking Holiday in Bhutan

Sample 14-day programme

Day 1 and 2
Meet your qualified walking guide, experienced programme co-ordinator and the rest of your party at London Heathrow for a mid-afternoon flight to Calcutta, where you’ll then connect on to a morning flight to Paro (2,280m) in western Bhutan.

After meeting your local Bhutanese guide drive to Thimpu (2,320m), the capital of Bhutan.  Spend the rest of the day relaxing in the hotel or enjoy a gentle stroll through forests of oak and walnut trees following one of the streams joining the Wangchu River.

Day 3 and 4
Your first two introductory day walks will be taken at a leisurely pace to allow everyone to acclimatise and will be approximately 6kms and 10kms. You’ll be walking through rhododendron and bamboo forests up to the important Buddhist monasteries or Goembas as they are known locally – Talakha Goemba (3,080m) and to Phajoding Goemba (3,870m) and the meditation centre at Thujidrag Goemba. In the afternoons you can visit the botanical gardens and a Folk Heritage and Textile Museums and the Takin Sanctuary – Takins are the national animals of Bhutan.

Day 5
Before driving to the Phobjikha Valley in central Bhutan, visit the lively weekend produce market in Thimpu.  The journey takes you over the Dochula pass (3,050m), with its 108 stone monuments and spectacular view of the high Himalayan peaks. Visit the Wangdi Dzong (ancient forts with either red or yellow roofs) and Wangdi village. This afternoon walk to the Gangte Goemba, which is located on a ridge above the valley, and visit a local carpet factory. Overnight.

Day 6
Continue the journey through central Bhutan to Bumthang, 2,580m. Drive through the Black Mountain National Park and over Pelila pass (3,400m) that has a chorten (round stone Buddhist monument) adorned in many prayer flags. Visit Trongsa Dzong, which is considered the most impressive fort in the Kingdom.

Day 7, 8 and 9
The next 3 days will be sent walking in the Bumthang area.  There is a tremendous choice of day walks of approximately 10kms – walk along a logging trail between the 18th century Lamey Goemba and the red-roofed Tharpaling Goemba (3,500m) in the Chhume valley – or from the Sherthanla pass (3,573m), there is a walk down to the isolated hamlet of Ura (3,100m) with its cobbled streets, medieval houses and traditional way of life – or in the remote Tang valley you can walk to Gamling and the 16th century Ugyencholing Palace.  Visits to villages, watching locals weaving and places of interest including Bumthang Old Palace will be incorporated in to each days walking programme.

Day 10 and 11
Now its time to commence the drive back through Bhutan to Paro, breaking the journey with an overnight stop in Punakha.  After arriving in Paro visit the National Museum and Paro Dzong, which is considered the finest example of traditional Bhutanese architecture.  Overnight.

Day 12 and 13
The following morning fly to Calcutta for your last two nights. Spend the time in Calcutta with a tour of this fascinating city that was home to Mother Teresa day, visiting the markets and Kali temples, shopping and relaxing in the hotel. Your special holiday culminates with a farewell dinner at the Bengal Club or Tollygunge Club.

Day 14
Fly back to the UK.