Bhutan, Ecoluxury with Como Hotels

Arrival in Delhi, border procedures, meeting with the guide and transfer to the hotel. The room is booked from the evening for possible overnight arrival.

Breakfast. morning free for relaxation. Free lunch.

Afternoon dedicated to visiting the Mausoleum of Emperor Humayun (1565), the 13th-century archaeological area with the Qutb Minar, the Victory Tower, symbol of Delhi, the Friday Mosque (1650) where 25,000 people can pray, from outside the Raj Ghat and the India Gate.

Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight stay.

Breakfast. Private transfer to the airport and flight to Paro, Bhutan's only airport at 2,200 metres above sea level.

The flight to Paro is one of the most spectacular in the entire Himalayas, and the journey offers fascinating views and a thrilling descent into the Kingdom. Bhutan's first gift when disembarking from the plane will be the fresh, clean mountain air. After immigration formalities and baggage claim, you will be met by our representative and then to your hotel. Lunch.

Afternoon visit to Ta Dzong, originally built as a watchtower to oversee the Paro Dzong, now houses the Kingdom's National Museum and boasts ancient Thangkha paintings, textiles, weapons and armour, household items and a rich assortment of natural and historical artefacts. Walk along the trail to visit Rinpung Dzong, meaning ‘Jewel Heap Fortress’, which has a long and fascinating history. Along the wooden galleries that line the courtyard of the Rinpung Dzong are beautiful wall paintings illustrating Buddhist tradition.

Evening visit to the Paro market and walk along the town's main street. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Transfer to the airport and flight to Bumthang. Arrival and check-in at the hotel. Lunch.

Afternoon visit to the Ogyen Choling Palace and Museum, built in 1898. Dating back to the 14th century with the visit of the great Tibetan master of Buddhism, Longchen Rabjam (1308-63), one of the most famous writers and philosophers of the Nyingmapa school of Tibetan Buddhism, the Ogyen Choling Palace is the most important site in the Tang Valley. Restored in the 19th century, it now houses the Family Museum, a place that transports visitors to another world and time. Here you will find one of the largest collections of artefacts and exhibits in the country.

The journey continues to Membartsho (The Burning Lake), in the Tang Valley, a large area on the Tang Chhu (chhu - water/river), considered one of the largest pilgrimage sites in Bhutan. The importance of this site is indicated by the vast array of prayer flags and small clay offerings called Tse Tsa in the rock niches.

A five-minute walk from a car park at a bend in the road leads to a picturesque pool in a shady ravine of the Tang Chhu, known as Membartsho (Burning Lake), an enchanting and eerie place where nature, religion and mythology come together. A wooden bridge crosses the gorge strewn with prayer flags and offers a good vantage point over the ‘lake’.

Caution: it is recommended not to get too close to the edge of the ravine. Visitors are advised to exercise extreme caution when visiting Membartsho (Burning Lake).

The day begins with a visit to Jambey Lhakhang, the ancient temple built by the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo in 659 A.D. as part of a chain of 108 temples built simultaneously to subdue an evil demon that lay over the Himalayan region.

A short distance from Jambey Lhakhang is the site of the sacred Kurje Lhakhang consisting of three temples surrounded by 108 chorten walls. The first and oldest structure of the three, was built on the rock where Guru Rinpoche meditated. The second building, also called the Sampa lhundrup temple, houses a colossal statue of Guru Rinpoche. The third is known as Ka Gon Phur sum lhakhang dedicated to the happiness of all living beings in the kingdom.

We continue with a visit to the picturesque Jakar Dzong, overlooking the Choekhor valley. According to legend, when the lamas gathered around 1549 to choose a site for a monastery, a large white bird suddenly rose into the air and perched on a spur of a hill. This was interpreted as an important omen and the hill was chosen as the site of the Jakar Dzong monastery, which translates as ‘castle of the white bird’.

After lunch, visit Tamshing Lhakhang, the temple founded in 1501 by Terton Pema Lingpa, the reincarnation of Guru Padsambhava. The monastery, restored in the late 19th century, has very old religious paintings such as 1,000 Buddhas and 21 Tara (female form of Buddhistava).

Depart in the direction of Punakha via the Yutong-La pass. En route, stop at Trongsa to visit the Trongsa Dzong, built in 1648, was the seat of power over central and eastern Bhutan. Both the first and second kings of Bhutan ruled the country from this ancient seat. Afterwards, visit the Ta Dzong. Ta means ‘to watch’, this dzong was built in 1652 to guard the imposing Trongsa Dzong. After more than 350 years, Ta Dzong has been renovated into a classy museum, a fine blend of tradition and modernity.

Before checking into the hotel, visit Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Lhakhang, a monastery perched on a ridge overlooking the Punakha and Wangduephodrang valleys and comprising a two-storey temple, a chorten reminiscent of Nepal's Boudhanath stupa and a monastery complex.

On arrival in Punakha, accommodation in the hotel.

A visit to Punakha Dzong (the ‘Palace of Great Happiness’), an imposing structure built in the 17th century by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal (who founded the Kingdom of Bhutan), at the junction of two rivers, once housed the country's government. It is now the winter residence of Je Khenpo, the chief abbot of Bhutan, together with a retinue of 1,000 monks.

Afterwards, a short walk through farms and paddy fields takes you to Chimi Lhakhang, a 15th-century fertility temple dedicated to Drukpa Kuenley, a Tibetan Buddhist saint, popularly known as the ‘Divine Madman’. This site has long been a place of pilgrimage for couples hoping to start a family.

Depart for Paro with a short stop in Thimphu to visit the Traditional Art School, commonly known as the ‘School of Painting’, the Institute offers a six-year course on the 13 traditional arts and crafts. During a visit, students can be seen learning the various skills taught at the school and interacting with the students and their instructors. We continue with a visit to the National Memorial Chorten, a shrine built to commemorate Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, the monarch who opened Bhutan's doors to the outside world. The late ‘third dragon king’ remains highly revered in Bhutan, and both locals and pilgrims come here every day to pray and spin the red prayer wheels. Continue on to Paro.

On the way, if time permits, stop to visit the Tachog Lhakhang, a 14th century temple located at the base of a mountain. Built by the great master architect Thangtong Gyalpo, the temple houses some unique statues.

On arrival, check-in at the hotel and overnight stay.

Excursion to Taktsang Monastery.

It is one of Bhutan's most famous monasteries, perched on the side of a cliff 900m above the Paro valley floor. Guru Rinpoche is said to have arrived here on the back of a tiger and meditated in this monastery and is therefore called ‘Tiger's Nest’.

This site has been recognised as a sacred place, visited by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1646 and now by all Bhutanese at least once in their lifetime. No one would think of leaving Bhutan without visiting the sacred temple.

On the way, visit the 7th century Kyichu Lhakhang, one of 108 temples built in the Himalayas by the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo. The construction of this temple marks the introduction of Buddhism in Bhutan.

Breakfast. Transfer to the airport and flight to Delhi. Arrival and check-in at the hotel. Free lunch. Afternoon free for relaxation or individual activities.

Dinner at the hotel and overnight stay.

Breakfast, transfer to the airport.

End of services.