BLACK NECKED CRANE FESTIVAL (12 Days, November. Exact dates yet to be announced.)
Discover the rich culture of Bhutan, and attend the unique Black Neck Crane Festival in the beautiful Phobjikha Valley, the winter home to magnificent Black Neck Cranes. The trip begins with a tour of Paro, Thimphu and Punakha’s landmarks before arriving in Gangtey Phobjika, home of the historic 17th century Gangtey Goempa Monastery and Phobjika Sanctuary, famous for its endangered Black Necked Cranes. Spend a day visiting the unique Black Neck Crane Festival. Started by the local community, festival activities include the opportunity to visit the Black Necked Cranes roost, stroll through handicraft and game stalls and enjoy masked and costumed dances in honour and praise of the Black Necked Cranes. Following the festival, you will visit Trongsa and the sacred sites of the Bumthang valley.

DAY 01: ARRIVE PARO
The flight to Paro is one of the most spectacular mountain flights in the world, with a constantly changing panorama of some of the highest mountains on earth. Our Bhutan Travel Bureau representative will meet you at Paro airport. After lunch enjoy afternoon sightseeing around Paro, including a visit to the National Museum, Ta Dzong. This museum houses many religious relics, works of art and handicrafts offering a great orientation into Bhutan’s historical, cultural, and religious past. Next, visit the Rimpong Dzong to see the painting of the great saint Milarepa, considered as the master of meditation by the Bhutanese and believed to have attained enlightenment in a lifetime. Dzong’s are large monasteries and district administrative centres, which were once strategic forts. The Rimpong Dzong is one of Bhutan’s most impressive and well known Dzong’s and amongst the finest examples of Bhutanese architecture you will see. Afterwards walk to the beautiful cantilever wooden bridge still in use.
Overnight at your hotel in Paro

DAY 02: PARO – THIMPHU
After breakfast, drive to the capital, Thimphu (1.5 hours) following the Pachu River. At the confluence where the Thimphu River meets the Paro River, we will stop to look at three stone chortens (monuments) built in Tibetan, Nepalese and Bhutanese style. Chortens are built to ward off and subdue evil spirits and are also used as trail markers. After checking into your hotel and enjoying some lunch, visit the School for Arts and Crafts where students are taught the 13 types of Bhutanese art. Other sites to visit include The National Library housing the collection of Bhutanese scriptures dating back to the 8th century, the Traditional Paper Factory displaying the Bhutanese paper making process, the post office to view some of Bhutan's beautiful stamps, and a fascinating replica of a medieval farmhouse at the Folk Heritage Museum. Overnight at your hotel in Thimphu.

DAY 03: THIMPHU – PUNAKHA
Drive over the Dochu-La pass (3,100 meters), which on a clear day offers an incredible view of Himalayan peaks before descending into balmy Punakha valley (about 3 hrs total driving time). The drive through the countryside affords a glimpse of everyday life in this most remote of Himalayan kingdoms. In the Dochu-La area there are vast Rhododendron forests that grow to tree size and bloom in late April/early May covering the mountains in a riot of glorious spring colour.
Punakha was the ancient capital of Bhutan. On arrival, visit Punakha Dzong, built in 1637 by the Shabdrung, the ‘Unifier of Bhutan’ as predicted by the great Guru Rimpoche (Padmasambhava). It is situated at the confluence of the Mo Chu and Pho Chu (Mother and Father Rivers) and is the winter headquarters of the Je Khenpo and hundreds of monks who move en masse from Thimphu to this warmer location. The three story main temple of the Punakha Dzong is a breathtaking example of traditional architecture with four intricately embossed entrance pillars crafted from cypress and decorated in gold and silver.
After lunch, enjoy a walk to Chimi Lhakhang, temple of the Drukpa Kuenly who is also known as the Divine Madman. He inherited the Divine Madman title since he revolted against the orthodox Buddhism in his time. He taught the people that religion is an inner feeling and it's not necessary that one should be an ordained monk. He is also considered a symbol of fertility and most childless couples go to his temple for blessing.
Overnight at hotel in Punakha.

DAY 04: PUNAKHA – PHOBJIKHA
This morning visit Wangduephodrang to explore this bustling market town and visit Wangduephodrang Dzong. Built in 1639 the strategically located Dzong is perched on a spur at the confluence of two rivers. Afterwards drive up a winding mountain road through oak and rhododendron forests, and over a high pass down 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. The valley is one of the most beautiful in Bhutan. Visit Gangtey Goempa (Monastery), the only Nyingmapa monastery in western Bhutan and explore Phobjika Valley with time to view the Black-Necked Cranes.
Overnight at your hotel in Phobjikha.

DAY 05: PHOBJIKHA
Attend the Black-Necked Crane Festival. The festival features numerous cultural programs organized by the local community. These include students performing the crane dance and small stalls offering many colourful local items such as yak tail dusters, butter tea cups, turquoise and also different Bhutanese handicrafts for sale. This will also be ample time to view the Black Necked Cranes, visit the Information Centre and enjoy some of the many nature trails throughout the valley.
Overnight at your hotel in Phobjikha.

DAY 06: PHOBJIKHA - TRONGSA
Spend the early morning viewing the Black Necked Cranes before departing across Pele La pass (3,420m) on the Black Mountain range towards Trongsa. This pass is traditionally considered the boundary between western and central Bhutan. Further down the road stop to visit beautiful Chendebji Chorten. It is built in a style unusual for Bhutan, with painted eyes facing the four directions. The Chorten was erected in the 18th century by a Tibetan lama to cover the remains of an evil spirit that was subdued at this spot. The imposing Trongsa Dzong can be viewed across a deep canyon to signal your approach to the town around a curving road.
After lunch visit Trongsa Dzong, a masterpiece of Bhutanese architecture. Trongsa is the largest Dzong in Bhutan. The foundations of Trongsa Dzong were laid in the 16th Century and there are now 22 temples in the complex. The view from the Dzong is spectacular and one can see across the impressive landscape for many miles. In the old days, it was the vigilance point for both the eastern and western trade routes, thus a strategically important Dzong.
Overnight at your hotel in Trongsa.

DAY 07: TRONGSA – BUMTHANG
After breakfast proceed towards Bumthang, one the most spectacular valleys in Bhutan and also the spiritual heartland of the country. The road winds steeply up to Yo Yutung La Pass (3,400m) before descending down through dense coniferous forest to Chummey valley. From here it is about an hour to Jakar, Bumthang’s main township.
Bumthang is the general name given to a group of four valleys-chumey, choekhor, Tang and Ura, with altitudes varying from 2,600m to 4,000m. It’s barley fields, apple groves and meadows lay below huge hills which climb up towards the Himalayan mountain wall separating Bhutan from Tibet. The beautiful architecture unique to Bhutan is evident in the many large farmhouses and temples. Bumthang is associated with Guru Rimpoche (Padmasambhava) and with Terton Pemalingpa. Tertons are people chosen to discover treasures in the forms of religious teaching or artifacts.
On arrival visit Jaker Dzong (Dzong of the white Bird) and Tamshing Lhakhang, founded in 1501 by Pemalingpa and containing interesting and ancient Buddhist wall paintings. Pemalingpa’s heavy coat of nails is kept in the Vestibule and eople are permitted to try it on. It is said that if they can walk around the inner sanctuary three times while wearing it, some of their sins will be forgiven.
Overnight at your lodge in Jakar, Bumthang.

DAY 08: BUMTHANG
In the morning visit Kurje Lhakhang, one of the most sacred places in the kingdom where Bhutan's patron saint Guru Rimpoche meditated and 7th Century Jambay Lhakhang, erected by the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo. There are many other small temples and sacred sites in the valley and in the hills above which can be reached by hiking and day walks. These include the pool of Mebartso (The Lake of Fire). It is here that Pemalingpa (founder of the Nyingmapa sect) is said to have found treasure hidden by Guru Rinpoche. He retrieved the treasure carrying a lamp which continued to burn even after being plunged into the freezing water. Legend says the key to Shangri la will be found here someday. Stroll through Bumthang's market area before returning to the lodge. Overnight at your lodge in Jakar, Bumthang.

DAY 09: BUMTHANG – WANGDUEPHODRANG
Today you will be leaving the beautiful Bumthang, on the day stop along the way at Trongsa for lunch.
Overnight in Wangduephodrang.

DAY 10: WANGDUEPHODRANG – PARO
Drive back to Thimphu where you will enjoy lunch and have an opportunity to visit handicraft and souvenir stores. Afterwards proceed to Paro, visiting Semtokha Dzong en route. The Dzong, built in 1627, is the oldest in Bhutan. It now houses the Institute for Language and Culture studies. On arrival in Paro, check into the hotel.
Overnight at the hotel.

DAY 11: PARO
After breakfast hike to Taktsang Monastery. The trail is broad and the walk of approximately 1.5 to 2 hours uphill takes you high above the Paro valley. The view of Taktsang Monastery built on a sheer cliff face 900 metres above the valley floor is a spectacular sight. The Monastery is also an important pilgrim site for the Buddhists. The great Guru Rimpoche is said to have flown here on the back of a tigress when he brought the teachings of the Buddhist Dharma to Bhutan in the 8th Century. Nearby there is a teahouse where you can stop for refreshments before returning to Paro for lunch. In the afternoon drive to the ruins of the 17th Century Drukgyel Dzong, an historic monument built by the Shabdrung to commemorate his victory against invading Tibetans in 1644. In fine weather the towering peak of the sacred Mount Jomolhari (7314m) appears as a stunning backdrop. On the return drive to Paro, visit 7th Century Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the 108 temples constructed by the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo. Kyichu is built in a manner similar to the Jokhang in Lhasa. Inside there is a great golden image of Buddha Shakyamuni.
Overnight at your hotel in Paro.

DAY 12: DEPART PARO
Breakfast in the hotel, then drive to the airport for flight to your onward destination.
Tashi Delek!

For more information, please email tours@btb.com.bt