On arrival we will greet you and transferred to your hotel. After lunch visit:

Rimpung Dzong
The Paro Dzong is probably Bhutan’s best known and most iconic Dzong. This is probably the first building you will notice when you land at Paro International Airport and will probably be your first memory of Bhutan. The imposing Dzong is perhaps the finest example of Dzong architecture existing the world today, the massive buttered walls of the fortress dominate over the valley. The Rinpung Dzong’s names translates to the "Fortress on a heap of Jewels".

The fortress was constructed in 1644 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal on the foundations of an ancient monastery. The fort played a crucial role in the history of the Paro valley as the Dzong helped keep the marauding Tibetans away from the Paro valley.

The Dzong was hit by an earthquake in 1897 but survived unharmed, but a fire in 1907 ended up causing severe damage to the Dzong.
The Dzong is built on a steep hill along the banks of the Paro Chu river. The front part of the Dzong is home to the District administration while the other courtyard towards the rare houses the district monk body.
The approach toward the Dzong is through a traditional covered bridge called the NemiZam. A paved stone path runs alongside the imposing outer walls of the structure. The valley’s annual springtime religious festival called the Paro Tsechu is organized each year in the courtyard of the dzong and is attended by tourists from all over the world.

Ta Dzong ( National Museum )
The National Museum of Bhutan is housed inside the six storied circular Ta Dzong. The Ta Dzong is a medieval watch tower situated above the Rimpung Dzong. The Ta Dzong was constructed in 1656 with a purpose to give advance warning to the Paro Dzong in case of an approaching army, in fact the word Ta means ‘to see’ in Dzongkha. The future first king was imprisoned here for a brief period in 1872. In 1968 the Ta Dzong was converted into the National Museum of Bhutan. The Museum houses a priceless collection of textile, costumes, paintings, appliqué, wooden handicrafts, weapons, armour and jewellery. There is a small section dedicated to the natural history of Bhutan. There is a small chapel on the top of the building with icons representing Himalayan Buddhist traditions.

Overnight in Paro

After breakfast we drive one hour to the capital city Thimphu and explore.

Tashichho dzong:
The Tashichho Dzong is a Buddhist monastery cum fortress at the northern edge of Thimphu the capital city of Bhutan. The Dzong was built on the western bank of the river Wang Chu, and has historically served at the seat of the Druk Desi or the Dharma Raja of Bhutan’s government. After the kings assumed power in 1907 this post was combined with that of the king and Thimphu severed as the summer capital of the kingdom before becoming the full time capital of Bhutan.

The original Thimphu Dzong (the Dho-Ngyen Dzong) is said to have been constructed in 1216 by Lama Gyalwa Lhanangpa. And was later taken over by Lama Phajo Drukgom Shigpo before the Dzhong was conquered by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, who found the Dzhong to be too small and expanded it to what is now known as theTashichho dzong is also called the “fortress of glorious religion.” It was erected in 1641 and was subsequently rebuilt by King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck in the 1960s.

Folk heritage museum:
The folk heritage museum was open to the general public in 2001 upon completion. It treasures troves of culture and rich Bhutanese heritage provide rich insights into the Bhutanese ethos. Try to schedule your visit during the morning hours since the museum is less crowded at that time and there is plenty of sunlight to go around.

The folk heritage museum is housed in a replica traditional Bhutanese house learn first-hand about Bhutan’s rich cultural traditions, its deeply rooted heritage which spans thousands of years and the Bhutanese way of life. The tour of this almost living museum will also give you a glimpse onto how many rural folk of the country live today following the ancient Bhutanese ways.

National textile museums:
The second important Museum that also opened its doors in 2001 is the National Textile Museum of Bhutan. During a trip to this museum you will get an up close and personal experience of the living national art of weaving. The changing exhibitions at the museum will introduce you to the major weaving techniques that the weavers employ to make these beautiful fabrics. It also gives you a chance to see the various styles of dressing of the men and women from different parts of Bhutan. The museums exhibits follow 6 major themes:

• Weft Pattern Weaves
• Role of Textile in Bhuddism
• Historical achievements in textile
• Textiles made from different indigenous fibers
• The royal textile collection.

National memorial chorten:
The National Memorial was built by Bhutan’s third king, H.M. Jigme Dorji Wangchuck who is also known as the “father of modern Bhutan.” He wanted to erect a monument carrying the message of world peace and prosperity. However, he was unable to give shape to his idea in his lifetime due to pressures of state and other regal responsibilities. After his untimely demise in 1972, the Royal Family and Cabinet resolved to fulfill his wishes and erect a memorial that would perpetuate his memory and also serve as a monument to eternal peace, harmony and tranquility The National Memorial Chorten was gifted to the nation on 28 July, 1974. The exquisite wall paintings and the delicately carved statues reflect deep insights into Buddhist spirituality and a rich tradition of prayer and learning.

The National Memorial Chorten is known as the ‘most visible religious landmark in Bhutan’.

The Chorten was consecrated by His Holiness, the Late Dudjorn Rinpoche. Unlike other Stupas the Chorten is not a shrine for the mortal of the late King. The Chorten on contains a photograph of the King in full ceremonial attire. The King had intend for the Choten to be “ a Chorten that represents the mind of Buddha ”

The national Memorial Chorten is located in the center of the capital city, Thimphu and is designed like a Tibetan style Chorten. The Chorten is patterned of the classical Stupa design with a pyramidal pillar crowned by a crescent moon and sun. One of the most distinct features of the Chorten is its outwards flaring rounded part that makes the Chorten look more like a vase rather than the classical dome. The interior of the Chorten has a large number of paintings of Tantric deities, in explicit sexual poses that sometimes can be a little disconcerting to visitors.

Overnight in Thimpu

After an early breakfast you will drive to Paro. In the afternoon you will hike to Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest) Monastery, which is Bhutan’s most famous monastery. It is perched on the edge of a steep cliff, about 900 meters above Paro Valley. The hike to reach the viewpoint to the monastery makes for a nice half-day excursion. In the evening you can visit a traditional farmhouse and, if you wish, enjoy a typical Bhutanese dinner.

After early breakfast, drive to the airport and farewell.

All national except Indian, Bangladeshi and Maldivian required a visa to travel into Bhutan. But you do not need to worry about the visa process as we will arrange the visa for you to travel to Bhutan. To enable us to process your visa on time, your passport copy must reach us at least 60 days before the date of travel. It will take at least 10 days to get visa clearance and we will send you the visa approval letter which you need to present it to board the flight to Bhutan and upon arrival in Bhutan your actual visa will be issued and stamped.

Spring is the time when Bhutan’s rich flora is at its best as hundreds of varieties of flowers bloom. And during this time around, the skies are clear and you can see towering snow-covered mountains of the Himalayas.

Even in spring Bhutan’s fierce winter, especially in high altitudes, isn’t over. Tourists who intend to visit during this time are advised to bring along some winter clothes. Spring season starts from March and ends roughly in June.

Another good time of the year ‘autumn’ begins from September and lasts till the end of November. Monsoon brings heavy downpours and occurs between June and August when the temperature is normally between 8° and 21°C (46°-70°F). But due to the geographical region and you need to bring some warm cloths with you for autumn.

Winter in Bhutan is cold and dry with most high lying places snow-covered. Winter lasts from December to February.

• Paro Dzong
• National museum
• Buddhist monastery
• Folk heritage museum
• National memorial chorten
• Tiger nest monastery

The trip includes hiking to Tiger nest monastery which needs some physical fitness. Except that there is not any challenging walk, just some walking around.

To give our clients a memorable and insightful travel experience with lots of time to interact with each other or with the locals we do run the group as private.

Standard hotels are provided through out the trip.

All meals are included while in Bhutan (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner with tea/coffee). The meals are normally buffet mixed of Bhutanese and western cuisine.

Private ground transportation is provided through out the trip.

Weather in Bhutan is unpredictable and can change rapidly. Travelers need to be prepared for all weather conditions. Even in the spring time when temperatures are normally warmer, a sudden change in the weather could drop down the temperature dramatically.

The information and details in this trip has been compiled with care and in good faith. It is our intension to cling to the program as mentions. However you should be flexible as you are heading into one of the least developed country, where unforeseen events may contribute to change in itinerary. The trip details is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destination is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited and travel times mentions are approx. and subject to vary due to circumstances.

We suggest light travelling which makes you easier to move around. A day bag for your valuable and rucksack or duffle bag with wheels or medium size suitcases for your clothing's is recommended to bring with you. If you are sensitive to the noise please do not forget to bring earplugs, as Bhutan is the country with lots of street barking dogs and it could be annoying at night.

While travelling in Bhutan because of religious and conservative nature it is recommended to bring comfortable and appropriate clothes with you. As a general, shoulders and legs should be covered. It is restricted to enter into religious building and family with inappropriate dress.

• Tshirts
• Long sleeved shirts
• Pants
• A jacket and fleece pullover
• Upper and lower thermal layers
• Water proof - jacket and trousers
• Sun hat and sun glasses
• Fleece hat (for winter)
• Scarf
• Gloves- Normal/Thermal for winter
• Socks: Normal cotton, woolen (for winter)
• Shoes: Running and sandals
• Sun cream, lip balm, insect repellent, Hand sanitizer lotion
• Head torch
• Personal toiletaries
• Lightweight towel
• Personal fist aid kits
• Camera and Batteries
• Insurance card
• Ear plugs

You should consult with your doctor about vaccination and other medical travel information before departure. We recommend you to carry your personal first aid kids together with you personal medical requirement. Please be aware that there are places where immediate medical facilities are not available so when selection your trip please assure your ability to cope with the tour and consult with your doctor if you have any health issue which could affect your trip.

While you are going over 2500 meter, the certain risk of high altitude is involved. For most people the problem of high altitude rise over 3500 meter however its different from person to person so it is recommended to consult with your doctor before taking part on this trip.

Please make sure to get your travel insurance before travelling. Travelling insurance is compulsory in order to participate on any of our trips. Our entire participants should obtain their own personal insurance, which covers medical and emergency evacuation at a minimum. You, of Couse, would also like to have insurance coverage for loss or damage of baggage, flight and trip cancellation.

Every effort will be made to keep to the above itinerary, but as it’s an adventure in a remote mountain region, we cannot guarantee. Weather condition, road conditions, flight cancellation, landslides, avalanches, strikes and many any other reasons could contribute to changes on the itinerary. We will try to ensure the trip runs according to plan but an easy going nature will be an asset.

Beauty is to save not to destroy! At the very start of our company we made a proper guideline for travelling responsible in Nepal, so that our future generation would be able to wander around the beauty of Nepal and could live with it. At Hawks Eye, we are extremely conscious about the environment and aim to minimize the detrimental impact on the environment as far as possible. At Hawks eye, we practice how business can minimize the impact on environment, maximize employment and generate opportunities for local communities. We are working together with non-profit organization dedicating some of our time to make positive difference in the lives of Nepalese people. Since the time of our establishment we have been involve in schools building, run health camp in remote villages, scholarship program for genuine poor students, first aid training in schools, family planning project and helping children homes. Certain amounts from the tour you participate help us to give back to the people to make the life better. We are heading on the right track; still long way to go and it would not be possible for long run with out your support.