The Land of Dragon Tour

Day 01: ARRIVE KATHMANDU
Arrive on Katmandu airport, and transfer to hotel. The tour manager will give pre-tour briefing. Rest of the day is leisure. O/N at

Hotel. Day 02: KATHMANDU
Morning visit Swayambhunath Temple and Patan City. Afternoon visit Pashupatinath, Boudhanath and Old Kathmandu City. Evening free and overnight stay at hotel.

Day 03: ARRIVE PARO
Get on board Druk Air , Bhutan ’s national airline, from Kathmandu bound for Paro. The flight to Paro offers fascinating views of the eastern Himalayan range, including Mt. Everest . On arrival you will be received by your guide and driven to Thimphu , the capital.

Day 04: THIMPHU / PUNAKHA (75 Km, 2.1/2 Hours)
After breakfast, sightseeing of Thimphu valley which includes a visit to the National Library, a treasure trove of priceless Buddhist manuscripts; the Traditional Institute of Medicine, where centuries old healing arts such as acupuncture and herbal remedies are still practiced; the Painting School, where young monks learn the art of Buddhist thangkha painting; the workshops for mask making and fine metal craft, weaving, ceramics and paper and; the Textile and Folk Heritage Museum, a fascinating testimony of Bhutanese material culture and living traditions.

Also visit the late King's Memorial Chorten where one can observe oprayers and ceremonies that are performed throughout the year. Visit the Handicrafts Emporium and local shops for souvenirs ranging from Bhutan 's fine traditional arts, textiles, thangkha paintings, masks, ceramics, slate and woodcarvings, jewelers to other interesting items made from local materials. Evening drive to Punakha across Dochula pass (3,050m). Overnight at the hotel in Punakha.

Day 05: PUNAKHA - WANGDUEPHODRANG - PARO (150 Km, 5 Hours)
After breakfast visit Punakha Dzong, the 17th century fortress that was once the capital of the nation. Then drive to Wangdiphodrang to see the local market and the dzong.
After lunch drive to Paro with a short stop at Dochula pass. Overnight at the hotel in Paro.

Day 06: PARO SIGHTSEEING
After breakfast, visit to Ta Dzong, originally the Watch Tower for the Rinpung Dzong. It was later converted into the National Museum of the Kingdom and boasts a wide range of antique thangkha paintings, textiles, weapons & armour, household objects and natural and historic artifacts. After lunch, drive to Drukgyel Dzong, the fort of the victorious Drukpas. Although gutted by a fire, this fort is renowned as the stand from which several Tibetan invasions were repulsed. To the north can be seen in all its majesty, the dome of sacred Mt. Chomolhari or the abode of the "mountain of goddess.” Walk down the trail to Rinpung Dzong or the 'fortress of the heap of jewels' which is the seat of the district administration and the residence of the monastic school. The dzong is famous for its wall murals depicting Buddhist parables, symbols and the lives of prominent saints.
En route, see one of the oldest landmarks in Bhutan. The 7th century Kyichu Lhakhang was one of the 108 temples built in the Himalayas by Tibetan King, Songtsen Gembo. It is revered as one of the most holy shrines in Bhutan and embodies the arrival of Buddhism here.

Day 07: After breakfast in the hotel, drive to the airport for flight to onward destination. Representative of Economy Trek will bid you farewell.