Day 1: Your flight descending over the final Himalayan ridge brings you to Paro International Airport, elevation 7500 feet. Your Druk Air experience has been highlighted with breathtaking views of the Himalayan peaks, including the sacred Mount Chomolhari and Jitchu Drake in Bhutan. Excitement mounts as you land and are greeted by a Rainbow Tours and Treks representative.  Visas are processed and you are escorted to your hotel for lunch and check-in. After lunch visit the National Museum (Ta-Dzong). Once the watchtower for the Rinpung Dzong, it was converted into the National Museum in 1968. The conch shaped museum stands on a promontory overlooking the Paro valley in all its glory. On the way back, visit the Paro Rinpung Dzong. "Fortress of the heap of jewels". A flagstone path rises gradually from a beautiful wooden  bridge with shingle roofing and abutted by two guardhouses. Today the Dzong is the seat of the district administration as well as the home for the monastic school. Evening we visit Paro town, built in traditional architecture with rows of shops lining the main street. We enjoy diner in cozy local restaurant. Overnight Hotel Dechen. 

Day 2: Drive to Thimphu (2-hour drive) capitol of Bhutan. Check in at our hotel and enjoy a hearty lunch. We then go to the Bank of Bhutan to exchange currency and visit the post office as well. Here you will find collector item Bhutanese stamps, along  with beautiful post cards and elaborate postal stamps. We then drive to embark on a vigorous hike up the mountain to Tango Goemba Monastery which is one of my favorite experiences in Bhutan. Tango is one of Bhutan's most important Buddhist colleges. Its name, meaning horse's head, is derived from the horse-head shaped rock at the top. It is a beautiful dzong built in the 18h century by the 8th Desi, Druk Rabgye. Today Tango is home to the reincarnate Lama, Gyaltse Tenzin Rabgye. Meet with monks for discussions. Tonight join Soenam, owner of Rainbow Tours, for a welcome reception dinner at her home. Overnight in Yeedzin Hotel.

Day 3: Drive to Wangdue Phodrang (3 - hour drive) across Dochula Pass  (10,500ft). Prayer flags send prayers on the wind. Enjoy spectacular views of the Eastern Himalayan Mountains. Stop at Lobesa for lunch. Early afternoon visit the Punakha Dong, "Palace of Great Happiness". Punakha Dzong is the former winter Capital and at present day hosts the administrative seat of the district. It is also the winter residence of the central monastic body and its Chief Abbot. The Dzong lies between two rivers, the Pochu and Mochu, male and female rivers. It was built in 1637 AD and it was here on 17th December 1907, that Bhutan's first king was crowned. We will visit the Fertility Temple Chimed Lhakhang and in the evening tour the Wangdue Dzong courtyard. Overnight at Dragons Nest Resort.

Day 4: After an early breakfast, we depart for Bumthang in Central Bhutan. It is a long drive on a scenic and breathtaking highway rewarded by a stop at the Trongsa Dzong, the ancestral home of the royal family. This Dzong was built by Chogyel Minjur Tempa, the Third Desi, in 1648. It is, presently, the administrative seat of the district and home of the monastic school. Built at split-levels on a narrow spur, the Dzong is an architectural wonder. Views from here are extensive. Lunch in Trongsa town. Continue to Bumthang. Overnight at the River Lodge. Enjoy Bhutanese hospitality. 

Day 5: Today is the our first day of Ura Yakchoe in Bumthang. Load the camera! Ura is considered one of the holiest valleys in Bhutan. Today is the day when Bhutanese from many different areas will gather to pay respect and to be blessed at this social gathering. Bhutanese dressed in their finest clothes and jewelry attend this celebration of purification and religious blessings. Here we can truly appreciate the essence of the Drukpas and their efforts for preserving a steadfast culture. Arrays of colorful brocades whirl through the air as the dancers spin and dance the thunderbolt step. Masks of demons and animals arouse your senses as you watch the purification take place. The intensity goes on. Tonight we lodge at the Shingkhar Lodge in Shingkhar village of Ura. 

Day 6: Returning to Ura Festival, we will meet with Ura Head Lama. Watch for the Atsara (clown) This dancer, unique in his own style, mimics dancers and entertains onlookers. Festival deities are invoked through benediction and luck is increased and misfortune vanquished!  Overnight at River Lodge Guest House. 

Day 7: Today we sightsee and tour in Bumthang. Visit Jakar Dzong, Jambay Khakhang, Kurjey Lhakhang, and Flaming Lake, (Membar Tsho). Shopping is a delight in Bumthang. Textile weaving prevails in this area and we visit weavers utilizing the back and toe strap looms. Here you will find the best price for textile purchase. After lunch we will visit a Bhutanese schoolhouse and be entertained and delighted by wonderful Bhutanese children; this is a favorite experience for many guests in Bhutan. Overnight at River Lodge.

Day 8: "Visit the Ugyenchholing Palace; a Family Museum, located on a hill top in beautiful and remote Tang Valley. Enjoy a scenic hike through a beautiful meadow dotted with Bhutanese farmhouse and water turned flour grist mills. Here you will experience time that will transport you back into medieval Bhutan. You will view permanent exhibits recreated to capture the ambience of the lifestyle of the Trongsa Penelop (Governor) Tshokey Dorji and his household. Bhutan's history unfolds. This is a most interesting and unique museum and the location of the museum and architecture at this site are most intriguing. We will visit a local farmhouse for tea and conversation while in Tang Valley. Return to Jakar Valley for overnight at River Lodge.

Day 9: Departing central Bhutan we begin our drive toward the west. Stopping once again in Trongsa we take time for lunch and a stroll thru the tiny village. Look for archers at the Trongsa Dzong archers field; a favorite archery field for Bhutanese archers; Overnight at Resort; listen for the jackals tonight.

Day 10: Today we drive to Thimphu for lunch. Check into your hotel. *The afternoon is yours to explore Thimphu and its many unique shops; bookstores are amongst the most popular stores, as well as thangka, glorious mask and textile woven handicraft items. You guide will be glad to assist you in your shopping. Overnight  at your Thimphu hotel.

Day 11: Tango Monastery Hike
Embark on a vigorous 2.5 hour hike up to the mountain top where an ancient Buddhist college and Monastery is perched hill on top. Here is one of my favorite experiences in Bhutan. Tango is one of the most important Buddhist colleges in Bhutan and its name means “horse head”; derived from the horse-head rock near by. An 18th century Dzong built by the 8th Desi Druk Rabgye. Today Tango is the home of the 13 year old reincarnate Lama, Gyaltse Tenzin Rabgye. Perhaps you will be honored to meet and be blessed by the young lama. Here you will meet with monks for discussions. Returning down the path to our vehicle we drive back to our Thimphu hotel.

Day 12: Today we depart Thimphu for a full day excursion to Haa Valley; just recently opened to tourism in 2001. Our return will be to our final hotel in Paro.

Haa Valley is situated in the north-west of the Bhutan-Tibet border. Our drive is exciting and stimulating over a 13,000 ft pass with prayer flags fluttering and blessing you along your route. We enjoy a picnic lunch along this beautiful drive. Some have said Haa is the Lost Shangri-la; the valley is traversed by the Haa Chuu (river) and its characteristic features are three almost conical hillocks considered to be holy by the local people. The first hillock is dedicated to Ap Chhundu, the supreme local protective deity of Haa. On arrival we stroll through the quaint town. We will take an easy hike of about 1 hour to Katso village (8,840 ft) Here you can see the famous Katso Lhakhang (temple)of Guru Rimpoche built against a rocky ledge. We return tonight to our hotel in Paro.

Day 13: This morning after our leisure hearty breakfast we drive to a path for our hike (3 hour) leading us upwards towards the famous Taktsang Monastery (Tiger's Nest). The monastery is perched on a rocky ledge with a sheer drop of nearly 800 meters. It is said that in the second half of the 8th century, Guru Padma Sambhava, the saint who converted Bhutan to Buddhism enlighten here upon the back of a tigress. We enjoy picnic lunch at the cafeteria. Special permits may be obtained to hike further to the top.

Day 14 : Breakfast and departure for airport. Tashi Delek!