After a couple of days to visit Paro and Thimphu, you will cross the high passes on your way to Ura. On the way we will stop in the historic Dzong town of Punakha where the Pho Chu and Mo Chu (male & Female rivers) flow together. Trongsa Dzong will be another of our stops to take in the breathtaking views of the impenetrable Bhutanese Fortress.

The Domkhar and Ura Tsechus in Bumthang will be our destinations. Load up the camera! Load up the Flash Drives! Ura is  considered one of the holiest valleys in Bhutan. 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 even as we stay at The River Lodge in Bumthang.

We will have chances to meet with Head Lamas, watch the Atsaras (clown) as they mimics the dancers and entertains onlookers. Festival deities will be invoked through benediction and luck is increased and misfortune vanquished! Wow that's a lot of stuff!

But if that is not enough, no trip would be complete without visiting the World Heritage Site of the Taktsang Monastery. 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'll enjoy picnic lunch at the cafeteria. Special permits may be obtained to hike further to the top.

Before you leave Bhutan you will unwind with a farewell dinner back at the Nak-Sel resort and hot stone baths if you like. You will have partaken in some of Bhutan's best