Bhutan in Autumn

14D Bhutan in Autumn

11Oct 2014, 18Oct 2014, 

10Oct 2015, 17Oct 2015

BHUTAN - A relaxed journey with time to savour the colours of the season and the mountain views under clear autumnal skies. This itinerary is paced with consecutive nights in different valleys, short drives and optional walks or longer hikes. Warm days and crisp nights - you will feel rejuvenated!

Starting from the fascinating capital, Thimphu, before heading east over the spectacular Dochu Laa pass, through subtropical valleys to the high Phobjikha valley - a wide, open glacial valley dotted with farmhouses. It is here that you will find the sacred Black Necked Cranes.  From here, there are opportunities for long walks including a hike over the Shashi La pass on the way to the small town of Wangdue, where you will stop on your way to the warmer valley of Punakha. Set in the confluence between two rivers, Punakha Dzong (fortress) is arguably the most beautiful buiding in Bhutan. You will spend 2 nights here exploring the valleys before heading back west to the sleepy Haa valley.  Walking round the small hamlets wil give you an insight to the daily life of the locals, who will be busy harvesting, but may stop to invite you into a farmhouse for tea. For the more intrepid, there is a 2 day trek with a night under canvas.The journey back to Paro is via the Chele Laa pass, with it's huge variety of alpine flowers, and birdlife, and views of the high Himalaya. We end the journey joining pilgrims hiking to the famous Taktsang Monastery perched high on cliffs above Paro valley.

Note – Saturday Departure

Singapore – Kolkata – SQ516  21 00 / 22 40

Kolkata – Singapore    SQ517  23 50 / 06 35

Day 1 Arrive Kolkata

Day 2 Arrive Paro to Thimphu

Day 3 Dochu Laa to Phobjikha valley

Day 4 Phobjikha valley walk

Day 5 Shashi Laa hike & to Punakha

Day 6 Punakha Dzong & Chorten walk

Day 7 To Thimphu

Day 8 To Haa

Day 9 Haa valley walk

Day 10 Chele La Hike and to Paro

Day 11 Taktsang hike

Day 12 Explore Paro valley

Day 13 Depart Paro

Day 14 Dept Kolkata , Arrive Singapore on Day 15

** Bhutan government charges a standard tariff for usd250 per person per day (full board, inclusive of hotel (3 star), all meals, with local tour guide, driver, and transportation included).

 

Email  - Olevia Cheong

olevia@euholidays.com.sg

** I have been to Bhutan twice, and it is indeed a lovely country, with vast open spaces, lush pristine forests.. The people are so friendly! It will be a good change if you have been visiting European cities, Australia or other countries

7D Bhutan Festival Tour Itinerary

BHUTAN STUNNING TOURS

Toughest Trek in the World - Snowman Trek
Bhutan Festival Dates 2013
Map of Bhutan
Bhutan weather
Gross National Happiness
Flights to Bhutan
Visa
Recommended 3 Star Hotels
Classic Treks of Bhutan
11 Days Enchanting Bhutan itinerary
7 Days Bhutan Festival Tour Itinerary

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The peak seasons in Bhutan are in Spring (Mar-May), and Autumn (Sep-Nov). Do note that the hotels/lodges are mostly quite small with not more than 20 rooms. Due to the many festivals that are being held in September, Thimphu, being the most festival, most of the hotels were fully booked a few months ahead. I had problem trying to get the hotel room, and in the end, had to settle for staying only in two places, in order to go ahead with our travel plan.

From Singapore, we have only two flights in a week, every Sunday, and Thursday, and then two returning flights - every Saturday, and Wednesday. But the tickets are not cheap, as it is a monopoly by DrukAir. Simply there is no competition, and hence, we have to pay $1,600 + including taxes, just to fly to Bhutan. Yes, the ticket costs more than flying to Europe!!!! So, many people were wondering why would a package to Bhutan costs so much!
I had checked for other alternatives from flying into the country, but again the tickets were fully sold, about three months prior to our departure. There are many International Tour Agencies that organise Bhutan holiday packages into the country, and most of them have to fly into Bhutan from Kathmandu or Delhi.

So, there are actually a few flights into Paro, the airport city.
Bangkok, Thailand
Kathmandu, Nepal
Delhi, India
Kolkatta, India
(In fact, the flight from Singapore make one stop at Kolkatta before flying into Paro)
Bear in mind that you need to apply for visa for entry into Nepal, and India. For Nepal, you could easily get the visa upon arrival for USD25 (up to 14 days stay, multiply entry). However, the visa for India is much more tricky. The India High Commission in Singapore actually grants a multiple entry for up to 6 months, but there is a catch. After the departure from India, you need to be away for two months before re-entering the country. So if you fly to Kolkatta, and transit (one night stay required due to the early morning flight from Kolkatta to Paro), you will need to apply for Re-entry visa, in order to be able to enter the country again on your returning leg. Yes, you would need to stay overnight again, as there are no daily flights from Kolkatta back to Singapore. So, you can see, that is quite a hassle, to apply not only for Indian visa, but also the need to apply for re-entry visa thereafter. This applies to Singaporeans.

Anyway, enough said of the flight into Paro. So, here is the itinerary that I covered Bhutan - with the main highlight , being the Thimphu Festival, and then the other, the excursion to Haa Valley, on the road to the most western part of the country.

To Achieve Massive Success

Festival Tour
08Feb, 11Feb - 12D Nepal & Bhutan

Do feel free to email me should you have any question regarding the planning of your trip to Bhutan.
Olevia Cheong
olevia@gmail.com

11D Enchanting Bhutan itinerary

This is the itinerary that I covered in Oct 2011.

BHUTAN STUNNING TOURS

Toughest Trek in the World - Snowman Trek
Bhutan Festival Dates 2013
Map of Bhutan
Bhutan weather
Gross National Happiness
Flights to Bhutan
Visa
Recommended 3 Star Hotels
Classic Treks of Bhutan
11 Days Enchanting Bhutan itinerary
7 Days Bhutan Festival Tour Itinerary

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It was my first trip to Bhutan, and prior to that, I have read a lot about Bumthang, the Central Valley. Thus, I was very eager to include this on my itinerary. With a duration of 11 days, it was at a comfortable pace for me to travel to Trongsa, Bumthang and Gangtey.

Do note the travel time below:
Paro - Thimphu, 1 hour
Thimphu - Punakha, 3 hours (over Dorchu La Pass)
Punakha - Gangtey, 3 hours
Punakha - Trongsa, 3 hours
Trongsa - Bumthang, 5 hours
Bumthang - Punakha, 8 hours

TIGER'S NEST / TAKTSANG MONASTERY HIKE

For the winter months, you could go on a winter trek in Phojika Valley to see the black-necked cranes which migrates there from Tibet starting from late November till March the following year. Otherwise, consider a Semtengang Trek, which is also a low altitude trek, that is suitable for the winter season. Winter is from November till February, just like in the Northern Hemisphere.

If you have any question regarding your planning to Bhutan, the Last Shangrila, do feel free to write to me Olevia Cheong
olevia@gmail.com



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Taktsang Monastery Hike, Paro

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The day was beautiful, and we were blessed with sunshine. It was simply gorgeous for photo taking especially on our hike up to Taktsang Monastery, which normally takes 2-3 hours. This is an average pace for most people, as we stopped to take pictures every now, and then, and did not rush to reach the revered goempa (dzongkha language). Most tourists and visitors would agree that this is an extremely wonderful experience, and the view from up the top is simply breathtaking!

Look at this beautiful view that is taken from the Paro Dzong! That is Paro River flowing the bridge, that leads the way up to the Paro Dzong (fortress).

I managed to take a number of beautiful shots of the Paro Valley, while on the trail up to Taktsang. Hope that you will enjoy the video.

This monastery is built on a cliff about 900m above Paro, in the year 1692 by Guru Rinpoche (PadmaSambhava). He was said to fly there on his tigress consort, and later meditated in the cave for three months. The building was destroyed by a fire in 1998 then it was restored under the leadership of the forth king, Jigme Singye Wangchuck. Click here!



I wish that you will soon travel to Bhutan, and take the walk up to this famous monastery, which is often seen on cover page of travel magazines, and travel guides. This is a trip that you must make in your lifetime! For some of us, it is indeed a fascinating land, and we yearn to be back soon.

Dep - 05Dec (7D Magical Bhutan)
08Feb, 11Feb (12D Nepal & Bhutan)

Do feel free to contact me should you have any questions that you have on mind for this beautiful Himalayan kingdom.
Olevia Cheong
olevia@gmail.com