The flight from Delhi/Kathmandu/Bangkok to Paro. The flight to Bhutan is a breathtaking trip with views of the jagged snow-capped Himalayas, followed by a triumphant landing in the mountainous airport. Be prepared for a lung full of fresh oxygen and greenery to greet your eyes.

On arrival at Paro International Airport, representatives from NELJORE JOURNEYS will welcome you and escort you to the hotel.

Paro is a beautiful pristine valley nestled at an altitude of 2200m above sea level. It is adorned with stretches of paddy fields, meadows, and pine forests, dotted with settlements and small municipalities. The suburbs, the sloping fringes, and the mountains are enclaves blessed by Guru Padmasambhava and many great saints. Paro also houses the renowned Tiger’s Nest/Taktshang.

After a good lunch, we will get a good soak in the traditional hot stone bath at a farmhouse and head into evening for welcome dinner of meet and greet.

Hot stone bath:
After arrival, hot stone bath is a great way to unwind and soak. It is a traditional Bhutanese way of soaking in hot water, heated using medicinal stones that are toasted in the fire till it turns amber. The amber stones are then dunked in wooden tub in a side partition. The other partition of the tub is the heated water prepared with medicinal herbs such as artemisia. Overnight in Paro.

Paro Kyichu and Dilgo Khentse Memorial House:
• Paro Kyichu is one of the oldest temples in the Himalayan region, built in the 7th century by King Songtshen Gampo on the same day as 108 other temples such as Lhasa Jokhang, Bumthang Jampa Lhakhang etc. It houses the statue of Maitriya Buddha, Guru Parmasambhava and live size s t a t u e o f D i l g o K h e n t s e Rinpoche.
• Activities: Guru Rinpoche’s B a r c h e L a m s e y, S a m p a Lhundrup and Seven Line Prayer recitation, butter lamp offering and meditation.
• The Himalayan landscape resembled a sleeping demoness, threatening the spread of dharma in the region. Therefore, the 108 temples were built all over the region to put an end to the destructive force of the demoness and create an unhindered space for dharma to spread and flourish in the Himalayas.
• Next sacred site within Kyichu is the Dilgo Khentse Memorial house where we will be able to see the residence of Dilgo Khentse remarkably preserved at it used to be in his everyday activities.

The Drakarpo Hike:
• Dra Karpo stands as a sacred pilgrimage site, graced by Guru Rinpoche during his second visit to Bhutan. It located on a cliffside in southern Paro, at about 2,650m and is 4 kms taking approx. 15 minutes drive from Shaba base.
Gururinpoche meditated here, where he also fractured a rock, unveiling a concealed malevolent spirit. The split rock is now displayed in the monastery’s shrine room, having been relocated from the mountainside to its current position. Legend tells of a remarkable event where a thousand Dakinis, celestial beings, descended upon Dra Karpo. This tale is substantiated by the presence of petrified artifacts, including offerings, footprints, imprints, and other remnants from the celestial visit that still endure. Dra Karpo has been a meditative refuge for numerous distinguished Buddhist saints such as Khandro Yeshey Tshogyal, Machig Lhabdron, Namkhai Nyingpo, Drupthob Thangthong Gyalpo, Lam Drukpa Kinley, Phajo Drukpam Zhingpo, Vairochana, and others.

The sacred practice of circumambulating the Drakarpo hill 108 times is believed to purify ones obscurations and obstacles, requiring four days to complete on healthy legs.

Activities: On our visit today, we will do any many rounds as possible followed by 10 minutes meditation. Overnight in Paro.

108 Stupas at Druk Wangyal Chorten:
• On the way to Punakha, we stop at Dochula pass, perched at an elevation of 3100 meters above sea level. On this pass, on the hillock stands 108 stupas known as the Druk Wangyal Chorten.
•These stupas were built under the patronage of Her Majesty the Queen Mother Azhi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck to honor the gallantry of His Majesty the Fourth King, Jigme Singye Wangchuk, who guarded the peace and security of Bhutan and its people, during the time of great threat to the security and sovereignty of Bhutan.
•If the weather is clear we get a stunning panoramic view of the snow capped Himalayan peaks stretching from west to east and breathe crisp, fresh air.

Punakha Dzong, the unparalleled craftsman ship of Saint Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal:
• Punakha, one of the 20 districts of Bhutan, is located at an altitude of 1200m above sea level, nestled in the subtropical climatic zone. It is one of the most beautiful places with a lower elevation and warmer climate compared to most of the places in the western central-eastern belt of Bhutan.
• Built at the confluence of two rivers, the m a l e a n d female river, the Punakha Dzong is one of the most iconic c u l t u r a l a n d spiritual sites in Bhutan.
•The majestic dzong was built by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in the 17th century and remained as his main spiritual and administrative seat till his death. Punakha was the capital of Bhutan from medieval times till 1955, following which the capital was shifted to Thimphu, the current capital of Bhutan.

The Divine Madman’s Fertility Temple:
• The Fertility Temple is a rare site of intrigue and wonder for people from within and outside Bhutan.
• In the 14th century, the Tibetan saint Drukpa Kuenley, known for his maverick approach to spiritual pursuits, earned the name “Divine Madman.”
• His phallus was symbolic of wisdom and liberation, and thus, with his phallus combined with skillful means, he subdued a demoness residing on Dochu La Pass, where he trapped the demoness into a rock that now stands as a stupa next to the Temple.
• The temple houses a phallus brought from Tibet by Drukpa Kuenley and it is said that women seeking to conceive a child/children must get blessed by the phallus. The phallus thus became a symbolic object of worship and blessings so much so that it is widely seen as paintings and wooden carvings on walls of traditional Bhutanese houses. Souvenirs of the phallus are sold in almost every handicraft and souvenir shops across Bhutan.
• Overnight in Punakha.

One cannot help but feel a heightened sense of excitement and Baeyul feel as the road enters Bumthang Valley. This place, immensely blessed by Padmasambhava and trodden by many saints such as Terton Pema Lingpa and Kuenkhen Longchen Rabjam, falls in central Bhutan and is the most beautiful valley with gentle rolling hills dotted with blue pine forests and meadows. With wooden-fenced wheat, millet, and barley fields nestled on the slopes and valleys, little huts perched in these fields and traditional architecture mandated all over the place, it presents a true aura of an alpine and temperate landscape and cozy thriving village communities.

Bumthang is 4 hours by car from Punakha. By lunchtime, we will arrive in Trongsa. In the evening, we will arrive in Bumthang. Overnight in Bumthang.

Kurjey Lhakhang, the landmark of introduction of Vajrayana Buddhism in Bhutan:
Kurjey means “Body Imprint”. The temple takes its name after Guru Rinpoche left his body imprint in a cave. History says that when King Sindhu Raja of Bumthang fell sick with an incurable illness, he turned to Guru Rinpoche for refuge to save him. Guru Rinpoche discovered that it was the demon Shelging Karpo who inflicted sickness and harm to the king. Guru Rinpoche thus meditated for three months in a cave, subdued the demon, and subsequently left his body print on the cave. The site thus became revered as Kurjey, Body Imprint of Guru Rinpoche.

Activities: Barche Lamsey and Sampa Lhundrup recitation, butter lamp offering and meditation.

Tamzhing Monastery, the seat of Pema Lingpa:
Tamzhing Monastery was built by Terton Pema Lingpa in 1501 as the principal seat of the Peling Tradition. Pema Lingpa was one of the five King Tertons/treasure discoverers, as prophesized by Guru Padmasambhava. He was born in the mid-15th century in Baribrang at Tang Valley in Bumthang (we will visit Baribrang tomorrow). Pema Lingpa discovered a great number of termas from B u m t h a n g h i d d e n b y G u r u Padmasambhava and benefited dharma far and wide, establishing the Peling Tradition. He was also a g r e a t c r a f t s m a n , a n d h i s t r e a s u r e lineage

Jampa Lhakhang, Songtsen Gampo’s vision:
Jampa Lhakhang is another landmark in the 108 temples build by King Songtsen Gampo on the same day Paro Kyichu and several others were built in one day all over the Himalayas in 659 AD to pin down a demoness/rakshasis residing in the Himalayas and causing harm to the locals. It was also at this location where Guru Rinpoche gave his first teaching to King Sindhi Raja and the people of Bumthang, marking the beginning of Vajrayana Buddhism in Bhutan

Relics: • Statue of Jowo Jampa/Maitriya, the future Buddha
• Statue of Vajrakilaya and his retinues
• Statue of Guru Rinpoche

Overnight in Bumthang

Kuenzangdrak and Bebzur villages:
• These are the communities into which Terton Pema Lingpa was born in the 15th century and spent his childhood herding sheep and cattle. Later, he manifested into Bhutan’s greatest Terton.

Mebertsho (Burning Lake):
• Deep in the gorges of roaring Tang Chu River, you can spot a deep lake formation in between the rocks, with water halting into a circling phenomena. This is the spot where the greatest Terton Pema Lingpa revealed Terma in the form of scriptures and statue.

• Pema Lingpa dive into and swam to the bottom of the lake, discovering a temple with multiple doors. One of the doors was open, and as he entered, a scripture was handed to him by a woman with only one eye. As he received the scripture, he found himself transported back on the dry land. The then local leader questioned his authenticity and credibility as a Terton. Therefore, to prove his credibility, he dived into the water holding a butter lamp and reappeared from the water with the lamp still burning bright. These noteworthy incidences earned him far and wide recognition as a great Terton.

Activities: Seven Line Prayer recitation, make offerings in the lake and meditation.

Baribrang, the birth place of Pema Lingpa:
• Baribrang was the spot where Terton Pema Lingpa was born and resided with his parents. The whole area was buried under ruins until 2020 when a team of dedicated Bhutanese undertook restoration works whereby the remaining walls of the house were dug out and the damaged stupa restored.
• There are rocks around the area amidst mugworts and shrubs with Pema Lingpa’s foot imprints from childhood. There is also a huge old tree growing in the spot where Pema Lingpa’s mother was cremated.
• Packed lunch will be served. After lunch we will hike t o w a r d s K u n z a n g d r a k Monastery.

Kunzangdrak Monastery:
• Kunzangdra Monastery sits right above on the cliff of the village where he was born and raised. It was founded by Pema Lingpa and he resided here and practiced his craftsmanship.
• The main temple is the meditation cave where Pema Ling practiced and built a statue of himself and left a footprint.
• Another relic to witness is the Avolokiteshvara statue handcrafted by Pema Lingpa himself.
• There is also mediation cave of his son Dawa Gyaltsen. Kunzangdra is a intimate closure to life, pratice and craftsmanship of Pema Lingpa, right at the place was born.
• Activities: Guru Rinpoche’s Barche Lamsey, Sampa Lhundrup and Seven Line Prayer recitation, butter lamp offering and meditation.

Overnight in Bumthang.

Tharpaling means the land of liberation. Künkhyen Longchen Rabjam (1308-1363) was one of the most important Buddhist luminaries from Tibet to visit Bhutan and leave a great impact on the Dzongchen tradition in central and eastern Bhutan. He was one of the greatest Dzogchen masters after Guru Padmasambhava and Vimalamitra. Longchen Rabjam arrived in Bhutan in 1350 and f o u n d e d t h e T h a r p a l i n g Monastery.

On the summit of a m o u n t a i n o v e r l o o k i n g T h a r p a l i n g a n d Samling, there is a majestic naturally arising rock where L o n g c h e n w a s believed to have c o m p o s e d a n d written almost half of Longchen Dzod Dun, and the sacred rock is known as L o n g c h e n p a ’ s Z h u g t h r i ( L o n g c h e n p a ’s throne).

Longchenpa’s rock t h r o n e i s 2 5 minutes hike form Tharpaling Shedra School for monks.

Activities: Guru Rinpoche’s Barche Lamsey, Sampa L h u n d r u p a n d Seven Line Prayer recitation, butter lamp, instance and alcohol offering and meditation.

Lunch will be served at Tharpaling right after the hike. After lunch we will drive towards Phobjikha.

Overnight in Phobjikha.

Phobjikha is an alpine valley of breathtaking view with a wide stretch of meadow, meandering stream, and surrounded by pine forests, nestled at an altitude of 3000m above sea level.

• Phobjikha serves as the winter roost of magnificent Black Necked Cranes that fly all the way from the Tibetan plateaus and arrive in Phobjikha in late October to early November and fly back in March every year.

• Within Phobjikha valley, 163 square kilometers of land has been declared a protected area, managed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Nature (RSPN), primarily to protect the black-necked cranes and other endangered species of plants and animals.

• Also nestled on a ridge overlooking the valley is the majestic Gangteng Monastery, which is one of the most important seats of the Nyingma sect of the School of Buddhism. Every year as the cranes arrive, they circle the monastery three times before landing in the valley, and the same is done when they fly back to Tibet.

Visit Gangteng Monastery followed by a brisk hike through the valley. Lunch will be at a local homestay.

• Transfer to Thimphu. Overnight in Thimphu.

Thimphu Tshechu, Day 3
• Attend sacred Thimphu Tshechu’s third and final day. A Tsechu is performed as a tribute to Guru Rimpoche, for bringing Vajrayana Buddhism to Bhutan.

• Witness the dances of Guru Tshengye, eight manifestations of Gururinpoche.

• Witness the Bardo Raksha Mangcham, depicting the bardo stage after death, based on the Bardo Thodrol, Tibetan Book of the Dead.

• A chance to mingle with men and women dressed in their finest traditional costume witnessing and enjoying the Tshechu frenzy of foods, games, trade, music and socialization.

•In the evening, transfer to Paro. Overnight in Paro.

Chumphu Nye
• Chumphu Nye, the sacred Baeyul of Dorje Phagmo /Vajravarahi is situated in the northeastern part of the Paro valley.

• Tertons in the past have visited and discovered termas from various spots, most notably from the Vajravarahi life force water fall pool and Guru Padmasambhava’s life force water fall pool. Chumphu Nye is at an elevation of 2900m.

•The trail spans 14km, offering a secluded experience amidst serene forests. Accessible by a 30-minute drive from Paro center, followed by a 4-hour hike through pine, oak, and rhododendron foliage, the trail features multiple sacred sites as you hike alongside the crystal clear Dho Chu river.

• The gentle trail with minimal gradient at first with a bit of uphill climb leads you through sacred caves of Guru Padsambhava and life force waterfalls of Vajravarahi and Guru Rinpoche. Other notable sites include the gate, Guru Rinpoche’s throne, imprints, stone vase with the elixir of immortality, and hidden treasure-containing cliffs.

• The Chumphu temple houses the magnificent floating statue of Dorji Phagmo, known for wish-fulfilling blessings. The pilgrimage to Chumphu takes 4 hours uphill and 3 hours downhill, making it an ideal immersive experience into a Baeyul land.

• Overnight in Paro.

Today early in the morning, will drive to Chelela Pass with Lama.

• Chelela is a mountain pass located between Paro and Haa districts at an altitude of 3988m above sea level. It is located 35kms from Paro.

• It is the highest motorable point in Bhutan and is a breathtakingly serene spot for prayer flag hoisting and sang offerings. we will practice sang offering.

• You will also be able to see towering panoramic view of Himalayan mountain ranges. Lunch will be arranged after sang at Chelela.

• Activities: Mountain smoke offering and prayer flags hoisting.

• Overnight in Paro

The inevitable day to visit the Tigers Nest is finally here. It will be all worth the wait.

• Taktshang is one of the most spiritual and cultural wonders and iconic landmarks of Bhutan, revered and sacred, perched on a steep rocky cliff above the valley.

• Named one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites in the Himalayan region, it is almost synonymous with Guru Rinpoche after he founded it in the eighth century. Positioned at 800m (2,600 feet) above the valley and 2,950m (9,678 feet) above sea level, it offers a phenomenal experience to pilgrims and hikers.

• Activities: Practice Gururinpoche’s Barche Lamsel, Sampa Lhundrup and Seven Lines prayers and butterlamp offering and 10 minutes meditation.

•Overnight in Paro

This is the last day of the pilgrimage, so we will rest today. If you would like to buy souvenirs, Paro town has numerous shops selling local and Himalayan handicrafts, locally made organic food products, thangkas, etc.

• In the evening, we will have a closing dinner with everyone to mark the smooth completion of the pilgrimage. If you have songs to offer, jokes to share or stories to tell, you can prepare for this eventful fun night of celebration and merry making.

• Overnight in Paro.

After a nourishing breakfast to close our time together, you will be driven to Paro International Airport.