TOUR OF THE DRAGON WITH COMO UMA, GANGTEY LODGE, LE MERIDIEN, AND YUGHARLING

Day 1- Arrival & Drive to Thimphu

Distance: 53kms /32 miles

Drive Time: 1 hour approx.

Altitude: 2350m / 7709 ft.

Overnight: Le Meridien

Lunch: Depending on your flight time

Enjoy one of the world’s most spectacular descents as your flight arrives into Paro amidst breathtaking views of the Himalayan peaks. Your itinerary will remain as flexible as possible and you will be able to discuss your day to day program with your guide at any time. You will drive to Thimphu, the Capital city of Bhutan.

Upon arrival, you will have time to settle down in your hotel. Then you will head out to visit the National Memorial Chorten, Textile Museum and National Library. Early in the evening, you can go biking to the Buddha Dordenma Statue which is one of the largest and gigantic Shakyamuni Buddha in the mountains. This Buddha was built to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the fourth King Jigme Singye Wangchuck. Upon reaching on the top you will be mesmerized with the view of whole Thimphu valley. You can ride or drive back to your hotel.

 

Day 2- Journey to Punakha Valley

Distance: 76kms / 47 miles

Drive Time: 2.5 hours approx.

Overnight: Como Uma Paro

Lunch: Dochula Café

Today we will drive to Punakha, en route to Dochu la pass and before Dochu la pass we will make a stop to the first established fortress in the Kingdom, Simtokha Dzong. The Dzong was built in 1629 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal and is located just 5kms from Thimphu city.

Your journey continues to Dochu La pass, which offers a 360-degree beautiful panoramic view of the Himalayan mountain range, especially on clear winter days. Lunch will be taken at the Dochula Café. After lunch, you can either start biking from Dochu la pass or from Lobesa until Punakha.

After settling in your hotel, you can have the afternoon at leisure and around evening you can go biking around the Punakha valley since the weather will be very pleasant. 

 

Day 3- White River Rafting and Khamsum Chorten Hike

Altitude: 1300m / 4265ft

Overnight: Como Uma Punakha

Lunch: Como Uma

You can bike from the hotel until the rafting spot and spend a morning on the water and discover a whole new angle of Bhutan. If you are new to rafting and looking for an enjoyable and easy scenic float down the river and along the stunning Punakha Dzong, we recommend the Mo Chu (Female River). The Pho Chu (Male River) on the other hand is for the more adventurous, who wish to tackle some of the Kingdom’s whitewater while enjoying the pristine forests and farmland on either side of the river. Rafting offers a more leisurely adventure with a private raft for your group or if you wish to go solo, kayaking offers as much of a challenge as it does thrill.

After lunch, you will hike up to Kamsum Chorten. The hike takes you through rice paddies and up the twirling trail to Khamsum Chorten and the beautiful view of the valley below. Khumsum Chorten stands majestically on the hill above the Punakha Valley while admiring the gorgeous traditions and architecture of the Kingdom.

You will head back to your hotel after the hike.

 

Day 4- Journey to Gangtey Valley (Valley of Black Necked Cranes)

Distance: 78kms / 48.4 miles

Drive: 3 hours approximately

Altitude: 3000m / 9800ft

Overnight: Gangtey Lodge

Lunch: Picnic Lunch

Gangtey Valley offers great scope for exploring by foot or mountain bike.

After breakfast, we make our way to the beautiful Gangtey Valley. After checking in to the hotel, you will visit  Gangtey Goemba, a 16th-century monastery situated attractively at the hilltop at the edge of Gangtey Village.

Gangtey Nature Trail, an easy pleasurable walk giving you a nice feel for the Phobjikha Valley. The approximate 2-hour walk takes you downhill through flower meadows to Semchubara Village and ending on the Tabeding football ground where your driver waits for you. If you wish you can visit the Black Necked Crane Information Centre on your way back to the hotel. 

 

Day 5- Longtey Hike

Duration: 30-minute drive to the starting point, 3 – 5 hours walk back towards the Lodge.

Difficulty level: Moderate

Overnight: Gangtey Lodge

Lunch: Picnic

If you are looking for a picturesque hike through some of the most beautiful parts of Gangtey, this is the one! The starting point is Longtey Village on the East-West Highway, where a gradually ascending path will lead through bush bamboo towards a small cluster of village houses. There are beautifully colored rhododendron forests on both sides of the valley during spring months, and in the winter months, yaks graze in the area.

The path continues straight through the village and upwards until you reach the start of enchanting old-growth rhododendron forest. For the next two hours or so, you might feel like you are in the set of The Lord of the Rings with tall old trees, which appear to be living creatures, surrounding you. The last part through the trail is slightly steeper uphill until you reach the pass, which offers impressive views of the Gangtey Goemba, the Shedra, the lodge and the rest of the valley. This is a nice place for lunch before you continue on the path as it slopes down the valley towards the idyllic Kumbu Village. It is possible to get picked up from here or you may continue down to the Shedra.

 

Day 6- Journey to Bumthang Valley

Distance: 188kms / 116 miles

Drive: 6 hours approximately

Altitude: 2500m / 8200ft

Overnight: Yugarling

Lunch: Picnic/ local restaurant

Early morning after breakfast we start our journey towards Bumthang valley. You can start biking from the Gangtey valley junction or either from the half of the journey towards Bumthang.

On the way to Bumthang, you can make a stop at Trongsa Dzongkhag. Trongsa Dzongkhag (2200m) is located near the center of Bhutan and was considered crucial in controlling the kingdom in earlier years due to its strategic position.

Trongsa Museum is definitely worth a stop on the way to or from Bumthang. The museum was inaugurated during late 2008 and is located in the Taa Dzong or “Watch Tower”, with splendid views of Trongsa and the Trongsa Dzong- the longest fortress in the Kingdom.

Trongsa Dzong or ‘Fortress on the tip of a Conch’ is the longest Dzong in the country. Dzong was constructed in 1644 on the top of an imposing hill, this impressive structure is the ancestral home of the Royal family.

Chendbji Chorten was built in the 18^th century by Lama Zhida, patterned on Kathmandu’s Swayambhunath Stupa with eyes painted at the four cardinal points.

Yutong-La Pass is a 3425m high in the east of Trongsa town and the road enters the Chhume valley. 

 

Day 7- Short Bike Ride followed with Audience with HRH Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck

Altitude: 2500m / 8200 ft.

Overnight: Yugharling

Lunch: Yugharling

Today after breakfast, you will gather at Chamkhar bus parking at 9 am. After the meeting, there will be a short day excursion to Jambay Lhakhang. Jambay Lhakhang is believed to have been built in year 659 by the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo, on the same day as Kyichu Lhakhang in Paro, in order to subdue a Tibetan demoness.

Continue from Jambay to Kurjey Lhakhang. The monastery got its name after the body (ku) print (jey) of Guru Rinpoche who was invited to meditate here in 746 AD to subdue evil spirits and demons.

From there a short ride to Mebar Tsho – The Burning Lake. Mebar Tsho is considered one of the holiest/sacred sites in the region as it is related to the renowned religious treasurer (Terton). Terton Pema Lingpa is considered an incarnated disciple of Padmasambhava who discovered the treasure within the lake in the late 15th century.

You ride back to your hotel for lunch and there will be riders briefing and an audience with HRH Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck.

 

Day 8- Registration

Altitude: 2500m / 8200 ft.

Overnight: Yugharling

Lunch: Yugharling

Today after breakfast, at 9 am you will have to go for registration validation and packet pick up for the race TOD shirts, an energy drink to keep you going during the race. 

 

Day 9- TOD Race day

Ride Time: 13 hours

Altitude: 2350m / 7709ft

Overnight: Le Meridien

Lunch: AID station located approximately 20kms apart

Today will be your big day (Tour of the Dragon Race). You will get a wake-up call at 12 am and at 1 am you will have to report to the start area. Riders bikes will be inspected and they will serve a light breakfast for the participants. At 2 am the race will be started after the flag off by the Dasho Dzongdag (head of the Bumthang Valley).

Your guide and car will follow you throughout the race at a distance. The final cut off at Dochu La Pass is at 6 pm. At 7 pm there will be an award ceremony at the clock tower square, Thimphu. 

 

Day 10- Drive back to Paro Valley

Distance: 69.6kms / 43.2 miles

Drive: 1.5 hours approx.

Altitude: 2200m / 7218ft

Overnight: Como Uma

Lunch: Como Uma

After a good sleep and rest, you drive to Paro after a good lunch. On arrival to Paro, if the time permits you can visit the nearby Lakhangs and Paro Dzong.

 

Day 11- Hike to the Majestic Tiger`s Nest

Altitude: 2350m / 7218ft

Duration: 4.5 hours

Overnight: Como Uma

Lunch: Farm House / Tiger`s Nest Cafe

Today after breakfast we will drive to the base of Taktsang Monastery (Tiger`s Nest) and then start hiking to the majestic Tiger`s Nest. Tiger`s Nest or Taktsang Goempa is one of Bhutan`s most revered monuments. It hangs off the face of a cliff 900m above the valley floor. This hike offers spectacular views of the Goenpa and the Paro valley below and this is a moderate hike.

After lunch, you can make a stroll around the Paro town to buy some traditional Himalayan artifacts as souvenirs to take back home as gifts.

 

Day 12- International Departure 

Today we bid farewell to the Kingdom of Bhutan.

We look forward to welcoming you again!

 

The Stay Includes:

• 12 days, 11-night tour
• All meals, including picnics
• Tour of the Dragon entry fee, race day support
• Airport transfers
• All touring and monument passes
• Visa processing and Visa Fee
• Bhutan airline & Drukair flight reservation and ticketing assistance
• A Sustainable Tourism Royalty of $65. This Royalty goes towards free education, free healthcare, and poverty alleviation, along with the building of infrastructure.
• 1-hour White River Rafting in Punakha (one raft)
• FIT Surcharge
• Private vehicle/driver and English-speaking guide for internal transfers and sightseeing

TOD Package Rate: 

TOD Journey cost per person: USD 10550

TOD Journey cost for two people: USD 14195

TOD Journey cost for three people: USD 20149

Rates and Government tax are subject to change without notice.