HOMESTAY HOLIDAYS BHUTAN
Homestay Holidays in Bhutan – There is no better way to know a country’s culture and traditions than by immersing yourself right into the heart of it. Our village Homestay Tour follows trails that have linked villages for centuries. This itinerary is the best way to explore the agricultural lifestyle, their livelihood, hospitality, cultures and religions. This tour provides opportunity to spend time with local people and be a part of them. Homestay Holidays in Bhutan is very fascinating as it will let you live in the place and not just visit the destination. Therefore this is one of the best ways to explore rural Bhutan and its charming settlement of different communities. To enjoy the homestay hospitality, write to HBT. Homestay Holidays in Bhutan.
Day 01: Arrival in Paro to Thimphu (1.5 hrs drive)
Fly on the wings of the Dragon to Bhutan, on arrival in Paro International Airport, complete the immigration formalities and exit through only one arrival gate where HBT dedicated team who will be holding placard, no one will be missed. We welcome with khaddar and proceed to Thimphu which will take about an hour and half. The route will follow Paro River until Chuzom from where we will bend towards Thimphu river taking us to the heart of capital city Thimphu. The entire stretch of drives is very scenic and picturesque as we pass by some of the beautiful villages of Bondey, Shaba, Isina etc until we enter welcome gate in Thimphu. Tachongang Lhakhang- En-route to Thimphu, stopover for little leg stretch walk crossing Paro River or enjoy the views from the roadside depending your arrival time. Chuzom- Meeting point of two rivers (Thimphu & Paro) this is tri junction of highway leading to Thimphu, Paro and Phuentsholing into three directions. Enjoy the lovely picture of beautiful portrait of our King and Queen placed at chuzom which is so welcoming to all who visits Bhutan. Check into farmhouse at Namselling and we will have dinner together with the family at the farm house. Overnight in Thimphu, altitude 2400m
photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT
Day 03: Punakha Sightseeing
Punakha is often referred as second capital having best Dzongs of Bhutan. Punakha has the perfect place to awaken the nature lover, take in the splendid views of the Himalayas, listen to the sounds of the Mo Chhu and Po Chhu rivers that simply soak up the serene beauty of this gorgeous valley. Shengana village : Hike to Shengana village across Phochu river at Punakha which is situated in the Northeast of Punakha Dzong where you can experince Punakha village life. Shengana village is commonly known for RED RICE. Punakha Suspension Bridge- Punakha suspension bridge is considered one of the longest of its kind in Bhutan. The bridge connects the dzong with the villages Shengana, Samdingkha and Wangkha on the other bank of the Po Chhu river. In these small villages, locals sell their wares in tiny, traditional shops. Visitors can stop here for a quick and authentic view of true Bhutan. In order to access the suspension bridge from the dzong, one must walk past the King’s palace and the cremation ground. Punakha Dzong- Built in 1637 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the Dzong was named Druk Pungthang Dechen Phodrang (Palace of Great Happiness). Punakha is still the winter residence of Je-Khenpo religious head of Bhutan. King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck convened the first National Assembly here in 1952. This is one of the finest and must see Dzongs of Bhutan. The Dzong stands inbetween meeting point of two rivers, Phochu and Mochu making the most photogenic Dzongs of Bhutan. Overnight in Punakha.
Day 05: Phobjikha to Paro (5 hrs drive)
As we say good bye to the Asian Switzerland, we will retrace the journey back to Thimphu crossing over Pelela, Wangdue, Dochula, up until Chuzom and further to Paro. The entire stretch of drive will refresh your mind and give you second chance to enjoy the great snowcapped mountain views of the Himalayas. Riverside Visit- visit to riverside to enjoy the crystal clear river and group video/photo is must in Paro. HBT guides will take you to the best place to enjoy at beautiful river banks of Paro. Paro Airport Bird’s Eye View Point- The Paro international airport is among the top 10 most stunning and challenging airports in the world. The view point offers an exquisite view of the Paro valley. Rinpung Dzong- ‘Fortress on a Heap of Jewels’, is ranked one of the best Bhutanese architecture. The massive buttressed walls that tower over the town are visible throughout the valley, particularly when landing at Paro Airport. The Dzong also offers administrative seat of the district of Paro. The Dzong was built in 1644 under the order of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. National Museum of Paro- Perched above Paro Dzong it was watchtower built in 1649 to protect the undefended Paro Dzong located below, renovated in 1968 to house the National Museum. Today this museum houses the best collections of all time historical items making worth for a visit. Explore historic PARO town with splendid views across the fertile valley. Outdoor Activities- Nicely made and well maintained activity place attached to whole sell Buddha statue store, offers wearing Bhutanese dress, playing archery and darts for guests visiting Bhutan. The center is maintained and operated by HBT herself and its free of cost for all HBT guests. Check into Gatana Homestay. Today we will have dinner prepared by the client. You can make anything that you have learned so far while you were in Bhutan, of course with the help of the family members of homestayJ . Overnight in Paro, altitude 2200m
Day 02: Thimphu Sightseeing to Punakha (2 hrs drive)
Start the most scenic drive to Punakha from Thimphu over dochula pass which takes about two hours. After the break at Dochula, the road descends into Wangdue and Punakha taking us to one of the warmest places of Bhutan. Explore Namselling valley: We will explore the beautiful valley of namselling. Buddha Dordenma- The Buddha Dordenma is located at a top of the hill in Kuenselphodrang Nature Park and overlooks the southern entrance to Thimphu valley. The Buddha Dordenma is a gigantic 51.5-meter tall statue, making it one of the largest statues of Buddha in the world. Weekend Market/Centenary Farmers Market– An interesting well organized permanent set of stalls built for vegetable vendors across the country. Its open from Wednesday to Monday and closed on Tuesdays. One can find wide range of local vegetables and fruits. Other side of the river is place for indigenous goods and handicrafts section, where locally produced goods, including religious objects, cloth, baskets and hats etc from various minority groups are sold here. These shops are open from Friday to Sunday only. Dochula Pass- The pass is at a popular location as it offers a stunning 180 degree panoramic view of the Great Himalayan mountain ranges. The view is especially scenic and very clear on winter days with snowcapped mountains forming a majestic backdrop to the tranquility of the 108 chortens gracing the mountain pass. Chimi Lhakhang- This temple is known as the temple of fertility. It is widely believed that childless couples can visit this temple to pray for better fertility to conceive the child. There are stories and incidences that many visitors dream came true however one must truly need to believe and follow the lama’s instruction. The hike though the lovely villages of Mesina gives truly amazing experience. Enjoy the gentle walks from the road head. Check into Chimi Lhakang farmhouse and prepare dinner with the family members of the homestay/farm stay and enjoy dinner with the local family. Today we will make mushroom datshi . Overnight in Punakha, altitude 1350m
Day 04: Punakha to Phobjikha (3 hrs drive)
The road to Phobjikha passes through old town of Wangdue taking us through the black mountain region into Gangtey. The drive also passes through some of the most beautiful forests, water fall, hills, river and villages and Pelela pass before stepping into Phobjikha. Enjoy the most scenic and adventurous drive today with HBT. Gangtey Gompa – The temple built over hill top, headed by Gangtey Tulku the reincarnation of Pema Lingpa. Annual festival of Gangtey is preformed in the temple courtyard every year. This is also the place for black necked crane’s festival held every year on 11-Nov, coinciding with His Majesty’s Fourth King’s Birthday. Explore Authentic Rural Life of the valley: Enjoy day walks and soak up the local tales and traditions in this timeless village.Walk through its different villages that survive between old culture and present atmosphere at every bend of the road, Visit paddy fields and meet with the local farmers. You can even get experience working in the agriculture field. Black Necked Crane Information Centre- This place is run by the Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN) and has an observation room with high-power telescopes and good scope for spotting the famous Black Necked Cranes which migrates to the region during winter. It also displays information about the history of the region. Check in to Khewang farm hous. Overnight in Phobjikha, altitude 2900m
Day 06: Paro Sightseeing
This picturesque region in the kingdom is covered in fertile rice fields and has a beautiful, crystalline river meandering down the valley. Paro has more of historical sites, high-end tourist resort and many souvenir shops for shopping including world famous Takstang. Check out from the farm house, keep the luggage in the vehicle and start your hike to tiger’s nest. Taktsang/Tiger’s Nest Temple– is Bhutan’s most iconic landmark and religious Buddhist site in the world. The name Taktsang translates to “The Tiger’s Nest”. The temple is one of the holiest sites in Bhutan which clings impossibly to a sheer cliff face 900 meters above the valley. Although good trekkers can make it to the top in two hours, most of the guests take whole day to complete the hike. Hot-stone Bath- Hot stone bath is very unique to Bhutan and offers great medicinal values. In most cases, the bathtub is made of wood placed on a ground level in quite hut for the privacy. A couple can get into one bathtub to soak. Enjoy the great ancient techniques of curing body ache, joins pain and harness many other values. This is on additional cost check with guide/driver. Check into the hotel near to the airport. Overnight in Paro