ABOVE and BELOW the Clouds, a place called HAA

Haa Valley covering an area of 1,899.02  Square Kms, this is the last region in Western Bhutan opened to tourists only around 2013. Thus, you will be exploring a unique place where time has stood still even for the Bhutanese.

Visiting Haa Valley will let you enter the Rabbit hole, with a whole new experience different from the other parts of Bhutan.

Haa is a Valley that is reached by traveling from above the clouds before we enter Haa lying below the clouds.

Haa is different because :

1. 90% of the inhabitants still practice livestock and agriculture farming.
2. 95% of the homes are traditional style Bhutanese architectural buildings.
3. Most tourist accommodations are Village Home Stays.
4. The nature is raw and the hiking and walking trails are the very same ones that people centuries ago had used to cross from one place to another.
5. Haa is where the Rangtse Nye Caves are located and where their Festival takes place out in the wilderness beneath the forest trees.
6. Haa is where the Red Pandas are found and these Pandas are listed as ENDANGERED Animals.
7. The Haa River is fed by glaciers thus the water is pristine and has many freshwater fishes.

Day 01- Arrive into Bhutan on one of Bhutan’s National carriers. Night in THIMPHU

Day 02- THIMPHU to Punakha and Wangdue. Night in Punakha/Wangdue

Day 03- Punakha Sightseeing. Night in Punakha/Wangdue

Day 04- Punakha to Phobjikha. Night in Phobjikha

Day 05- Phobjikha Tour then to Thimphu. Night in Thimphu

Day 06- Thimphu sight-seeing like the National Animal Takin Zoo.Night in Thimphu

Day 07- Thimphu to Haa Valley: Haa sight-seeing. Night in Haa

Day 08 – Explore the Haa Valley. Night in Haa

Day 09- Haa Valley to Paro. Night in Paro

Day 10 – PARO-Hike to the Tiger’s Nest called the Taktsang Monastery. Night in Paro

Day 11- Depart Bhutan

Description: This 10 nights Bhutan Tour is a combination of Cultural, Leisure Tour, and an experience into the Unexplored Haa Valley, the last region in Bhutan opened to tourists.

Day 1: Arrive into Bhutan on one of the only two National Carriers.

During the journey to Paro, one will experience breath taking view of Bhutan from the skies as you enter Bhutan airspace. On arrival at Paro International Airport and after the Immigration Formalities you will be greeted by the Representatives from Bhutan Jewel Travel. Your Local Guide will guide you from hereon.

Transfer to Thimphu for the night. Acclimatize to the Bhutan altitude and climate changes. Depending on the arrival of your flight, rest of the time of the day will be taken care of. Night in Thimphu

Day 02: Thimphu to Punakha and Wangdue:

After breakfast visit the Memorial Chorten, a stop where you will see the locals praying and socializing with each other. Perfect place to see the first Cultural side of Bhutan.

Visit the Buddha Dordenma, and after this visit, then start journey to Punakha and Wangdue region.

Altitude of Punakha is 1300 meters so warmer than Paro and Thimphu. Drive Time is about 2.5 hours from Thimphu but could take a little longer due to rests on the way. Enroute to Punakha enjoy the halt with tea and snacks at the Dochula Pass.

Dochula Pass is a Great place to feel the cool air and there are 108 stupas and a Temple build by the Queen Mother for the long life of the Fourth King and the wellbeing of all sentient beings.

From this pass you can see the Himalayan Range of Mountains if the weather is clear.

After Dochula Pass visit the Botanical garden with the sacred lake. Night Halt in Punakha or Wangdue

Day 03: Punakha & Wangdue Tour ; After breakfast, Drive north of the valley and hike for about 45 minutes crossing over a suspension bridge to the Khamsum Yuelley Namgyel Chorten, a temple built by the Queen Mother of Bhutan. Walk through the rice fields and village of Nierzergang. The view from the temple to the valley below is photogenic.

After the Hike and a hearty lunch, drive to visit the Punakha Dzong. “Dzong” means Fortresses. Punakha Dzong is the most impressive dzong in Bhutan situated in the confluence of Pho-chhu & Mo-chhu (male & female rivers). It looks like a giant ship with excellent woodwork and detailed paintings. It was here that the first King was crowned in 1907. It was capital of Bhutan until 1955 and then it was shifted to Thimphu. This dzong was built by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel the founding father of Bhutan in 1637. Punakha dzong is still serves as winter resident of the chief Abbot of Bhutan and houses both administrative & religious center of Punakha district. This Dzong is where all the Royal weddings take place. Night in Punakha or Wangdue

Day 4: Punakha To Phobjikha Valley in Gangtey ; Altitude is 2900 meters and Drive Time is about 2.5 to 3 hours from Punakha.

Enroute visit the famous and sacred Chimi Lhakhang(Temple) the revered “Temple of fertility”. Couples without Children are blessed here with a wooden phallus to bear children. Continue journey to Phobjikha Valley.

Phobjikha Valley is home to the endangered Black Necked cranes and from the end of November to early February you can enjoy watching and photographing the Endangered Black Necked Cranes. Phobjikha is very remote and the highest wide valley in Bhutan. Here there are no electric poles standing as cranes could get caught in the lines. Thus, the whole wide valley is peaceful and only the nomadic locals reside in Phobjikha.

This place is rural and you can enjoy the scenic beauty of this tranquil valley. Presently there are 2 cranes greeting visitors as they were injured and could not fly with the flock back to Tibet, thus visiting this valley is a treat with the presence of these two Cranes throughout the year.

Evening experience a Hot Stone bath, a traditional style of bathing by soaking in wooden tubs heated by roasting  mineral stones. (Hot Stone Bath arrangement will incur additional charges)

Night halt in Phobjikha.

Day 5: Phobjikha Tour then to Thimphu

Morning after breakfast, take the Nature walk to the Gangtey Monastery, monk’s school which houses old artefacts and highlight is the shriveled ancient Lilliput, which are openly displayed for public view. Phobjikha valley is great for nature photography.

After lunch, travel from Phobjikha to Thimphu: Thimphu is the Capital City of Bhutan. Altitude is 2300 meters and drive time from Phobjikha to Thimphu is about 5 hours with rest in between. Night Halt in Thimphu.

Day 6: Thimphu sightseeing;

Morning visit the Post office to buy post cards and stamps and visit the Small Postal Museum. Create your own photo stamps which can be used to post a letter or a card to family and friends back home.

Visit the Textile Museum and the Crafts Bazaar.

Visit the ZORIG CHUSUM, the Traditional School of the 13 Arts and Crafts of Bhutan.

Incase you like hiking then do the Wangdue Tse Monastery Hike from above the BBS Tower.

A visit to the Takin Preserve is a must as Takin is the National Animal of Bhutan and folklore mentions these animals unique as they have a Head of a Goat and a Body of a Cow. Night Halt in Thimphu.

Day 7: Thimphu to the HAA valley: Altitude of Haa is 2700 meters

After breakfast start journey to the HAA Region, taking the route from the By-Pass Bridge after crossing Chunzom towards Phuentsholing.

Before reaching proper Haa, you will pass by many village homes. All the beautiful sights on your way will take your mind to a peaceful space.

Check In to a Village homestay and for today just enjoy the surroundings of the Home stay and the hospitality of the host family. You could give a helping hand to their village chores. Night in HAA.

Day 8: HAA valley (For today have put here several options on how to spend your day)

Today after breakfast at the local homestay, Visit the Juney Drak temple perched on a smaller cliff than the Tigers Nest Temple in Paro. Due to its resemblance to the Tigers Nest Temple, the TAKTSANG, Juney Drak is known as the Tinier Taktsang

Visit some of the cultural sites like the White and Black Temples (Lhakhang Karpo and Nagpo) and later go back to the Village home and enjoy the hosts’ hospitality once again.

OR, today you can hike the HAA Panaroma Trail which will take you the entire day. This trail takes you to a hilltop overlooking the entire Haa Valley down below.

OR today you could just laze around with the Host family and do whatever they will be doing.

OR, if you wish to do all the above then we must increase your days in Haa accordingly.

Day 9: HAA to PARO

Altitude of Paro is at 2240mts. En Route to Paro stop by CHELELA Pass which is the highest motor Pass in Bhutan at an elevation of 3988 meters.

In Paro, visit the Rinpung Dzong built in 1646 AD. A flag stone path leads toward the Dzong. This Dzong overlooks the Paro valley and you will also cross over an ancient wooden bridge with guard houses at both sides of the Bridge.

Paro Rinpung Dzong shows the wooden architecture and wall paintings. Also, you will see underground ancient stone drainage system in these courtyards.

Paro Dzong and its bridge is the location where the holly wood movie “The Little Buddha” starring Keanu Reeves was filmed. Rinpung Dzong presently houses the Government Administrative offices, the Judiciary and a section is used by the Paro Monastic Body. Also the Annual Paro Festival takes place here in the courtyards.

Visit the Ta-Dzong (watch Tower) which was converted into the National museum of Bhutan in 1968. Here you will see many ancient artefacts of Bhutan, like the rare Horse Egg, rare ancient stamps, ancient thankas (Sacred Scrolls) etc.

Spend the rest of the evening exploring on your own the quaint town of Paro. Night Halt in Paro.

Day 10: Hike to the Tiger’s Nest called the Taktsang  Monastery.

Anyone visiting Bhutan must visit this monastery otherwise its missing out the best in Bhutan.

Also, it’s the right time to do this hike as by now you would have acclimatized to the altitude and thus avoid altitude sickness.

The Monastery clings to a vertical granite cliff drop of nearly 4000 ft. and overlooks the Paro valley and the river. It is said that in the second half of the 8th century, Guru Padma Sambhava known as the second Buddha in Bhutan meditated on this spot where the Monastery is situated having alighted there on the back of a flying tigress, who was believed to be his favorite consort who the Guru had transformed to a Tigress.

This Hike will take more than half a day from start to finish and is best that you start early morning before the sun’s heat starts affecting you.

After the hike, drive to the Victory Fortress called “Drugyel Dzong” which was built during war with Tibet. It’s a beautiful, ruined fortress and can see the Jumolhari Mountain Peak.

Evening you can take a walk through the Paro Villages, or spend time in Paro Town once again to enjoy the last evening in Bhutan. OR you can book a Hot Stone Bath at a Village home or a bath house.

Day 11: Depart Bhutan

You will be escorted to Paro Airport for your departure. A farewell to meet again someday.

REMARKS: Wherever time permits, you can visit as many sites as possible. It is not mandatory that you follow only what’s in this itinerary. Your Guide will be briefed to take you to visiting local markets, watch the archery matches, and visit handicrafts and souvenirs shops.

Only condition is that there should be no night halt changes as Hotel will be prebooked, and last minute cancellation means that you will have to bear the cancellation charges and pay the new hotel charges.

End of Tour.

Additional and Optional Activities that can be included; Some will have supplement charges

1. Option to stay more nights in one place depending on client’s travel needs to relax more
2. Option to reduce the number of days to suit the Guests time for Bhutan
3. We have many Local Festivals like the Sacred mask dance festivals, the Mushroom festival, the Mountain Festival, The Nomads Festival and more. The booking will depend on the dates of these festivals as they are annually released after astrological predictions are made for the goods days to perform these festivals.
4. More Hikes can be added as Bhutan has many hiking trails in every region. We will suggest the best ones for you
5. Rafting (Seasonal) Supplement charges
6. Fishing (Seasonal) Supplement charges
7. A trip to the National Manas Park in Southern Bhutan for a peaceful stay in Thatched Huts with elephant ride and rafting, and if the season permits then fishing activities. Some supplement charges like elephant ride fee
8. Try a hand at Paddy Plantation (Seasonal) by helping the villagers to plant the Bhutanese red rice
9. Create your personalized postal stamps. You can put your own photo and use this stamp to send a postcard back home or take this stamp along with you as souvenir
10. Traditional Medicinal Hot Stone Baths (Guest should not have BP issues) Supplement charges
11. We can have a Yoga Class or Sound Healing session arranged. Instructor charges applicable
12. In events, we manage Weddings the Bhutanese traditional way, Prayer ceremonies and rituals for purification, all attract supplement charges
13. Helicopter flights Scenic tours are available. Supplement charges

Try the Bhutanese costume. GHO (men’s attire) and KIRA (women’s attire), Guests can wear it during their tour or wear for a photo click. Nominal fee for hiring these costumes unless if the Guests buy them.

1. Processing your Bhutan Visa
2. All applicable taxes payable in Bhutan
3. All meals BUT subject to the tour package price you’ve been quoted and what you’ve chosen regarding the meals. 
4. Daily mineral water.
5. An English-speaking licensed guide.
6. Comfortable and luxurious imported vehicle for internal travel, with a skilled and experienced driver.
7. Accommodation on twin sharing basis ( Single occupancy room will add on a supplement charge)
8. A minimum of 3 star accommodation. Accommodation above 4 and 5 star and boutique hotels will attract supplement premium charge.

1. A Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) of $100/ per person per night( Fee till year 2027 until next revision). This sustainable development fee goes towards free education, free healthcare, poverty alleviation, along with the building of infrastructure and limits the number of tourist so as to preserve the natural beauty of our country.
2. Airfare international & Domestic.
3. Travel Insurance.
4. Personal shopping.
5. Alcohol case by case
6. Laundry case by case
7. Tips for Guide & Driver.
8. Entrance fees to any sites and monuments that may require one.
9. SINGLE ROOM accommodation (Can be arranged at extra cost)

BHUTAN JEWEL TRAVEL

Location: Gaa Phel Shopping Center, Chorten Lam. Thimphu, Bhutan.

Contact No.: +975 17116808

Email: bhutanjeweltravel@gmail.com

Whatsapp: ‪+975-17116808