A surprising and unforgettable trip to Buthan on the occasion of the Thimpu Drubchen Festival. A country little beaten by mass tourism, hidden by the imposing Himalayan mountains, a treasure chest out of time, with unique atmospheres and suggestions. A true approach to the most authentic Buddhism and to the simplicity of the people, among natural spectacles of incomparable beauty. Full board in Bhutan, minibus tour, Italian-speaking guide-escort for the entire duration of the tour, all government taxes, all visits, and entrance fees. Accommodation in 4-star hotels in Kathmandu and in the best available in Bhutan. 

Day 1: Italy / Kathmandu

Departure from Italy with a scheduled flight to Kathmandu with an intermediate stopover. Meals and overnight stay on board. 

Day 2: Kathmandu 

Arrival in Kathmandu. Border formalities, meeting with your Italian-speaking tour guide, and transfer to the hotel. Free lunch. Later visit the beautiful Patan. the city of “fine arts”, an architectural and cultural jewel with its stupendous Durbar Square, the golden temple, the house of the living goddess of the Kumari of Patan, the street of the artisans’ shops, the temple of the thousand Buddhas and the 5 roofs and mazes of streets in its surroundings where fabulous little temples and courtyards are hidden. I’m going back to the hotel. Dinner and overnight

 3rd day Kathmandu / Paro ( Buthan)- Thimpu

Breakfast. Later transfer to the airport and Druk Air flight to Paro. Arrival, entry formalities, and meeting with a local guide. First visits to the city of Paros. Visit the Paro Dzong, built in 1646 which constitutes the administrative and monastic center of the city of Paro. This is the place where Bertolucci shot many scenes of the famous film “Little Buddha”. We will pass over the said suspension bridge. “Nymezampa” which passes over the river Paro. Hotel accommodation. Lunch in the restaurant. Continue to Thimpu. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 4 : Thimpu Drubchen Festival

Breakfast, This morning you will participate in the Thimpu Brubchen Festival, which will last until around 15:00. The monks, accompanied by the sound of cymbals and trumpets, dressed in colorful brocade clothes and with elaborate wooden masks on their faces, perform the Cham, complex and spectacular dances, religious and exorcistic rites, in the squares and in the Trashichhoe Dzong, the beating heart of the country. Something magical that you absolutely must see in person. Lunch included. In the afternoon. visit the Memorial Chorten with its golden roofs, built in honor of the third king of Buthan, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. The precious frescoes and statues of Buddha will harmoniously introduce you to the philosophy of tantric Buddhism. The temple is located in the old city and is an incessant destination for pilgrimages. Visit to the Institute of art where students learn the techniques of sculpture and painting. Visit Tashi Chodzong, a government building built in the 16th century. We will also see the world’s largest Buddha statue at Kuenzord. L. Dinner and overnight. 

Day 5  : Thimpu – Dochula Pass – Punaka

Breakfast and departure for Punaka crossing the famous Dochula Pass, along a Himalayan pass made of fog, cypresses, Himalayan pines, and colored flags. The mantras written on the flags spread, according to Buddhist beliefs carried by the wind, transmitting the benefits of prayer and the presence of divinity on earth. The colors of the flags are 5 and represent the colors of the elements: the blue sky, the white clouds, the red fire, the green of the water and the yellow of the earth. Lunch in the restaurant. Arrive in Punaka and visit the Punaka Dzong. Punhaka dzong, built between 1637 and 1638, is the winter residence of Bhutan’s Central Monk Body. The building of majestic size is located at the confluence of the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers. For this reason it has been repeatedly damaged by floods. In 1907 the Punakha Dzong was the site of the coronation of the first king of Bhutan: Ugyen Wangchuck (or Deb Nagpo). Three years later a treaty was signed here with the British crown of English non-interference in internal Bhutanese affairs in exchange for the English crown handling external affairs. In 1987 the dzong was partially destroyed by fire. Noteworthy are the numerous statues of the Buddha and the frescoes that adorn the walls of the halls. Lunch in the restaurant. Later visit KhamsumYuelley Namgyel Namgyal Chorten, a three storey building built by the Queen of Bhutan which houses beautiful and intricate paintings. Hotel accommodation. Dinner and overnight coronation of the first king of Bhutan: Ugyen Wangchuck (or Deb Nagpo). Three years later a treaty was signed here with the British crown of English non-interference in internal Bhutanese affairs in exchange for the English crown handling external affairs. In 1987 the dzong was partially destroyed by fire. Noteworthy are the numerous statues of the Buddha and the frescoes that adorn the walls of the halls. Lunch in the restaurant. Later visit KhamsumYuelley Namgyel Namgyal Chorten, a three storey building built by the Queen of Bhutan which houses beautiful and intricate paintings. Hotel accommodation. Dinner and overnight coronation of the first king of Bhutan: Ugyen Wangchuck (or Deb Nagpo). Three years later a treaty was signed here with the British crown of English non-interference in internal Bhutanese affairs in exchange for the English crown handling external affairs. In 1987 the dzong was partially destroyed by fire. Noteworthy are the numerous statues of the Buddha and the frescoes that adorn the walls of the halls. Lunch in the restaurant. Later visit KhamsumYuelley Namgyel Namgyal Chorten, a three storey building built by the Queen of Bhutan which houses beautiful and intricate paintings. Hotel accommodation. Dinner and overnight Three years later a treaty was signed here with the British crown of English non-interference in internal Bhutanese affairs in exchange for the English crown handling external affairs. In 1987 the dzong was partially destroyed by fire. Noteworthy are the numerous statues of the Buddha and the frescoes that adorn the walls of the halls. Lunch in the restaurant. Later visit KhamsumYuelley Namgyel Namgyal Chorten, a three storey building built by the Queen of Bhutan which houses beautiful and intricate paintings. Hotel accommodation. Dinner and overnight Three years later a treaty was signed here with the British crown of English non-interference in internal Bhutanese affairs in exchange for the English crown handling external affairs. In 1987 the dzong was partially destroyed by fire. Noteworthy are the numerous statues of the Buddha and the frescoes that adorn the walls of the halls. Lunch in the restaurant. Later visit KhamsumYuelley Namgyel Namgyal Chorten, a three storey building built by the Queen of Bhutan which houses beautiful and intricate paintings. Hotel accommodation. Dinner and overnight Later visit KhamsumYuelley Namgyel Namgyal Chorten, a three storey building built by the Queen of Bhutan which houses beautiful and intricate paintings. Hotel accommodation. Dinner and overnight Later visit KhamsumYuelley Namgyel Namgyal Chorten, a three storey building built by the Queen of Bhutan which houses beautiful and intricate paintings. Hotel accommodation. Dinner and overnight

Day 6 : Punaka – Semthoka – Paro 

Breakfast then departure for Paro with a stop to visit Wangdue Dzong and Semthoka Dzong. Arrive at Semthoka Dzong. Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal was one of the greatest builders of Dzong in Bhutan, starting with this one which is built in a strategic position where three western regions meet: Sha, Wang, and Pa. Continue to Paro Lunch in restaurant, In the afternoon , short panoramic visit of the northern part of the valley with the ruins of the Drukgyel Dzong, once strategic against the invasion of the Tibetans from the north. Also, visit Kichu Lhakhang temples. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 7 : Paro – Taktsang- Paro 

Breakfast and departure for Taktsang, north of Paro. Taktsang It is one of the most fascinating religious places in Bhutan and most frequented by Buddhist pilgrims from this region of the world. Taktsang Buddhist Temple stands northwest of Paro at an elevation of 2,950m. and is set on the rocky wall of the mountains, overlooking sheer walls even 800 meters long. Legend explains the name of this temple by tracing its origins to the great Buddhist master Padmasambhava who, it is said, crossed the entire Himalayan chain on the back of a flying tiger in the 8th century to bring Buddhism to Bhutan and other areas of the region. He landed right where the Taktsang temple, which means “tiger’s den”, now stands. But the real origin of this temple probably dates back to the 14th century. Since then many spiritual masters have come here to meditate. The place can be reached only through a difficult and steep path that climbs the slope of the mountain in the middle of a forest of oaks, pines and rhododendrons. After the effort of the climb it is possible to rest and quench your thirst in the Teahouse and admire a breathtaking view of the whole temple from a panoramic point. Lunch. Unfortunately in 1998 the temple suffered a serious fire, but thanks to an international effort it was possible to rebuild the destroyed parts of the building in about 4 years. . Return to Thimpu. Dinner and overnight The place can be reached only through a difficult and steep path that climbs the slope of the mountain in the middle of a forest of oaks, pines and rhododendrons. After the effort of the climb it is possible to rest and quench your thirst in the Teahouse and admire a breathtaking view of the whole temple from a panoramic point. Lunch. Unfortunately in 1998 the temple suffered a serious fire, but thanks to an international effort it was possible to rebuild the destroyed parts of the building in about 4 years. . Return to Thimpu. Dinner and overnight The place can be reached only through a difficult and steep path that climbs the slope of the mountain in the middle of a forest of oaks, pines and rhododendrons. After the effort of the climb it is possible to rest and quench your thirst in the Teahouse and admire a breathtaking view of the whole temple from a panoramic point. Lunch. Unfortunately in 1998 the temple suffered a serious fire, but thanks to an international effort it was possible to rebuild the destroyed parts of the building in about 4 years. . Return to Thimpu. Dinner and overnight but thanks to an international effort it was possible in about 4 years to rebuild the destroyed parts of the building. . Return to Thimpu. Dinner and overnight but thanks to an international effort it was possible in about 4 years to rebuild the destroyed parts of the building. . Return to Thimpu. Dinner and overnight

Day 8 : Paro – Kathmandu 

Breakfast, transfer to the airport, and flight to Kathmandu. Arrival, transfer to the hotel, and visit the famous Baudhanath temple. In the afternoon visit the Tamil area, characterized by its markets and the typical Nepalese atmosphere. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 9: Kathmandu – Italy

Breakfast. In time, transfer to the airport and flight. Arrival in Italy in the late afternoon

Individual participation fee: 2400 USD ( United States Dollars )
Kathmandu – Paro – Kathmandu flight supplement: 420 USD 
on the basis of 6 
suppl. single room: 550 USD

The fee includes:
– entry visa in Buthan 
– The best accommodation in 3/4 star hotels in Bhutan (4 stars in Kathmandu )
– full board, breakfast, lunch, and dinner in Bhutan
– half board Kathmandu 
– circuit with private vehicle
– guide – Italian-speaking companion for the entire duration of the trip 
– 37% of mandatory government taxes for access to Buthan, fuel, all entrances and special permits
– visits as per program

The fee does not include: 
– international flight from Italy
– Druk Air Kathmandu / Paro / Kathmandu flight 420 usd 
– Nepal visa (to be purchased at the Kathmandu airport) equal to 25 usd and two passport photos 
– tips to local staff
– all personal expenses in general
– drinks with meals 
– everything the one not specified under “the price includes”
– insurance
Departure from Italy with a regular flight to Kathmandu with an intermediate stopover. Meals and overnight stay on board