Mountainous terrains of Bhutan offer enthralling adventure on horsebacks. You will relish every moment. It entails road travel through four districts and six days of horse ride in the kingdom’s most beautiful valleys, Bumthang, following the Royal Trail en-route visit Ugencholing Palace, Villages, Farmhouse, ancient temples, monasteries, and of course plethora flora and fauna.
This tour involves stay-overs in tents on clear starry nights or in Buddhist temples and monasteries and picnic lunches on meadows and nearby sparkling streams.
One can take optional horse ridding treks for 2 nights, 3 nights and 4 nights as per your time and interest.
Outline Program
Overnight at Paro in Hotel
Day 02: Paro – Hike to Tigers Nest (B/L/D)
Overnight at Paro in Hotel
Day 03: Paro – Bumthang: Domestic Flight (B/L/D)
Overnight in Tang in Farm House
Day 04: Tang Valley – Kunzangdrak village: (B/L/D)
Overnight in Camping
Day 05:Kunzangdrak – Padselling Monastery: (B/L/D)
Overnight in Monastery/Camping
Day 06: Padselling – Dorjibi village: (B/L/D)
Overnight at Bumthang in Hotel
Day 07: Dorjibi Village – Ngalakhang valley: (B/L/D)
Overnight in Farm House
Day 08: Ngalakhang – Tang Valley: (B/L/D)
Overnight in Farm House
Day 09: Tang Valley – Punakha: (B/L/D)
Overnight at Punakha in Hotel
Day 10: Punakha – Thimphu: (B/L/D)
Overnight in Thimphu in Hotel
Day 11: Thimphu – Paro. (B/L/D)
Overnight in Paro in Hotel
Day 12: Departure: (B)
Detail Program
Arrive by flight to Paro. Greet by our representative and drive to hotel for check in and for lunch. Later visit the National Museum and Paro dzong, one of Bhutan’s most impressive and well-known dzongs, and perhaps the finest example of Bhutanese architecture.
Overnight at Paro in Hotel
Day 02: Paro – Hike to Tigers Nest (B/L/D)
This morning we will walk up to the Taktsang Goemba, known as the Tiger’s Nest monastery, a quintessential Bhutan experience. Lunch will be served in teahouse on your return and later visit ancient ruins of Drukgyel Dzong situated at the end of the Paro valley. If time permits visit 7th century Kyechu Lhakhang and Dungtse Lhakhang.
Overnight at Paro in Hotel
Day 03: Paro – Bumthang: Domestic Flight (B/L/D)
We will take the early morning domestic flight to Bumthang, after arrival drive to Tang Valley where we will access the horses. After lunch we will have an afternoon ride to the nearby village, where we will have a chance to meet some locals and visit their homes before returning to the guesthouse for the night.
Overnight in Tang in Farm House
Day 04: Tang Valley – Kunzangdrak village: (B/L/D)
After breakfast we’ll head to the stables to start our ride. Today we’ll pass through the villages and open fields before riding up into the pine forests. There might be a few places where we’ll need to dismount and leave our horses, depending on the terrain. We’ll have a picnic lunch along the way before reaching our campsite near Kunzangdra. There is a temple and hermitage on the cliff (Kunzangdra Monastery), founded by Pemalingpa in 1488, which we’ll have time to explore before dinner.
Overnight in Camping
Day 05:Kunzangdrak – Padselling Monastery: (B/L/D)
Today we will ride through the forests and hillsides as we make our way towards Padselling. Tonight we will spend the night in a Buddhist Monastery, which is set high up in the mountains, next to a village, with incredible views. We’ll have the chance to explore the local village before returning to the monastery for dinner. Overnight in Monastery/Camping
Day 06: Padselling – Dorjibi village: (B/L/D)
Today’s ride will be very relaxing as we make our way downhill. We’ll be mainly following village roads and trails, provide ourselves ample opportunities for some canters. After visiting Dorjibi village, we’ll leave our horses behind and take a short drive to our hotel in nearby Jakar. In the evening we can wander around and explore the town of Jakar with our guide.
Overnight at Bumthang in Hotel
Day 07: Dorjibi Village – Ngalakhang valley: (B/L/D)
Today we’ll ride through some of the local villages, giving us the chance to meet and talk to the very friendly local people as we pass by their homes. As we ride between the villages we are likely to see the farmers ploughing and tending their potato fields. As we meander through the countryside,opportunity to trot and canter as well. We will visit the village temples and farmhouses, one of which will be our home for the night.
Overnight in Farm House
Day 08: Ngalakhang – Tang Valley: (B/L/D)
Today’s ride, will be a long ride as we head out for our final day on the saddle. We will follow a mountain trail crossing a 3000m pass as we head back towards the stable. Today, we’ll ride through some of the local villages, giving us the chance to meet and chat to the very friendly local people as we pass by their homes. Once back at the stables we’ll say goodbye to the horses before heading back to our guesthouse. You can relax in a traditional hot stone bath over a glass of local wine.
Overnight in Farm House
Day 09: Tang Valley – Punakha: (B/L/D)
After breakfast we’ll drive to Punakha, the old capital city, passing through the Trongsa valley. We’ll stop in Trongsa and visit the National Museum and the magnificent Trongsa dzong, the birthplace of Bhutan’s hereditary monarchy. We’ll continue on, crossing Pele La pass at 3400m, before descending down to valley floor at 1200m in Punakha.
Overnight at Punakha in Hotel
Day 10: Punakha – Thimphu: (B/L/D)
This morning we will visit Punakha dzong, The Place of Great Happiness, built in between two rivers. Later drive north to make short hike to Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten and after lunch drive to Thimphu, the capital city and visit Tashi Chodzong, the seat of government and monastic body and Memorial chorten. Overnight in Thimphu in Hotel
Day 11: Thimphu – Paro. (B/L/D)
This afternoon we head back to Paro. Visit sights of Thimphu such as largest Buddha, paintingschool, Indigenous hospital, vegetable market, etc. Afternoon drive back to Paro.
Overnight in Paro in Hotel
Day 12: Departure: (B)
After breakfast drop to airport for flight to onward destination.
