Transfer to the airport for the short flight up to Bhutan. On a clear day, the panoramic views of the Himalayas are sensational, including Everest, but particularly exciting is the approach through the Bhutanese foothills and the landing, including a few steep turns on the approach to the tiny airstrip of Paro. If possible try to sit on the left-hand side of the plane for the most spectacular views.

In Paro, you will be met by your Bhutanese guide and then you will drive to Thimphu; this will take about 1½-2 hours. En route, you will stop to visit Tamchhog Lhakang. This is located before you reach Chuzom (river junction). The temple was built in the 14th century by the son of the very famous ‘Iron Bridge’ builder, Thangthong Gyalpo. You cross one of the eight bridges he built in Bhutan to reach the temple. It is an easy 15-minute walk from the road and has the immediate effect of transporting you back into the atmosphere of ancient Bhutan. A lovely place to visit.

Thimphu has an attractive valley location and is relatively small for a capital city, although it has grown greatly in recent years. There are many places of interest to visit there. Initially, you might like to drive up to see the giant Buddha figure and enjoy the views over the town. Later you may have time for some sightseeing in Thimphu or for a wander around town.

In the morning you will have some time in Thimphu. Later you make the ascent up to the Dochu La pass. This pass at 3,140m/10,302ft is marked by 108 chortens. Here, weather permitting you may take in a magnificent mountain vista. On clear days there are fabulous views of the Eastern Himalaya from here but this is a beautiful spot even on misty days. Descending from the pass you come and a short drive to Wangdue. Later visit the Wangduephodrang Dzong which was ravaged by fire, but has now been restored to its former glory, Back to the Hotel.

After breakfast, a two-hour drive you will reach Gangtey also known as  Phobjika Valley, famous for the black neck crane that migrates from Siberia in Late November. Once at Gangtey an easy hike and one of the most beautiful hikes. The Trail starts from Gangtey Gompa passing through Semchubara village. A short walk through the coniferous forest takes you through the valley and ends near the Kewang temple. You can see the beautiful view of the Gangtey / Phobjikha valley, marshy wetland, and the rare black-necked Cranes. A highly recommended hike also a visit to the Black Nech crane information center are worth a visit. Return to the Hotel.

We start our descent towards Wangdue and then make our way to Punakha about 3hrs drive. Before driving to your hotel you will pay a visit to Chimi Lakhang, taking a short walk across the paddy fields to visit this delightful small temple built by Drukpa Kunley. Known as ‘The Divine Madman’, Drukpa Kunley was a 15th-century Bhutanese lama and is Bhutan’s most popular Saint and one of the most important figures in Bhutanese folklore. Despite the apparent conservatism of the Bhutanese people, Drukpa Kunley with his unconventional views on sex is a great favorite throughout the country – the phallus symbols painted on the outside walls of houses date back to his teachings. Chimi Lakhang is especially popular with women who come here to pray for children.

After lunch, you will drive up to the charming village of Talo (altitude 2,800m). This attractive, village is well known for its pretty girls and its neatness! First, you will drive up to its fine gompa, built above the village and worth a visit for the spectacular views. After a visit there you walk down through the village and will see traditional village life going on. It’s all very pretty – the beautiful farmhouses of the village have their well-kept flower gardens and corn and vegetables are grown in profusion. There is an air of prosperity and contentment. You come out back onto the road below the village and then you may either walk down through woods and fields or drive down, to the village of Nobgang, the birthplace of the four girls who in 1979 married King Jigme Singye Wangchuk, the current king’s father, to become his four queens. After the king’s abdication, they became Bhutan’s Queen Mothers. The gompas in Nobgang are sponsored by their family. The two villages of Talo and Nobgang have a longstanding rivalry in archery.

Today you may do a lovely walk in the lush, almost sub-tropical Punakha Valley. You drive further up the valley and start your walk at a pedestrian suspension bridge that crosses the Mo Chu River and follows up through paddy fields to the base of the hill where Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten is situated. The climb to the top is then quite steep but takes only 45 minutes or so. This chorten was consecrated in December 1999 and contains sacred relics donated from Punakha Dzong. If you don’t wish to walk further you may just walk up to the chorten and then return to the vehicle and drive back to Punakha.

For those who wish to walk, you leave the grounds of the chorten via a different gate and descend to join a contouring path which ultimately leads you to the small village of Yabesa you then follow the Mo Chu downstream past Sonagasha, the King’s Palace, and on to Punakha Dzong.

The fabulous Punakha Dzong, one of the most spectacular and important in the kingdom, is situated at the confluence of two rivers. In 1994 there was a major flood in the town which caused a lot of damage to the dzong but it has now been beautifully renovated and is a real showcase for Bhutanese craftsmanship and painting. You are normally allowed into the dzong unless VIPs are visiting.

After breakfast, you will make the short drive a little further up the valley and start your walk at a pedestrian suspension bridge that crosses the Mo Chu River. You follow up through paddy fields to the base of the hill where Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten is situated. The climb to the top is then quite steep but takes only 45 minutes or so. This Chorten was consecrated in December 1999 and contains sacred relics donated from Punakha Dzong. Leaving the grounds of the Chorten via a different gate you descend to join a contouring path which ultimately leads you to the small village of Yabesa and you then follow the Mo Chu downstream past Sonagasha, the King’s Palace, and on to Punakha Dzong.

The fabulous Punakha Dzong, one of the most spectacular and important in the kingdom, is situated at the confluence of two rivers. In 1994 there was a major flood in the town which caused a lot of damage to the dzong but it has now been beautifully renovated and is a real showcase for Bhutanese craftsmanship and painting. You are normally allowed into the dzong unless VIPs are visiting. After your visit, you may either drive back to your hotel or extend your walk southwards down the valley for a further hour or so to reach the large settlement of Khuruthang and continue to your hotel or to meet up with your transport.

Today you drive back over the Dochu La and on to Paro. In the afternoon you will have time for some sightseeing in the Paro Valley. Firstly you may visit the huge Paro Dzong, one of the most important in the kingdom. Above the dzong is the 17th-century watchtower or Ta Dzong. This unusual, circular building houses Bhutan’s National Museum and has recently been fully restored. The museum has a fantastic collection of Bhutanese national treasures with displays including depictions of a wide range of Bhutan’s history and culture and an impressive collection of ancient thangkas featuring Bhutan’s important saints and teachers. You will also find some fearsome festival masks, a collection of religious statues, some early stone carvings, and the original iron links from the nearby Tamchhog Bridge.

There will then be time to visit the ancient temple of Kyichu Lakhang which was one of 108 temples built by an important early Tibetan king, Songtsen Gampo, in an attempt to pin down the Bon demon who was thought to hover over the whole of Tibet.

Today you will walk up to the famous Tiger’s Nest, Taktsang Monastery – a fitting climax to your trip. The monastery is perched some 600m/2,000ft up on a cliff overlooking the valley and was said to be where the legendary Indian saint, Guru Padma Sambhava, flew from Tibet on the back of a tiger to defeat five demons, who were opposing the spread of Buddhism in Bhutan. It’s a steep uphill walk through woods, of about 1½-2hrs, to reach a tea house (an ascent of 340m/1,115ft). Apart from offering welcome refreshments this tea house is one of the principal viewpoints of the monastery, and those who prefer not to climb any further can relax here whilst others continue. If there is a particular religious gathering or VIP visit in progress, you will not be able to enter the monastery but the further half an hour’s ascent is well worth it in any case, as it brings you to another viewpoint directly across from the monastery. If you can visit, the final section of the walk takes you from here steeply down approximately 100m/330ft into the gorge that separates you from the monastery and then climbs back up again to reach the monastery gate. You descend back to the valley floor by your outward route back to where your vehicle will be waiting. The full walk to the monastery and back involves approximately 740m/2,428ft of ascent. Please note, if you prefer not to make the walk to Taktsang your driver will be able to take you instead further along the valley to visit Drukyel Dzong, a ruined fortress enjoying good views of the mountain. Afternoon is at Leisure