Bhutan draft Itinerary May 2020 | Capture the Light Photographic Tours

Day 1: May 1st 2020: Depart Bangkok Arr Paro; Paro>Flight> Bumthang

Please note: We will organise your flight into Paro with our local agents. Most of the group will meet in Bangkok Airport but we do not include your overnight stay in Bangkok. We need to be at the airport to check in at approximately 3am.

Please note: If you are joining our trip from Europe or the USA we can arrange your flight into Bhutan from Delhi as an alternative to flying with the main group from Bangkok. Our local guides will meet you at the airport before you meet the rest of the group.This may alter the price to you so please enquire.

After an early departure from Bangkok with clear skies we should get a grandiose view of the Himalayas from the plane, as you can see some of the highest peaks in the world such as Kanchanjunga, Everest and Jomolhari.

Arriving in Paro we will be greeted by our Bhutanese team in traditional costume and we hope to have a chance to stretch our legs in the town of Paro before we take our short internal flight to Bumthang Valley, Central Bhutan over the mountains we will drive through on our return to Paro.

If we have the energy we will spend some time in the local town of Jakar for street photography, visiting the Swiss Cheese factory and a local brewery where the entrance fee is the price of a bottle of Red Panda beer.

Day 2: May 2nd: Domkhar Tshechu Festival and Bumthang Valley

We transfer to the village of Chumey to attend a small local festival which, hopefully, will still be ignored by larger tour groups. The dances are performed by lay monks in bright coloured costumes and carved wooden masks, the villagers attend in their most beautiful national outfits. The local women will sing traditional songs. For the village children there is no school so they are attend in costume to enjoy the event. The venue is small and we can move around easily to get the photos we want. The event goes on all day, we take a picnic with us so that we can stay in the village as long as we want too and will return to hotel when we are ready to rest or explore more of the Bumthang Valley.

Day 3 May 3rd: Jakar- Trongsa

We now start our return by road through the mountains that we flew over. We hope to set up a visit to a local primary school which will give us an opportunity to photograph children all in traditional costume which is also the school uniform. The road West will take us through the Yotongla Pass at 3425 meters. Upon arriving in Trongsa, we will visit the Trongsa Dzong, which once served as a summer residence for the royal family. Built in the 17th century, this Dzong has a very strategic position; its construction took 150 years. Two hundred monks reside there year-round; it also houses the officials of ten different ministries.There are many monkeys that live around the Dzong so be careful not to put your lens cap or sunglasses down somewhere as it might well not be there moments later!

Day 4 May 4th: Trongsa – Phobjikha

After breakfast, we continue to Phobjikha Valley, winter home to rare Black Necked Cranes, which migrate from Tibet during the late autumn months. Although we will only see one crane which is a resident of the information centre it is a beautiful valley well worth the visit regardless.

As we cross the mountain Pass we will see the Grand Stupa of Chendepji and nearby we hope to see nomadic Yak herders but they may have already headed up the mountains to their summer pastures. If they are still around they sell their beautiful handmade goods on the side of the road.

The first stop in the village of Gangtey to visit Gangtey Monastery with its magnificent carved facade after which we will take a short walk from the monastery to a viewpoint over the beautiful Phobjikha valley, before we descend into the nature trails below. The full walk take around 1hour and 30 minutes but if you wish you can ride with the driver from the viewpoint to Visit Crane information centre.

Day 5 May 5th: Phobjikha-Punakha

We will continue the road to Punakha. Visit the beautiful Punakha Dzong built in 1637 between two rivers, po chhu (Male River) and Mo Chu (Female River). This fortress monastery is the winter residence of the spiritual leader of Bhutan, Je Khenpo, as well as 350 monks who accompany him.
After lunch we walk through rice paddies and a small village to go to Khamsum Yulley Namgyel temple. On the way back, we will make a stop at Lobesa for a short hike to Chhi – Med Lhakhang in this picturesque valley, we will be able to visit the temple of one of the first Saints of Bhutan, the lama Drukpa Kuenley, better known as the Divine Madman.

Day 6 May 6th: Punakha – Thimphu

On the way to Thimphu we will stop at Dochula Pass (3150m). If there is no cloud we will have a panoramic view of the Himalayan high peaks of Bhutan. Close by on top of a small hill are 108 chortens built in honor of the peace and stability brought to Bhutan by the 4th King.

The largest Buddha statue in Bhutan, it is 51m high and overlooks the valley of Thimphu, an extraordinary site of beauty and calm. Close by is a small nunnery which is home to some lovely ladies, we hope to pop in for a visit and photography them at their daily study.

Visit Takin Park to see the Bhutanese National animal , the takin. This used to be the City Zoo but it was considered not in keeping with the culture to cage animals so they released them to the wild but the Takin come up to Thumphu and caused so many problems that they were returned to park.

In the heart of the city, there is a memorial Chorten was built in 1974 in memory of the third king of Bhutan which will make an excellent subject for some night photography.

Day 7 May 7th: Thimphu

Thimphu although being the Capital still retains the feel of Bhutan with most of the building still are built in traditional style. There are no traffic lights but the busiest traffic junction is controled instead by smartly dressed policeman with white gloves who direct the flow of cars with dramatic arm movements.

We hope to visit some lovely nuns who live in a small private nunnery, where we hope to get some images of them at their morning study.

We will stop at the Centenary Farmer’s Market to photograph the colourful stalls and local characters. Close by is a traditional cantilever bridge which will give us opportunities for some great images of locals about their day.

We will allow some time for shopping for local crafts.

Day 8 May 8th: Thimphu-Haa Valley

Drive via Chhuzom where the of three district Paro, Thimphu, and Haa meet. There is a lively food stall by the bridge which over looks 3 unique Stupas surrounded by colourful prayer flags. There is usually a troop of monkeys in the area looking for food.

The fertile Haa Valley was once closed to Westerns and still has less visitors then other rural areas.We will drive through farmland, stopping for views of monasteries, farms, mountains and in some lovely small towns on route. In evening stroll around the Haa town for Photography. We will stay at a lovely local guesthouse with views over the surrounding mountains.

Day 9 May 9th: Haa – Paro

We continue through the Haa Valley and then up and over the mountain on a series of switch back roads. The Pass is close to 4000 mtr our highest yet, it is often in the clouds which gives a feeling of touching the sky! We then descend into the Paro valley where we hope to be able to view a plane coming through the valley before landing at the international airport.

If we have time with will visit Paro Dzong was built in the 17th century but largely burnt down in 1906. It has been rebuilt retaining the entirety of the original design. Nowadays it houses the district administration office and the monastic school where 200 monks live. We will access this magnificent Dzong over a wooden cantilever bridge

We will return to the River after dinner to photograph the Dzong at night, the river will give lovely reflections of the lights of the monastery.

Day 10 May 10th: Paro: trek to Tiger’s Nest Monastery

We aim to leave early and drive 40 min to the foot of the famous Tiger’s Nest. The steep trail climbs through the forest to Taktsang Monastery, which was built in 1692. It seems to hang off the cliff face 1000 meters above the valley. The full climb takes between 5-7 hours but we can use horses (at your own expense) for the climb as far as the café. We take the walk slowly so we can take photographs along the way. There are several points that you can stop if you have had enough and wait for the rest to return. Firstly the Cafe which offers a fine view of the monastery. The final push to the Monastery is via hundreds of steps down a steep valley and up the other side. The decision to visit the Monastery is yours alone, the view from the top of the stairs is enough for many. You can not take your camera into the Monastery so it is for you to decide when you get there.

In the evening we visit farmhouse for our final dinner and have a hot stone bath to ease any aching muscles.

Day 11 May 11th: Departure

Our outward bound flight leaves around 11 so we can either have a leisurely breakfast or pop in the town for some last minute shopping or shooting before heading to the airport for the return flight to Bangkok and homeward bound.