16 Nights - 17 Days Festival Tour

Galing Festival in Bhutan Itinerary

Day 01 : Arrive Kathmandu
Arrival you will be received by tour manager and escorted to your hotel in kathmandu. Our tour manager will give you pre-tour briefing. Rest of time is leisure.

Day 02 : Kathmandu city tour
After breakfast, visit monkey temple (Swayambhunath Temple), Patan, Boudhanath sputa and Pasupati temple. Over night at Hotel.

Day 03 : Arrive Paro
Fly from Kathmandu to Paro, offers fascinating views of the eastern Himalayan range, including Mt. Everest. On arrival you will be received by your guide and drive to Capital of Thimpu. Overnight at the hotel in Thimphu.

Day 04 : Thimphu – Trongsa
After an early breakfast, begin the journey to central Bhutan which takes about 7-8 hours passing through alpine and coniferous forests across three districts. While the drive can be arduous, there are, however, splendid views of mountain ranges, village hamlets and two high passes. Pack lunch will be served at Chendebji, an ancient Newari stupa like those found in Nepal . Halt at hotel in Trongsa.

Day 05 : Trongsa - Mongar
The drive from central Bhutan to the east in Mongar will take seven to eight hours. After traversing the scenic Bumthang valley the road winds up to the highest motorable pass within the nation, the Thrimshing La pass at 12500 ft, before descending into the east and Mongar, at 5,600 ft. overnight at the Tourist Guesthouse.

Day 06 : Mongar – Galing
After breakfast, visit Mongar Dzong (built in 1953), which houses the local monastic community and the district administration. Continue drive to Trashigang, the eastern most region of Bhutan and the business hub if the east. Lunch at tourist lodge. After lunch drive to Galing, this lies 13km north from Trashigang to watch the festival.

Day 07 : Galing Festival
The first day of festival program includes mask dances, folk dances and Achi Lamo a dance by Brokpas or nomadic herders.

Day 08 : Galing Feastival
The second day of the festival program includes mask dances, folk dances and the YAK dance by the Brokpas.

Day 09 : Trashiyangtse Excursions
After breakfast, drive to Trashiyangtse (Alt. 1850m), the extreme eastern district of Bhutan bordering Arunachal Pradesh in India . The Trashiyangtse Dzong was established after the Drukpa conquest in 1656 A.D. but was completely renovated in 1976. Trashiyangtse is a beautiful valley renowned for traditional paper production and wooden bowls. It is also the winter nesting ground for the endangered Black Necked Crane.

In Trashiyangtse, visit the popular Chorten Kora (a huge Stupa) constructed in Nepali (Sherpa) style. It is said that Guru Rimpoche subjugated a demon at the spot where the stupa stands. Popular legend has it that Bhutanese craftsmen replicated the Boudha stupa on a radish and brought it here as a copy for the chorten. Visit the traditional woodcraft workshop where typical Bhutanese bowls and other wooden items are made. (These products are very popular in Bhutan ). Night at Trashigang

Day 10 : Trashigang – Bumthang
After early breakfast drive to Bumthang via Mongar.

Day 11 : Bumthang sightseeing
After breakfast explore the valley which is different from other valleys in Bhutan . It is a spacious and open valley ranging in altitude from 8’500 ft to over 13’000 ft. It is a haven for trekkers and hikers. Today’s sightseeing includes the Jamphel Lhakhang, Kurgey Lakhang, and Tamshing Lhakhang. After lunch, visit Jakar Dzong and Membartsho flaming Lake . Overnight at hotel.

Day 12 : Bumthang – Punakha
After breakfast drive to Punakha with picnic lunch on the way.

Day 13 : Punakha – Thimphu
After breakfast visit Punakha Dzong. Once the capital of the nation, the Punakha Dzong is now the seat of the district administration and the winter residence of the head abbot and the monastic school. It lies between two rivers known as Phochu and Mochu. After lunch drive to Thimphu .

Day 14 : Thimphu Sightseeing
Visit the weekend market if it’s a weekend. Visit the National Library where many rare and ancient manuscripts are preserved, and the School of Arts & Crafts. Visit the Memorial Chorten, built in memory of King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, (1952-1972). Visit Changangkha Lhakhang and Sangaygang for a bird’s eye view of the city. Enroute visit Zilukha nunnery. After lunch, visit Handicrafts Emporium where Traditional Bhutanese textiles and other Arts and Crafts are displayed. You can also purchase the items of your choice.

In the evening visit Tashichho Dzong, which is the seat of the national administration and the summer residence of the head abbot and the monastic order.

Day 15 : Thimphu – Paro sightseeing
After breakfast drive to Paro. In Paro visit ruined Drukgyel Dzong, a victory fortress of the 17th century. Although in ruins, this Dzong is of great historical importance. It was here that the Bhutanese finally defeated the invading Tibetans and drove them back. In the afternoon, you will visit the National Museum and Rinpung Dzong (built in 1645 A.D)

Day 16 : Excursion to Taktshang
After an early breakfast, drive to the foot of the Taktshang cliff before walking uphill for 2 hours to reach this monastery, giddily perched on a sheer 800m rock face. Taktshang means ‘Tiger’s Nest’ as legend has it that Guru Padmasambhava flew to this spot on the back of a tigress in the eight century. He meditated here making this temple a sacred pilgrimage destination for Buddhists. Lunch at the Taktshang Cafeteria. The trip to and fro takes four hours for which riding ponies can be arranged.

Day 17 : Departure to Kathmandu
Representative of Mission Eco Trek will bid you farewell. TASHI DELEK

SHORT INFO: Mission Eco Trek has been organizing Trekking and tour in Bhutan since many years. We Specialize in the Galing Festival in Bhutan. On our Galing Festival in Bhutan, the entire group treks led by our highly experienced guide. All the food on the Galing Festival in Bhutan provided. We stay in hotel or in tents on the Galing Festival in Bhutan. The Galing Festival in Bhutan takes 15 days, with some time in Kathmandu.

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