After breakfast, ride on bicycle to the base of Taktshang Monastery.

Distance:                    8 Kms ride

Approximate Time:  20 Minutes

Riding elevation: 2280 Meter

Roads

– Through the villages among blue pine trees.

– Main Road and a short diversion to the base (Ramathangkha)

– A slight uphill after the diversion of 3 kms.

Taktshang Monastery; The primary lhakhang was built surrounding Guru Rimpoche’s Meditation cave in the 1684 by Gyaltse Tenzin Rabgay.  This incredible monastery clings to the edge of a sheer Rock cliff that plunges 900 meters into the valley below. Legend has it that Guru Padmasambhava flew here on the back of a tigress. It is a two hours excursion uphill; however, one feels truly blessed reaching the monastery.

After lunch, ride to the ruins of the Drukgyal Dzong

Distance from the base: 10 kms

Time: 30 Minutes approx

Riding elevation: 2280 Meter

Road-

-Among the villages and blue pine forest

-Winding road with gentle up hills and downhills.

Ruins of the Drukgyal Dzong.It was here that the Bhutanese finally defeated the invading Tibetans and drove them back. Peak of Jumolhari ‘Mountain of the Goddess’ (Alt. 7,329 m /24,029 ft.) can be seen on a clear day from here.

Cycle to Thimphu. Stop at places for photography and to view scenery.

Distance (Drukgyal – Thimphu) -80 kms

Time:  -3 – 3.5 hrs

Roads: -Winding but well maintained and smooth

-Windy in the afternoon

-Along the side of the Paro River (Pa Chhu) till Chuzom and then the -Thimphu River (Wang Chhu)

The ride from Drukgyal to Thimphu shall bring you across the following:

– treeless mountains,

-blue pine forests,

-unique Bhutanese villages and people

-Bhutanese chortens (Stupas)

– Tamchog Lhakhang

Tamchog lhakhang (between Paro and Thimphu); built in the 13th century by Thangthong Gyalpo. He is also known as the Iron bridge builder. Situated on a hill top, we have to cross an ancient style bridge to reach the temple. It is owned by the descendants of Thangthong Gyalpo.

Dinner and over night in hotel in Thimphu.

Altitude- 2350 meter

Slopes – Gentle and up hill

Roads/slopes – Gentle slopes, uphill and downhill, winding roads, black topped and smooth, good number of vehicle on the road.

After breakfast, ride to the Kuenselphodrang.

Elevation – 2350 m to 2500 m at Kuenselphodrang.

Road: Smooth and good, uphill.

Distance : 6 kms from town

Time: Uphill – 30 minutes Approx

Kuenselphodrang: A place for refreshing with a huge statue of Buddha on the top of the Kuenselphodrang. The area also gives a very good view of the Thimphu valley from the west and is a good walking and bicycling place.

Ride to National Memorial Chorten.

Distance (Kuensel Phodrang to Memorial Chorten): Approx 4.8 kms

Road: Smooth and good, downhill.

Time: Approx 15 minutes

National Memorial Chorten: This Chorten was built in the honour of the Third King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, also known as “The Father of Modern Bhutan”. This Chorten was built in 1974 in a typical Tibetan style. This Chorten is also a center of worship for the people living in Thimphu and contains many religious paintings and tantric statues.

Back to hotel.

After lunch, cycle to Sangangview point.

Distance from town: Approx 7 kms

Road: Smooth and good, uphill.

Time: Approx 30 minutes

Elevation: 2685 mts

On the way, visit,

The Takin Preserve Centre: The takin, the national animal of Bhutan can be seen here. This particular animal is found only in the Himalayan region.

Sangaygang view point: (2685 meters) to have view of whole Thimphu valley and walk through hundreds of colorful prayer flags that dot the hill overlooking the Thimphu valley.

Ride back to Changangkha Lhakhang downhill.

Changangkha Monastery: This monastery is built on a hill overlooking the Thimphu valley. It was built in 15thCentury by Lama Phajo Drugom Zhipo. Many parents of Thimphu take their their new born babies to this monastery to be blessed by a high lama.

From there cycle towards the Drupthob Lhakhang, visit Drupthob Lhakhang.

Drupthob Lhakhang: This Lhakhang is one of the few surviving nunneries in Bhutan.

After the visiting Drupthob lhakhang, ride back downhill to hotel from zilukha stoping on the way for a view of the Tashidzong.

Dinner and over night in hotel.

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After breakfast, cycle to Dochula pass from Thimphu.

Distance : 16 kms

Road: – blacktopped and smooth,

–        in some places road maintenance and widening are going on,

–        uphill and winding road along the slopes of the Himalayan ranges

Time: Approx 45 minutes to 1 hour

Elevation at Dochula: 3300 meter

Environment- You will come across Hongtsho and Yusipang villages, Bhutanese Chortens and forest consisting of pine, hemlock and spruce bright with rhododendrons. Prayers flags shall greet you a lot of time.

Dochula pass: The most known pass in Bhutan, about 30 km drive from the Capital City Thimphu on the way to Wangduephodrang. It is at around 3150 mt height. On a clear day, spectacular view of the mighty Himalayas mountain ranges can be seen. The pass also has 108 Druk Wangyal Khangzang Chhortens which  is believed brings multi fold merit to all sentient beings and which make the pass a must visit place. Himalayan peaks that can be seen from Dochula are Masagang (7200 m) Tsendagang (6960 m), Terigang (7060 m),Jejegangphugang (7158m) and Kangphugang (7170m).

After a short break in Dochula to view the Himalayas and photography, cycle downhill towards Punakha

Distance : 56 kms

Road: – blacktopped and smooth,

–        in some places road maintenance and widening are going on,

–        downhill and winding road along the slopes of the Himalayan ranges

Time: Approx 2-3 hrs

Elevation at Dochula: 3300 meter

Environment- Thinlaygang village, Royal Botanical park, great views of the Wangdue valley and the Punatshangchhu River, and the the forest as it changes to Semi tropical forests.

Stop at the Royal Botanical Park and visit the Park.

Royal Botanical Park – Situated at an altitude range of 2100 meters – 3800 meters,  the park covers an area of 47 square kilometers and is located between Thimphu and Punakha. The park contains a rich biodiversity of flora and fauna and features a huge species of plants and animals including endangered species such as Himalayan yew, native Rhododendron, Royal Bengal Tiger, , Musk Deer, Red Panda, Blood pheasants and Himalayan Monal. You can also find Tetracentron (an ancient relict angiosperm with no vessel in its trunk) in the park. The park has 14.5 km of trails for eco trek for cycling and walking and one of the main attractions is the rhododendron garden including a picnic spot with children’s play ground.

Cycle towards Punakha.

Stop at Lobesa for a short break.

Cycle downhill towards Punakha at an altitude of 1310 meter.

While in Punakha view the Punakha Dzong from outside.

Dinner and over night in hotel.

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Today is a only sightseeing day.

After breakfast, visit the Punakha Dzong.

Punakha Dzong: This Dzong was built by the Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1637. It is built at the junction the Pho Chu and Mo Chu Rivers. The annual Punakha Tsechhu( Festival ) is held here. The monk body resides in this dzong in winter.

Drive to Wangdue on the way visit,

Chhimi Lhakhang: This temple is located on the way to Punakha. This temple is also known as the temple of fertility and was built by Lama Drukpa Kuenley in the 15 century. Lama drukpa Kuenley is also known as the Devine Madman.

Drive further to Wangduephodrang and view the ruins of The wangduephodrang from the base. Then visit the Rinchengang village.

Rinchengang valley: it is small and clusterd valley located opposite to wangduephodrang dzong. It is about 20 minutes hike uphill from the near road.

After lunch, excursion to Khamsum yulley Monastery.

Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten:  This chorten is built on a ridge above the Punakha valley. It took around nine years to built the chorten. over a period of 9 years. It is said that the Bhutanese craftsmen consulted Holy Scriptures to construct this 4 storey temple. The temple was built by Her Majesty, the Queen Mother Ashi Tshering Yangdon Wangchuck.

The evening ends walking or cycling around the Punakha Valley.

Dinner and over night in Hotel.

After breakfast, cycle uphill towards Dochula, Time: 4 hrs approx.

Lunch at Dochula cafeteria. After lunch, cycle downhill for around half an hour.

In the evening, explore the Thimphu valley.

Dinner and over night in hotel.

Day 7. Thimphu – Chelela Pass  –  Paro:

After breakfast, cycle towards Paro and then cycle uphill 35 kms towards Chelala pass at an elevation of 3988 meters for approximately two hours.

Cycle back down hill to Paro approx 1 hour.

After lunch free time for shopping souvenirs.

Dinner and over night in hotel.

After breakfast, drive to Paro airport and farewell.