- Overview
- Trip Outline
- Trip Includes
- Trip Excludes
- Booking
- FAQ
This textile tour is designed to provide you the rare opportunity to understand different aspects of Bhutanese textiles including the process of natural dying and weaving through hands on opportunities.
The journey will take us from one corner of the country to another stopping at important textile centres, interacting with locals, visit major sights and witness the Trashigang tschechu (festival) . We understand that our group will have varying interests and so we provide a range of activities, ranging from hands---on opportunities at the loom through to non---textile pursuits for accompanying partners. We also have left plenty of flexibility in the itinerary to take advantage of opportunities that can’t be predicted, and to choose optional activities according to the interests of the group.
We will conclude our adventure in the more developed western part of Bhutan and by this time you should be well acclimatised if you wish to hike to the spectacular Taktsang (Tigers Nest) monastery near Paro.
Itineraries
Day 1
Date : November 22, 2020
Guwahati (India) to Samdrup Jongkhar (Bhutan)
Arrive S/Jongkhar from Guahati (Assam) and check into hotel in Samdrup Jongkhar. Enroute visit the mechanised loom in Dharanga.
Halt at hotel in Samdrup Jongkhar
Day 2
Date : November 23, 2020
Samdrup Jongkhar to Trashigang
Enroute visit Khaling handloom project (natural dyes, weaving). Halt at hotel in Trashigang
Day 3
Date : November 24, 2020
Witness Trashigang Tshechu.
Witness Trashigang Tshechu the largest festival in Eastern Bhutan. The highlight will be to see the unfurling of religious applique (Thongdrel) and to see the various religious mask dances apart from seeing the Merak-Saktang community (a highland community with unique dress code. Halt at hotel in Trashigang.
Day 4
Date : November 25, 2020
Trashigang sightseeing
Day trip to see the weaving of raw silk (including raw silk dyeing)in Rangjung and/or Radhi. Also visit Rangjung monasteries. Return back to hotel in Trashigang.
Day 5
Date : November 26, 2020
Trashigang to Autsho
Travel to Autsho and halt in Autsho guesthouse allowing guests some time to explore the little weaving town on foot.
Day 6
Date : November 27, 2020
Autsho to Khoma
Visit Khoma village popularly known for Kushithera production. Enroute visit Giant Guru statue. Night halt at Khoma Homestays where guest will get the first hand experience of rural livelihood.
Day 7
Date : November 28, 2020
Khoma to Yotongla
Travel to Yotongla. Enroute have a glimpse of ruined Zhongar Dzong (Fortress) - Dracula's castle of Bhutan. Halt at hotel in Yongkola amidst the chirping sounds and songs of birds.
Day 8
Date : November 29, 2020
Yotongla to Bumthang
Travel to Bumthang and halt at hotel in Bumthang.
Day 9
Date : November 30, 2020
Bumthang textile tour
Textile tour in Bumthang and visit some monuments also.
Halt at hotel in Bumthang.
Day 10
Date : December 1, 2020
Bumthang to Phobjikha
Bumthang to Trongsa Enroute visit Chumey Yathra weaving centre. On arrival at Trongsa visit the Trongsa Taa Dzong (Museum) and Trongsa Dzong (fortress), the largest Dzong in Bhutan. Built during the time of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, the Dzong stands to be an architectural masterpiece and marvel, and served as the seat for the governor of Eastern region of Bhutan. Still the Kings of Bhutan has to first assume the seat of Trongsa Penlop (Crown Prince) before becoming the King. Proceed further for overnight stay at homestays in Phobjikha.
Day 11
Date : December 2, 2020
Phobjikha Sightseeing
A Nature hike takes you through the beautiful Phobjikha valley, through pristine conifer forests, village helmets and wide valleys where the Black necked cranes would have already reached its winter habitat from China. Explore more of Phobjikha valleys through short walks around the valley with a visit to the Crane Information centre. Halt at hotel in Phobjikha
Day 12
Date : December 3, 2020
Phobjikha to Punakha
Travel to Punakha through Wangdue Phodrang district and on arrival at Punakha pay a visit to Punakha dzong. Halt at hotel in Punakha
Day 13
Date : December 4, 2020
Punakha to Thimphu
Enroute visit Chimi lhakhang (Fertility temple) in Lobesa and walk through various arts and crafts stalls. Also stoppage at Dochula to take a 360 degree view of the Eastern Himalayas. Arrive Thimphu and visit Tashicho Dzong (Fortress used as a Head Quarter by King of Bhutan). Overnight at hotel in Thimphu.
Day 14
Date : December 5, 2020
Thimphu Sightseeing
Visit some Master weavers centre and some handicraft shops. Also you will visit some places of historical and cultural importance such as Folk Heritage Museum, Institute Arts and Crafts, National Memorial Chorten (stupa), Buddha Point. Evening walk through various handicraft stalls. Overnight at Thimphu
Day 15
Date : December 6, 2020
Thimphu to Paro
In morning visit Royal Textile Academy. After lunch travel to Paro and visit Paro Ta Dzong (now National Museum of Bhutan), Rinpung Dzong (fortress), Kyichu Monastery (one of the oldest Moastery built by Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo), and Handicraft shops in Paro. Overnight at hotel in Paro
Day 16
Date : December 7, 2020
Day hike to Tiger's Nest Monastery
Visit Taktshang (Tiger’s Nest) Monastery , built on a steep cliff is one of the most iconic place where Guru Rinpochhe is believed to have flown here on the back of a tigress to spread Buddhism in 746 A.D. The round trip takes about 4 hour hike. Later visit Drugyel Dzong (Castle of the Victorious Drukpa) and Paro Tadzong (National Museum). Towards evening you can have a relaxing traditional hot stone bath to rest your tired body after the hike and all the trips. Overnight at hotel in Paro
Day 17
Date : December 8, 2020
Departure
After breakfast, our transport team will reach you to the Airport and will bid farewell for safe journey.
- Private transfer from Guwahati Airport to Samdrup Jongkhar
- Natural Dye Workshop and Weaving Class Fees
- Visit to the Royal Textile Academy in Thimphu and all other entrance fees including Bhutan visa fees (USD40/-)
- Professional English speaking guide
- All internal ground transport (excluding domestic flights).
- All meals, tea, snacks and bottled water.
- Twin share/double in Bhutanese 3-star hotel accommodation (4/5 star entails extra charge) and in home-stays approved by Tourism Council of Bhutan.
- Sustainable Development Fee (SDF of USD 65 per person per night included within the costs except for Eastern Bhutan). This SDF goes to government that is used for providing free health care, education and other developmental works.
- On the day of departure, your tour operator shall be limited to providing breakfast only and any extra requirements shall be payable on usage basis.
- International flights, stopover accommodation or domestic flights
- Items of a personal nature, phone calls, laundry, hard drinks, etc.
- Tipping for guide & driver.
- Wire transfer fee for transferring tour payment from your country’s bank to Bhutan.
- Travel Insurance.
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StartEndGroup (Min-Max)Pricing
Bhutan (Druk - a dragon Kingdom) with approximate size of Switzerland is a Buddhist Kingdom located between China and India, and is known for its peace loving people. It has been increasingly seen as tourist hotspots due its Dzongs (fortress), snow capped mountains, valleys, rivers, good forest cover and many historical and natural heritage sites that were preserved as Bhutan remained in self imposed isolation until 1960s.
Our Government regulation mandates that all tourists have to arrange the visit through the registered tour operator of Bhutan. All International tourists visiting to Bhutan (except Indian, Bangladeshis and Maldivian who need to obtain permit at entry port) must obtain a visa clearance. Visas are processed online by your licensed Bhutanese tour operator, upon receiving full tour costs.
According to the suitability of season there are two seasons with different rates to visit Bhutan. The rate is inclusive of Sustainable Development Fund (SDF) of $65 per person per day, accommodation, food, English speaking guide services and land transportation within Bhutan.
i. Peak or high season months are March, April, May, September, October and November = USD250/person/day
ii. Low season months are December, January, February, June, July and August = USD200/person/day
There are two ways
1. You can use your Master and Visa Card to directly send the tour costs. Online card payment will charge you 3.5% on the total payment, (2% will charge by the Card Company, 1% by your bank, 0.5% by the bank in Bhutan).
2. You can directly wire the money using the banks in your corresponding countries (the list will be provided based on your country). After remitting the payment to Bhutan in our account, we have to request our bank in Bhutan to transfer it to the Tourism Council of Bhutan Account. The transfer fee vary according to the bank which you have to bear it.
- SDF is Sustainable Development Fee and amounts to USD65/day/person that is deducted from the daily rate (say USD 250/- during peak and USD 200/- during low season). SDF is paid directly to government and are used for providing free health care, education and infrastructure development.
- The daily rate is the amount inclusive of SDF.
Yes, there are discount as listed below; Individual and Group discount.
Individual discount
- Children between 0-5 years old, no charge
- Children between 6-12 years old, no SDF charge and 50% discount on daily remaining rate
- Full time student under 25 years old with valid student card gets 25% discount on daily rate
- 50% discount on SDF after the 8th nights
- 100% discount on SDF after 14th nights
Group Discount
- 50% discount on daily rate is given to one person in a group of 11 to 15 people.
- 100% discount on daily rate is given to one member in a group exceeding 16 people.
Surcharge apply if the group size is 2 pax and below
- Single (individual) – US$ 40 per night
– Group of 2 person – US$ 30/person/night
Surcharges are determined by Government and is directly deducted from the tour costs.
Bhutanese currency is known as the Ngultrum and has same value as the Indian currency of Rupee. As such Indian currency note is also used widely in Bhutan. But the international tourists must make payment in the dollar.
ATMs are located through out the country and you can easily withdraw the amount in Bhutanese currency.
Bhutan has been gaining popularity as a peace loving nation and is everyone’s dream to visit Bhutan. The slogan of Tourism Council of Bhutan is "Bhutan-a happiness is a place?"
No, there won't be any language barrier as lmost all the Bhutanese can speak English. Moreover English is used as a medium of learning and is also used for communication purpose.
No, there are SDF (Sustainable Development Fee of USD65/day/person) waiver if you visit Eastern parts of Bhutan comprising of Samdrupjongkhar, Trashigang, Pemagatshel, Trashiyangtse, Mongar and Lhuntse). That waiver is until December 2020 only.
We will be glad to provide answers on any front to enable you to enjoy your visit to Bhutan,
