Thursday, April 1 — Departure to Bhutan  0350 hrs. meet at Bangkok International Airport for 0550 departure to Bhutan.  Robin will have your visa and airlines tickets.  Arrive Paro Airport (7,200 ft.) at 0910 hrs.  After clearing customs and immigration we will be greeted by Rainbow Tours & Treks representatives, guides and drivers.  We then transfer to Gangtey Palace Hotel for check in and briefing to review the itinerary for the following days and exchange ideas for photo opportunities and equipment.

Our first excursion will be to the National Museum, once the watchtower for the Rinpung Dzong, located high on a promontory overlooking the Paro Valley.  First constructed in 1645, the Rinpung Watchtower was converted to the National Museum in 1968.  While photography within the museum is not allowed, there are numerous photo ops of the exterior and the valley below.  This first outing is meant to familiarize you with the history of this amazing kingdom in the clouds, and a visit to the National Museum is the very best way to quickly learn the culture and natural history since it houses everything that is Bhutanese in a very different museum style that will delight you. 

Then we walk or drive down to Paro Town for lunch in a local restaurant and a walk along the Paro Chu (River) to take pictures of Paro Dzong and the watchtower above.  Here we will have photo ops of the covered foot bridge over the river, the huge wooden gate leading to the bridge, and the interior of the dzong.  Built in 1645, this massive building now houses the District Administration Office and the Monk Body.  A flagstone path leads to the dzong, rising gradually from the bridge that is abutted by two guard houses.  The central tower, called the “Utse” of the Dzong, is clad in superb woodwork and is considered to be the nation’s most beautiful tower. 

Paro Dzong from the Footbridge

We will also visit the Paro archery grounds where there is usually activity, either a formal match or practice. 

Hot stone bath at Gangtey Palace Hotel

Dinner and overnight at Gangtey Palace Hotel.  This hotel was once the home of the governor of Paro and is decorated with antiques and traditional Bhutanese crafts.  It has some of the best traditional hot stone baths in Bhutan so after dinner those who wish to relax in Bhutan’s version of the hot tub may do so.  The one-person tubs are long and made of wood—they have four of them, side by side in a semi-enclosed bath house.  A board with holes at one end separates the bather from the hot stones.  With long steel tongs the attendant picks red-hot rocks from the bonfire and drops them into this chamber causing a cauldron of boiling water.  The heated water then courses through the holes in the board at your feet and the water around your body heats up until you tell the attendant, “No More Rocks!”  You will also enjoy the fragrant herbs that are dropped into the tub, including mint and marijuana—yes, it grows wild in Bhutan and is normally used for pig food.