Bhutan Cross Country Cultural and Festivals Itinerary

Bhutan  Previous Page  Previous Page  Next Page
Day 9 — {date9s}

Jakar to Ugen Choling

Domkhar
The sleepy town of Jakar, referred to by the locals as Bumtang, is split by an ancient trade route that is now the National Highway.
Chili peppers Bhutan
Chili peppers dry on a farmhouse roof near Jakar Dzong, Bhutan.

After breakfast we will depart for our first destination in the remote eastern side of Bhutan, the Tang valley and the village of Ugen Choling.  Our journey is 20 miles, 13 miles of which is on an unpaved road. We visit a roadside nunnery at Bapzor village then drive to the end of the road at the village of Kesum. After a roadside picnic lunch, by noon we should be at the end of the road where, if you choose to, you can take a one-hour hike over a suspension footbridge, through farm fields and cluster villages and up a "hill" to the mystical Ugyen Choling Palace where we will spend the night in the newly renovated guesthouse. The road and concrete bridge over the river were recently completed so those who want to can ride all the way to Ugen Choling.  (Robin wrote a story on Ugyen Choling for Tashi Delek magazine, available on the Rainbow web site.)

Ugyen Choling is a hidden national treasure, privately owned by the same family for hundreds of years. Its remote location makes it one of the less frequently visited historical sites in Bhutan, hosting fewer than two hundred guests per year. One of the owners wrote a book on Bhutanese folk tales of the Yeti and her brother is the property's caretaker. The best part of the Palace is the quaint museum housing permanent exhibits on three floors in the main building and the Utse, the central tower.  Traditional living quarters are recreated to capture the realistic ambiance of the ancient lifestyles and conditions of the households. Everyday kitchen and weaving utensils, war weapons--including gun powder made from petrified yak dung--tools and farming implements are the main part of the exhibits.  In the evening the guides and drivers will host an archery and lawn darts competition with lots of cheering by the villagers—keen prizes provided.

Intricately painted festival drum rattles.
Majestic peak of Jomalahari.
Domkhar
Walking the paths through villages finds new friends around every corner.
Masks Bhutan
Our many years of forming relationships has led to access to scenes like this.

More Bhutan Tour Information

Do you have more travel questions about going to Bhutan? Please feel free to Email Robin!Email Robin

Background image: detail of Bhutanese temple window.
Bhutan window
“Robin specializes in tours to Bhutan only and does not take tours elsewhere, making him THE specialist in Bhutan travel." —TripAdvisor Review of Rainbow Photo Tours