Rainbow Photo Tours of

Departure to Bhutan 05:00 a.m., flight KB 153, Meet at front door of the Novotel at 02:45, ride vans to departure row U at 03:00 a.m. Robin will have your visa and airlines tickets plus you will have a copy. Three-hour flight arrive Paro Airport (7,200 ft.) at 07:00. (Gain one hour.) After clearing customs and immigration, we will be greeted by Rainbow Tours & Treks guides and drivers. We just had a hot breakfast on the plane so usually nobody is hungry and since NakSel Resort is 45 minutes from the airport, our guides will take us in different directions and then meet for lunch in a Paro restaurant—frankly stated, we hit the ground running and take advantage of every precious minute available. Since each couple (singles paired) is in their own private car, if you ever feel that you do not want to follow the itinerary you can opt to go to the hotel and take a nap.

1. National Museum
2. Archery grounds for Friday practice rounds
3. Rinpung Dzong, aka Paro Dzong
4. Kyichu Lhakhang (temple), one of the oldest in Bhutan (7^th century)
5. Paro town, walk around and get a feel for this small authentic Bhutanese commercial district

The National Museum, once the watchtower for the Rinpung Dzong, is located high on a promontory over- looking the Paro Valley. First constructed in 1645, it was converted to the National Museum in 1968. While photography inside the museum is not allowed, there are numerous photo ops of the exterior courtyard. 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--it houses everything that is Bhutanese in a very different museum style that will delight you.

From this point on and throughout the tour the daily itinerary becomes very flexible. The guides know to try and not arrive at these places at the same time as others. Our four guides and four drivers are familiar with this concept and stay in touch with each other to notify every one of any special events in the area, like “You should go to Kichu Temple because there are a lot of pilgrims there,” etc. So as you read down through this itinerary keep this important concept in mind--”You are the captain of your ship and can make changes to the itinerary on the fly.”

I like to drive to the museum and then walk down a steep hill to Paro Town and then walk along the Paro Chu (River) to take pictures of the 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.

We can also visit the Paro archery grounds where there might be practice going on, usually by government employees that take long lunches. You will probably see expensive compound bows here, the middle class and government employees can afford them. Later on when we get into farmland you will see traditional bamboo bows.

We will return to Paro in 14 days so if you miss something on this first pass you will have another day to visit more sites. (This is one of the benefits of the new itinerary that has us flying from Yongphula to Paro on day 14.) We will hike to Tiger's Nest on day 15 after we are more acclimatized.

Dinner and overnight at NakSel Resort, a new five-star resort owned by our Bhutanese partner, Ms. Sonam Ongmo, also the owner of Rainbow Tours and Treks of Bhutan. Sonam has arranged for many of the special events on this tour, she was born and raised in Sakten where her father was the lama. Naksel Botique Resort and Spa is a multi-million-dollar property situated at the edge of a quiet forest on property that was once an apple orchard--the original farmhouse and many of the apple trees still stand. NakSel 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. (Reservations and additional fees required.) The one-person tubs are long and made of wood—NakSel has four of them, side by side in a semi-enclosed bath house. A board with holes at one end (feet) 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 so if you anticipate taking a hot stone bath then ask your guide to locate some while out and about during the day.