Rainbow Photo Tours of

7 a.m. breakfast, 8 a.m. departure, two-hour drive to Thimphu and picnic lunch beside a roaring river at the base of Cheri and Tango monasteries. But before that go straight to the School of 13 Traditional Arts and crafts because on Saturdays it is in session only half a day. After that is lunch and after that you can spend the afternoon choosing from our list of recommended sites. We have found that tour participants have their own ideas about what is interesting in Thimphu so we include here a list of current events and places to see and leave this decision up to you and your guide—he probably has more ideas than these.

• 1. Memorial Chorten
  2. Paper factory for handmade paper--great for printing photos of Bhutan
  3. Weekend Market
  4. National Institute of Traditional Medicine
  5. Buddha Point
  6. Two good book stores for books on Bhutan
  7. Check the National Stadium for archery competition or practice.
  8. We recommend the Choki Arts and Handicraft store for souvenirs.
  9. Ask your guide for a recommendation for coffee and sweets at a local cafe.
  10. Takin refuge—Bhutan's national animal
  11. Changangkha Lhakhang "Children's Temple" an antique temple where parents bring their children for blessings and to determine names.
  12. Stop at the "supermarket" to pick up munchies and favorite food supplies (Cadbury chocolates?) for the trip ahead.

Overnight halt, walk to Himalayan pizza parlor from Namgay Heritage Hotel