Eastern Bhutan remained unexplored by tourists, one of the major reasons being the long time required to reach there from Paro International Airport. However since the opening of the two National Airports of Bumthang ( Central ) and Yonphula (East ), there is an increasing number of tourist visiting the East. One can opt to fly to Bumthang and travel to the East or fly directly to Yonphula and visit the Eastern Regions. Mangalam offers the Eastern Bhutan Cultural Tour which provides an opportunity to expand the experience and see the rich culture and nature of Bhutan. Visitors can opt to travel by road or via flight. Incase by road, the itinerary will be similar to the Amazing West- East Tour and by if opting to fly to Yonphula Airport following will be the itinerary-
Day 1- Paro-Yonphula- Arrive Yonphula airport and travel to Trashigang. Enroute to Trashigang, will visit the Sherutse College in Kanglung, which was for more than a decade the only college in Bhutan and is popularly coined as the “peak of knowledge”. Once arrival on Arrival to Trashigang, will visit the Trashigang Dzong which is dangerously built on the confluence of two rivers. Overnight in Trashigang
Day 2- Trashigang – Trashiyangtse- 53 Kilometers from Trashigang is the beautiful valley of Trashiyangtse. Today you will visit Trashi Yangtse, which is a small, pretty, quite town. The people are known for making wooden bowls and containers, which are said to be best in Bhutan. Just below the town is the Chorten Kora. Along the way to Tashi Yangtse you will stop at the Gom Kora temple, behind which is a large black rock. It is said that Guru Rimpoche meditated in the rock cave and one can see the impression of his thumb, his hat, and his body on the rock. Visit Dzong and explore in the town of Tashi Yangtse.
Chorten Kora is one of the attractions of this valley in Eastern Bhutan. It is a great Chorten built in 1740 and modeled on the style of the Boudhnath Stupa in Nepal. Its annual tsechu (religious festival) attracts enormous crowds. Drive back to Trashigang and overnight at the hotel Trashigang.
Bomdelling Wildlife Sanctuary is worth the visit. With an area covering 1545sq. with 42 sq., it is boasts of one of the richest temperate Fir Forest in the eastern Himlalayas. This is another region in Bhutan which is winter habitat of the rare Black Necked Cranes. Besides that the Black Necked Crane, it is provides home to other rare animals like Barking Deer, Himalayan Black Bears, Red Pandas, Tigers and Leopards.
Overnight halt in Trashigang
Day 3- Trashigang- Lhuntse Day excursion to Lhuntse is 76 km about 3 hours by road was inaugurated in 1980.The Lhuntse road winds around the hill to chali then the few houses of palangphu. The district is famous for the skill of its weavers. It is also the ancestral home of the royal family, Jigme Namgyel, the father of the first king of Bhutan was born in the Dungkhar village in Lhuntse. Lhuntse Dzong is overlooking the Kuri Chuu valley and sits high on a rocky out crops. Visit Lhuntse Dzong and lunch will be provided en-route. Drive to Mongar and evening sit down to a relaxing dinner. Overnight at hotel.
Day 4 (Trashigang- Mongar): Trashigang is 92 kilometers from Mongar, a four hours drive. Mongar is an interesting town to visit as it’s situated atop of a hill rather than a valley and is the trade and travel hub of people in Eastern Bhutan. In Mongar there are many places to visit of which are the Mongar Dzong, Zhongar Dzong, Dramitse Lhakhang, Aja Ney, Yagang Lhakhang and Jarung Khashor Choeten. All these sites are of historical significance and one of them Dramitse Lhakhang has also been enlisted under the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Day 5 Mongar- Yonphula: Travel to Yonphula Airport