DRIVE TO GANGTEY

Meals – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Journey – 5 hours’ drive approx.

Following breakfast, visit Bhutan Postal Museum, opened on 7th November 2015 at General Post Office building to commemorate 60th birth anniversary of His Majesty the Fourth King. Here At the Post Office, you can create personalized postal stamps featuring your own photographs or chosen images. This unique service blends traditional philately with a modern, interactive experience, allowing visitors to take home a memorable and functional souvenir that reflects Bhutan’s charm and hospitality.

Continue onto Choki Traditional Art School: Founded in 1999 by the late Dasho Choki Dorji, Choki Traditional Art School is located in the serene village of Kabesa, just 10km north of Thimphu. A beacon of hope for children from disadvantaged backgrounds, the school offers free art education, food, and lodging. Here, art, tradition, and spirituality come to life. The experience at Choki Traditional Art School includes:

Begin with Spiritual Connection: Your journey starts with a sacred butter lamp lighting ceremony in front of the majestic Guru Rinpoche statue, a symbol of enlightenment and peace, setting the tone for a day of discovery.

Introduction to Choki Traditional Art School: Immerse yourself in Bhutanese artistry through a short documentary about the school’s mission to preserve traditional crafts. Sip signature mint tea while learning about its dedication to empowering young artisans.

Hands-On Experience: Unleash your inner artist in a traditional painting workshop guided by senior students, creating a masterpiece to take home as a memento of your journey.

Explore a 17th-Century Treasure: Step into a 340-year-old building consecrated by Druk Desi Tenzin Rabgye and blessed by The Divine Madman, offering a unique glimpse into Bhutan’s cultural history.

Live Art Demonstrations: Witness traditional arts firsthand with live demonstrations of Lhadi Painting, Sculpting, Wood Turning, Bamboo Crafts, Textile Weaving, Tailoring, and Embroidery, fostering a deeper appreciation for Bhutan’s artistic legacy.

Then commence your journey to Gangtey across Dochu-la pass, situated at an elevation of 3,088 meters (approximately 10,130 feet). If the skies are clear, you'll have the opportunity to behold a panoramic view of the following peaks from left to right: Masagang (7,158m), Tsendagang (6,960m), Terigang (7,060m), Jejegangphugang (7,158m), Kangphugang (7,170m), Zongphugang (7,060m), which resembles a table mountain and presides over the remote region of Lunana, and finally, Gangkar Puensum, the loftiest peak in Bhutan, soaring to an impressive 7,570 meters.

At Dochula Pass, a collection of 108 chortens or stupas, known as Druk Wangyal Chortens, was commissioned by Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuk, the eldest Queen Mother. These chortens are structured in three tiers: the first and lowest level contains forty-five chortens, the second tier has thirty-six, and the top tier includes twenty-seven, encircling the central main chorten.

After enjoying nature’s splendour at Dochula pass, continue your journey onward to Gangtey.

The valley of Gangtey is one of the most beautiful and unspoiled places in Bhutan. The surprise of finding such a wide, flat valley without any trees after the hard climb through dense forests is augmented by an impression of vast space and is an extremely rare experience in Bhutan where most of the valleys are tightly enclosed.

Overnight at the hotel in Gangtey. (Altitude 3,000m/9842 feet)