The holiday starts at the group hotel in Kathmandu. Transfers from Kathmandu Airport are provided. The rest of the day is free to relax or for independent sightseeing. We have also arranged for dinner in the hotel tonight, which you can take at your own leisure.

The group will meet in the lobby of the hotel. We transfer together back to airport in time to check in for the flight to Paro. The flight from Kathmandu to Bhutan is one of the most spectacular of all mountain flights. From the left side of the plane Everest, Makalu and Kangchenjunga, three of the world's highest mountains, are visible. The total flying time is 45 min and soon we are descending into the Paro Valley. In Paro we are met by our Tour Leader and transfer to Punakha, a drive of around 3hrs that will take us across the Dochu La (3100m). Descending to Punakha we can expect warm temperatures, fertile farmland, fruit trees and rice paddies. We check into our hotel and have a little time to relax and explore before dinner.

This morning we make the 5hrs drive to Jakar. In the afternoon, we will enjoy a walking tour of the Bumthang Valley - one of the most beautiful and sacred in Bhutan. The valley is wide, filled with fields and villagers busy with their day's work. The guru Padmasambhava. who introduced Buddhism to the region, meditated in many of the local caves and each now has a dedicated temple or shrine. We start our exploration at Kurje Lhakhang, a 17th-century temple next to which a spectacular monastery has been built. From Kurje, we cross a bridge over the Chamkhar Chu (river) and walk through paddy fields to Tamshing. This temple complex was founded in 1501 by one of Bhutan's most famous saints, Pema Lingpa 'the treasure discoverer'. The monastery is home to many apprentice monks. We continue beyond Tamshing and end our walk across from our accommodation with a visit to the 'Swiss Project' where local people produce cheese, beer, apple juice and honey.

After breakfast at the hotel, we transfer (1.5hrs) through pine forests to the Tang Ugyencholing Manor house, where we can visit the museum of ancient culture. We next drive to Pemachiling nunnery to witness an elaborate drum ceremony performed by the nuns. We take our lunch here and some of the nuns will join us during our meal. After lunch we will visit the Membar Tsho (flaming lake), where the renowned Terton Pema Lingpa, is reputed to have discovered treasure from the lake in the late 15th century. Before returning to the Bumthang Valley we will also visit the Zangtopelri - the celestial abode of Guru Rimpochey. In the evening we can take a stroll through downtown Jakar for some souvenir shopping or enjoy local coffee in one of the cafes.

From Bumthang we follow the winding road through the folds of the Himalayan foothills, crossing the Yutong La (3460m) to reach Trongsa Sherubling (3hrs) where we begin our trek. We meet with our trek crew and horsemen and set off on today's walk. We start with a hour's gradual ascent to the village of Sengibi and then have a long climb up to the hillside village of Gagar (2500m), which is known locally as 'Happy village'. From here we descend to Kasiphey Dzong (2682m). The temple was built by Gangteng Trulku Rinpoche and is home to around 45 monks. Our camp is already set up in the grounds of the Monastery which commands a tremendous view over the wooded hills of the Mangde Chu Valley. This is glamping with a view!

We begin today by descending to the charming village of Thrispang. From here, we enjoy a gentle stroll beside the Mangde Chu, a river that begins life as the melting snows of Gangkhar Puensum (7570m), the world's highest unclimbed peak. The final hour of today's trek is a little steeper as we ascend to our next fixed camp close to the recently renovated Drongthang temple. After lunch at camp we head into Drongthang to meet our hosts. They will have various activities planned for us and we can assist with everyday tasks such as threshing, making butter tea or Arak (the local moonshine), or grinding flour with stone slabs. Not many tourists visit the valley and this is a genuine opportunity for cultural exchange and to gain an insight into the rural life in this isolated region.

We spend the morning exploring the neighbouring hamlet of Mangdephu, which is also the highest habitation along the Mangdi Chu. This whole area was once regarded as a Baeyul (Shangrila) of the Guru Padmasambhava. Renowned for its beauty, the valley is also famous in Bhutan for being the place where the King's orchids grow. Orchid flowers are used in two popular Bhutanese dishes known as Olatsey and Olatcho. To make these dishes the flowers are boiled until soft and then added to a mixture of spices, chillies and melted cheese. The favoured Royal orchids are the species Cymbidium hookerianum. Today we will also accompany and assist the local farmers. We may be able to help plough a field using traditional methods, milk the cows or churn butter. It's not all work though, there are also games to be played! We can try 'Khuru', a form of darts or 'Soksum', a form of javelin throwing. During the day we will all join together and enjoy a traditional lunch served in one of the villagers houses. Afterwards we return to camp and this evening, in keeping with typical Bhutanese hospitality, the villagers of around 30 households will turn out to present some traditional entertainment.

After breakfast, we bid farewell to our new friends and hike downhill to the Mangdu Chu. Along the way we pass through several small hamlets, individual farms and terraced fields. We stop to take our lunch in a scenic spot overlooking the river valley and then continue our descent to a bridge across the Mangde Chu. On the other side, we climb gradually to the village of Bemji with its lovely manor house. Our camp tonight will be in the school yard, which offers the best level ground in the village.

We finish the Royal Orchid Trek with a walk of around 2 hours to reach Kakaling chorten and our vehicles. We say goodbye to our trekking team and set off for Gangtey (4-5hrs). After leaving the valley of the Mangde Chu, the road climbs steadily, at first lined with tall pines, then eventually reaches an 'alpine' zone of rhododendrons and dwarf bamboo. The high point of the day is the Pele La (3420) marked with a chorten and prayer flags. Given good weather, the views from here are excellent, stretching over the Black Mountains to the distant snow-capped Himalaya. We descend from the pass and turn south off the main road. Soon we enter the tranquil Phobjikha Valley with its well-tended fields and pine forests. In the centre of the valley, rising from a small ridge, stands Gangtey Gompa one of the oldest private monasteries in Bhutan and one of a handful belonging to the Nyingmapa sect. The valley is famous as the winter home to the very rare Black-Necked Crane. Experts estimate that fewer than 800 cranes exist in the wild and every year they make an incredible journey from Tibet across the Himalaya to reach this small valley. The Cranes usually arrive in late October or early November and stay until the end of February.

Today we will spend the day in and around Gangtey. We will join the local villages in celebrating the Black Necked Cranes, at a festival that takes place in the courtyard of the Gompa. The festival is a chance for the villagers to rejoice and celebrate the arrival of this majestic bird, which shares their home for the winter months. The festival will include folk song and masked dancers. We will also have a chance to view the cranes themselves either before or after our time at the festival.

This morning we have another opportunity to view the black-neck cranes in their specially protected meadow. The Bhutanese Government has recognised the importance of the birds and has made special provision for their protection, such as paying compensation to the local people who are constrained in what they can do with their cropland over the winter period. After breakfast we set off on our drive to Thimphu and en-route we stop to visit the yellow roofed Chimi Lhakhang temple. This involves a 20 - 30 minute walk across rice fields and a short climb up to the temple. which is dedicated to Drukpa Kuenley, known as the divine madman. Drukpa Kuenley is revered for having defeated a demon who lived on the Dochu La. The temple is a popular pilgrimage place for those wishing to receive fertility blessings. Afterwards, we visit Punakha Dzong, sited at the confluence of the `Pho' &`Mo' Chus (Father & Mother rivers). Built in 1637 by Zhabdrung, the impressive fortress / monastery guards the Southern entrance to the Punakha Valley. Punkaha was the capital of Bhutan until 1955 and is the winter residence of the `Je Khenpo' (head religious abbot) of Bhutan and most of the senior monks from Thimphu. The imposing appearance of the Dzong from all angles lends itself to photography and depending on what events are taking place at the time of our visit, we may be able to look inside. In the afternoon, we continue our drive to Thimphu.

We enjoy a morning of sightseeing in the Bhutanese capital, which will include the the Royal Grand Mother Memorial Chorten and the Buddha Dordenma, the largest seated Buddha in the world. As we pass the archery ground we will check to see if a tournament is taking place. We will also have time to browse the many shops or visit the local farmers' market. After lunch, we transfer to Paro where we will have time to visit the impressive Ta Dzong and the ancient watchtower above, which now houses the National Museum.

This morning we head straight off to make the scenic hike to Taktsang Lhakhang, the Tiger's Nest, one of the most recognised religious sites in the entire Himalaya and only accessible on foot. Clinging to a vertical granite cliff 900m above the valley floor, the monastery dates from 1692 and was built around the cave where Guru Rinpoche was said to have meditated for 3 years, 3 months, 3 weeks, 3 days and 3 hours. According to legend, the Rinpoche arrived in the wrathful form of Guru Dorji Droloe, riding on the back of a flying tiger, and subdued the evil spirits of the region, which then became protectors of the dharma. One in particular, Singye Samdrup, is believed to be the principal guardian of Takstang. An hour's walk will bring us to the classic viewpoint for Takstang, looking across the gorge to the monastic buildings clinging to the cliff wall opposite. There is a small teahouse located here where those that do not wish to go all the way to the temple can rest and enjoy a drink with a truly unforgettable view. The final approach to the monastery takes us down to a sacred waterfall, surrounded by a thousand fluttering prayer flags, where every crack in the rock is crammed with tsa-tsas (small caskets containing the ashes of the dead), before climbing back up towards the monastery. Leaving our bags and cameras at the gate, we may be allowed in to explore the various chambers and altar rooms. Returning to Paro, we can relax at our hotel or do some last minute shopping in town. Tonight we will enjoy a farewell dinner to celebrate our journey through the Land of the Thunder Dragon.

We have an early transfer to Paro Airport for the morning flight to Kathmandu. On arrival we transfer to our comfortable hotel. The remainder of the day is free to explore the city or for shopping in Thamel. An evening meal is included at the hotel, for those that wish to dine together, or you are free to head out into Thamel independently to a restaurant of your choice.

Your holiday ends after breakfast. Transfers to Kathmandu Airport are provided. To extend your holiday in Nepal, why not pre-book a day's sightseeing tour in the Kathmandu Valley, or a multi-day excursion to the wildlife reserve at Chitwan. Contact the KE team for details.