Enjoy a full day of sightseeing, as your guide shows you some of the most important landmarks of the city of Thimphu. You can decide what you would like to see and your guide will plan your sightseeing accordingly.
We suggest starting with a visit to the massive Tashichho Dzong, a Bhuddist monastery and fortress situated on the northern edge of the city with an amazing gold-leaf roof. Today this is the seat of Bhutan's government and where the king's Throne Room is located.
For a fascinating insight into the local culture visit Simply Bhutan, a living museum that resembles a Bhutanese village and brings to life Bhutan's ancient cultural heritage - with traditional cuisine, dance, religion and industry.
At the Zorig Chusum Institute (meaning '13 Arts & Crafts') you can see students creating traditional arts and crafts and admire their fine creations.
The Textile Museum has an exquisite collection of traditional fabrics and textiles, established under the patronage of Her Majesty, the Queen Mother (Ashi Sangay Choden Wangchuck) to also educate and train people in the ancient art of weaving.
The small but charming Royal Postal Museum shows the evolution of communications and the postal system through anecdotes, artefacts and a rich assortment of stamps produced over the years. You can even create your own stamp with your picture on it, to send postcards to your family and friends.
The Jungshi Paper Factory produces traditional handmade paper from the Daphne plant. You can observe the entire process of producing authenic Bhutanese paper (called 'deh-sho'), using ancient traditional methods. This paper was originally used by monasteries for woodblock and manuscript books and for writing prayer books. You can even try your hand at this ancient craft and make some paper of your own as a souvenir.
Alternatively you can walk around the city and visit the bustling weekend Farmer's Market or walk across the traditional wooden bridge to the open craft bazaar on the other side of the river. Be sure to try 'ema-datsi' - a chilli and cheese curry that is the national dish.
Later in the afternoon we can take a short drive up to Takin Nature Preserve. Takin, which have the head of a goat and the hooves of a cow, are unique to the Eastern Himalayas and are the national animal.