We woke up to a surprise layer of clouds covering everything below us – it looked rather magical.

We packed up after breakfast and began the ride from Punakha to Paro, the city we originally flew into. A 4 hour drive back up the Dochula Pass then back down. We paused several times for restrooms and for photos and coffee. Passing through Thimphu we got yet another view of the giant Buddha.

We arrived in Paro and immediately went to have an alfresco lunch in a spot that we would never have found ourselves. Lunch was delicious but the best was yet to come. Passang arranged to have a group of Bhutanese musicians and dancers! And we were clad in Kiras for the women and ghos for the men.

We watched 10 different regional dances, with music by a dulcimer, a lute and a flute all with the dancers singing. It was fascinating!

The most amusing dance involved the relationship with the yaks, with the yak getting up close and personal!

There was also one that incorporated archery, Bhutan’s national sport. The women, who are now actually allowed to participate in the sport, historically were there to distract opposing teams.

We ended the entertainment by dancing in a circle with them, with a relatively easy step to learn until they sped up the music!

Subsequently, we spent a short time in shopping for souvenirs prior to getting to the hotel. This is another unique place for our last days in Bhutan. Tomorrow’s an early start for a long awaited event. Come back then to learn what’s next!