Detailed Program
Upon arrival in Paro, transfer to Thimphu. A day of acclimatization in Thimphu (2,400m). After lunch, visit the Changangkha temple. Then drive to the takin reserve to see the national animal of Bhutan.
From here drive to the viewpoint and take a short hike to Wangditse temple. Descend by car to visit the impressive Dzong. Overnight in Thimphu.
Places and attractions:
- Rinpung Dzong
- Drukgyel Dzong
- Taktshang
- Kyichu Lhakhang
- Kila Gompa
- Dungtse Lhakhang
- Tachog Lhakhang
- Dzongdrakha
Accommodation options:
Start early for a short hike to the Tango monastery. Drive along country lanes on the way to the trail and then hike uphill for just under one hour before reaching Tango Monastery. A picnic lunch will be served near the riverside before returning to Thimphu.
In the afternoon, visit the Folk Heritage Museum and the Institute for the 13 Traditional Arts (Zorig Chusum). In the early evening visit Buddha point and take a stroll around the Memorial Chorten (stupa). You may wish to visit the Post office where you can see the stamp collections. Overnight in Thimphu.
Places and attractions:
- Tashichho Dzong
- Semthoka Dzong
- Dochu La Pass
- Memorial Chorten
- Changangkha Lhakhang
- Zangdopelri
- The Tallest Buddha Image
- Tango And Cheri Monasteries
- The Handicrafts Emporium
- Traditional Medicine
- Zorig Chusum Institute
- National Library
- Weekend Market
- Botanical Garden
- Thadrak Goemba
- Tashigang Goemba
- Chizhing Samtencholing Lhakhang
Accommodation options:
Start early and drive towards Punakha. On the way, stop at Dochula pass (3,000m) to take in the views of the Himalayan peaks. Take a 40-minute downhill hike through rhododendron forests before you start on a beautiful two-hour walk through villages and farmland.
Enjoy a picnic lunch in the fields, near a temple, and continue for another 2-hour walk through villages until you reach the road where your vehicle will meet you. Proceed towards Punakha (1,200m) and visit the dzong (fortress). Overnight in Punakha.
Places and attractions:
- Punakha Dzong
- Khamsum Yulley
- Talo Goenpa
- Nalanda Buddhist College
- Chorten Nyingpo Lhakhang
- Sangchen Dorji Lhuendrup
- Limukha Village
- Ritsha Village
Accommodation options:
Today you will do two short hikes. Start off early in the morning for a short hike to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal stupa for views over the Punatsangchu River. Then drive to visit the Chimi Lhakhang temple, the seat of the so-called “Divine Madman.” Post lunch, drive towards Talo monastery. A series of short hikes will take you below the monastery crisscrossing the main road at various intervals and ending with a two-hour downhill hike past a village, a school, and through some forested area that will lead you back to Punakha dzong. Alternative option: half day of river rafting in the Punatsangchu River (book with us in advance).
Overnight in Punakha.
Places and attractions:
- Punakha Dzong
- Khamsum Yulley
- Talo Goenpa
- Nalanda Buddhist College
- Chorten Nyingpo Lhakhang
- Sangchen Dorji Lhuendrup
- Limukha Village
- Ritsha Village
Accommodation options:
Drive from Punakha via Wangdi to the high glacial valley of Phobjikha (3½ hrs, which is at an altitude of 2,800 m. Here you are likely to see grazing yaks. This valley has some idyllic-looking rural scenery and consists of a central marshland, winter home of the rare black-necked cranes, and farms where potatoes and other high-altitude crops are grown. Take an afternoon hike of 3 hours through the valley, alongside the pristine river, and through forests and villages.
Overnight in Phobjikha.
Places and attractions:
- Dargay Goemba
- Gangtey Gompa
- Temple Of Sha Radap
- Gaselo & Nahee Village
- Adha And Rukha Village
- Shaa Region Of Wangdiphodrang
- Bhey Langdrag Nye
Accommodation options:
Drive to Trongsa or Chumey (193 km, 7 hours)
Visit Gangtey Monastery and the RSPN information center, to learn more about the black-necked crane.
Option 1: Start a 3- 4-hour hike from Phobjikha towards the valley of Sephu and Rukubji. This is a fairly strenuous hike, which starts from above the Gangtey monastery and climbs for about 1½ – 2 hours to the Gyeche-La Pass, (3,580m), following the old routes before the road was built. Visit Kumbu monastery before reaching the pass and then continue downhill into the valley where you will pass through several villages until you eventually meet your vehicle and continue on the journey towards Trongsa. Drive to Trongsa (2hrs). Overnight in Trongsa.
Option 2: A shorter hike: Stop at the viewpoint before reaching Trongsa and take the old path that used to be the main access to Trongsa dzong. Descend sharply to a wooden cantilever bridge and then climb back up towards the dzongs main entrance. This 1½hour hike will make you realize quite how the dzong dominated the route between the east and west of Bhutan. Visit Trongsa Dzong. Drive to Chumey Village (1½hrs). Be sure to wander around a little to see daily life in a very typical rural village in the Chumey valley. Overnight at Chumey.
Places and attractions:
- Dargay Goemba
- Gangtey Gompa
- Temple Of Sha Radap
- Gaselo & Nahee Village
- Adha And Rukha Village
- Shaa Region Of Wangdiphodrang
- Bhey Langdrag Nye
Accommodation options:
You will have a full-day picnic hike to Tharpaling Monastery. Drive up a rough road that leads all the way to Tharpaling monastery, which is perched on the mountain at 3,500m. Visit the monastery at Tharpaling. From the monastery hike directly uphill to the stupa of Ngulshey Khen Rimpoche, a teacher of the Dalai Lama. From here it is a 1-hour hike to the ridge, from where you will get good views of the mountain ranges in the distance. Your vehicle will meet you at Lama Goemba and drive to your hotel in Jakar. (For a tougher hike, this itinerary can be done in the opposite direction but must be planned in advance since you will stay overnight in Jakar).
Overnight in Jakar.
Places and attractions:
Accommodation options:
Visit Jakar dzong (fortress), Jambay Lhakhang (temple), and Kurjey Lhakhang and have lunch in a village farmhouse before setting out on a short village hike to Tamshing monastery. Return towards town, stopping off at Kharchu Drastang.
Overnight in Jakar.
Places and attractions:
Accommodation options:
Start with a visit to Ugyenchholing Palace Museum. From here take a short hike through the villages of Ugyen Chholing, Gamling, and Kharab before reaching Namkhar Lhakhang where you will meet the vehicle. Return towards Jakar, stopping at Lake Membartsho (burning lake).
Overnight in Jakar.
Places and attractions:
Accommodation options:
En route, visit weavers at Zungney village and stop to visit the dzong (if not already visited), and climb the steps to the Trongsa Museum, housed in the beautifully restored watch tower.
Overnight in Wangdi.
Places and attractions:
- Dargay Goemba
- Gangtey Gompa
- Temple Of Sha Radap
- Gaselo & Nahee Village
- Adha And Rukha Village
- Shaa Region Of Wangdiphodrang
- Bhey Langdrag Nye
Accommodation options:
Drive from Wangdi to Paro (3⅓hrs). En route to Paro, you can see perched on the hill, Simtokha Dzong, the first dzong built in Bhutan by the Zhabdrung. Post lunch in Paro town, cross the traditional bridge, and visit the impressive Rinpung Dzong, which is featured in Bertolucci’s film “Little Buddha.” Descend into Paro town for some free time.
Overnight in Paro.
Places and attractions:
- Rinpung Dzong
- Drukgyel Dzong
- Taktshang
- Kyichu Lhakhang
- Kila Gompa
- Dungtse Lhakhang
- Tachog Lhakhang
- Dzongdrakha
Accommodation options:
Hike or horse ride to Taktsang temple, also known as the Tiger’s Nest, which is built into the sheer rock face at an altitude of 3,000 meters. This is a highlight of the tour and involves a 2-hour uphill hike. The visit to the temple and the return downhill to the base make this a 5-hour round trip. This hike requires a certain level of fitness but is not excessively difficult.
In the afternoon, drive towards the ruined fortress Drukgyel Dzong from where you can get a view of the distant Jhomolhari Mountain and enjoy the rural scenery of the valley. Visit Kyichu Lhakhang upon return which is one of the oldest temples in Bhutan. You may wish to book a massage or a hot-stone bath at one of several hotel spas to relax after your busy day. Overnight in Paro.
Places and attractions:
- Rinpung Dzong
- Drukgyel Dzong
- Taktshang
- Kyichu Lhakhang
- Kila Gompa
- Dungtse Lhakhang
- Tachog Lhakhang
- Dzongdrakha
Accommodation options:
Drive to the airport for the flight to your onward destination. We hope to serve you again with our other exciting tour packages in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
You will have a wide range of cuisines to choose from, including Bhutanese, Indian, Tibetan, Chinese, and Thai, as well as Continental. Bhutanese rice is the main staple diet, which is accompanied by the most popular dish, “Ema datshi,” which is made of chilies and cheese. Bhutanese people eat a lot of meat and vegetables. Our partner hotels and restaurants are always aware of your eating habits and cater to your preferences. Even if you want to try Bhutanese, it is not as spicy as we are accustomed to
The official language of Bhutan is Dzongkha, though many other dialects are preserved in each region of the country. Because English is the official language of Bhutan, most Bhutanese people understand it.
There is only one Indian embassy in the country. The Netherlands, Kuwait, and Canada all have consulates here. International embassies are located in Delhi, India, Kathmandu, Nepal, and Bangkok, Thailand.
We do not require any screening to enter Bhutan, but for your own safety in the region, please check the Centre for Disease Control website (www.cdc.gov/).
Bhutan’s currency is called Ngultrum. The value of Ngultrum is equivalent to the Indian rupee. You cannot purchase Ngultrum before traveling to Bhutan, but once there, you can easily exchange your currency for Ngultrum at banks or even at your hotel. Please visit www.bnb.bt to view the current exchange rates.
- Inclusion
- Exclusion
- Insurance
- Airport pick-up and drop-off by private vehicle.
- 3-star accommodation (4 & 5 stars may require an additional premium update).
- Bhutan visa fee – including all necessary processing
- Route Permit
- Three meals per day during your stay in Bhutan
- A licensed Bhutanese tour guide
- All land transportation by private vehicle
- Camping equipment and haulage for trekking tours
- Sightseeing as per itinerary
- Monuments entrance fees where applicable
- Drinking water
- All internal taxes and charges
- A sustainable development fee of $200. (This sustainable development fee goes towards free education, free healthcare, and poverty alleviation, along with the building of infrastructure.)
- Airfare & Travel Insurance
- Expenses of personal nature, Tips to guides and drivers
- Expenses occurred due to unavoidable events i.e. road wrecks, flight delays etc.
Package does not include insurance of any kinds, and that you are required to obtain separate coverage from your home country before your trip begins.