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From$1,590

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Billionaire Singapore found that the top three things that luxury travel segment guests are looking for while on holiday are cultural experiences, food and drink, and experiencing local life and people. Bhutan, one of the least-visited countries in the world and home to a wealth of natural and cultural discoveries made it to the list of five destinations that are trending with Asian travellers for 2023, based on a luxury survey.

7 Days 6 Nights

Paro/Phuentsholing

Max People : unlimited

Tour Highlights

Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, and Wangdue’s top attractions
various monuments and natural features
Stunning Phobjikha valley hike
Take a stroll around Punakha’s rice fields.
Trek to the famous Tiger’s Nest monastery.
Shooting in Bhutanese attire

Arrival Location

Paro International Airport (Google Map) / Phuentsholing (Google Map)

Departure Location

Paro International Airport (Google Map) / Phuentsholing (Google Map)

Price Includes

Airport Transfers
Stay in hotels as indicated in the itinerary
All three meals, tea and coffee
Dedicated SUV vehicle with a driver and
English Speaking Guide throughout the Trip
Short hikes, Packed lunches and snacks wherever required
Monumental Fees
Bhutan Tourism Development Fee
VISA processing Fee

Price Excludes

International Air fare
Refreshments and bottled drinks and alcohol
Tips/gratuities
Cost arising out of Flight Cancellation/road blockades/ landslides and events beyond our control
Expenses of personal nature and any other expenses not mentioned in the above cost

Tour variants, extensions and combinations

Jomolhari Yaksa or Druk Path trek (+6 to 7 days): Moderate high-altitude climbs can be used to extend this journey, which will make it much more enjoyable. Check out the combo of Jomolhari’s detailed itinerary.

Haa valley homestay (+1 nights): At the conclusion of the excursion, you can take a car through the Chele-la pass (about 4,000 meters above sea level) to the seldom-visited Haa valley. The oldest nunnery in Bhutan, Kila Gompa, dates back to the 14th century. Along the way, you can climb there and experience high altitude on the pass’ ridge, where in clear weather you can see Mount Jomolhari and Kanchenjunga. You will be a guest of a local family in a three-hundred-year-old farmhouse in Haa. Due to the presence of an Indian military base, Haa is a less popular valley. However, both the villages and the surrounding landscape are immaculate. You may take a wonderful trek around the area and see a few nearby temples.

Tshechu festival (+1 night): If we prepare well, we can arrange for you to attend the yearly Tsechu celebration in a castle or monastery. Bhutan hosts a number of events, so we can absolutely adjust your visit plans to coincide. To book airplane tickets and hotel bookings, we simply need to start planning well in advance (ideally more than six months beforehand).

Gasa Hot springs (+1 or 2 days): North of Punakha in the highlands is Gasa, which has only lately been connected by road. You can enjoy the “tsachu,” or natural hot springs, in addition to the lovely dzong and views of the high peaks around. Numerous pools with various temperatures are available. Since water contains sulfur, many different skin conditions are thought to benefit from it. Regardless, relaxing in opulent pools is nice. Spending the night in a local farmhouse is another option for experiencing true Bhutanese hospitality.

Itinerary

Day 1Arrive Paro and drive to Thimphu

Drive to Thimphu after arriving by plane at the Paro airport. If arriving by land, drive for around five hours from Phuntsholing/Jaigon in India to Thimphu. Visit the medieval bridge constructed with centuries-old iron chains at Tachog Lhakhang. Drive to Changlimithang stadium after you arrive in Thimphu to watch the country’s national sport, archery. From the morning till the evening, matches are being played! Next, stroll to Coronation Park, a peaceful area with a walking Buddha statue, and stop by Zangto Pelri Lhakhang, one of the principal temples that local Bhutanese like visiting. For the benefit of all sentient beings, turn the prayer wheels.
After the journey, relax and, at your discretion, enjoy your arrival in Bhutan at the renowned Mojo Park music club or one of Thimphu’s other hotspots.

Day 2Thimphu

Drive to Buddha Dordenma, the enormous Buddha statue that overlooks the valley, in the early morning, and then walk to the city’s most impressive viewpoint. Continue to the wild animal sanctuary to witness the famed national animal of Bhutan, the Takin, as well as other creatures that live in the forests of the kingdom. Drop to the center Clock Tower square and proceed down Norzin Lam Street to view the traffic cops directing traffic at the key intersection. Finish your stroll at the handicraft market, where you can examine and purchase a variety of intriguing Bhutanese mementos at a fair price.
Continue your tour to the Folk Heritage Museum to see the display on Bhutan’s traditional village life (closed on Sunday, alternatively visit Simply Bhutan museum).
Visit a hand paper factory to view the manufacturing process and to purchase authentic goods. A nearby gallery of traditional thangkha paintings is also worthwhile visiting. An evening visit to the revered Dechen Phodrang monastery with its panoramic views of the Thimphu valley. The impressive Tashichho dzong castle, the seat of the monarch and government, can also be seen from here. It has wonderful lighting at night.

Day 3Thimphu-Gangtey(Phobjikha)

Travel to Wangdue Phrodang over the Dochu-la pass (3010 m), stopping en route to see the royal Druk Wangyel Lhakhang temple. You have a decent chance of seeing panoramic vistas of mountains in clear weather, including Gangkhar Phuensum (7570m), Bhutan’s tallest mountain.
Descend to the Punatsang Chu river’s tropical valley. You will resume driving up the mountains shortly after lunch until you arrive at the picturesque Phobjika valley (2750 m). You have the option of attending a lesson on Buddhism taught by an accomplished master with an English translation in the Gangtey monastery shedra (Buddhist college, subject to teacher availability, donation expected).
Another traditional Bhutanese experience that you can enjoy is the hot stone bath (need to be ordered in advance and on extra payment).

Day 4Gangtey(Phobjikha)-Wangdue/Punakha

Visit to the Nyingma, the oldest school of Tibetan Buddhism, and historically significant Gangtey Gompa, which is the geographical and metaphorical center of the valley. From there, go on a 2.5-hour walk and tour of the valley. This is one of Bhutan’s most stunning yet simple hikes. After passing past fields of buckwheat and potatoes and a mixed woodland with trees covered in “old men’s” beard lichen, you will eventually come to marshland. Black necked cranes, which are scarce, can be seen here in the late fall and winter.
If you’re curious to learn more about this secretive species, you may also stop by the Black Necked Crane Center. Finish your journey with a meal at a nearby farm where you can sample the cuisine and other local specialties like the salty suja tea and the ara spirit. Drive back to Wangdue, stopping on route to explore the quaint Rinchengang village if you have time.

Day 5Wangdue/Punakha-Paro

Early in the morning, take a little trek to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten for stunning views of the valley’s terraced rice fields. You may also want to think about going rafting on the Mo Chhu (simple) or Pho Chhu (thrilling) rivers. Continue your tour by seeing Punakha Dzong, also known as the “Palace of the Great Happiness,” which is the most elaborately decorated castle in the country and was the winter residence of the Bhutanese monarchs. Short stroll to the Chhimmy Lhakhang Temple, which is dedicated to the saint Drukpa Kunley, also known as the “Divine Madman,” who is said to have taught Buddhism via singing, drinking, and scandalous sexual antics in the 15th century. Houses positioned along the path to the temple are adorned with phallic symbols in remembrance of the saint’s antics. The temple is also regarded as a fertility booster, drawing childless couples from all across Bhutan and abroad. Visit Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Lhakhang nunnery, which is located on a high hill overlooking the valley and features a stupa in the Bhutanese and Nepali styles, if time allows.
Drive to Paro in the afternoon.

Day 6Paro

The tour’s highlight is without a doubt the hike to Taktsang Gomba (The Tiger’s Nest)! Although it sounds difficult, the hike is well worth it. If you’re not feeling very strong, you can take a break in the café with a lovely view of the temple. To gain a bird’s-eye view of Tiger’s Nest, you might climb up to Zangtopelri Lhakhang if you have the energy! Depending on the weather, your fitness level, and your tastes, you might think about going trekking in the morning or early afternoon. Visit the National Museum while you’re in Ta Dzong, the watchtower that guards the Paro castle from intruders, and then travel into the town of Paro to take in the views of the historic bridge that runs beneath the Paro Dzong. Here, you can snap lovely pictures with a castle in the background while wearing Bhutanese clothing.
Keep going to the Paro Airport viewpoint. You might witness aircraft taking off and landing, depending on the schedule. One of the busiest airports in the world is the one in Paro, known for its runway. If you have the time, you should visit Bondey’s village’s Zangtopelri lhakhang, a stunning new temple with exquisite embellishments, or Dzongdrakha lhakhang, an ancient temple built on the cliffs that is frequently compared to Tiger’s Nest for its beauty and is infrequently visited by other tourists. Have fun on your last night in Bhutan.
A traditional dinner in the neighborhood farmhouse is optional, as is the mask dance performance.

Day 7Departure

If you have the time, you can drive to Drugyel dzong to visit a recently restored castle and the sacred Jomolhari mountain’s summit in good visibility.
After that, you may either take a flight out of Paro or drive for around 5 hours to the land to the border town of India via Phuentsholing.