COUNTRIES VISITED: Bhutan
TRIP CODE: HTB
DURATION: 7 Days
TRIP TYPE: Cultural Tour
TRIP LEADER: Local Leader
TRIP GRADE: Easy
GROUP SIZE: 2 - 10 people
TRIP STYLE: Hotel
NEXT DEPARTURE: 11 Oct 2025
TREES PLANTED: 7 Trees Planted for each Booking
Our Highlights Tour of Bhutan is is a perfect introduction to this fascinating country where you have time to explore Paro, Thimphu and Punakha.
Throughout this itinerary you stay at mid level hotels classified as three star. There is no day to day trekking in this itinerary however there are opportunities for day walks while in Paro, Thimphu and Punakha. You have the option to join one of our fixed date departures or to have a private tour tailored to dates that suit you.
There are superb views of the Himalaya from Druk Air flight to and from Paro and also on a clear day from Dochu La pass between Thimphu and Punakha.
We have arranged for all of our fixed date departures to coincide with one of the main festivals (Tsechus) in Bhutan. Tsechus are annual religious Bhutanese festivals of Drukpa Buddhism held in each district or dzongkhag of Bhutan. Please download Trip Dossier for details of which tsechus are taking place for each departure.
On a clear day the flight to Paro is sensational with views of the Himalaya to the north. Upon arrival our guide will receive you at the airport and drive you through the hamlets of Paro along the riverside to Thimphu the capital city of Bhutan. You will immediately notice the unique architecture and Bhutanese lifestyle with many people wearing traditional clothes (men wear the ‘Gho’ and women ‘Kira’).
The drive from Paro to Thimphu takes about one hour, on reaching Thimphu you will check into the hotel. You can discuss with your guide what to do for rest of the day depending on your arrival time.
You can discuss with your guide where you would like to visit in and around Thimphu. There are several places to see and the most popular are the Thimphu Dzong, Takin sanctuary (Takin is the national animal of Bhutan with the head of a goat and body of a bull), folk heritage museum, the textile weaving center and the Institute of Arts and Crafts.
Today we leave for Punakha which is the old winter capital of Bhutan. En route we drive over the Dochu La pass at an altitude of 3,050m known as one of the finest viewpoints of Eastern Himalaya. On a clear day you can see the peaks Masangang, Tsendagang, Terigang and Gangkar Punsum (the highest unclimbed mountain in the world).
On arrival to Dochu La you can get out of the car to admire the view and walk around the 108 chortens marking the summit of the pass. We then descend through beautiful forest into the Punakha Valley at an altitude of 1,350m.
Before reaching Punakha we visit Chimi Lhakang also known as the fertility temple of Bhutan. Lama Drukpa Kunley, who was a highly unorthodox Buddhist saint, deeds form the basis of many local legends blesses the monastery. The temple is fondly regarded by local families as a potent fertility shrine. It takes about 20 minutes to walk across rice fields to reach the temple.
On the way to your hotel we drive past Punakha Dzong, this is an impressive building and is located at the confluence of the Pho Chhu (father) and Mo Chhu (mother) rivers in the Punakha valley. If we have time we will visit the Dzong if not we will go tomorrow. This dzong is the second largest in Bhutan and was constructed by Ngawang Namgyal, 1st Zhabdrung Rinpoche, in 1637-38 so it is also the second oldest.
There are a number of options for more places to explore in Punakha valley. For a good view of the valley you can walk up to Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal chorten perched on a hill above Mo Chhu river. It takes about 45 minutes to walk up to the chorten after crossing the suspension bridge over the river.
After breakfast there is a long climb to Dochu La where there is superb view of the Himalayas including Gangkar Punsum, from the pass the road descends to Thimphu. We continue our drive for a further hour to Paro.
After breakfast we will organise an optional walk up to the Taktsang monastery known as the “Tiger’s Nest”. It takes about 3 to 4 hours to walk through pine forest and up to the monastery perched on a cliff overlooking the valley. Lunch will be served in the viewpoint cafeteria.
We will also arrange sightseeing where we visit Kichu monastery which is one of the oldest monasteries in Bhutan built in the 7th century by the Tibetan King Songsten Genpo who built 108 monasteries around the region. Also visit the Drugyal Dzong at the end of the valley.
Transfers to Paro airport for flights back home.
Dates | Trip Leader | Price | Single Supplement: Room/Tent | Availability |
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11 Oct 2025 to 17 Oct 2025 | Local Leader | US$2,695pp | N/A | 2 Left to Guarantee |
01 Nov 2025 to 07 Nov 2025 | Local Leader | US$2,695pp | N/A | 2 Left to Guarantee |
29 Nov 2025 to 05 Dec 2025 | Local Leader | US$2,695pp | N/A | 2 Left to Guarantee |
Dates | Trip Leader | Price | Single Supplement: Room/Tent | Availability |
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07 Mar 2026 to 13 Mar 2026 | Local Leader | US$2,695pp | N/A | 2 Left to Guarantee |
28 Mar 2026 to 03 Apr 2026 | Local Leader | US$2,695pp | N/A | 2 Left to Guarantee |
10 Oct 2026 to 16 Oct 2026 | Local Leader | US$2,695pp | N/A | 2 Left to Guarantee |
31 Oct 2026 to 06 Nov 2026 | Local Leader | US$2,695pp | N/A | 2 Left to Guarantee |
28 Nov 2026 to 04 Dec 2026 | Local Leader | US$2,695pp | N/A | 2 Left to Guarantee |
Dates | Trip Leader | Price | Single Supplement: Room/Tent | Availability |
---|---|---|---|---|
06 Mar 2027 to 12 Mar 2027 | Local Leader | US$2,750pp | N/A | 2 Left to Guarantee |
27 Mar 2027 to 02 Apr 2027 | Local Leader | US$2,750pp | N/A | 2 Left to Guarantee |
Hotel Olathang is set amidst 28 acres of blue pine forest on a hill overlooking Paro valley. This hotel is in traditional Bhutanese style.
There are 28 rooms with attached bathrooms and the cottages have an outdoor deck with chairs. There is a restaurant and bar in the main building. Other facilities include a spa and a traditional hot stone bath.
This was the first hotel built for tourists in Bhutan. Established in 1974 for the guests invited to the coronation of the Fourth King of Bhutan.
Hotel Meri Puensum is above Punakha with good views down to the river and valley below. This property is family owned and was one of the first hotels built in Punakha.
The rooms have attached bathrooms and are simple yet functional. Some of the rooms have balconies overlooking the valley. There is a restaurant serving Bhutanese, Indian and Chinese dishes. Most meals are a buffet style. The blocks of the hotel are set in an attractive garden.
Gyelsa Boutique Inn is a family-run hotel located in the centre of Thimphu city. It is within walking distance of the restaurants, cafes and shops of the largest city in Bhutan.
The hotel has 6 suites and 12 twin rooms. The furniture is made in Bhutan from Himalayan wood. Facilities include a restaurant, bar and café. Every room has wifi.
Footwear:
Travel clothes. You will need clothing as follows:
Please carefully read Ethics and Etiquette paragraph for dress code when visiting Dzongs.
Headwear:
Personal Equipment:
Personal first aid kit:
Please bring personal medications and other items you might use regularly such as: