Luxury Highlights Tour of Bhutan
Bhutan
7 Trees Planted for each Booking
Details
Our Luxury Highlights Tour of Bhutan is is a perfect introduction to this fascinating country where you have time to explore Paro, Thimphu and Punakha while staying in higher end hotels.
Throughout this itinerary you stay at best available hotels, they are as follows: in Thimphu at Le Meridien Hotel or Taj Tashi; in Punakha at Uma Como and in Paro at Zhiwa Ling. 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.
Route Map
Itinerary
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 Kathmandu airport for flights back home.
Dates & Prices
For private and bespoke trip, please contact us
Enquire HereWhat's Included
- Bhutan visa.
- All transfers including airport collections in Paro.
- Twin share or double rooms at all places on the itinerary.
- All meals and mineral water included while in Bhutan.
- All tour arrangements including Bhutanese guide (English speaking trained and licensed by the Department of Tourism).
- Private vehicle and driver.
- All entry fees to museums and sites where applicable.
- Full financial protection for all monies paid to us through our membership of Association of Bonded Travel Operators Trust (our ABTOT membership number is 5365) and having an Air Travel Organiser’s Licence (our ATOL number is 10921).
- Pre departure support and advice from The Mountain Company by email, phone or face to face meetings in London. After booking with us we will send our comprehensive “Bhutan Pre Trip Information” notes.
What's Not Included
- International flight to/from Paro.
- Travel insurance.
- Use of bar and beverages in hotel, laundry, telephone calls or internet and personal shopping.
- Tips to your guide and driver.
- Other items not listed in “What is included”.
Accommodation
Hotel Zhiwa Ling in Paro
Hotel Zhiwa Ling has been designed in traditional Bhutanese style with hand-carved wooden cornices and stonework and is set in 10 acres of attractive gardens. This hotel is one of the few Bhutanese-owned luxury hotels in the country and has been rated as 5 star by the Tourism Council of Bhutan
There are 45 rooms comprising of Junior Suites, One bedroom Suites and the King Raven Suite. For our tours we use Junior Suite, these spacious rooms have 49 metres squared and include a sitting area with leather sofas and a private balcony. The bathrooms have a full size bath tub with shower. There is complementary wifi and tea & coffee making facilities in the rooms. There are two restaurants with Bhutanese and international cuisine. The bar is called Mad Monk Bar. Other facilities include spa, a fitness centre, sauna, steam room as well as a traditional Bhutanese outdoor hot-stone bath. There is a business centre, Tea House and a Meditation House.
Taj Tashi in Thimpu
Taj Tashi is part of Taj group of hotels, was built in 2008 and designed to blend Bhutan’s traditional Dzong with modern architecture. This hotel is located in the centre of Thimphu and allows guests to explore the capital city of Bhutan on foot.
Their 66 rooms and suites are spacious and decorated in traditional Bhutan style with Buddhist murals. The hotel has four restaurants that combine Bhutanese with Tibetan and European cuisines. There is a spa featuring a ‘Bhutanese Hot Stone Bath’ and also sauna, Jacuzzi, indoor heated swimming pool and fitness centre.
Uma by Como in Punakha
Uma by Como is located at the far western end of the lush Punakha Valley overlooking a bend in the Mo Chu river. Their 11 rooms, suites and private villas have been designed as a blend of traditional Bhutanese style with contemporary style.
With this small number of rooms Uma by COMO, Punakha has been conceived as an intimate, luxury retreat with excellent service and friendly staff. There is a good restaurant and COMO Shambhala Spa.
Practical Information
Clothing and Equipment List for Bhutan tours
Footwear:
- Comfortable shoes i.e trail shoes or trainers.
- Flip flops or sandals.
Travel clothes. You will need clothing as follows:
- Lightweight waterproof jacket.
- Casual long sleeved shirt with collar (for visits to Dzongs).
- T shirts.
- Lightweight trousers.
- Micro fleece.
- Socks and underwear etc.
- Swim wear
Please carefully read Ethics and Etiquette paragraph for dress code when visiting Dzongs.
Headwear:
- Sun hat.
- Bandana or face mask (eg. Buff Headwear or purchase a #myTMCbuff).
Personal Equipment:
- Toiletry bag include toilet paper, soap, towel, toothbrush, etc.
- Headtorch. Useful during power cuts.
- Backpack for day trips. Recommended size is 15 to 20 litres.
- Water bottle.
- Sunscreen and lipsalve with a high SPF.
- Insect repellent.
- Books, phone and cards etc.
- Power adapter.
- Camera with spare batteries and memory cards.
- Insurance certificate.
- Hand sanitizer. We suggest you keep this in your day pack.
- Duffle bag (or backpack) for your personal gear. Bring a small combination padlock to secure the bag.
Personal first aid kit:
Please bring personal medications and other items you might use regularly such as:
- Any personal medications.
- Insect repellent.
- Plasters and blister treatment (Compeed patches are the best).
- Anti-septic cream.
- Analgesics (paracetamol, ibuprofen and aspirin).
- Throat lozenges.
- Diarrhoea treatment (Immodium) and oral rehydration salts (Dioralyte).
- Antihistamine cream and tablets (Cetirizine or loratidine)
- Multi vitamin tablets.
Dress code and cultural considerations for entering Dzongs
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Go for smart casual look such as long sleeved shirt with collar i.e no T shirts or short sleeved shirts.
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Full length trousers or long skirts (ankles must be covered) i.e no shorts, ¾ length trousers or short skirts.
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Shoes with socks covering ankles i.e no sandals or slippers.
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No hats and umbrellas allowed.
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Photographs are only allowed in the courtyard of most monasteries.
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Walk around Buddhist temples or stupas in a clockwise direction.
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Turn off your mobile/ cell phone and talk in a quiet tone.
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It is customary to give a small donation when visiting a monastery.
Ethics and etiquette in Bhutan
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Lakes in Bhutan are holy and inhabited by spirits. No fishing, swimming or throwing stones.
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Do not disturb or feed wildlife or do anything to destroy their natural habitat.
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Do not use detergent in or near rivers. For personal washing use biodegradable soap at least 50m from any watercourse.
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Do not give sweets, pens or gifts to children or distribute medicine to villagers. There are Basic Health Units operated by Bhutan Government throughout the country.
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Do not buy local household items or religious artefacts from villagers. Antiques may not be taken out of the country.
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Please respect the culture and traditions of local people. This includes trek crew, villagers and pack animal owners.