Itinerary
- Day 1
Paro to Thimphu
You'll arrive at Paro International Airport and handle visa formalities with your Bhutanese representative who joins you for the entire trip. The drive to Thimphu takes you through small villages and along riverside roads, heading to the capital city set in a valley at 2,334 meters/7,660 feet. After checking into your hotel, you can take it easy or go for a gentle walk around town if you feel up to it.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Gentle walk around Thimphu town
- Day 2
Thimphu
Following breakfast, you'll see Thimphu's cultural highlights starting with Buddha Point and its 167-foot bronze statue overlooking the valley. The Motithang Takin Preserve lets you see the national animal, and then you'll visit Changangkha Lhakhang temple from the 12th century. Semtokha Dzong dates back to 1629 and serves as the oldest fortress-monastery in the region. Later you'll stop at Thangthong Dewachen Nunnery before heading to Thimphu's main street in the evening to look through shops selling handicrafts and local souvenirs.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Kuensel Phodrang (Buddha Point)
- Visit Motithang Takin Preserve
- Visit Changangkha Lhakhang
- Visit Semtokha Dzong
- Visit Thangthong Dewachen Nunnery
Optional Activities
- Evening stroll through Thimphu's main street shopping for handicrafts, textiles, and Bhutanese souvenirs
Landmarks Kuensel Phodrang (Buddha Point) Motithang Takin Preserve Changangkha Lhakhang Semtokha Dzong Thangthong Dewachen Nunnery - Day 3
Thimphu to Punakha
After breakfast, you'll drive toward Punakha and pass through Dochula Pass at 3,100 meters/10,170 feet where 108 memorial chortens and prayer flags mark the landscape with views of snow-capped eastern Himalayan peaks. On the route you'll see Chimi Lhakhang fertility temple built in 1499. Arriving in Punakha, you'll explore Punakha Dzong, known locally as 'The Palace of Great Happiness' since it sits at the confluence of two rivers and represents significant architectural achievement.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Dochula Pass
- Visit Chimi Lhakhang (Fertility Temple)
- Visit Punakha Dzong
Landmarks Dochula Pass Chimi Lhakhang Punakha Dzong - Day 4
Punakha to Paro
You'll drive back to Paro through lush valleys and river gorges with stops for photos along the way. Rinpung Dzong, a 17th-century fortress overlooking the Paro River, showcases towering walls, fine paintings, and wooden galleries. The site hosts the famous Paro Tsechu festival each spring. Your evening opens up to explore Paro town at your own pace, checking out traditional shops, cafes, and handicraft stalls.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Rinpung Dzong
Optional Activities
- Explore Paro town with traditional shops, cafés, and handicraft stalls
Landmarks Rinpung Dzong - Day 5
Paro
After an early breakfast, you'll head out for the main event of your trip: the hike to Taktsang Monastery (Tiger's Nest) perched on a cliff at 3,120 meters/10,230 feet. The round trip trek takes around 4 to 5 hours through pine forests with prayer flags and viewpoints offering great vistas. Later, you'll visit Kyichu Lhakhang, a 7th-century temple considered one of the oldest and most spiritual in Bhutan. The evening lets you walk through Paro's local market searching for traditional handicrafts, thangkas, and textiles.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Hike to Taktsang Monastery (Tiger's Nest)
- Visit Kyichu Lhakhang
Optional Activities
- Stroll through Paro local market to shop for traditional handicrafts, thangkas, and textiles
Landmarks Taktsang Monastery (Tiger's Nest) Kyichu Lhakhang - Day 6
Departure from Paro
After breakfast, you'll transfer to Paro International Airport for your departure. You're heading home with memories of monasteries, fortresses, Himalayan scenery, and the people you've met throughout Bhutan.
- Meals
- Breakfast
