Itinerary
- Day 1
Flight to Delhi
Your international flight departs today, heading to Delhi as the starting point for your Bhutan journey. You'll spend most of the day traveling, so settle in for what's typically a long journey depending on where you're flying from.
- Day 2
Delhi
After arriving at Indira Gandhi International Airport, a representative meets you and takes you to your hotel. Check-in happens from noon onward, giving you time to freshen up. If your arrival isn't too late, there's an optional city tour of Delhi available to see some of the capital's main sites.
Optional Activities
- Guided city tour of Delhi (optional, depends on arrival time)
Landmarks Indira Gandhi International Airport - Day 3
Delhi to Samdrup Jongkhar
Following breakfast, you'll catch a flight to Guwahati, then switch to a vehicle heading toward the Bhutan border. By late afternoon you'll reach Samdrup Jongkhar, where a short walk and visit to the local market gives you your first real taste of Bhutanese culture and daily life.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Flight from Delhi to Guwahati
- Visit to Samdrup Jongkhar market
Landmarks Samdrup Jongkhar Market - Day 4
Samdrup Jongkhar to Trashigang
The drive takes you through valleys and mountain passes where you'll see villages featuring golden-roofed Buddhist monasteries. You'll stop at Khaling to watch local artisans working on traditional textiles, then continue on to Trashigang. There you'll see the Trashigang Dzong, an impressive fortress built back in 1659 that dominates the landscape.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Stop at Khaling to observe traditional textile production
- Visit to Trashigang Dzong
Landmarks Khaling Trashigang Dzong - Day 5
Trashigang to Mongar
Following a historical route associated with the Buddhist nun Choten Zangmo, you'll visit the 16th-century Drametse monastery, one of Eastern Bhutan's largest and most significant religious sites. Later you'll head to Mongar to see the Mongar Dzong, a 1930s structure that shows off traditional Bhutanese building techniques beautifully.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Drametse monastery
- Visit to Mongar Dzong
Landmarks Dremetse Monastery Mongar Dzong - Day 6
Mongar to Bumthang
One of the most scenic drives of the trip starts as you cross Thrumsing La pass at 4,000 meters with its dramatic waterfalls and changing vegetation. You'll stop in the Ura Valley to visit a monastery dedicated to Guru Rinpoche and wander through Membartsho village with its prayer flags. By evening you arrive in Bumthang at 2,600m/8,530 feet.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cross Thrumsing La pass
- Visit to monastery dedicated to Guru Rinpoche in Ura Valley
- Visit to Membartsho village
Landmarks Thrumsing La Pass Ura Valley Guru Rinpoche Monastery Membartsho - Day 7
Bumthang
You'll explore three monasteries in the Kurje area, surrounded by 108 chortens dating to the 8th century, then visit Jambay monastery built by the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo and the fortified Jakar Dzong. After lunch, you head to Tamshing and Lhodrak Kharchu monasteries, which are known for keeping Tibetan cultural traditions alive.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Hearty lunch), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Kurje monasteries and 108 chortens
- Visit to Jambay monastery
- Visit to Jakar Dzong
- Visit to Tamshing monastery
- Visit to Lhodrak Kharchu monastery
Landmarks Kurje Monasteries Jambay Monastery Jakar Dzong Tamshing Monastery Lhodrak Kharchu Monastery - Day 8
Bumthang to Phobjikha
The drive to Trongsa takes you through what was once the royal seat of Bhutan's first two kings. From there you continue into the remote and beautiful Phobjikha Valley, where black-necked cranes spend their winters after migrating over the Himalayas from Tibet. You'll have the rest of the day to settle in and get your bearings.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Landmarks Trongsa Phobjikha Valley - Day 9
Phobjikha to Punakha
Start early with morning prayers at Gangtey Monastery, the largest in Bhutan and part of the ancient Nyingmapa order. Then you'll hike through the valley across meadows and forests, listening to the Mo River as you go. Later you drive to Punakha Dzong, the country's capital until 1955 and now where the monastic order spends winters.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Listen to monks at Gangtey Monastery
- Hike through Phobjikha Valley to Mo River
- Visit to Punakha Dzong
Landmarks Gangtey Monastery Phobjikha Valley Mo River Punakha Dzong - Day 10
Punakha to Thimphu
You'll hike through rice fields to reach the Khamsum Yuley Namgay Chorten with the Mo River flowing nearby. After that, you cross the Dochu La pass at 3,088m/10,131 feet where six peaks over 7,000 meters come into view. Arriving in Thimphu, you'll visit the Memorial Chorten, Trashi Chhoe fortress, and Kuensel Phodrang to see the Buddha statue.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike through rice fields to Khamsum Yuley Namgay Chörten
- Cross Dochu La pass
- Visit to Memorial Chörten
- Visit to Trashi Chhoe fortress
- Visit to Kuensel Phodrang
Optional Activities
- Water activities in the Mo River (available for extra cost)
Landmarks Khamsum Yuley Namgay Chörten Dochu La Pass Masagang Tsendagang Terigang Jejegangphugang Kangphugang Zongphugang Gangkar Puensum Memorial Chörten Trashi Chhoe Fortress Kuensel Phodrang - Day 11
Thimphu
You'll visit Pangri Zampa monastery to learn how monks live and study Buddhist philosophy. The textile museum and school of painting give insight into local arts, while Bhutan's national library holds important collections. At the Simply-Bhutan Museum, you can explore old traditions through interactive displays and even have a personal stamp made with your photo.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Pangri Zampa monastery
- Visit to textile museum
- Visit to school of painting
- Visit to Bhutan's national library
- Visit to Simply-Bhutan Museum
Optional Activities
- Personal stamp with your own picture (can be made on request)
Landmarks Pangri Zampa Monastery Textile Museum School of Painting Bhutan National Library Simply-Bhutan Museum - Day 12
Thimphu to Paro
Traveling along the river through spectacular scenery, you'll reach Paro and visit Ta and Rinpung Dzongs to see ancient thangkas, weapons, armor, and murals depicting Buddhist teachings. You'll tour a traditional farmhouse and then try archery, the national sport, using traditionally-made bamboo bows at targets 120 meters away.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Ta Dzong
- Visit to Rinpung Dzong
- Visit to traditional Bhutanese farmhouse
- Archery lesson with traditional bamboo bows
Landmarks Ta Dzong Rinpung Dzong - Day 13
Paro
You'll make the pilgrimage to Taktsang, Bhutan's most famous monastery sitting 900m above the valley on a steep rocky outcrop. Locals call it the Tiger's Nest. From there you'll visit Drukgyel Dzong for views of the sacred snow mountain Chomolhari. The evening wraps up with your final tour dinner accompanied by traditional Cham dances performed by masked dancers.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Final tour dinner with Cham dances)
Included Activities
- Hike to Taktsang (Tiger's Nest) monastery
- Visit to Drukgyel Dzong
- Final tour dinner with Cham dances
Landmarks Taktsang Monastery Drukgyel Dzong Chomolhari - Day 14
Paro
Depending on your flight timing, you might have a chance to do an optional guided tour of Delhi, or you'll have time to think back on your experiences and finish writing your travel diary from the past two weeks.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Guided city tour of Delhi (optional, depends on flight schedule)
- Day 15
Return
You'll head to the airport for your return flight or continue onward. If you're interested, individual extensions can be set up in India, whether that's visiting Agra and Jaipur, exploring Kolkata, or heading to Goa for beach time before heading home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Airport transfer
Optional Activities
- Individual extension to Agra and Jaipur
- Individual extension to Kolkata
- Individual extension to Goa for beach relaxation
