Itinerary
- Day 1
Paro to Thimphu
Landing at Paro airport greets you with Himalayan views (weather permitting), then after handling visa paperwork, your guide drives you toward Thimphu, which sits about 55 km away or roughly 1.5 hours by car. You'll stop at Tachog Lhakhang temple first to soak in the medieval feel of the place. From there, head to Wangsisina Nunnery where you light 108 butter lamps for an auspicious beginning to your trip. Next comes Buddha Dordenma statue, and the vantage point there gives you sweeping valley views. The rest of your day is for settling in and wandering through Thimphu's quiet streets at your own pace.
Included Activities
- Visit Tachog Lhakhang temple
- Light 108 butter lamps at Wangsisina Nunnery
- Visit Buddha Dordenma statue
Optional Activities
- Leisurely exploration of Thimphu streets
Landmarks/POIs Tachog Lhakhang Wangsisina Nunnery Buddha Dordenma - Day 2
Thimphu
After eating breakfast at your hotel, you'll drive north through Begana village and reach the trailhead for Cheri hike. The trek takes you through thick forests up to Cheri monastery, where you might encounter monal birds and mountain goats along the way. Monks here conduct meditation retreats, so there's a contemplative quality to the place. Later in the day, grab a picnic lunch beside the pristine rivers running through Jigme Dorji National Park. After lunch, you head to Dechenphodrang Monastery, which sits on a ridge looking out over the Thimphu valley, and you can watch young monks practicing their religious instruments. By evening, check out an archery match at Changlingmithang stadium, which is where Bhutanese compete in their national sport, and you'll likely hear celebratory singing and dancing from the crowds.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic lunch amidst natural beauty of Jigme Dorji National Park, beside pristine rivers), Dinner
Included Activities
- Cheri monastery hike through Jigme Dorji National Park
- Visit Dechenphodrang Monastery
- Watch archery game at Changlingmithang stadium
Landmarks/POIs Cheri Monastery Jigme Dorji National Park Dechenphodrang Monastery Changlingmithang Stadium - Day 3
Thimphu to Punakha
You'll have breakfast, then drive up to Dochula Pass at 3,088 m (10,130 ft), where decorated chodens, mani walls, and prayer flags cover the landscape. If the weather cooperates, you can see several high Himalayan peaks, including Gangkar Puensum at 7,497 m, Bhutan's tallest mountain. From there, head toward Punakha for a gentle hike to Chimi Lhakhang, the Temple of Fertility, walking through Sopsokha valley with its beautiful terraced rice paddies. Grab lunch at a cafeteria or farmhouse close to the temple. Then drive along the river valley to reach Punakha Dzong, also called the Palace of Great Bliss, which stands between the male and female rivers.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Delicious lunch at cafeteria or farm house around the temple), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Dochula Pass
- Hike to Chimi Lhakhang (Temple of Fertility)
- Visit Punakha Dzong
Landmarks/POIs Dochula Pass Chimi Lhakhang Punakha Dzong - Day 4
Punakha to Paro
After breakfast featuring local organic produce, you'll travel to Paro to catch one of Bhutan's most anticipated festivals. Locals wear traditional dress (Gho for men, Kira for women) with intricate and colorful patterns. Masked dances performed by monks tell stories about Guru Padmasambhava, and many believe witnessing them brings blessings. Atsara clowns entertain throughout the day, followed by traditional folk dances from laypeople. You can chat with locals to understand their customs better. Later, have lunch at a designated restaurant, then decide whether to keep watching the festival or explore other local sites.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Nutritious breakfast made using local, organic produce), Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Witness festival with masked dances and traditional folk performances
Optional Activities
- Continue watching festival at dzong courtyard
- Engage in other sightseeing in the area
- Day 5
Paro
This morning you hike to Tiger's Nest (Taktshang), perched 900 metres above the Paro valley and one of Bhutan's most renowned sites. Guru Rinpoche is believed to have meditated in a cave here for 3 months after arriving on a tigress's back. Halfway through the hike, there's a cafeteria where you can stop for tea or coffee and snap some photos, or just push ahead to the monastery. You'll explore the monastery grounds and the cave (though cameras stay outside). On your way down, stop again at the cafeteria for lunch. Back in Paro by afternoon, soak your tired legs in a hot stone bath to ease the hiking soreness, then head to a farmhouse for traditional Bhutanese dinner and try your hand at local archery.
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner (Bhutanese farm house dinner)
Included Activities
- Tiger's Nest (Taktshang) monastery hike
- View meditation cave of Guru Rinpoche
- Hot stone bath
- Local archery game
Optional Activities
- Stop at cafeteria for photos and return without reaching monastery
Landmarks/POIs Tiger's Nest (Taktshang) - Day 6
Paro
Your Bhutan trip comes to an end as your guide takes you to the airport and says goodbye.
