Itinerary
- Day 1
Paro
You'll arrive at Paro Airport where a driver meets you and takes you to your hotel. The rest of the day is open, so you can settle in, grab a meal, and get your bearings at your own pace.
Optional Activities
- Independent exploration of Paro
- Day 2
Paro to Punakha
Start early driving through forests of pine, oak, and rhododendron to reach Dochu La Pass at 3050m/10007ft. From there, head down into Punakha Valley and walk for about 1.5 to 2 hours uphill to Chimi Lhakhang Temple. After that, you'll check out the impressive Punakha Dzong. The afternoon has you relaxing at your campsite along the Mo Chu River. There's an optional hot stone bath with local drinks available before dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Scenic walk to Chimi Lhakhang Temple (1.5-2 hours)
- Visit to Punakha Dzong
Optional Activities
- Hot stone bath served with local drinks
Landmarks Dochu La Pass Chimi Lhakhang Temple Punakha Dzong 
- Day 3
Punakha Valley to Thimphu
After breakfast, you'll drive alongside the Mo Chu River and then hike for roughly 2 to 2.5 hours through rice fields up to Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten, a hilltop temple with great valley views. Next you'll walk through the villages of Talo, stop for a picnic lunch, and visit Sangchen Dorji Lhendrup Nunnery which sits on a ridge between the Punakha and Wangdue Valleys. Late afternoon has you driving on to Thimphu.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic lunch), Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike to Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten (approximately 2-2.5 hours)
- Visit to Talo villages
- Visit to Sangchen Dorji Lhendrup Nunnery
Landmarks Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten Talo Sangchen Dorji Lhendrup Nunnery - Day 4
Tshechu Festival
Today brings you to the Tshechu Festival in Thimphu, a 3-day religious event held on the tenth day of the lunar calendar to honor Guru Rimpoche Padmasambhava's birthday. You'll drive to Tendrelthang at Tashichho Dzong where residents from Thimphu, Paro, and Punakha gather in their best traditional dress. There you can watch the famous masked dances and cultural performances.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Tshechu Festival viewing - masked dances and traditional cultural displays
Landmarks Tashichho Dzong 
- Day 5
Thimphu
You'll see several key spots around Thimphu starting with the Memorial Chorten, a stupa built to honor Bhutan's third King. Then head to Kuenselphodrang, also called Buddha Point, where you can see the world's largest Buddha Dordenma statue and look out over Thimphu Valley. Later in the day, stop at a handmade paper factory to watch artisans use traditional techniques that have been passed down for centuries.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Memorial Chorten
- Visit to Kuenselphodrang (Buddha Point) and Buddha Dordenma statue
- Visit to handmade paper factory
Landmarks Memorial Chorten Kuenselphodrang (Buddha Point) - Day 6
Thimphu to Paro
You'll drive to Paro with stops along the way. At Chuzom, check out where the Paro and Thimphu rivers meet and see three types of stupas (Bhutanese, Tibetan, and Nepalese). Then visit Tachogang Iron Chain Bridge and Temple from the 15th century. Once in Paro, you'll tour the National Museum inside the historic Ta Dzong watchtower, walk around Rinphung Dzong (which was used in the film Little Buddha), see Kichu Lhakhang from the 7th century, and visit Dungtse Lhakhang Temple.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Stop at Chuzom confluence of rivers
- Visit to Tachogang Iron Chain Bridge and Lhakhang Temple
- Visit to National Museum (Ta Dzong)
- Visit to Rinphung Dzong
- Visit to Kichu Lhakhang
- Visit to Dungtse Lhakhang Temple
Landmarks Chuzom Tachogang Iron Chain Bridge and Lhakhang National Museum (Ta Dzong) Rinphung Dzong Kichu Lhakhang Dungtse Lhakhang Temple - Day 7
Tiger's Nest Monastery
This morning you'll take on a 4 to 6 hour hike to Tiger's Nest Monastery, a sacred site sitting on a cliff 900m above Paro Valley that you can only reach on foot (though ponies can be arranged if you book in advance). You'll explore the temples and talk with the monks living there. Later you'll head back down to Paro for a traditional Bhutanese dinner at a farmhouse where you'll meet locals and learn how they cook.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Traditional Bhutanese dinner at a farmhouse)
Included Activities
- Scenic hike to Tiger's Nest Monastery (approximately 4-6 hours)
- Exploration of Tiger's Nest Monastery temples
- Traditional Bhutanese dinner at a farmhouse
Optional Activities
- Pony ride to Tiger's Nest Monastery (must be arranged in advance)
Landmarks Tiger's Nest Monastery (Taktshang Pelphung) - Day 8
Paro Departure
After breakfast, you'll say goodbye to the people you've traveled with and head to Paro Airport for your departure flight home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
