Itinerary
- Day 1
Paro to Thimphu
You'll land in Paro and go through immigration with your guide waiting for you. The drive to Thimphu takes a few hours, so you'll get settled at your hotel. Once you've checked in, head to Kuensel Phodrang to see the tallest Buddha statue there, which overlooks the whole Thimphu Valley nicely. After that, walk through Craft Bazaar to see traditional Bhutanese arts and crafts being made and sold. By late afternoon, visit Tashichhoe Dzong fortress, which is both a government building and the main cultural and religious center in town. It's quite impressive with all the different functions it serves.
- Start point
- Paro, Bhutan (Paro International Airport, 00:00 - 23:00)
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Kuensel Phodrang and tallest Buddha statue
- Explore Craft Bazaar - Bhutanese arts and crafts
- Visit Tashichhoe Dzong fortress
Landmarks Kuensel Phodrang Craft Bazaar Tashichhoe Dzong 
- Day 2
Thimphu
Starting after breakfast, you'll spend the day with Thimphu's cultural side. Go to the Takin Preserve to see Bhutan's national animal up close. From there, check out the Gagyel Lhundrup Weaving Centre to watch traditional hand-woven textiles being made. The Institute for Zorig Chusum (Arts & Crafts School) is next, where you can see students learning traditional crafts. Later, the Royal Textile Museum shows antique textile collections that are really intricate. If it happens to be the weekend, head to the Weekend Market to talk with locals and see how they shop. You'll also get to watch both traditional and modern archery, which is Bhutan's national sport and surprisingly popular here.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Takin Preserve - national animal
- Explore Gagyel Lhundrup Weaving Centre
- Visit Institute for Zorig Chusum (Arts & Crafts School)
- Visit Royal Textile Museum
- Watch traditional and modern archery - national sport of Bhutan
Optional Activities
- Visit Weekend Market (Saturday and Sunday only)
Landmarks Takin Preserve Gagyel Lhundrup Weaving Centre Institute for Zorig Chusum Royal Textile Museum Weekend Market - Day 3
Thimphu to Punakha
After breakfast, you're driving to Punakha through Dochula Pass at 3,140m/10,302ft, where panoramic views of the Himalayan Mountains spread out in front of you. Stop to see the 108 chortens that the Queen Mother built for the King's well-being, then visit Druk Wangyal Lhakhang monastery with murals depicting important events in Bhutan's royal history. Around lunchtime, you'll eat in Metsina village before going to Chimi Lhakhang, the fertility shrine that's well-known throughout the country. After lunch, explore Punakha Dzong, a historic fortress where two rivers meet. The day ends with a calm walk through Rinchengang and Lobesa villages where you can chat with people living there and see daily village life.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at Metsina village), Dinner
Included Activities
- Pass through Dochula Pass with Himalayan views
- View 108 chortens at Dochula
- Visit Druk Wangyal Lhakhang monastery
- Visit Chimi Lhakhang (fertility shrine)
- Explore Punakha Dzong fortress
- Walk through Rinchengang and Lobesa villages
Landmarks Dochula Pass 108 Chortens Druk Wangyal Lhakhang Chimi Lhakhang Punakha Dzong 
- Day 4
Punakha
Start the morning with a short hike to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten, which has commanding views over the Punakha Valley and surrounding peaks. After lunch, trek to Limbukha village by crossing a suspension bridge about 200m long that offers great views of the Dzong and rivers below. The two-and-a-half-hour climb goes through chirpine forests and past farm houses to reach the village. Limbukha is known for growing Bhutan's famous red rice, and it has a reputation for peace and calm. Your guide will explain the village's historical role as peace negotiators during different periods.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten
- Trek to Limbukha village with suspension bridge crossing
Landmarks Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten Limbukha - Day 5
Punakha to Phobjikha
You're heading to Phobjikha, a beautiful U-shaped glacial valley that's really striking. After checking into your hotel and having lunch, start hiking through nature trails from a small hilltop overlooking Gangtey Goemba. You'll walk through flower meadows to Semchubara village, then continue through forests into the open valley while passing a chorten and Khewa Lhakhang. The hike ends at a local community school, about 30 minutes uphill from where you started. Visit the Black Necked Crane Information Centre on the valley's edge, where telescopes let you spot cranes and you can learn about the area's natural and cultural history.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Nature trail hike through Phobjikha valley
- Visit Black Necked Crane Information Centre
Landmarks Gangtey Goemba Phobjikha Valley Black Necked Crane Information Centre - Day 6
Phobjikha to Paro
Travel to Paro and stop along the way to visit Tamchog Lhakhang, an impressive monastery you reach by crossing an historic iron chain suspension bridge built by a 13th-century Tibetan saint. You'll also get a bird's eye view of Paro International Airport, which is known as one of the world's most challenging and beautiful airports to land at. Once you check into your hotel, visit the National Museum inside Ta Dzong watchtower to see artifacts showing Bhutan's rich culture and heritage throughout history. In the evening, take a stroll through Paro town and browse local handicraft stores to pick up souvenirs.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Tamchog Lhakhang and iron chain suspension bridge
- View Paro International Airport
- Visit National Museum in Ta Dzong
Optional Activities
- Evening stroll through Paro town and local handicraft stores
Landmarks Tamchog Lhakhang Paro International Airport National Museum 
- Day 7
Paro
You're starting early with a hike up to Taktsang Monastery, also called Tiger's Nest. The walk to the viewpoint takes about 1 to 1.5 hours depending on your fitness, and you'll get spectacular views of the monastery attached to the cliffside. Grab refreshments at the viewpoint cafeteria, then continue another hour to reach the actual monastery itself. Learn about the 8th-century legend of Guru Rinpoche and explore the complex, which was reconstructed after fire damage in 1998. After visiting, hike down and stop for lunch at the cafeteria. Later, drive to nearby Drukgyel Dzong fortress, a historic defense structure with impressive stone and rammed earth walls that was rebuilt after a 1951 fire.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at View Point Cafeteria), Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike to Taktsang Monastery (Tiger's Nest)
- Visit Drukgyel Dzong fortress
Landmarks Taktsang Monastery Drukgyel Dzong - Day 8
Paro
After breakfast, you're heading to Paro International Airport for your departure from Bhutan.
- End point
- Paro, Bhutan (Paro International Airport, 00:00 - 23:00)
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Paro International Airport
