Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Paro
You'll arrive in Paro and connect with your private guide right at the airport. From there, a private car and driver take you to your hotel, with your guide helping handle luggage and getting you checked in.
- Day 2
Paro to Thimphu
Start with the National Museum, which sits inside a historic circular watchtower fortress with great views of the valley below. After that, you'll check out Paro Dzong, a fortress with detailed architecture (it was even in 'The Little Buddha' film). You'll spend time at a traditional home experiencing authentic Bhutanese culture, ceremonies, and refreshments. Then it's roughly 1.5 hours by car to Thimphu.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit National Museum (Ta Dzong Fortress) with panoramic views of Paro Valley and Bhutanese artifacts including thangka paintings, traditional weapons, and jewelry
- Explore Paro Dzong (Rinpung Dzong) with guide storytelling about its historical significance
- Visit traditional Bhutanese home with welcome ceremony and local refreshments
Landmarks/POIs National Museum (Ta Dzong Fortress) Paro Dzong (Rinpung Dzong) - Day 3
Thimphu
You'll start at Tashichho Dzong, which serves as the seat of government and spiritual leadership. Next comes the Jungshi Paper Factory where you can see how traditional handmade paper is crafted. Then you'll head to Choki Traditional Art School to watch young artists training in painting and carving. Lunch is authentic Bhutanese food at the Folk Heritage Museum Restaurant in a traditional farmhouse. Your afternoon goes to the Royal Takin Preserve, where you'll learn about Bhutan's national animal and the conservation work happening there.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Authentic Bhutanese lunch at Folk Heritage Museum Restaurant in traditional farmhouse atmosphere)
Included Activities
- Visit Tashichho Dzong, the government and spiritual leadership seat
- Observe traditional handmade Bhutanese paper crafting at Jungshi Paper Factory
- Explore Choki Traditional Art School training in painting, wood carving, and sculpture
- Authentic Bhutanese lunch at Folk Heritage Museum Restaurant in traditional farmhouse
- Visit Royal Takin Preserve to see Bhutan's national animal and learn about conservation
Landmarks/POIs Tashichho Dzong Jungshi Paper Factory Choki Traditional Art School Folk Heritage Museum Royal Takin Preserve - Day 4
Thimphu to Punakha
From Thimphu, you'll drive toward Punakha with a stop at Dochula Pass for 360-degree Himalayan views. You'll see 108 chortens arranged beautifully here. After that, you continue to Sangchen Dorji Lhuendrup Nunnery, where you can join in a prayer session with the nuns and get a real feel for Bhutanese spirituality.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Stop at Dochula Pass for 360-degree panoramic Himalayan views
- View 108 beautifully arranged chortens at Dochula Pass
- Participate in prayer session with nuns at Sangchen Dorji Lhuendrup Nunnery
Landmarks/POIs Dochula Pass Sangchen Dorji Lhuendrup Nunnery - Day 5
Punakha to Trongsa
A scenic 3.5-hour drive takes you from Punakha to Trongsa through dramatic landscapes. You'll visit Trongsa Dzong, where Bhutanese kings are traditionally crowned, positioned high above the Mangde River gorge. The Royal Heritage Museum is housed in the Ta Dzong watchtower above the fortress, where you can see royal artifacts and personal belongings of Bhutan's monarchs.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Trongsa Dzong, where Bhutanese kings are traditionally crowned
- Explore Royal Heritage Museum with collection of royal artifacts and personal belongings of Bhutan's monarchs
Landmarks/POIs Trongsa Dzong Royal Heritage Museum - Day 6
Trongsa to Bumthang
You arrive in Bumthang Valley, the spiritual heart of Bhutan with four main valleys: Chumey, Choekhor, Tang, and Ura. You'll explore Jakar Dzong, the 'Castle of the White Bird' from 1667, perched on a ridge overlooking Chokhor Valley. Then there's Wangdichholing Palace, the ancestral royal home and birthplace of Bhutan's first king built in 1857. You'll have free time in Jakar town for lunch, shopping, and grabbing something traditional before heading back.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional Bhutanese lunch in Jakar town)
Included Activities
- Visit Jakar Dzong ('Castle of the White Bird') with exploration of courtyards, assembly halls, and temples
- Explore Wangdichholing Palace, ancestral home of Bhutan's royal family and birthplace of first king
- Visit Jakar town for traditional Bhutanese lunch
Landmarks/POIs Jakar Dzong Wangdichholing Palace - Day 7
Tang Valley
A one-hour drive takes you to Tang Valley, one of Bumthang's most remote and quiet areas. You'll see Mebar Tsho, or Burning Lake, a sacred spot where Buddhist treasures were supposedly found in the 15th century, surrounded by prayer flags and peaceful atmosphere. Later you'll check out Ogyen Choling Palace, a well-preserved manor house that's now a museum showing traditional architecture and religious artifacts that give insight into Bhutanese aristocratic life.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Mebar Tsho (Burning Lake), sacred site with prayer flags and guide storytelling about Buddhist treasures
- Explore Ogyen Choling Palace museum with traditional architecture and religious artifacts
Landmarks/POIs Mebar Tsho (Burning Lake) Ogyen Choling Palace - Day 8
Ura Valley
About 1.5 hours by car brings you from Bumthang to Ura Valley, the highest of the valleys with views of snow-capped mountains. You'll walk through charming Ura village with its stone houses and cobblestone pathways, getting a real sense of rural Bhutanese life. Then there's the Swiss Farm, a cultural project mixing Swiss farming methods with Bhutanese traditions, complete with sustainable agriculture, cheese production, and those great valley views.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Explore Ura village with traditional stone houses and cobblestone pathways
- Visit Swiss Farm learning about sustainable agricultural practices and cheese production
Landmarks/POIs Ura Village Swiss Farm - Day 9
Bumthang to Gangtey
Early morning starts your roughly 4-hour journey to Gangtey through spectacular mountain landscapes. You'll travel through Chumey Valley with its terraced fields and traditional farmhouses. There's a stop at Chumey Valley Weaving Workshop to see the ancient yathra weaving traditions. After dramatic mountain scenery and the Yotong La pass at 3,425m, you descend into Phobjikha Valley, known for black-necked cranes and the 17th-century Gangtey monastery.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Travel through Chumey Valley observing pastoral beauty and terraced fields
- Visit Chumey Valley Weaving Workshop to observe yathra weaving traditions with local artisans
Landmarks/POIs Chumey Valley Chumey Valley Weaving Workshop Yotong La Pass Phobjikha Valley - Day 10
Gangtey
You'll visit the Black-Necked Crane Information Center with spotting scopes to watch endangered birds during winter migration (November through March) and learn about conservation. Then you'll explore Gangtey Goemba, a prominent monastery from 1613 perched on a ridge with traditional architecture overlooking the glacial valley. A refreshing 1.5-hour downhill hike along the Gangtey Nature Trail takes you through blue pine forests and open meadows with panoramic valley views.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Black-Necked Crane Information Center with spotting scopes to observe endangered birds during migration season (November to March)
- Explore Gangtey Goemba (Nyingma monastery) founded in 1613 with traditional architecture and Buddhist imagery
- Hike Gangtey Nature Trail approximately 1.5 hours downhill through blue pine forests and meadows
Landmarks/POIs Black-Necked Crane Information Center Gangtey Goemba Gangtey Nature Trail - Day 11
Gangtey to Paro
A scenic 4.5-hour drive from Gangtey gets you to Paro through pine forests, mountain passes, and terraced farmlands. You'll check out Simtokha Dzong, the oldest fortress in Bhutan from 1629, with traditional architecture, detailed woodwork, and colorful Buddhist murals. After that comes Kyichu Lhakhang, one of Bhutan's oldest temples dating to the 7th century, holding ancient relics and the legendary statue of Jowo Sakyamuni.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Simtokha Dzong, oldest fortress in Bhutan built in 1629 with traditional architecture and Buddhist school
- Explore Kyichu Lhakhang, one of Bhutan's oldest and most venerated temples dating to 7th century with ancient relics
Landmarks/POIs Simtokha Dzong Kyichu Lhakhang - Day 12
Paro
You're off on a hike to Taktshang Goemba (Tiger's Nest Monastery), one of the top ten monasteries in the world, sitting dramatically on a cliffside above Paro Valley. The round trip takes roughly five hours with great views and chances to see the legendary meditation caves of Padmasambhava. Your afternoon is free to wander through charming Paro Town.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Hike to Taktshang Goemba (Tiger's Nest Monastery) round-trip approximately five hours with cliff views and meditation caves of Padmasambhava
- Explore Paro Town
Landmarks/POIs Taktshang Goemba (Tiger's Nest Monastery) Paro Town - Day 13
Departure from Paro
You have free time until your guide takes you to the airport for your onward flight.
- Meals
- Breakfast
