Itinerary
- Day 1
Paro
Your guide meets you at Paro International Airport when you land. From there, you'll head to the Paro Airport Bird's Eye View Point for some panoramic views over the valley. After that, it's on to your hotel where you can settle in and get adjusted to the time difference. Give yourself the rest of the day to relax and recover from travel.
- Meals
- Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Shomo Chuki Resort)
Included Activities
- Panoramic view from Paro Airport Bird's Eye View Point
- Bhutan National Dress Experience (Gho for Men & Kira for Women)
- Complimentary Bottle of Bhutan Red Rice Wine
Optional Activities
- Visit Rinpung Dzong (Paro Dzong) - self-pay for tickets, 9 AM to 5 PM weekdays, 10 AM to 4 PM weekends (requires tour guide)
- Visit Bhutan National Museum (Ta Dzong) - self-pay for tickets (requires tour guide)
- Explore Paro's Local Market or Main Street
- Bhutan's National Sport - Archery at 140m range - self-pay
Landmarks Paro Airport Bird's Eye View Point Paro International Airport Paro Dzong (Rinpung Dzong) Bhutan National Museum (Ta Dzong) 
- Day 2
Paro
This is a big hiking day. You'll trek up to Tiger's Nest Monastery, which sits perched on a cliff about 900m above the valley. The round-trip hike takes around 5 to 6 hours and covers roughly 10km at an altitude near 3,150m, so pace yourself. Once you're back down and have had a chance to catch your breath, you'll visit Kyichu Lhakhang temple, one of 108 Buddhist temples built way back in the 7th century.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Shomo Chuki Resort)
Included Activities
- Hike to Tiger's Nest Monastery (Taktsang Goemba)
- Visit Kyichu Lhakhang (Thousand-armed and Thousand-eyed Avalokiteshvara temple)
Optional Activities
- Horse riding to Tiger's Nest Monastery - ascend partway, then hike remaining 1.5 hours to monastery; descent by full hike - self-pay
- Bhutan Traditional Hot Stone Bath (1 hour) - self-pay
- Lighting Butter Lamps for blessings at Kyichu Lhakhang
Landmarks Tiger's Nest Monastery (Taktsang Goemba) Kyichu Lhakhang - Day 3
Paro to Thimphu
After breakfast, you'll drive to Thimphu, Bhutan's capital, which takes about 2.5 hours and passes through the historic Tamchog Lhakhang Iron Bridge. In Thimphu, there's quite a bit to see: the enormous Buddha Dordenma Statue at Buddha Point, the National Memorial Chorten, the Royal Takin Preserve, and Tashichho Dzong. By evening, you'll have dinner at the Folk Heritage Museum Restaurant where you can try traditional Bhutanese food.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Traditional meal at Folk Heritage Museum Restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (The Gochukha Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Tamchog Lhakhang Iron Bridge (exterior view)
- Visit Buddha Dordenma Statue (Buddha Point/Kuenselphodrang)
- Visit National Memorial Chorten
- Visit Royal Takin Preserve (Motithang)
- Visit Tashichho Dzong (Thimphu Dzong)
Optional Activities
- Folk Heritage Museum - self-pay
- Simply Bhutan Museum - self-pay
- Bhutan Stamp Printing at Post Office (Weekdays: 9 AM - 5 PM; Saturdays: 9 AM - 1 PM; Closed Sundays) - self-pay
Landmarks Tamchog Lhakhang Iron Bridge Buddha Dordenma Statue (Buddha Point) National Memorial Chorten Royal Takin Preserve (Motithang) Tashichho Dzong (Thimphu Dzong) 
- Day 4
Thimphu to Punakha
The drive to Punakha takes around 2.5 hours and includes a stop at Dochula Pass to see its 108 memorial stupas that honor fallen soldiers. You'll also pass through Chimi Lhakhang, a fertility temple sitting among rice fields. Once in Punakha, you'll check out Punakha Dzong, one of Bhutan's most beautiful fortresses, located where two rivers come together. The setting there is really something special.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Lobesa)
Included Activities
- Visit Dochula Pass (108 memorial chortens)
- Visit Chimi Lhakhang (Fertility Temple)
- Visit Punakha Dzong
Optional Activities
- Punakha Suspension Bridge - 160 meter span with views of Punakha Valley and Po Chu River - self-pay
Landmarks Dochula Pass Chimi Lhakhang Punakha Dzong 
- Day 5
Punakha to Gangtey
Start the morning with a short hike to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten, about 45 minutes from the main road, and you'll get excellent views over Punakha Valley. Next, you'll explore Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Nunnery with its distinctive Nepali-style stupa. Later, you'll drive to Gangtey in Phobjikha Valley, roughly 2.5 hours away. This valley is the winter home for rare Black-necked Cranes if you're visiting in that season.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Phobjekha)
Included Activities
- Hike to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten
- Visit Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Nunnery
Optional Activities
- Punakha Suspension Bridge - 160 meter span - self-pay
Landmarks Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Nunnery Phobjikha Valley 
- Day 6
Gangtey
This morning you'll walk the Gangtey Nature Trail, which is 4km and takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. It starts from Gangtey Monastery at 3,030m and goes down to Khewang Lhakhang at 2,850m. The trail passes through dense pine forests, rhododendron forests, and bamboo, with farmhouses scattered throughout. If you're there in winter, you might spot the rare Black-necked Cranes. In the afternoon, you'll visit the Black-necked Cranes Information Center.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Phobjekha)
Included Activities
- Hike on Gangtey Nature Trail (4km, 1.5-2 hours)
- Visit Gangtey Monastery
- Visit Black-necked Cranes Information Centre
Landmarks Gangtey Monastery Khewang Lhakhang Phobjikha Valley Black-necked Cranes Information Centre - Day 7
Gangtey to Paro
You'll depart Gangtey and head back to Paro, a 5-hour drive covering 170km and passing through Dochula Pass again. Once you arrive in Paro, there's time to visit Paro Dzong and the Bhutan National Museum for final cultural experiences before the night settles in.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Shomo Chuki Resort)
Included Activities
- Visit Paro Dzong (Rinpung Dzong)
- Visit Bhutan National Museum (Ta Dzong)
Landmarks Dochula Pass Paro Dzong (Rinpung Dzong) Bhutan National Museum (Ta Dzong) - Day 8
Paro
On your last morning, your guide will meet you at the hotel and escort you to Paro International Airport, which is about 1.5 hours away or 50km. You'll say goodbye to Bhutan and head home with memories from your time in the Himalayas.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Paro International Airport
