5 Days Glimpse of Bhutan: Explore Buddhist Kingdom and Pristine Nature

Embark on a 5-day journey through the heart of Bhutan, exploring its rich Buddhist culture and pristine natural beauty. Visit historical and religious sites, hike to the iconic Paro Taktsang, and enjoy breathtaking views of snow-capped peaks.

Duration: 5 days
Cancellation: 6 days
Highlights

Arrive at Paro International Airport / Transfer to Thimphu (2334m)

National Museum of Bhutan འབུག་གཧ་གར་ས་པ་གང་་ - On arrival at the Paro International Airport, our guide and driver will receive and escort you to visit the National Museum and then transfer to Thimpu, the capital city. The distance is 55km and takes about 1.5 hours.

The National Museum of Bhutan is located in Paro just above the Rinpung Dzong (administrative headquarter of the Paro district). It is housed in an ancient watchtower called Paro Ta Dzong (Ta Dzong means “watchtower fortress”) built in 1649. It displays hundreds of ancient Bhutanese artifacts and artworks including traditional costumes, armour, weaponry and handcrafted implements for daily life. The collection at the National Museum preserves a snapshot of the rich cultural traditions of the country. We then drive to the capital city of Bhutan, Thimphu.

Thimphu - Thimphu is the capital city of Bhutan and is home to approximately 115,000 residents. This bustling little city is the main center of commerce, religion and government in the country. It is the only capital city in the world without traffic lights and even commercial billboards.

National Institute for Zorig Chusum - The National Institute of Zorig Chusum (Zorig Chusum means 13 Traditional Arts & Crafts) was established to promote and preserve the thirteen traditional arts and crafts of Bhutan and to facilitate increased access in learning Zorig skills by Bhutanese youths. The thirteen arts and crafts are categorized as Shing Zo (woodwork), Dho Zo (stonework), Par Zo (carving), Lha Zo (painting), Jim Zo (sculpting), Lug Zo (casting), Shag Zo (woodturning), Gar Zo (blacksmith), Troe Zo (ornament making), Tsa Zo (bamboo work), De Zo (paper making), Tsem Zo (tailoring, embroidery and applique) and Thag Zo (weaving).
Lunch will be arranged either in Paro or Thimphu depending on flight arrival time.

National Library and Archives of Bhutan - Just located nearby is the National Library & Archives of Bhutan considered as the national treasure and is the fundamental source of history, medicine, arts & culture. Both Institute of Zorg Chusum and National Library opens during weekdays and on Saturdays from 10 am - 12 pm.

What's Included
  • All internal taxes for the services listed above
  • Medical treatment at a hospital in Bhutan if you sustain injuries while in Bhutan
  • All ground transportation including round trip airport transfers
  • Experienced English-speaking licensed tour guide
  • All meals (breakfast, lunch & dinner)
  • Entry fee to national museum
  • Twin-sharing accommodations at 3-star hotels certified by Tourism Council of Bhutan
  • Visa Fee & Processing. You’ll receive your e-Visa within 4-5 business days
What's Not Included
  • Travel insurance is mandatory
  • International flights. Let us know if you need help with arranging flights to and from Bhutan.
  • Alcoholic beverages, laundry services, telephone call charges
  • Tips to guide and driver
  • Emergency evacuation
  • Guide speaking other major languages can be arranged for an additional fee.
  • Any other expenses of personal nature
  • All Entry fees except for National Museum
Additional Information

This journey of five days and four nights will offer you a real taste of Bhutan, allowing you to comprehend how a small Buddhist Kingdom has risen to become a unique place for tourists worldwide. The expedition will traverse through the core of three western districts of Bhutan – Paro, the capital city Thimphu and the fertile Punakha valley - all flaunting the resilience and robustness of a nation renowned for safeguarding its age-old Buddhist culture and coexisting with its untouched natural surroundings.

You’ll explore prominent historical and religious spots, including a four-five hour round-trip hike to Paro Taktsang, the most awe-inspiring tourist site established in 1692 on a sheer 800-meter rock edifice. Then, there’s a 2 hour march through the captivating valley in Punakha. On the way to Punakha, pause at the sacred Dochu La mountain pass (at 3,150m/10,335ft altitude), from where, weather permitting, you would be greeted with a breathtaking panoramic sight of some of the highest snow-capped peaks in Bhutan.

  • This tour can be customized and run on a private basis just for you and your group.
  • We highly recommend booking at least a few months before the departure date so that we have enough time to ensure the flights are available. If you already have flight tickets to and from Bhutan, we can take bookings up to a week before the departure date. To process visa, it only takes 4-5 business days.
  • There are only two airlines that connect Bhutan with the outside world and so securing air tickets can be difficult especially during the months of high season. Currently, Bhutan is connected with these cities - Bagdogra, Bangkok, Delhi, Dhaka, Guwahati, Kathmandu, Kolkata, Singapore. We recommend you book your international flights a few months in advance especially if you plan to visit during the high season months of March to May and September to November. If you need help in arranging flights to/from Bhutan, please let us know much in advance.
  • After you book the tour, kindly send us clear copies of passports passport-size photos of all the participants. A biodata page including the machine-readable zone must be seen clearly. Passports should have a minimum of 6 MONTHS validity from the day you depart from Bhutan. You may also want to check the passport requirements by your next destination country after Bhutan. A copy of your e-Visa will be emailed to you once it is approved. It only takes 4-5 business days to get visa approval and it is 100 percent guaranteed as long as we receive clear passport copies of all the participants. The actual visa will be stamped on your passport upon arrival. Send the passport copies to the Local Supplier E-mail address.
  • Participants below the age of 18 years old MUST be accompanied by at least one adult.
Cancellation Policy

If you cancel at least 6 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel between 2 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(23 Ratings)
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D786jwedw
Aug 17, 2024
5 Days Glimpse of Bhutan - I would highly recommend Butan Acorn Tours and Travel. Form the start to finish Karma was excellent at amending the tour to suit your needs. Karma is diligent, friendly and trustworthy in all his interactions. Norbu my guide was a great person and had an excellent knowledge of Bhutanese/ Buddhist culture and history and was really friendly, respectful and enjoyable company, you could not get a better guide for Bhutan. Sonam, our driver, was a really nice person also who had great insights into local Bhutanese life as well as being very friendly and respectful. If you are thinking of booking a tour in Bhutan definitely choose Acorn Tours!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mirella
Jul 9, 2024
The Happiest Trip Of My Life! - It is the happiest country I have ever been to. As a solo female traveller, I felt safe and in awe throughout the trip! The daily schedule was designed in such a way that it offered cultural visits, beautiful treks, and free time! Tashi, my guide, was just outstanding. His enthusiasm for Bhutanese culture and his desire to bring the gorgeousness and history of the country in front was extraordinary. He made each site visit enriching and engaging with his knowledge and enthusiasm :) He also cared for me to ensure that I was always comfortable and having fun, providing me with all my questions answered. Nidup, my driver, was also very good; I could not have asked for a better driver than him. Besides my comfort, he was also very careful while driving, making me feel safe. Furthermore, his friendliness was an extra plus that put a lot of creativity into the journey. All my hotels were comfortable and luxurious and made me feel quite homely. All the places that I came across were as charming as the others. The meals always tasted great, with a blend of Bhutanese dishes and continental! The most memorable part of the tour was the walk to Taktsang Monastery. The scenic views were incredible and left me speechless! I recommend this tour to anyone looking to explore Bhutan! I am already looking forward to returning as soon as possible!!!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Withwill
Mar 25, 2024
Superb - Superb guide and driver. Helpful. Friendly. Well organised. Knowledgeable. Would not hesitate to recommended them. Felt in very safe hands.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
794chelseav
Feb 11, 2024
We loved Bhutan! - This was a great tour! Acorn Tours did a phenomenal job with everything :D The days were really busy, but they were pretty flexible if we wanted to switch things around.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
S642eeerikat
Dec 3, 2023
Fully experiencing Bhutan in a short time - I spent 5 wonderful days in Bhutan thanks to Bhutan Acorn Tours. Already before the travel they were super helpful - they took care of every detail of my visa, helped me to change my flight ticket and gave me useful tips to prepare my travel. They even recommended me where to sit in the plan for te best views on the Himalaya. :) I was warmly welcomed by Lhamo, my guide at the airport and she took absolutely best care of me all the time. She is young, dynamic, and treated the itinerary with absolute flexibility, easily adjusting to my requests or interests. She didnt hesitate to jump with me on a rafting boat, lend me her beautiful traditional dress for a photo, or dance with me in a karaoke bar. While she was fully knowledgable, and I learnt so much about this fascinating country and its culture, she also brought me close to the people, I hiked and ate with her local friends, many of them who are buddhist monks, and learnt incredibly much about, and experienced first-handly, buddhism. These holidays, while they were short, they couldnt have been fuller in terms of the experiences, the knowledge I gained and the fun we had. A big shoutout to Karma, the organiser, who also proved to be very reliable and caring all the time. I cannot recommend this agency enough and I am already thinking when to come back next.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Janet_s
Nov 22, 2023
A truely unique country - We had an exceptional experience! Bhutan is a beautiful country steeped in ancient traditions. Our guides Norbu & Tensing were the most courteous, genuine & good natured people. Nothing was too much trouble. All the accommodation was very comfortable. The hike to the Tigers Nest was such a memorable experIence. We highly recommend this trip!
Review provided by Viator
Edmund
Nov 6, 2023
A Unique Experience - This was a brief but wonderful trip into a unique country. I travelled with my 40-year old son and although we had not booked a private trip, there were only the two of us on it. We covered a huge amount of ground in the five days and, if the highlight was the trek up to Tiger’s Nest Monastery, everything we did was interesting. We especially like the stay in the remote farmstead. Our guide Tashie was superb - a mine of information and very helpful in all ways. The hotels were clean and comfortable, if fairly basic as regards facilities. I would absolutely commend this trip for someone with limited time, but who wanted a very good introduction to this extraordinary country and culture
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Daniel_dla
Oct 8, 2023
A lovely Bhutan adventure - I recommend Bhutan Acorn Tours Travel to visit Bhutan. Everything was perfect and very well planned by them. Our guide Tashi was always polite and super friendly, nothing went side ways. Many thanks for your services !!!
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Tint_l
Aug 7, 2023
Tiger nest is the best... - Tiger nest is the best nice people the tour guide and driver country is clean weather is nice beautiful country
Review provided by Viator
Stevenlr1481tf
Nov 3, 2022
Bhutan is Amazing - Bhutan is a magical place and Bhutan Acorn did a great job from Karma coordinating to Tashi and Namsha driving and touring us through this beautiful land
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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