Arrival at Paro International Airport / Transfer to Thimphu (2334M)

National Museum of Bhutan འབྲུག་གི་འགྲེམས་སྟོན་ཁང་། - Upon arrival at Paro International Airport, the guide and driver will warmly welcome you and take you to visit the National Museum before heading to Thimphu.

The National Museum of Bhutan, situated in Paro above the Rinpung Dzong (the administrative center of Paro district), was founded in 1968. It is located in an ancient watchtower known as Paro Ta Dzong (“watchtower fortress”) built in 1649. The museum showcases a vast collection of ancient Bhutanese artifacts and artworks, including traditional costumes, armor, weaponry, and handcrafted tools used in daily life. This collection offers a glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of Bhutan.

Thimphu - Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan, is located 55km from Paro town. The drive takes less than 2 hours, including stops along the way. Thimphu is home to around 115,000 residents and serves as the main hub for commerce, religion, and government. Upon arrival in Thimphu, the guide will assist with hotel check-in, allowing you to relax. Lunch will be provided either in Paro or upon arrival in Thimphu, depending on your flight schedule.

Thimphu Chorten (Memorial Chorten) - Once in Thimphu, visit the National Memorial Chorten, a significant religious site and landmark. Built in 1974 in memory of the Late Third King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, who passed away in 1972, the Chorten is a place where people from all walks of life come to pray and circumambulate, offering a chance to observe the devotion of Bhutanese people to daily prayers and the teachings of Lord Buddha.

Buddha Dordenma - The impressive 169-foot-tall bronze statue of Lord Buddha is perched on a hilltop overlooking the Thimphu valley. It was constructed to commemorate the 60th birthday of the Fourth King, His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck, and to promote world peace. The statue houses over 100,000 8-inch-tall Buddha statues of the same type. Construction began in 2006 and was completed in 2015 after nearly a decade.

Hike to Tango Monastery / Transfer to Punakha Valley (1200m)

Tango Buddhist Institute - After breakfast, drive approximately 14km north of Thimphu city and hike to the 12th-century religious site, Tango Monastery. Nearby, Cheri Monastery is also located on a mountain. The hike to Tango is relatively easy, with most of the path paved and the ascent not too steep. It is about 14km from Thimphu town. The trail through the forest takes about 1.5 hours at a leisurely pace. Tango Monastery was founded in 1222 by Tibetan scholar Phajo Drugom Zhigpo, who established the Drukpa Kagyu School of Buddhism in Bhutan, which later became the state religion. The current monastery structure was built in 1689 by Tenzin Rabgye, the 4th Temporal ruler of Bhutan.

After the hike, return to town for a traditional lunch at a local restaurant.

National Institute for Zorig Chusum - After lunch at the Folk Heritage Museum Restaurant or a similar venue, visit the National Institute of Zorig Chusum (“13 Traditional Arts & Crafts”) near the Folk Heritage Museum. The institute was established to promote and preserve Bhutan’s thirteen traditional arts and crafts and to provide Bhutanese youth with opportunities to learn these skills. With modern technology threatening these traditions, the government is making significant efforts to train young people to keep them alive. The thirteen arts and crafts include Shing Zo (woodwork), Dho Zo (stonework), Par Zo (carving), Lha Zo (painting), Jim Zo (sculpting), Lug Zo (casting), Shag Zo (woodturning), Gar Zo (blacksmithing), Troe Zo (ornament making), Tsa Zo (bamboo work), De Zo (paper making), Tsem Zo (tailoring, embroidery, and applique), and Thag Zo (weaving). Afterward, drive to Punakha Valley.

Dochula Pass - A 45-minute drive from Thimphu towards Punakha leads to a mountain pass at an altitude of 3,150 meters, offering views of some of Bhutan’s highest peaks on clear days. Before the construction of the 108 Druk Wangyal Choetens (stupas) in 2004, this pass was a sacred site blessed by Buddhist saint Lam Drukpa Kunley in the late 15th century. From Dochula Pass, continue driving towards Punakha, passing through villages as the elevation gradually decreases, and the road winds through pine trees. Experience the dramatic change in altitude from 3,150m to a warmer subtropical valley at 1,200m.

Chimi Lhakhang Temple - About 11km before reaching Punakha town, visit the famous Chimi Lhakhang, known as the “Temple of Fertility.”

A 20-30 minute walk through beautiful terraced paddy fields and traditional farmhouses leads to the Temple of Fertility. The history of Chimi Lhakhang is linked to 15th-century Tibetan Lama Drukpa Kunley, affectionately called the “Divine Madman” for his unconventional teaching methods. He often used a phallus to subdue malevolent spirits and challenge social norms. Today, one of Chimi Lhakhang’s relics is a phallus, considered sacred, especially for couples struggling to conceive, as it is believed to bring fertility. This belief has earned Chimi Lhakhang the nickname “Temple of Fertility.”

Sightseeing in Punakha / Transfer to Phobjikha Valley (3000m)

Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten - After breakfast, embark on a 2.5-hour round-trip hike to Khamsum Yuelley Namgyel Chorten. Perched on a mountain ridge overlooking the scenic Punakha valley, this stunning Buddhist structure exemplifies Bhutanese architecture in temples, monasteries, and Zangdogpelri (copper-colored mountains). Built over nearly a decade under the command of Ashi Tshering Yangdon Wangchuck, one of Bhutan’s Grand Queen Mothers, it was consecrated in 1999.

After the hike, return to the road and drive to visit Punakha Dzong.

Punakha Dzong - The historic Punakha Dzong, originally called Pungthang Dewa Chenpoi Phodrang, meaning “Palace of Great Bliss,” was built in 1637 AD by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel (a Tibetan Buddhist master who arrived in Bhutan in 1616 and founded the nation-state of Bhutan) on a small land strip where the Phochu and Mochu rivers meet. Punakha Dzong is Bhutan’s second oldest and second-largest Dzong. The sacred wall paintings, main artifacts, intricate woodwork, and architectural structure of the dzong showcase fine examples of Bhutanese arts and craftsmanship, which continue to influence Bhutanese architecture today.

After lunch, transfer to Phobjikha Valley. The road distance is 80km and takes approximately 3 hours.

Phobjikha Valley - Phobjikha is a vast U-shaped glacial valley at an elevation of about 3,000m/9,840ft. It serves as a winter home for endangered Black Necked Cranes from November to March, which migrate back to the Tibetan Plateau by spring. Every year on November 11th, the Black Necked Crane Festival is held in this valley to celebrate the arrival of these majestic birds, which become an integral part of local life during winter. As part of conservation efforts, Phobjikha Valley has been declared a protected area.

Gangtey Nature Hike / Transfer back to Paro Valley (2200m)

Gangtey Monastery - After breakfast, visit Gangtey Monastery, a significant landmark in the valley, and embark on the exhilarating Gangtey Nature Trail Hike. After lunch, transfer back to Paro Valley.

Founded in 1613, Gangtey Monastery is one of Bhutan’s largest monasteries and a key landmark in the valley. Known as Gangtey Gonpa (“gonpa” means “remote place” and usually signifies a place of religious importance), the monastery also houses a monastic college where hundreds of monks study Buddhist philosophy for nine years. An annual religious festival, Gangtey Tshechu, is held at this majestic monastery during autumn after the harvest season. The festival features dazzling sacred mask dances interspersed with Bhutanese folk dances.

From here, the beautiful Gangtey Nature Hike begins.

Gangtey Nature Trail - The Gangtey Nature Trail is about 5km long and takes approximately 2.5 hours through woods surrounded by splendid nature, wonderful meadows, beautiful traditional village houses, farmlands, and crystalline streams. This short nature trail offers a great sense of the valley and insight into the local inhabitants’ livelihoods, with plenty of opportunities for stunning photographs!

After lunch, transfer back to Paro Valley. The road distance is 175km and takes about 5 hours.

Hike to the famous Taktsang Monastery & later visit a beautiful farmhouse for home-cooked local cuisine

Paro Taktsang - After an early breakfast, hike to the renowned Paro Taktsang, commonly known as Tiger’s Nest.

Taktsang Monastery is perched on a sheer 800-meter rock cliff in Paro. The round-trip hike typically takes about 4-5 hours from the road. Its history is linked to Guru Padmasambhava, the Indian saint who introduced Tantric Buddhism to Bhutan in the mid-eighth century A.D. Legend has it that Guru Padmasambhava flew to Taktsang from Kurtoe Singye Dzong in eastern Bhutan, riding a tigress. Taktsang Monastery was originally built in 1692 on the sacred cave where Guru Padmasambhava meditated.

One-way horse riding is available for about USD20 up to the midpoint (Taktsang Viewpoint Cafeteria).

Lunch will be served at the Taktsang cafeteria, and then retrace your steps back to the base where the driver will be waiting.

Transfer to Paro International Airport

Paro International Airport - After breakfast, you will be transferred to Paro International Airport for your onward journey, depending on your departure time. The guide and driver will bid you farewell.

• Visa Fee & Processing - secure your e-Visa within 4-5 business days
• Twin-sharing accommodations at 3-star hotels, certified by the Tourism Council of Bhutan
• All meals included - breakfast, lunch & dinner, plus light snacks
• Comprehensive ground transportation - including round trip airport transfers
• Medical treatment coverage at a hospital in Bhutan for injuries
• Entry fee to the National Museum included
• Services of an experienced English-speaking licensed tour guide
• All internal taxes for the services listed included

• Travel insurance is highly recommended.
• International flights. Let us know if you need help with arranging flights to and from Bhutan.
• Alcoholic beverages, laundry services, telephone call charges
• Gratuity to guide and driver
• Emergency evacuation
• Guide speaking other major languages can be arranged for an additional fee.
• Any other expenses of personal nature

On this 6 Days 5 Nights adventure through the hearts of 4 western districts of Bhutan, you’ll go on nature hikes and appreciate the pristine natural environment, explore and ramble through rural villages and gain firsthand experience on its culture and people. Come visit Bhutan with us and explore one of the most unique and extraordinary countries in the world.

Bhutan has both natural beauty and cultural wealth so carefully preserved and passed down from generation to generation, that visitors are not surprised to hear its nickname ‘Kingdom of Happiness’.

Tucked away deep in the eastern Himalayas between the mighty neighbours

• China to the north and India to the south, Bhutan remained isolated for centuries from the rest of the world until it opened its door to the outside world in the 1960s. Bhutan is one of the most beautiful and least travelled countries in the world and the last Vajrayana Buddhist Kingdom.
• 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 passports copies 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 full-paying adult.

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.