Bhutan Holiday Packages

Day 01: Gateway to Bhutan - Arrival in Paro & Drive to Thimphu (55 km / 1.5 hrs)

Landing in Paro unveils the Himalayas’ spectacular views as the descent from Kathmandu into Bhutan mesmerizes you. The mountain’s fresh, cool air greets you upon exiting the plane.

After clearing immigration and collecting your luggage, our representative will escort you to Thimphu, Bhutan’s capital. The drive features a stop at Chuzom, where the Thimphu and Paro rivers meet, adorned with Tibetan, Nepalese, and Bhutanese stupas.

When Balaha, the good horse, a manifestation of Chenrezig, visited this location in the fifteenth century, a private temple known as Tschogang Lhakhang, or “the temple of the excellent horse,” welcomed you. Close to Chuzom is its location.

You check into your hotel as soon as you get to Thimphu. Thimphu, blending modern development with ancient traditions, serves as the epicenter of Bhutan’s government, religion, and commerce. Remarkably, it probably remains the world’s only capital city without traffic lights despite its population nearing 90,000.

In the evening, you explore Thimphu’s Main Street and market area, immersing yourself in the local culture. Additionally, you visit the Local Crafts Bazaar to learn about the magnificent traditional arts of Bhutan, which include jewelry, ceramics, slate and wood carvings, masks, hand-woven textiles, Thangkha paintings, and other one-of-a-kind things made from local materials.

After an overnight stay at a hotel at 2400 meters above sea level in Thimphu, the day concludes.

Accommodation: Hotel Pedling or a similar 3-star hotel
Meals: Lunch and Dinner

Day 02: Thimphu's Cultural Immersion

After breakfast, you will start a sightseeing tour of Thimphu. Your journey starts at Changangkha Lhakhang, a fortress-like temple and monastic school perched above Thimphu, established in the 12th century by Lama Phajo Drugom Shigpo from Tibet.

The temple houses an 11-headed Chenrezig statue, providing a magnificent view of the Thimphu valley.
You visit the Takin Preserve next, home to the Takin, Bhutan’s national animal, a unique species said to have been created by the Buddhist yogi Drupa Kunley. The Takin, which resembles both a cow and a goat, is exclusive to Bhutan and nearby regions and falls into its unique taxonomic category.

Trashichhoe Dzong, a fortress/monastery, houses the Secretariat, His Majesty the King’s throne room, and other government offices. It also serves as the Chief Abbot’s summer residence and the headquarters of the monk body. After that, you explore the complex.

Following that, you go to the monarch’s Memorial Chorten, a memorial to global peace and prosperity designed by His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, the third monarch of Bhutan, and perpetually surrounded by people reciting mantras and turning prayer wheels. Completed in 1974 following his death, it now memorializes the Late King and stands as a peace monument.
Your tour concludes at Buddha Point (Kuensel Phodrang), a brief drive from Thimphu’s center. Here, you can view the Thimphu Valley, offer prayers at the country’s largest Buddha statue, and enjoy the panoramic scenery.

Your exploration ends with another night at a hotel in Thimphu.

Accommodation: Hotel Pedling or a similar 3-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 03: Journey Through the Mountains - Thimphu to Punakha (75 km / 3 hrs)

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel, then depart for Punakha, crossing the Dochula Pass (3080m) adorned with large Bhutanese Chorten and prayer flags. The pass offers stunning views of the eastern Himalayas’ towering peaks on a clear day.

After checking into your Punakha hotel, visit the majestic Punakha Dzong, situated where two rivers merge. Once the capital of Bhutan until 1955, the dzong now hosts the monk body during winter. In the afternoon, you’ll head to Chimi Lhakhang after a 15-minute drive from the hotel.

The walk through paddy fields and villages to the fertility temple on a valley hillock takes about 1.5 hours round trip. Believed to bless childless couples with children, the journey through Pana village offers a glimpse into local life.
The evening provides a chance to explore Punakha village by the river.

The day ends with an overnight stay at a hotel in Punakha.

Accommodation: Hotel Vara or a similar 3-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 04: Exploring Punakha's Natural and Historic Sights

Start with breakfast, then hike along the Mo Chhu through chili, cabbage, and rice fields to Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten, a beautiful monument the Queens commissioned and blessed in 1999.

Then, travel to the Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Lhakhang Nunnery, which is situated amidst pine trees on a ridge and offers views over the Wangdue Phodrang and Punakha valleys. The nunnery is home to a fourteen-foot bronze statue of Gautama Buddha, Guru Padma Sambawa, and Avalokiteshvara (Chenrigzig reciting and talking).

Local artisans crafted this significant statue, one of the largest in Bhutan. The complex offers training in religious practices and practical skills like tailoring, needlework, statue construction, and thangka painting. It also functions as a center for higher learning and meditation for nuns.

Your stay in Punakha concludes with another night at the hotel.

Accommodation: Hotel Vara or a similar 3-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 05: Return Journey to Paro - The Valley of Sacred Sites (120 km / 4.5 hrs)

Enjoy breakfast before departing your hotel for the scenic drive to Paro, making a stop to explore Simtokha Dzong on the way. Established in 1627, this historical fortress, the oldest in Bhutan, currently functions as a School for Buddhist Studies.

Upon your arrival in Paro, proceed to check into your hotel. After enjoying lunch, visit Ta Dzong, once a defensive watchtower, now repurposed as the National Museum. This museum showcases a comprehensive collection that includes antique Thangkha paintings, textiles, weapons, and armor, along with a wide variety of household and historical items.

Next, a short walk from Ta Dzong leads you to Rinpung Dzong (Paro Dzong), aptly named the “fortress of the heap of jewels” and celebrated for its rich history. Its inner courtyard’s wooden galleries display beautiful wall paintings depicting stories from Buddhist traditions, such as the four friends, the older man of long life, the wheel of life, and tales from the life of Milarepa.

End the day with an overnight stay at a hotel in Paro.

Accommodation: Mandala Resort or a similar 3-star Resort
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 06: Trek to the Tiger's Nest - Paro's Iconic Pilgrimage

Kick off the day with breakfast, then start a 5-hour trek to Taktsang Monastery, or Tiger’s Nest, spectacularly perched on a cliff 900m above the Paro valley.

Famed for Guru Rinpoche’s meditation after arriving on the back of a tigress, this monastery, visited by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1646, is a sacred site every Bhutanese strives to visit at least once.
After a severe fire damaged it in 1998, restoration efforts have beautifully returned it to its original splendor.

In the afternoon, take a trip to Drukgyel Dzong, the site of ancient battles between Bhutanese warriors and Tibetan invaders, offering magnificent views of Chomolhari from the approach road.
Evening brings a visit to Kyichu Lhakhang, a 7th-century temple founded by Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo. As one of the 108 temples constructed across the Himalayas, it marks the spread of Buddhism into Bhutan.

The exploration concludes with another night at a hotel in Paro.

Accommodation: Mandala Resort or a similar 3-star Resort
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 07: Adventure to the Haa Valley - A Hidden Gem (Day Trip)

After breakfast, depart for a visit to the stunning Haa Valley, one of the most picturesque locations in the kingdom, with an area of 1706 square kilometers and borders the districts of Paro, Chhukha, and Samtse.
The people who lived in the Haa Valley used to be animists, and they would sacrifice animals’ blood to the local gods.
However, Guru Padmasambhava transformed this tradition into a peaceful Buddhist one in the 8th century, subduing local deities like Ap Chundu.

At the same time, traces of the ancient belief system still manifest through festivals and rituals.
Foreign tourists gained access to Haa Valley for the first time in 2002, revealing its rich cultural heritage. Nestled near the foothills of the sacred Meri Puensum mountain range, two notable sites are the 7th-century Lhakhang Karpo (White Temple) and Lhakhang Nagpo (Black Temple).
Highlight Haa Tshechu, a magnificent annual celebration held in Lhakhang Karpo from the eighth to the tenth day of the eighth Bhutanese month.

Explore the Haa Wangchuklo Dzong, constructed in 1915 following the destruction of Dumchog Dzong by fire. Juneydrag, Katsho Goempa, Haa Goempa, Yangto Goempa, Jamtoe Goempa, Shelkardrag, and Takchu Goempa are some of the other interesting places in the valley.

The valley is well known for its rich shamanic traditions, varied folklore, and stories. Notably, the annual ceremony to honor Ap Chundu, the guardian deity of the valley, holds significant cultural importance.

The 3988-meter-tall Chele-la pass, which provides breathtaking views of Jichu Drakey and Mount Chomolhari, is traversed on the way to Haa Valley. This pass also provides an ideal opportunity for a short walk, allowing visitors to revel in panoramic vistas.

Return to Paro and spend the night at the hotel.

Accommodation: Mandala Resort or a similar 3-star Resort
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 08: Departure from Paro - Farewell to the Land of the Thunder Dragon

After an early breakfast at the hotel, drive to the airport for your onward flight. Our representative will assist you with exit formalities before bidding you farewell.

Meals: Breakfast