Hygieneprotocol

Starting from 23rd September 2022, Bhutan will fully reopen for tourism without quarantine requirement. The pre-departure RT-PCR negative test certificate is also not required. However, all tourists are required to show up-to-date COVID-19 vaccinination record. You are also required to have travel insurance. You may be required to wear face mask at all public places.

Others

Bhutan Visa Fee is included. Visa will be arranged for you. Bottled mineral water in the car

Accommodation

The price includes standard twin sharing accommodation at 3-star hotels certified by the Tourism Council of Bhutan. Our partner hotels are handpicked based on the recommendations and good experiences from our past guests. You will be informed of where you will stay at each destination before your arrival. You will also have an option (prior arrangement required) to stay at a village homestay/farmhouse at few destinations to get insight into the local culture and feast on delicious local cuisine and take part in preparing some of the popular dishes of Bhutan.

Guide

We believe tour guides play an important role in making your journey memorable and getting the most out of your trip. All our guides are experienced English-speaking licensed by the Tourism Council of Bhutan and they will accompany you throughout your trip in Bhutan. They are always ready to serve you and take care of you every step of your journey so that you go back home satisfied and happy with good memories that will last a lifetime. And the driver’s responsibility is no less. No matter how luxury the transport is, your safety and comfort are in the hands of a driver. Therefore, we employ only experienced drivers specifically licensed to drive tourists. If for some reason you are not satisfied with either of our guide or driver, let us know immediately. We never had such issues in the past but we’ll always try to have them replaced as soon as possible. NOTE: We can arrange guides speaking other major languages (French, Japanese, German, Chinese, Korean & Thai) at an additional fee.

Meals

All meals (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner). Breakfast & Dinner will be usually served at your hotels. Most of the lunches will be served at local restaurants while some can be arranged as a picnic. We also arrange dinners at some traditional restaurants to offer a better choice.

Transport

All ground transportations including airport transfers. We provide: Luxury SUV for 1-2 person Luxury Minivan for a group of 3-8 person Luxury bus/coach for a group of 9 people and above Our fleet of transport vehicles are highly maintained and chauffeured by specially licensed professionals to drive tourists.

Not included:

Flights

Flights are NOT INCLUDED. We can help arrange your flights to/from Bhutan. The flight tends to get fully booked months ahead especially during the peak season. We highly recommend you to book flights a few months ahead of your departure date. There are only two airlines operating in and out of Bhutan: 1. Drukair, the national flag carrier of Bhutan (www.drukair.com.bt) operates from/to these cities/International Airports: Bangkok, Bagdogra, Bodhgaya, Dhaka, Delhi, Guwahati, Kathmandu, Kolkata, Singapore. 2. Bhutan Airlines, a private airline introduced in 2011 (www.bhutanairlines.bt) operates from/to these cities/International Airport: Bangkok, Delhi, Kolkata, Kathmandu.

Insurance

Travel insurance is optional but highly recommended.

Optional

You will have an opportunity to try our Bhutanese traditional archery and dart throwing. A set of national costumes (Gho for men and Kira for women) will be provided. The costumes should be returned to the guide at the end of the tour.

Others

Entry fees to sacred sites, museums and other national monuments Emergency evacuation & helicopter services Alcoholic beverages, bar bills Laundry services, telephone call charges Premium accommodation in a 4-Star and above hotel Cultural shows that require an advance arrangement Tips to guides and drivers (optional) Any other expense of personal nature

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Arrive Paro International Airport / Transfer To Thimphu (2334M)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Arrive Paro International Airport / Transfer To Thimphu (2334M)

On your arrival at Paro, the only International Airport in Bhutan, our guide and driver will receive and escort you to visit the National Museum housed in the 17th-century watchtower called Ta Dzong. The Museum displays a snapshot of Bhutan’s history & rich cultural heritage. From there we drive to Thimphu.

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

Note: The coverage of excursion on the first day depends on your flight arrival time. If you arrive in the morning, you should be able to visit all of the sites listed below. If it is in the afternoon, we might be able to visit one or two only.

On arrival in Thimphu, visit the National Memorial Chorten, the most frequented religious site and obviously an important landmark in Thimphu. The National Memorial Choeten is a Buddhist Stupa built in 1974 in memory of the Late Third King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck who passed away in 1972. People from all walks of life come here to pray and circumambulate offering you a good opportunity to observe how Bhutanese people devote themselves to daily prayers and take refuge in the teachings of the Lord Buddha.

Buddha Dordhenma Statue – Buddha Point at Kuensel Phodrang: The magnificent 169 feet tall bronze statue of Lord Buddha is located on a hilltop overlooking the Thimphu valley. It was built to celebrate the 60th birth anniversary of the Fourth King His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck and also for the purpose of bringing peace in the world .

Leisure time in Thimphu town.

Distance: 55km, Time: 1.5-Hours, Thimphu Altitude: 2,334m/7,655ft, Paro Altitude: 2,195m/7,200ft.

Dinner and overnight in Thimphu at Amodhara / City Hotel / Bhutan Suites. (Lunch, Dinner)
Day 2 Hike To Tango Monastery / Transfer To Punakha Valley (1200M)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Hike To Tango Monastery / Transfer To Punakha Valley (1200M)

After breakfast, drive 14km north of Thimphu to hike to the 13th-century Tango Monastery, an important religious center founded by Tibetan scholar Phajo Drugom Zhigpo. The uphill hike takes about 1.5 hours through forested trails. After visiting the monastery, return to town for a traditional lunch at Folk Heritage Restaurant or a similar venue. In the afternoon, visit the National Institute of Zorig Chusum to see students training in 13 traditional Bhutanese arts and crafts. Then drive to Punakha valley via Dochula Pass, stopping briefly at the 3120m pass for views of Bhutan’s highest mountains. Continue to the village of Sopsokha to visit the 15th-century Chimi Lhakhang, known as the "Temple of Fertility." If time permits, visit the 17th-century Punakha Dzong and Bhutan’s longest suspension bridge over the Phochu river. End the day at Namgay Zam Homestay in Yusakha village, where you can participate in cooking dinner and experience a traditional hot stone bath. If the homestay is unavailable, you will stay at Meri Puensum Resort.
Day 3 Sightseeing In Punakha / Transfer To Phobjikha Valley (3000M)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Sightseeing In Punakha / Transfer To Phobjikha Valley (3000M)

Today, before we drive to Phobjjkha valley, you will do a wonderful hike to Khamsum Yuellay Namgyel Chorten, a Buddhist temple located on a serene hilltop overlooking the Punakha valley and visit the historic Punakha Dzong.

Located on a mountain ridge overlooking the picturesque Punakha valley, this wonderful Buddhist structure is a fine example of Bhutanese architecture used in building temples and monasteries. The round-trip hike takes about 3-hours through the terraced rice fields and a short gentle uphill hike through the pine trees.

If your group size is more than 3 people, a picnic lunch can be arranged by the bank of Mochu river on the way back to Punakha town. Then visit the masterpiece of Bhutanese architecture, the 17th century Punakha Dzong. You’ll spend some time appreciating the sacred wall paintings and main artifacts inside the dzong, the intricate wood works and the architectural structure of the dzong displays a fine example of Bhutanese arts and craftsmanship which continues to influence Bhutanese architecture even today.

From there walk to Bhutan’s longest suspension bridge that runs over glacial-fed Phochu (male) river and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. Punakha Dzong is flanked by two glacial-fed rivers - Phochu (male) and Mochu (female) rivers.

After that transfer to Phobjikha valley in Gangtey. Phobjikha is a vast U-shaped glacial valley at an elevation of about 3,000m/9,840ft and it is a winter home for endangered Black Necked Crane from November to March and migrates back to Tibetan Plateau by the beginning of spring season. As part of the conservation effort, Phobjikha valley has been declared as a protected area and an important biodiversity hotspot.

Distance from Punakha to Phobjikha Valley 80 km, Time 3-hours, Phobjikha Altitude 3,000m

Overnight at Yueloki Guest House or Dewachen Hotel & Spa.
Day 4 Phobjikha Valley / Transfer Back To Paro Valley (2200M)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Phobjikha Valley / Transfer Back To Paro Valley (2200M)

Today, after an early breakfast, you’ll visit one of the important landmarks in the region, Gangtey Monastery and do Gangtey Nature Hike before driving back to Paro.

Visit one of the largest monasteries in Bhutan, the 17th-century Gangtey Monastery and offer prayers and interact with enthusiastic happy monks studying Buddhist philosophy. From there venture out on an exhilarating nature hike. The trail is about 5km and takes approximately 3 hours through the woods surrounded by splendid nature all around, wonderful meadows, beautiful traditional village houses, farm lands and crystalline streams. This short nature hike gives you a great feeling of the valley and understanding of the livelihood of the people living there.

We then drive back to Paro valley. Lunch can be served either in Phobjikha valley or on the way back to Paro.

On arrival in Paro, visit the 7th-century Kyichu Lhakhang built in 659 AD by the Tibetan Emperor Songtsen Gampo to subdue spirit of giant ogress causing harm to the propagation of Buddhism in the Himalayan region.

Distance from Phpbjikha to Paro 175km, Driving time 5-hours

Overnight at Khangkhu Resort or Bhutan Mandala Resort
Day 5 Hike To The Famous Paro Taktsang & Visit Traditional Farmhouse For Authentic Homecooked Local Cuisine
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Hike To The Famous Paro Taktsang & Visit Traditional Farmhouse For Authentic Homecooked Local Cuisine

Today, on the 6th day of your trip, you will hike to the famous 17th century Paro Taktsang Monastery popular known as the “Tiger’s Nest”.

Originally built in 1692, the iconic Taktsang is perched on a rock cliff some 800 meter above the valley floor and is the most visited sacred site in Bhutan. The round-trip hike takes about 4-5 Hours for most visitors. A vegetarian lunch will be served at the Taktsang Cafeteria located midway along the trail. Meat is not served at this restaurant owing to the sacredness of the Taktsang Monastery. Descend back to the base and drive to Paro town where you will spend some leisure time.

Oneway horse riding is available on your way up to the mid-point (Taktsang Viewpoint Cafeteria) for a fee of about USD20 per horse per person. Horse riding is not recommended on your way down and most owners will not allow it.

Later in the evening, visit a beautiful traditional farmhouse for an authentic dinner comprised of homecooked local cuisine. You can also soak up in the therapeutic traditional hot stone bath for an additional fee of about US$15 per person.

Overnight at Khangkhu Resort or Bhutan Mandala Resort
Day 6 Departure From Paro International Airport
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Departure From Paro International Airport

After breakfast, depending on your flight time you will be transferred to Paro International Airport for your onward journey.

6 days tour

Explore The Hidden Kingdom Of Bhutan

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Explore The Hidden Kingdom Of Bhutan

Arrive Paro International Airport / Transfer To Thimphu (2334M)

Hike To Tango Monastery / Transfer To Punakha Valley (1200M)

Sightseeing In Punakha / Transfer To Phobjikha Valley (3000M)

Phobjikha Valley / Transfer Back To Paro Valley (2200M)

Hike To The Famous Paro Taktsang & Visit Traditional Farmhouse For Authentic Homecooked Local Cuisine

Departure From Paro International Airport

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