Bhutan Essential

1. 1
   Day 1

   Into Paro, on to the capital

   Arrive 09:551 h 30 drive2,320 m
   • 
     09:5545 min through arrivals

     Land at Paro International

     One of the world's most dramatic approaches - the aircraft banks between ridgelines into the valley. Your licensed guide and private driver meet you in the arrivals hall.

     Only a small number of pilots in the world are certified for Paro. The approach is hand-flown between the ridges.
   • Airport into Paro town · 10 min · 6 km
   • 
     11:001 hour

     Rinpung Dzong

     Cross the Nyamai Zam cantilever bridge to the 1644 fortress-monastery that still houses both the district government and around 200 monks.

     Legs and shoulders must be covered inside any dzong. Your guide will be wearing the formal gho.
   • Dzong up to the museum · 10 min
   • 
     12:151 hour

     National Museum, Ta Dzong

     A round 1649 watchtower turned national museum in 1968 - thangka paintings, festival masks, textiles, armour and Bhutan's celebrated postage stamps.

     No photography indoors. The mask gallery on the upper floor is the one worth slowing down for.
   • Paro to Thimphu · 1 h 30 · 54 km
   • 
     16:0045 min

     Tashichho Dzong

     The seat of Bhutan's government and the summer residence of the Je Khenpo, the chief abbot. The King's throne room is inside these walls.

     Visitors are only admitted once the government offices close, so this has to be a late-afternoon stop.
   Lunch and dinner includedOvernight in Thimphu*
2. 2
   Day 2

   Over Dochula to Punakha

   2 h 45 driving3,150 m at the passPunakha Dzong
   • 
     08:001 hour

     Thimphu city tour

     A circuit of the capital on foot and by car: the National Memorial Chorten, where Thimphu's elders walk the stupa from first light, the Sangaygang viewpoint above the city, the National Library, and the main street where a white-gloved officer still directs the only busy junction by hand.

     Thimphu is the only national capital on earth with no traffic lights. One was installed and taken out again within days.
   • Thimphu up to Dochula · 45 min · 23 km, passing Simtokha Dzong, the oldest fortress in Bhutan
   • 
     09:3045 min

     Dochula Pass

     One hundred and eight chortens stand in rings on the saddle at 3,150 m, built to bless the country and everyone crossing. The Druk Wangyel Lhakhang above them is painted with the royal family.

     On a clear morning the eastern Himalaya lines the whole horizon from here. Bring a layer - it is ten degrees colder than the valley.
   • Dochula down to Punakha · 2 h · 54 km
   • 
     13:301 h 30

     Chimi Lhakhang

     A half-hour walk out through the paddy fields and village to the fifteenth-century temple of Drukpa Kunley, the Divine Madman. Couples come from all over Bhutan to ask here for a child.

     The walk out is flat and pretty and takes about thirty minutes each way. The village houses along it are painted very frankly.
   • Chimi Lhakhang to the dzong · 20 min · 12 km
   • 
     15:301 h 15

     Punakha Dzong

     The Palace of Great Happiness, built in 1637 where the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers meet. It is the finest building in the country, the winter seat of the central monk body, and where every King of Bhutan has been crowned.

     Late afternoon light on the whitewash and the gilded roofs is the reason we schedule it last rather than first.
   Breakfast, lunch and dinner includedOvernight in Punakha*
3. 3
   Day 3

   Back across the pass to Paro

   4 h 30 drivingBuddha DordenmaEasy day
   • 
     08:303 h drive

     Back over Dochula

     The same pass in the other direction and, as often as not, clearer weather than the day before. We stop again if the mountains are out.

     The cafeteria at the pass does a good bowl of thukpa and the only decent coffee between the two valleys.
   • Punakha to Thimphu · 3 h · 77 km
   • 
     13:001 hour

     Buddha Dordenma

     A 51.5 m gilded bronze Buddha on a hillside throne at Kuensel Phodrang, with 125,000 smaller Buddhas inside the meditation hall beneath it.

     The terrace is the finest view over the whole capital, and the Sangaygang viewpoint is a few minutes further up the same ridge.
   • Thimphu to Paro · 1 h 30 · 54 km
   • 
     16:1545 min

     Kyichu Lhakhang

     Founded in 659 by the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo, among the oldest temples in the country. The orange trees in the courtyard are said to fruit all year.

     Shoes come off at the door and cameras stay outside. Walk clockwise around the shrine, as everyone else will be.
   • 
     17:151 hour

     Paro town on foot

     The single main street of painted shopfronts - textiles, prayer flags, thangkas and yathra wool from Bumthang - ending with butter tea in a traditional teahouse.

     This is the best souvenir shopping of the trip. Prices are fixed and nobody will hassle you.
   Breakfast, lunch and dinner includedOvernight in Paro*
4. 4
   Day 4

   The climb to the Tiger's Nest

   Full day4–5 h hike3,120 m
   • 
     07:30Start of the climb

     Trailhead at Ramthangkha

     An early start to beat both the heat and the crowds. The path climbs steadily through blue pine hung with prayer flags.

     Ponies can carry you as far as the halfway cafeteria, about THB 500. They cannot go beyond it, and they do not come back down.
   • Hotel to the trailhead · 20 min · 12 km
   • 
     09:302 h of climbing

     Cafeteria viewpoint

     Tea and a rest at the halfway house, looking straight across the gorge at the monastery.

     This is where the classic photograph is taken. If anyone in your party wants to stop here rather than go on, this is the place.
   • 
     11:001 hour inside

     Paro Taktsang monastery

     Down a flight of stone steps, across the waterfall and up again into the monastery itself, built in 1692 around the cave where Guru Rinpoche is said to have meditated.

     Shoes, bags and cameras go into lockers at the entrance. Legs and shoulders covered, as at every temple.
   • 
     14:301 h 30 down

     Descend for a late lunch

     Back down at your own pace, with a long and thoroughly earned lunch waiting in the valley - red rice, ema datshi and whatever is in season.

     Trekking poles help far more on the way down than the way up. We keep a spare pair in the vehicle.
   Breakfast, packed lunch and dinner includedOvernight in Paro*
5. 5
   Day 5

   Departure

   Depart 10:35Airport transfer
   • 
     08:001 hour

     Breakfast and transfer

     A relaxed morning before your driver takes you to Paro International. Timings shift freely if you are extending your trip or connecting onward.

     Paro asks for check-in two hours ahead. The terminal is small and the queue moves quickly.
   • Hotel to the airport · 15 min · 6 km
   • 
     10:35Into Bangkok 16:05

     Depart Paro on B3 700

     Into Bangkok at 16:05 the same afternoon.

     Ask for a left-hand window seat on the way out. On a clear morning the Himalaya runs along the horizon.
   Breakfast included

* Bhutan does not operate an official star rating. Hotels on this package are standard class, the grade Bhutan itself uses for this tier and broadly equivalent to three-star elsewhere. They are drawn from a small set of properties approved by the Tourism Council of Bhutan in each town. Your hotels are confirmed in writing when you reserve and book, and remain subject to availability.