Villages,monasteries and ancient buddhist culture

The Land of the Thunder Dragon. The Hidden Kingdom. The Roof of the World. No travel destination on earth is more remote—or more beautiful—than Bhutan. Nestled in the high Himalayas, this tiny kingdom fiercely protects its traditional ways of life, and guards its isolation like no other country (Bhutan had no roads until 1962, and no television until 1999). This unique tour offers the rare chance to discover a secret world, explore ancient monasteries, and experience pristine Buddhist culture as it has existed since time immemorial. Unadulterated by modernity, the Bhutanese landscape consists of dense forests, shimmering glaciers, and crystalline rivers flowing through lush green meadows. If you've always wanted to journey to the ends of the earth, there can be no doubt that Bhutan is that place.

Book Early for Bhutan Trips!
Flights between Bangkok and Paro on Druk Air, Bhutan's national airline, sell out four to six months in advance. We recommend you reserve your Bhutan trip as early as possible, so we can secure these flights for you.

Activities

Cultural touring, some long drives, optional day hikes (max. elev. 10,178')

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• Be one of the lucky few to visit this uniquely isolated kingdom!
• Visit timeless traditional villages tucked away in pristine mountain landscapes
• Explore ancient monasteries and experience Buddhist culture in its most ancient, unadulterated form

Duration: 9 days Start Location: Bangkok End Location: Bangkok

BRIEF Itinerary

• Day 1 : Arrive in Bangkok

  Arrive in Bangkok and transfer to the Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel, a 10-minute ride from the airport. Most airlines arrive late at night into Bangkok, and our flight from Bangkok to Paro departs very early the next morning. If your flight into Bangkok is delayed by even just a few hours, it would be easy to miss the flight to Paro. We therefore encourage you to arrive a day or two early in Bangkok.

• Day 2 : Paro - Thimphu

  Fly to Paro, Bhutan and transfer to Thimphu. The remainder of the day is free to rest and relax.

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  Day 3 : Thimphu

  Hike to Cheri Monastery, Bhutan's main meditation center, visiting Tango Goemba (a Buddhist institute for higher learning) on the return hike.

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  Day 4 : Thimphu - Punakha

  Morning tour including visits to the School of Arts and Crafts, Textile Museum, National Institute of Traditional Medicine, and Folk Heritage Museum. Afternoon drive across the Dochu La to Punakha.

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  Day 5 : Punakha

  Morning visit to Punakha Dzong, with an optional short hike to nearby Chimi Lhakhang.

• Day 6 : Paro

  Morning drive to Paro. Afternoon visit to the National Museum, housed in an old watchtower above the Paro Dzong. Possible visit to Paro Dzong itself.

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  Day 7 : Hike to Taktsang Monastery or Dzongdrakha Monastery

  Choice of hiking to Taktsang Monastery (the renowned "Tiger's Nest) or to Dzongdrakha, a small monastery and retreat center overlooking the Paro Valley. The rest of the day is free to rest or enjoy some shopping.

• Day 8 : Bangkok

  Early morning transfer to the Paro airport for departure on your Druk Air flight to Bangkok.

• Day 9 : Fly home

  Depart Bangkok for home.

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  Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel

  Bangkok

  The Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport is a 4 star hotel located 10 min walk from Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok. Boasting 612 comfortable and contemporary rooms, the hotel also offers 2 bars and 4 restaurants. With a 24 hr airport shuttle every 10 min from Gate 4 Level 2 and parking available, there is no better place to stay.

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  Druk Hotel

  Thimphu, Bhutan

  Experience the unique and legendary hospitality of the Bhutanese people at this fine accommodation in the midst of the Himalayas. Located in the heart of the capital city, the hotel is close to shopping, culture, and the bubbling Thimphu River.Thim

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  Damchen Resort Hotel

  Punakha, Bhutan

  This charming hotel on the banks of the Punakha River offers a pleasant stay in a serene atmosphere. Spacious rooms combine modern design with traditional Bhutanese architecture. Surrounded by pine forests but a mere 5-minute walk from town, the Damchen Resort is a convenient oasis.

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  Zhiwa Ling Hotel

  Paro, Bhutan

  The Zhiwa Ling combines the sensibilities of a fine Bhutanese guesthouse with the best of modern comforts. Guests can enjoy a traditional outdoor hot-stone bath, a Tea House, a Meditation House, and two restaurants specializing in both contemporary international and classic Bhutanese cuisine.

Properties shown are representative of the accommodations we use on this trip, may not be inclusive of all accommodations we use, and are subject to change.

Expert leadership is the key to an exciting, unforgettable experience. Our trips feature gifted leaders for whom leading trips is a true vocation. Besides showing you wonders you’d never find on your own, they make sure everything runs smoothly and safely without a hitch. They are knowledgeable about all aspects of your trip, and take great pleasure in sharing their insights with you. More than just guides, they positively elevate your experience by being teachers, companions, and the best of friends. You’ll be in good hands with them every step of the way.

• Tandin Nidup

  Tandin is a graduate of Bangkok University, Thailand, majoring in Tourism and Hospitality Management. He has been leading treks and cultural tours in Bhutan since 2000. Tandin also worked for a few months as the Human Resource Manager at The Zhiwaling Hotel in Paro. Last year, he had the opportunity to work as an Interpreter for the EU Election Observers for a period of one month in Eastern Bhutan and got a very positive evaluation from them. He is very knowledgeable of the cultures, religions, and traditions of his country and enjoys sharing his experiences with you. Tandin speaks English, Nepali, Hindi and passable Thai in addition to his native Bhutanese.

• Namgay Dorji

  Namgay Dorji, the senior manager of our Bhutan office, has been leading treks and tours for the past nine years. He is very knowledge about the history, culture, and religion of Bhutan, has many relatives in the monk body, and looks forward to sharing his experience with you. Namgay speaks seven languages: English, Japanese, German, Spanish, Hindi, Nepalese, and Urdu; is a graduate of Bissau College, Meghalaya, India; and received his diploma in Tourism and Travel Management from the Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management in Salzburg, Austria. His many personal interests include bird watching, rock climbing, trekking, and archery.

photo credits: ©Dena Bartolome