The last great Himalayan kingdom, Bhutan guards its culture and landscapes with rare care. So you find fortress monasteries, prayer-flag-strewn passes and valleys almost untouched by time. The country measures success in happiness, and its gentle spirit is infectious. We have sent travellers here for years, so we know its rhythms and seasons. Every one of our tailor-made holidays is shaped around you. As a result, Bhutan feels like a genuine privilege to visit.
Bhutan is unlike anywhere else on earth. So tourism is deliberately low-volume, keeping the country pristine. Meanwhile, the scenery ranges from rice terraces to snow peaks. The welcome is warm and the culture deeply Buddhist. As a result, it rewards the thoughtful traveller.
No visit is complete without the hike to the Tiger’s Nest. So you climb through pine forest to a monastery clinging to a sheer cliff. The sight of Paro Taktsang against the rock is unforgettable. Our Tiger’s Nest and Highlights tour builds the trip around it. As a result, it is the defining image of any Bhutan journey.
Most journeys begin in the lovely Paro valley. So you take a gentle cultural walk past farmhouses and temples. The capital, Thimphu, blends tradition with quiet modern life. The relaxed streets of Thimphu have no traffic lights at all. You might stay at the serene Amankora Paro lodge.
Crossing the Dochula pass, you descend to subtropical Punakha. So you visit its magnificent riverside fortress, perhaps Bhutan’s finest. The grand Punakha Dzong sits where two rivers meet. You might stay at the stylish Amankora Punakha. As a result, the dzongs become a highlight in their own right.
For something wilder, continue to the glacial Phobjikha Valley. So you walk the lovely Gangtey nature trail among grazing cattle. In winter, rare black-necked cranes flock to Phobjikha. You might stay at the elegant Gangtey Lodge. Further east, Bumthang rewards those with more time.
There is a journey here for every traveller. So Mountains and Monasteries covers the classic west beautifully. For the finest stays, our tour with Aman hotels is hard to beat. Walkers, meanwhile, love Walking in Bhutan and the Hidden Bhutan route.
Generally, spring and autumn bring the clearest skies and the famous tshechu festivals. By contrast, the summer monsoon is greener but cloudier. Winter, meanwhile, is crisp and quiet in the western valleys. So we tailor the timing to your plans. Either way, we advise on the ideal window for your dates.
Bhutan pairs beautifully with Nepal, India or a beach finale. So you can combine the kingdom with the wider Himalaya. When you are ready, simply get in touch with our specialists. We will then craft a private itinerary around your interests. As ever, every detail is arranged for you.
Bhutan’s tshechu festivals are among Asia’s great spectacles. So masked dancers whirl in dzong courtyards while villagers picnic around them. We can time your trip to one of these joyous gatherings. Meanwhile, a tea with a local family offers a gentler glimpse of daily life. As a result, the kingdom’s culture feels wonderfully alive rather than curated.
Walkers are spoiled here. So gentle day treks around Paro suit most travellers. The more ambitious tackle the famous Druk Path trek with a night at Bumdra High Camp, sleeping high above the valley. Meanwhile, trails in Punakha and Bumthang reward every effort with monasteries and views. As a result, Bhutan is best discovered on foot.
The kingdom pairs naturally with its neighbours. So our Luxury Tour of Nepal and Bhutan links the two Himalayan worlds. For a beach finish, the honeymoon to Bhutan and Thailand is a favourite. Families, meanwhile, love our Family Adventure to Bhutan and Oman. As a result, Bhutan slots beautifully into a bigger journey.
Everything we arrange in Bhutan is private and hand-built. So you travel with your own guide and driver, as the kingdom intends. We know the lodges, the passes and the festival calendar intimately. Meanwhile, our partners in Thimphu are on call throughout. As a result, this most special of countries feels effortless to explore.
Bhutan’s gentle pace is part of its magic. So a morning at the Paro weekend market brims with chillies, cheese and red rice. In Thimphu, monks, archers and civil servants share the same streets. Meanwhile, farmhouse meals introduce the national dish of ema datshi. As a result, daily life here feels rich and unhurried.
In the end, Bhutan changes how you travel. So its calm and care linger long after the flight home. Many guests call it the most special place they have ever been. Meanwhile, the kingdom reveals more with each valley crossed. As a result, one visit is rarely enough.
Yes, visitors travel with a licensed guide and driver. So we hand-pick the very best for you. It quickly feels like travelling with a friend.
Most walks are gentle, including the Tiger’s Nest with rest stops. So a reasonable level of fitness is plenty. Tougher treks are there if you want them.
Entirely. Every itinerary is private and shaped around you. Simply share your dates and interests, and we will craft the rest.
Explore the main highlights of Bhutan, experiencing the dramatic scenery, incredible culture and amazing architecture in Thimphu, Punakha and Paro.
This two-week suggested itinerary gives you the perfect blend of everything that makes Bhutan such a magical destination; amazing views, local culture and walks.
The luxury Amakora lodges offer a unique and exclusive experience designed to showcase Bhutan in the best way possible.
Snow-capped mountains, Buddhist Monasteries, trekking and historic cities await you on a luxury private tour of Nepal and Bhutan, a perfect combination that makes the most of your time in the mountains.
Dust off your trekking boots and travel to one the most untouched and beautiful corners of the Himalayas in Bhutan, trekking through remote villages, off-the-beaten-track.
Many guests leave Bhutan wanting just a little more. After all, it is not a place you can easily return to soon. So they ask what gems lie further down the road before turning back to Paro. Happily, this route answers that, reaching all the way to remote Bumthang. As you go deeper, it simply …
Bhutan and Thailand offers the perfect mix of amazing culture with an indulgent beach to end, perfect for a luxury honeymoon.
Bhutan is an adventure playground that children adore. So they can trek remote villages, raft Himalayan rivers and meet monks their own age. They can also make prayer flags and even create their own stamps. Helpfully, for children under 12 the government waives most visa royalty fees. Travelling as a family, you are classed as …
The Druk Path Trek is the old historic trail linking Thimphu and Paro in Bhutan giving you the chance to escape the main road and into what the Himalayas is all about: the amazing mountains!
Get off-the-beaten track in Bhutan and delve into its hidden interior on a private tour, perfect for a second-time trip or those with an adventurous spirit.
Bumthang is located to the east of Gangtey, and is generally the furthest you get along the road in Bhutan before turning back or flying to Paro (although you can continue to Tashigang and Mongor and finish in Assam in India).
Gangtey is a small village located overlooking the stunning Phobjikha Valley in Bhutan and is between the towns of Trongsa and Punakha. Gangtey is one or the more rural places you will stay at on a tour of Bhutan
Punakha is located between Thimphu and Gangtey in Bhutan, and is located at a lower altitude of 1,250m on the intersection of the Mo Chhu River (meaning Female) and Po Chhu (meaning Male). The proximity to the river and low altitude has made the valley exceptionally fertile, with sweeping paddy-fields rising up from the river, terraced into the side of the valley.
Thimphu is Bhutan’s capital city, but only has a population of about 100,000 meaning that it is more like a town and still retains the unique Bhutanese architecture rather than allowing modern western styles to take over. It is located just a short drive away from Paro where you find Bhutan’s International Airport.
Paro is where Bhutan’s International Airport is located, and as such acts as either a starting point or end for a tour of Bhutan. It has a hugely impressive Dzong, as well as having the National Museum located in its watchtower, Ta Dzong.
Most importantly, our luxury Bhutan holidays are fully customisable and conducted privately. For example, you travel with your own licensed guide and driver throughout, as the kingdom intends, and you can arrive and depart on any day you choose.
We always start with a blank sheet of paper when designing your holiday. Above all, the best way to begin is by calling us for a quick conversation about how we can make your trip to Bhutan exceptionally special. For instance, tell us whether you would like to time your visit to a tshechu festival, add a trek, or combine the kingdom with Nepal, India or Thailand. As a result, we can craft an itinerary that fits entirely around you.
Flying Time: Only Bhutanese carriers (Drukair and Bhutan Airlines) fly into Paro, connecting through Kathmandu, Delhi, Calcutta, Bangkok and Singapore. It usually means a night or two either side to ensure the connection. Official Language: Dzongkha. Currency: Ngultrum (BTN). Time Zone: GMT +6.
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January is a good month to for a holiday in Bhutan, although it can get chilly in the evenings and at higher altitudes. Above all, the views of the mountains are clear, and by day, they are perfect for taking day walks.
February is one of the most popular months as the temperatures are starting to get a little warmer. However, it is still fairly cold at night.
March is the most popular month to visit Bhutan. This is partly due to the Paro Festival that takes places this month, or in early April. In addition, temperatures are lovely, and the views are good. However, it starts to get a little cloudy in the afternoons. The flowers start to bloom.
Firstly, April is another great month to visit Bhutan. with warm days and night-time temperatures. Above all, the rhododendrons are still in full bloom.
May starts to get a little warmer, and as a result, you will experience cloudier mountains views and short afternoon showers. However, it is still very much possible to visit Bhutan, and many of the hotels lower their prices.
Most importantly, the monsoon generally arrives towards to middle and end of June in Bhutan. As a result, in this part of the Himalayas, it really rains hard!
July is another month for the monsoon, leaving the country green and lush. It is certainly possible to visit Bhutan in July, but expect rain and poor views.
August is still a monsoon month. However, historically the rains ease off a little meaning you might have two or three days when it pours (usually at night anyway) with a chance to explore by day (but remember the raincoat). Some of the treks won't be possible. On the other hand, seeing the culture and monasteries certainly will be fine.
The monsoon starts to ease off in September. However, this only really happens towards the end of the month. As a result, if you are rain-shy then try and move your travelling plans into October. Needless to say, the country is wonderfully green and lush, and many festivals take place.
October is a perfect time to visit Bhutan. You can expect lovely day-time temperatures in the mid-20s. However, it is incredibly popular, so aim to book your Bhutan holiday at least six months in advance to ensure you get the first-choice of your hotels. The trekking is great, given how green it still is after the monsoon. Above all, the views are clear of the high mountains.
November is also another wonderful month to visit Bhutan. The black-neck cranes arrive into the Phobjikha Valley near Gangtey. In addition, they even conduct a festival to welcome them each year.
It starts to get chillier in December in Bhutan, but it is still a great month to visit. Above all, in the lower valleys like Punakha when temperatures still reach the low 20s in the daytime. As it's also not too hot, the walk up Tiger's Nest Monastery isn't too challenging due to the heat.
The ideal time for trekking and touring is autumn, from late September to late November. So skies are generally clear, and the high peaks rise into vivid blue. Autumn also brings the popular Thimphu tsechu dance festival. Meanwhile, the black-necked cranes arrive at their wintering grounds in central and eastern Bhutan. As a result, this is the season most travellers choose.
Winter suits touring in western Bhutan, bird-watching in the south’s subtropical jungles, and whitewater rafting. The days are usually sunny, cool and pleasant. However, it turns quite cold once the sun sets, so pack warm clothing. From December to February, snow often dusts the higher regions, with occasional falls in Thimphu.
From March to May, spring ranks as the second-best season for touring and trekking. There are more clouds and rain than in autumn. Even so, the magnificent rhododendrons, magnolias and wildflowers are in bloom, and birdlife is abundant. Spring is also the time of the magnificent Paro tsechu.
Summer, from June to August, is the monsoon season. During these three months, 500mm of rain falls in Thimphu, and up to a metre falls in the eastern hills. Yet the vivid green rice paddies, dark hills and stark white dzongs make picture-perfect vistas in the mellow monsoon light. Meanwhile, the markets burst with fresh fruits and vegetables.
Bhutan sits at the same latitude as Miami and Cairo, so the climate varies widely with elevation. The southern border areas are tropical, while the high Himalaya keeps perpetual snow. Temperatures in the far south range from 15°C in winter to 30°C in summer. In Paro, the range runs from -5°C in January to 30°C in July, with 800mm of rain. In the high mountains, averages sit around 0°C in winter and may reach 10°C in summer, with about 350mm of rain.
Rain comes mainly with the southwest monsoon, from June to early September. Bhutan bears the monsoon’s brunt, receiving more rainfall than other Himalayan regions, up to 5.5m a year. During the monsoon, heavy rain falls almost every night, though days may stay dry for long spells. However, low cloud can hang on the hills, obscuring views and, at worst, forcing flight cancellations at Paro airport.
We arrange totally bespoke trips and design an itinerary that is designed around you. You may have seen a suggested itinerary that we can base your plans around, or we can start with a blank sheet and paper and design something from scratch. You can leave a phone number and suggest a time to call you back, and we can also arrange to do this during the evenings or at weekends if you are busy during the daytime. We can also meet up with you in you fancy a coffee and are based in and around London.
