Mountains & Monasteries: Classic Bhutan

The Story

Best time to go: October - April
Best for: First Time Visitor, Cultural & Immersive, Adventure & Off-the-beaten track

It is certainly worth spending a little longer in Bhutan that you might think; it is incredibly diverse and the further down the road from Paro you go, you will be rewarded with an even better experience away from the tourists. Drive through verdant valleys, with rice paddies rising up on either side, up to high passes coated with fluttering Buddhist prayer flags before exploring the towns and villages, complete with a distinct architecture containing imposing fortified Buddhists Monasteries, or Dzongs. You will have your own private driver and personal guide throughout, exploring the country at your own pace. We will tailor your experience to include as little or as much activity as you want, whether you like to head off on a day-walk through the countryside, or just immerse yourself in the local cultural sights.

Guide Pricing

Starting At

LOCATION:

£3475	-	£7375
Silver		Gold

Price per person including all accommodation, private transfers, unique experiences and excluding international flights. We can arrange international flights should you wish.

Highlights

This is quintessential Bhutan; a perfect blend of seeing Buddhist monasteries and immersing yourself in the culture, amazing day-walks and sitting back admiring the wonderful views
Stay in luxury boutique accommodation and have a private driver and guide throughout
Have a chance to explore Kathmandu in Nepal before arriving in Bhutan

Days 1-2

Gold: Dwarika’s

Silver: The Inn at Patan

Day 3

Gold: Amankora Thimphu

Silver: Taj Tashi

Days 4-5

Gold: Gangtey Goenpa Lodge

Silver: Dewachen

Days 6-7

Gold: Uma Punakha

Silver: Dhensa

Days 8-10

Gold: Uma Paro

Silver: Naksel Boutique Hotel & Spa

Day 11

Gold: Dwarika’s Dhulikhel

Silver: Dwarika’s Dhulikhel

Days	Location	Hotel
Days 1-2	Kathmandu	The Inn at Patan Dwarika’s
Day 3	Thimphu	Taj Tashi Amankora Thimphu
Days 4-5	Gangtey	Dewachen Gangtey Goenpa Lodge
Days 6-7	Punakha	Dhensa Uma Punakha
Days 8-10	Paro	Naksel Boutique Hotel & Spa Uma Paro
Day 11	Kathmandu	Dwarika’s Dhulikhel Dwarika’s Dhulikhel

Day 1-2

Kathmandu

Fly into Kathmandu and spend two days in the city before flying onto Bhutan. You second day can be spent exploring the city with a private guide, taking a walking tour through the local markets surrounding Durbar Square, before seeing Swayambhunath, Boudnath and Pashupatinath.

Day 3

Thimphu

Fly to Bhutan, seeing the whole Himalayan vista on your left hand side, including Everest. Land in Paro where you will meet your guide and driver and drive to Thimphu. You arrive in time for lunch, so that afternoon head off to explore the city with your guide.

Day 4

Gangtey

Today, drive to Gangtey via the Dochula Pass. Gangtey is located in the Phojikha Valley, where the migratary Black-Neck Crane can be seen in the glacial valley from November to March. In the evening, head to Gangtey Goenpa Monastery for evening prayers.

Day 5

Gangtey

Today, you will set off on a gentle walk through the village and along the side of the valley, where you should get superb views of the Black Neck Cranes. We can extend this trek to take in local yak herder villages, or you can return to the hotel and just admire the views.

Day 6

Punakha

Drive to Punakha, where you will spend two nights. On the way, you can walk to the Chimmi Lhakhang Temple, otherwise known as the Temple of Fertility, passing small villages surrounded by lush farmland. On arrival in Punakha, visit the main Dzong, again for evening prayers.

Day 7

Punakha

A day to explore Punakha. If you want something quite leisurely, we suggest a gentle walk up to Khamsun Yuelley Namgel Chorton which has wonderful views over the Mo Chu Valley. If you want a little more walking, we can extend this to include a trek through the local villages and farms that surround it.

Day 8

Paro

Drive back to Paro, and spend the afternoon at leisure. If you want to really see all the sights, then head to the Paro Dzong and Ta Dzong, the National Museum.

Day 9

Paro

Today you can visit the Tiger’s Nest Monastery, or Taktseng. We suggest heading off early to avoid the heat of the day, and the 800m ascent takes about four to five hours in total. It’s best to then put your feet up in the afternoon.

Day 10

Paro

We suggest heading off to the remote Haa Valley, passing over the Chele Pass with dramatic views over the snow-capped Mt Jomolhari. Explore the local monastery and visit the market. If you feel active, we can take bikes so you can free-wheel from the top of the Chele Pass down to Haa or on the way back down to Paro.

Day 11-12

Kathmandu

Fly to Kathmandu and spend the night on the ridge of the Kathmandu Valley in the small village of Dhulikhel. You then fly home the following day.

Suggested Hotels

Itinerary Experiences

Customise Your Itinerary

We can tweak and change any element of this itinerary and you can depart on any day you want, add nights here and there, and we can fully customise your day-to-day experiences depending on your interests. Here are just a few ideas of many that we can look at and discuss when we come to plan your tailor-made itinerary.

Idea 1

You don't have to start with Kathmandu as flights into Bhutan come from Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta, Bangkok and Singapore.

Idea 2

You can even start in Kathmandu and end in Bangkok meaning you can add on a beach stay to end.

Idea 3

If you want a bit of adventure, why not add on a night in Bumdra High Camp where to camp in very comfortable tents, completely off-the-beaten track before returning to Paro the next day.