6 Days Explore the Hidden Kingdom of Bhutan
6 Days Explore the Hidden Kingdom of Bhutan
On this 6 Days 5 Nights adventure through the hearts of 4 western districts of Bhutan, you’ll go on nature hikes and appreciate the pristine natural environment, explore and ramble through rural villages and gain firsthand experience on its culture and people. Come visit Bhutan with us and explore one of the most unique and extraordinary countries in the world.Bhutan has both natural beauty and cultural wealth so carefully preserved and passed down from generation to generation, that visitors are not surprised to hear its nickname ‘Kingdom of Happiness’.Tucked away deep in the eastern Himalayas between the mighty neighbours – China to the north and India to the south, Bhutan remained isolated for centuries from the rest of the world until it opened its door to the outside world in the 1960s. Bhutan is one of the most beautiful and least travelled countries in the world and the last Vajrayana Buddhist Kingdom.
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Your Itinerary
A curated journey through the experience
National Museum of Bhutan འབྲུག་གི་འགྲེམས་སྟོན་ཁང་།
The National Museum of Bhutan is located in Paro just above the Rinpung Dzong (administrative headquarter of Paro district) was established in 1968. It is housed in an ancient watch tower called Paro Ta Dzong (Ta Dzong means “watch tower fortress”) built in 1649. It displays hundreds of ancient Bhutanese artifacts and artworks including traditional costumes, armour, weaponry and handcrafted implements for daily life. The collection at the National Museum preserves a snapshot of the rich cultural traditions of the country.
45 minutesThimphu
Thimphu is the capital city of Bhutan and it is 55km away from the main Paro town. The drive should not take more than 2 hours including stop overs on the way. Thimphu is home to approximately 115,000 residents. This bustling little city is the main center of commerce, religion and government. Arriving in Thimphu, our guide will assist you to check into the hotel so that you can relax for a while. Lunch will be served either in Paro or on arrival in Thimphu depending on your flight arrival time.
2 hours 30 minutesThimphu Chorten (Memorial Chorten)
On arrival in Thimphu, visit the National Memorial Chorten is the most frequented religious site and obviously an important landmark in Thimphu. The National Memorial Chorten 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.
30 minutesBuddha Dordenma
Day 2: Hike to Tango Monastery / Transfer to Punakha valley (1200m)
45 minutesTango Buddhist Institute
After the hike, drive back to the town where traditional lunch will be served at one of the traditional restaurants.
3 hoursNational Institute for Zorig Chusum
After lunch at the Folk Heritage Museum Restaurant or at a similar one, visit the National Institute of Zorig Chusum (Zorig Chusum means 13 Traditional Arts & Crafts) located nearby the Folk Heritage Museum. The National Institute of Zorig Chuzum was established to promote and preserve the thirteen traditional arts and crafts of Bhutan and to facilitate increased access in learning Zorig skills by Bhutanese youths. Many of these traditional arts and crafts are declining with the advent of modern technologies and therefore, the government is putting in lot of effort to train youths to keep the traditions alive. The thirteen arts and crafts are categorized as Shing Zo (woodwork), Dho Zo (stonework), Par Zo (carving), Lha Zo (painting), Jim Zo (sculpting), Lug Zo (casting), Shag Zo (woodturning), Gar Zo (blacksmith), Troe Zo (ornament making), Tsa Zo (bamboo work), De Zo (paper making), Tsem Zo (tailoring, embroidery and applique) and Thag Zo (weaving). We then drive to Punakha valley.
30 minutesDochula Pass
About 45 min drive from Thimphu towards Punakha is a mountain pass at an altitude of 3,150 meters above sea level from where you can see, on a clear day, some of the highest peaks of Bhutan. Before the construction of these beautiful 108 Druk Wangyal Choetens (stupas) in 2004, this mountain pass remained only as a sacred place blessed by a famous Buddhist saint, Lam Drukpa Kunley in the late 15th century. From Dochu La Pass, we will continue driving towards Punakha, passing through some villages, the elevation drops gradually and the road winds through the pine trees. You will feel the drastic change in altitude from 3,150m just an hour and a half ago to a warmer subtropical valley at 1,200m.
30 minutesChimi Lhakhang Temple
Day 3: Sightseeing Punakha / Transfer to Phobjikha valley (3000m)
1 hourKhamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten
After the hike, return to the road head and drive to visit Punakha Dzong.
2 hours 30 minutesPunakha Dzong
After lunch, you will be transferred to Phobjikha valley. The road distance is 80km and takes approximately 3-hours.
1 hourPhobjikha Valley
Day 4: Gangtey Nature Hike / Transfer back to Paro valley (2200m)
3 hoursGangtey Monastery
From here, the beautiful Gangtey Nature Hike begins.
45 minutesGangtey nature trail
Day 5: Hike to the famous Taktsang Monastery & later visit a beautiful farmhouse for home-cooked local cuisine
7 minutesParo Taktsang
Lunch will be served at the Taktsang cafeteria and then we retrace our steps back to the base where our driver will be waiting.
5 minutesAum Choden Homestay
Day 6: Transfer to Paro International Airport
3 hoursParo International Airport
No accommodation included on this day.
Included
- Visa Fee & Processing. You'll receive your e-Visa within 4-5 business days.
- All meals (breakfast, lunch & dinner) and light snacks
- Twin-sharing accommodations at 3-star hotels certified by Tourism Council of Bhutan.
- All ground transportation including round trip airport transfers
- Experienced English-speaking licensed tour guide.
- Entry fee to National Museum
- Medical treatment at a hospital in Bhutan if you sustain injuries while in Bhutan
- All internal taxes for the services listed above
- Accommodation included: 5 nights
- Entry/Admission - Phobjikha Valley
- Entry/Admission - Gangtey nature trail
- Entry/Admission - Aum Choden Homestay
- Entry/Admission - Tango Buddhist Institute
- Entry/Admission - Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten
- Entry/Admission - Dochula Pass
Not Included
- Travel insurance is highly recommended.
- International flights. Let us know if you need help with arranging flights to and from Bhutan.
- Alcoholic beverages, laundry services, telephone call charges
- Gratuity to guide and driver
- Emergency evacuation
- Guide speaking other major languages can be arranged for an additional fee.
- Any other expenses of personal nature
- All Entry fees except for National Museum
Good to Know
- Not wheelchair accessible
- This tour can be customized and run on a private basis just for you and your group.
- We highly recommend booking at least a few months before the departure date so that we have enough time to ensure the flights are available. If you already have flight tickets to and from Bhutan, we can take bookings up to a week before the departure date. To process visa, it only takes 4-5 business days.
- There are only two airlines that connect Bhutan with the outside world and so securing air tickets can be difficult especially during the months of high season. Currently, Bhutan is connected with these cities - Bagdogra, Bangkok, Delhi, Dhaka, Guwahati, Kathmandu, Kolkata, Singapore. We recommend you book your international flights a few months in advance especially if you plan to visit during the high season months of March to May and September to November. If you need help in arranging flights to/from Bhutan, please let us know much in advance.
- After you book the tour, kindly send us clear passports copies of all the participants. A biodata page including the machine-readable zone must be seen clearly. Passports should have a minimum of 6 MONTHS validity from the day you depart from Bhutan. You may also want to check the passport requirements by your next destination country after Bhutan. A copy of your e-Visa will be emailed to you once it is approved. It only takes 4-5 business days to get visa approval and it is 100 percent guaranteed as long as we receive clear passport copies of all the participants. The actual visa will be stamped on your passport upon arrival. Send the passport copies to the Local Supplier E-mail address.
- Youth between the ages of 13-18 MUST send us a copy of their valid Student Photo ID Card/Document to keep the discounted price. Without a copy of valid Student Photo ID Card/document, the full adult price will apply.
- Most travelers can participate
- Participants below the age of 18 years old MUST be accompanied by at least one full-paying adult.
- Face masks required for travelers in public areas
- Face masks required for guides in public areas
- Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
- Social distancing enforced throughout experience
- Gear/equipment sanitized between use
- Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
- Guides required to regularly wash hands
- Regular temperature checks for staff
- Temperature checks for travelers upon arrival
- Proof of COVID-19 vaccination required for travelers
- COVID-19 vaccination required for guides
- All tourists are required to provide a full COVID-19 vaccine certificate and a negative RT-PCR test taken not more than 72 hours before the date of entry.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Tickets & Cancellation
You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.
If you cancel at least 7 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is no cancellation fee.If you cancel between 3 and 6 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is a 50 percent cancellation fee.If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, there is a 100 percent cancellation fee.