Bhutanese Delights

Bhutan

11 Days

3,058

autumn

Overview Itinerary Dates & Pricing Gallery Is this tour Right for you

Overview

Bhutan is a secluded and mysterious kingdom hidden amidst the Himalayas’ towering peaks. This exciting Bhutan private tour takes you to some of the kingdom’s most intriguing sites for an in-depth exploration of its history, traditions, and unique natural features. The trip is perfectly scheduled to attend the annual Gangtey Festival and experience the purest form of traditional Buddhist ceremonies, set against a buzzing country fair. The people of Bhutan are considered the happiest people on Earth. This is partially achieved through the country’s medieval air, a simple way of life, majestic landscapes, and ancient fortresses, highlighting the glorious past of this tiny yet formidable mountain kingdom. You can either join this scheduled departure or have us arrange a private Bhutan tour on dates that best suit you. The recommended dates for the Bhutan private tour are spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November). Winter is less popular with travelers, but temperatures are surprisingly agreeable. The chance of seeing the Himalayas, forests, and massive historic structures in snow makes it all worthwhile. The summer is the monsoon season, so it should be avoided.

Highlights

Fly into the Himalayas. One of the world’s most dramatic landings into Paro with sweeping mountain views.
Sacred Valleys of Bumthang. Walk among Bhutan's oldest temples and monastaries where Buddhism first took root.
Festival in Phobjikha Valley. Join locals for a colorful tshechu with masked dances, rituals, and village life.
Dzongs of Power and Beauty. Explore iconic fortresses like Paro, Trongsa, and Punakha Dzongs.
Hike the Himalayan Heartland. Walk forest trails, mountain passes, and panoramic valley viewpoints.
Tiger's Nest Monastery. Hike to Bhutan's most iconic cliffside monastery, a spiritual and visual highlight of the journey.

Itinerary

Itineraries on some departure dates may differ, please select the itinerary that you wish to explore.

Paro

Day 1

Arrive in Paro

Bumthang

Day 2

Fly to Bumthang

Jakar

Day 3

Jakar

Trongsa

Day 4

From Bumthang to Trongsa

Pobjika

Day 5

Drive from Trongsa to Pobjika

Gangtey Monastery

Day 6

Festival in Pobjika and on to Punakha

Punakha

Day 7

In Punakha

Ducho-La

Day 8

From Punakha to Thimphu via Ducho La

Thimphu

Day 9

Thimphu

Tigress Lair

Day 10

Revert to Paro and Hike to the Tigress Lair

Paro Airport

Day 11

Departure from Paro

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Itinerary

Itineraries on some departure dates may differ, please select the itinerary that you wish to explore.

Paro

A trip to Bhutan begins as the plane descends towards the country's only international airport, flying over the Himalayas and offering a rare glimpse of Mt. Everest (on a clear day). The plane then navigates through the Himalayas' narrow valleys until it lands at Paro Airport. After completing the immigration formalities, meet your local guide and embark on your private Bhutan tour. Spend the afternoon exploring the sites of Paro. Begin with the National Museum, located just by the ancient watchtower of Paro Dzong. The museum features a unique collection of traditional and religious artifacts commonly used in Bhutan, highlighting their history and how they are being used by the locals throughout the generations. Another exhibition gives an impressive insight into the country's flora, fauna, and unique geographical features. From here, take a trip to Paro Dzong, built by the founder of modern-day Bhutan in the mid-17th century. The dzong is considered a fine example of traditional dzong architecture, with its thick and towering walls surrounding the complex's 14 shrines and chapels. In the evening, enjoy a traditional Bhutanese meal served in a local farmhouse. This is a chance to meet the people of the country up-close and hear their thoughts on Bhutan's current affairs. Late in the evening, head to the hotel for the first night in Bhutan.

Hotel
Lunch, Dinner

View of the Punakha Valley in Bhutan with vibrant green rice paddies and terraced fields. Trips At Asia Bhutanese Delights Tour

Bumthang

This morning, drive back to Paro Airport for the 25-minute scenic flight to Bumthang Valley. On a clear day, enjoy the stunning view of the Himalayas just over the plane's left wing (note: for good views, choose a seat on the left side). Bumthang valley, whose villages retain a rather medieval atmosphere to this day, is often dubbed the 'pantry of Bhutan'. The fertile lands are covered with potatoes, rice, buckwheat, dairy farms, and apple orchards, and lie alongside old, rustic farmhouses. This is where Buddhism was first introduced to Bhutan. Thus, it is home to some of the country's oldest and most revered religious monuments, temples, and monasteries. Many myths that form the founding ethos of the Bhutanese people refer to sites located within the valley. In the afternoon, visit Jakar Dzong, walk downhill into the town, pass through local villages, and pause at hidden shrines and temples. In the evening, visit Kharchu Drastang monastery, possibly during the monks' evening theological debates and prayers. Then, return to the hotel for a good night's sleep.

Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The Buddha Dordenma statue in Bhutan with clear blue sky in the background. Trips At Asia Bhutanese Delights Tour

Jakar

Drive out of the hotel for a walking tour of the surroundings of Jakar, the main town of Bumthang Valley. Begin with a short ride to Jambay Lhakhang. It is said that Padmasambhava, the propagator of Buddhism in Bhutan has first settled here. Later, King Songtsen Gampo built the Jambay Lakhang temple in 659 AD to subdue a demon that had been lying over the Himalayas. From here, follow a beautiful trail to the 17th-century Kurjey Lakhang, overlooking the Chamkhar Chu River. Cross the river over the suspension bridge to Dorjibi village. Then walk along the riverbank to Tamshing monastery, the most revered site of the Nyingma School, the oldest of the four primary Tibetan Buddhist schools. Then board the vehicle and drive back to the hotel for a second night in Jakar.

Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

A Bhutanese Monk looks out the monastery temple. Trips At Asia. Bhutanese Delights Tour

Trongsa

Leave the Bhumtang valley and head to Trongsa. Drive past Youtung La Pass, rising some 3425 meters (11,237 feet) above sea level. En route, pause by the Yathra Weaving ladies. These artisans preserve generations-old traditions of hand-weaving decorative rugs that are then hung on the walls of local dwellings. From here, proceed to Trongsa Dzong, one of the most impressive of Bhutan's dzongs. A dzong is a monastery-fortress complex and a vivid reminder of Bhutan's turbulent history. Though Bhutan today is widely perceived as a peaceful country, often referred to as 'the happiest place in the world', it has been, for centuries, the scene of ongoing bloody battles among warring lords, all of them serving as high-ranking religious clerks. Those local lords fought over royal rights, territory, and subjects. With slavery abolished in Bhutan only in the late 1950s, a larger domain meant more working hands and more crop-yielding plots for the local ruler's benefit. Trongsa Dzong forms a rambling collection of buildings trailing down the ridge with a succession of beautiful courtyards overlooking the Mangde Chu River. Though the history of the dzong dates back to the mid-16th century, it is remarkably preserved in its structure and in its significant role in preserving ancient Buddhist traditions. From here, it's a short ride to the hotel, overlooking the beautiful dzong.

Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Buddhist prayer flags on poles flay in the wind in Bhutan. Trips At Asia. Bhutanese Delights Tour

Pobjika

The day begins with a beautiful drive along a winding road offering great views over terraced rice paddies. Drive past Pele La Pass of "only" 3353 meters (11,000 feet) above sea level before descending into Gangtey Valley. In the afternoon, arrive at the small temple of Gangtey. If time permits, embark on a leisurely hike on a trail that runs by farmhouses and through a thick pine forest. Enjoy the view of the beautiful valley where locals work their vegetable plots, and of the traditional Bhutanese villages dotting the ridge on the other side. From the trail's end, it's a short drive to the hotel for the night, at the village of Pobjika.

Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

A Bhutanese elderly man prays a monastery in Bhutan. Trips At Asia. Bhutanese Delights Tour

Gangtey Monastery

Today is a big day for the residents of Pobjika and the nearby villages. This is also one of the highlights of any Bhutan private tour. Join the locals as they gather at Gangtey Monastery, which sits atop a hillock overlooking the Pobjika valley. It is headed by the ninth Gangtey Tulku and is the largest Nyingma monastery in western Bhutan. The monastery was founded in 1613 by Gyalse Pema Thinlay, a grandson and reincarnation of the influential treasure finder- Pema Lingpa. This is where a local festival (Tshechu) takes place today. Bhutanese Festivals always revolve around a religious ceremony of elaborate dances performed by monks wearing massive colorful masks, representing universal forces, and a plethora of the rich and diverse figures comprising the pantheon of gods of Bhutanese Buddhism and mythology. The dances serve as a supposed reenactment of the constant struggle between good and evil. The good eventually prevails but not diminishing the evil, so there would be a good reason for the ceremony to occur again the following year. Alongside the engaging dances, the grounds surrounding the ancient monastery turn into a huge fair. Here, locals sell their fresh produce, engage in fortune-telling, or just meet old friends from across the valley. After lunch, board the vehicle, and embark on the drive to Punakha, arriving there relatively late in the evening to check-in the hotel.

Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

A monk paints a mandala using a fine brush in Bhutanese Monastery. Trips At Asia. Bhutanese Delights Tour

Punakha

Begin the day with a hike up to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten. The chorten (stupa) was built back in 1994 by the Queen Mother, one of the four wives of the fourth king of Bhutan, the reigning king's father. Her Majesty built the stupa to bring world peace and drive away hostile spirits. The exterior of the chorten is a magnificent testimony to traditional Bhutanese architecture. The interior offers an elaborate display of the rich pantheon of Bhutanese Buddhist deities. At the fourth story of the stupa, there is a porch offering an unparalleled vista over the Punakha valley and the mighty Mo River. On clear days, the ever-snowed peaks of the Himalayas to the north can be seen. After lunch, visit Punakha Dzong, often considered the most revered dzong in the country. Initially built by Ngawang Namgyal, the nation's forefather in the mid-17th century, it is the place where, in 1907, the coronation of the first king of Bhutan, Ugyen Wangchuck, took place. Later, the treaty between the British Empire and the Bhutanese king was signed here. The British recognized Bhutan's sovereignty as an independent State. Late in the afternoon, return to the hotel for a second night in Punakha.

Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Bhutanese school girls wearing the traditional clothes on their way to school in Bhutan. Trips At Asia. Bhutanese Delights Tour

Ducho-La

Leave Punakha and head towards Ducho-La, the 3,100-meter (10,171-foot) mountain pass, offering (on clear days) magnificent views of the Himalayan Mountain Range. The roots of Bhutanese Buddhism are in the fusion of Indian Buddhism and shamanic beliefs. The latter consists of worshiping the spirits of nature, and above them all, the spirit of the sky, the founding father of the entire cosmos and of all spirits. Thus, mountain passes, which are the closest places at which travelers get to the "father", are highly revered. From the mountain pass, embark on a three-hour hike. The trail takes through thick forest to Lungchuzekha Lhakhang, a small but impressive temple nestled on a mountain top, offering marvelous views over the entire range. At the end of the trek, return to the vehicle. Continue driving to Thimphu, the national capital and the seat of the King of Bhutan. Thimphu is nestled in the heart of a fertile valley, where nearly half of the country's revenues are produced. This signifies the city's importance, established when several villages were unified at the end of the country's last major war, back in 1885. Upon arrival in Thimphu, check into a hotel in the city center.

Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Druk Wangyal Chortens, a collection of 108 memorial stupas located at the Dochula Pass in Bhutan. Trips At Asia. Bhutanese Delights Tour

Thimphu

The day would be dedicated to exploring the sites throughout Thimphu. First, visit the local market, where city dwellers purchase anything from fresh produce and household appliances to religious artifacts. Then, proceed to a vocational school where traditional crafts are taught to the younger generation to preserve these unique art forms. Next, pay a visit to the newly constructed Buddha Dordenma statue, a gigantic 52-meter-tall statue of Buddha Shakyamuni, built at a cost of US$ 47 million between 2006 and 2015. The shrine beneath the Buddha statue houses over 100,000 gilded images of the Buddha. From here, drive to a vantage point over Thimphu Dzong, the seat of the local parliament. Late in the afternoon, visit the national stadium, where locals often engage in friendly archery competitions, being the national sport. Overnight in Thimphu.

Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

A Bhutanese woman smiles. Trips At Asia. Bhutanese Delights Tour

Tigress Lair

Leave the Bhutanese capital city for the one-and-a-half hours' drive back to Paro. Continue out of town to the trailhead for the Taktsang hike, another monumental part of any Bhutan private tour. Taktsang literally translates into 'tigress lair'. It is derived from a legend describing Padmasambhava flying on a tigress back from Singye Dzong in eastern Bhutan to this exact location. He then meditated here for three months and left his body imprint on the rock. Today, this iconic monastery is probably the best-known image of Bhutan. The hike is divided into two segments- from the trailhead to the cafeteria located about halfway to the monastery. Then, from the cafeteria to the monastery itself. Each of these segments takes about an hour's walk uphill. For the first segment, one might choose to ride a mule, while the second segment can be done only on foot. It is also possible to do only the first segment and enjoy the monastery's view from the cafeteria without ascending all the way to the monastery itself. After this somewhat strenuous hike ride to Paro's center, where a variety of cafes are located amidst shops selling all sorts of traditional Bhutanese souvenirs, a great chance to grab some material memories of Bhutan and take these back home. In the evening, head back to the hotel for the last night of this Bhutan private tour.

Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Tiger Nest Monastery in Bhutan. Trips At Asia. Bhutanese Delights.

Paro Airport

This morning, transfer to Paro Airport to end this fantastic Bhutan private tour, say farewell to the local team, and board the departure flight from Paro.

Breakfast

A Bhutanese elderly holding prayer beads. Trips At Asia. Bhutanese Delights

Dates & Pricing

Bhutan private tour rates quoted in USD.Trips@Asia reserves the right to change Bhutan private tour prices and programs due to changes in flight schedules, changes in airfares, and other local circumstances.Prices are based on twin share occupancy.Rates for private groups of 2 travelers and above:
2 travelers- US$3,419/ person

Dates	Status	Price	Notes
13 Sept 2026 - 23 Sept 2026	available	$ 3,058	(For a group of 6 or more) - $397 Single Room Supplement
23 Oct 2026 - 02 Nov 2026	available	$ 3,058	(For a group of 6 or more) - $397 Single Room Supplement

Additional Information

Inclusions

Domestic flight Paro - Jakar
Accommodation at hotels selected including breakfast
Full board (3 meals a day)
Private transfer with A/C vehicle
Entrance fees to all sites and monuments as per program
Bottled drinking water
English Speaking guide
Bhutan tourist visa
Tourists fees and royalties
Travel permits

Exclusions

International flights to/from Paro
Travel/health insurance
PCR/COVID tests, or any tests that might be required for international or domestic travel
Expenses that might incur due to the results of COVID tests before, during or after the tour
Excess luggage (limited to 20 kg on domestic flight)
Gratuities
Expenses of personal nature (food and drinks beyond those provided, laundry, etc.)
Anything not clearly mentioned in the program

Gallery

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Bhutanese-Delights-Tour-Trips-At-Asia-Punakha-Valley

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Is this trip right for you?

You are drawn to slow, meaningful travel. This journey moves at a thoughtful pace, allowing time to absorb Bhutan’s landscapes, monasteries, and daily life rather than rushing from place to place.

You appreciate culture that is lived, not staged. From farmhouse dinners and weaving villages to festivals and monastery visits, this trip offers genuine encounters rooted in Bhutanese tradition.

You’re comfortable with mountain travel. Expect winding drives over high passes, changing weather, and breathtaking Himalayan scenery along the way.

You enjoy walking and gentle hiking. Daily walks through valleys, villages, and forests are part of the experience, including the option to hike to the iconic Tiger’s Nest Monastery.

You don’t need constant connectivity. Bhutan’s focus on simplicity means limited distractions, offering space for presence, conversation, and immersion in one of the world’s most distinctive cultures.

Overview