Arrive at Paro International Airport, where your private guide will welcome you to Bhutan. Travel through forested hills and river valleys toward Thimphu, Bhutan’s charming capital.

After checking into your hotel, enjoy a relaxed introduction to the country with a visit to Buddha Dordenma or a gentle walk through the city. End the evening with your first taste of traditional Bhutanese cuisine.

• Airport welcome
• Private transfer to Thimphu
• Buddha Dordenma
• Scenic valley drive
• Bhutanese welcome dinner

Spend the day discovering Bhutan’s living heritage through its religious landmarks, traditional crafts and local culture.

Visit the National Memorial Chorten, observe artisans creating handmade paper and textiles, and explore a local market. Depending on the day and opening schedule, visit Tashichho Dzong in the late afternoon.

• National Memorial Chorten
• Traditional papermaking
• Textile and craft experiences
• Local produce market
• Tashichho Dzong

Leave Thimphu and travel across the spectacular Dochula Pass. Pause among the 108 memorial chortens and admire distant Himalayan peaks when the weather is clear.

Continue into the warmer Punakha Valley and proceed to Punakha Dzong for your first festival experience. Watch monks and lay performers present sacred masked dances accompanied by traditional instruments and religious chants.

The Punakha Tshechu honours Guru Rinpoche and traditionally includes dances intended to communicate Buddhist teachings and blessings.

• Dochula Pass
• 108 memorial chortens
• Punakha Dzong
• Sacred Cham dances
• Festival photography

Return to Punakha Dzong in the early morning for further festival ceremonies. Where the official programme permits, witness the unveiling of the sacred Thongdrel, a large religious appliqué displayed for blessings during the festival.

After the festival, begin your journey toward central Bhutan. Stop near Chimi Lhakhang for a gentle village walk before travelling through Wangdue and onward toward Bumthang.

• Morning festival ceremonies
• Thongdrel unveiling, schedule permitting
• Chimi Lhakhang
• Rural village walk
• Scenic journey into central Bhutan

Explore Bumthang, often described as Bhutan’s spiritual heartland because of its concentration of ancient temples and sacred sites.

Visit Jambay Lhakhang, Kurjey Lhakhang and Tamshing Monastery while learning about Guru Rinpoche, Pema Lingpa and the development of Buddhism in Bhutan. Later, enjoy a peaceful walk through local villages and farmland.

• Jambay Lhakhang
• Kurjey Lhakhang
• Tamshing Monastery
• Jakar Dzong
• Bumthang village walk

Travel west through central Bhutan, stopping in Trongsa, an important historic town closely connected to Bhutan’s monarchy.

View the impressive Trongsa Dzong, dramatically positioned above the Mangde River, and visit the nearby watchtower museum when time permits. Continue across forested mountain roads toward the broad glacial landscape of Phobjikha Valley.

• Scenic mountain journey
• Trongsa Dzong
• Royal heritage of Trongsa
• Alpine forests
• Arrival in Phobjikha

Begin with a visit to Gangtey Monastery, overlooking the peaceful Phobjikha Valley. Take a gentle walk along the Gangtey Nature Trail through forests, open meadows and traditional settlements.

Later, travel back toward Paro, enjoying changing landscapes and mountain viewpoints along the way.

• Gangtey Monastery
• Gangtey Nature Trail
• Phobjikha Valley
• Traditional rural settlements
• Scenic drive to Paro

Embark on a guided hike to Taktsang Monastery, famously known as Tiger’s Nest. The trail rises through pine forest toward the monastery’s dramatic cliffside setting above Paro Valley.

Explore the sacred temple complex before descending for lunch. Afterwards, visit Kyichu Lhakhang or relax with an optional traditional hot stone bath.

• Tiger’s Nest Monastery
• Private guided hike
• Panoramic Paro Valley views
• Kyichu Lhakhang
• Optional hot stone bath
• Farewell dinner

Enjoy breakfast before your private transfer to Paro International Airport.

Leave Bhutan with lasting memories of sacred festival dances, peaceful monasteries, traditional communities and extraordinary Himalayan scenery.