Grand Tour of Bhutan: The Last Shangri-La

After a thrilling flight from Delhi over the Himalaya mountains to Paro, you will be met by your private guide and driver, both of whom will remain with you for the duration of your time in Bhutan, and driven to the country’s capital city of Thimphu. Stop en route to see the colourful suspension bridge near the tiny settlement of Tamchog Lhakhang, and in the afternoon, by way of an introduction to Bhutan’s breathtaking scenery, there is an opportunity to take a gentle 1½ to 2-hour hike in the countryside surrounding Thimphu.

Today, explore the compact capital, Thimphu. Sightseeing is flexible depending on your interests but can include the National Textile Museum, the Jungshi paper-making factory and the National Memorial Chorten. Other places of interest include the Zorig Chusum, the most important institute in the country for preserving traditional arts and crafts, and also the small preserve on the outskirts of the city that is dedicated to the wellbeing of the takin, a goat/cow-like creature that is the national animal of Bhutan.

If possible, we recommend timing your visit to Thimphu from Friday through to Sunday, as this is when the city’s colourful weekend market takes place.

Today’s journey to Punakha takes you up to the Dochula, a high mountain pass from where you will head off with your guide to undertake a moderate 7km hike of between 3-4 hours that, on a clear day, will present an awe-inspiring 360° view of the Himalayan mountains. After your trek, continue by road to Punakha, stopping at the 15th-century hilltop fertility temple of Chimi Lhakhang along the way.

Punakha’s location in a warm and fertile sub-tropical valley makes it one of the most appealing places in Bhutan to enjoy a spot of hiking, and this morning’s 45-minute walk to Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten presents impressive views of the Punakha Valley.
After a picnic-style lunch on the banks of the Mo Chhu (Female River), you can try your hand at archery, Bhutan’s national sport, before visiting Punakha’s glorious dzong (fortress-monastery), which has a strategic river position and is arguably the most striking structure in the country.

This morning’s journey to the Phobjikha Valley takes you via Wangdue Phodrang, where the dzong (fortress-monastery) is one of the most impressive in the country. Viewing it from a distance only, you will then travel in an easterly and then southerly direction into the bowl-shaped glacial valley of Phobjikha.
In the afternoon, visit Gangtey Gompa, which has one of the most enviable positions in the valley and looks out across its entire green expanse. Then walk along the Gangtey Nature Trail, a 4km path that passes glacial streams, grassy plains and traditional Bhutanese-style farmhouses along its route. Later, it is possible to visit the nearby shedra (Buddhist college) known as Kuenzang Chholing in order to witness the resident monks conducting their evening prayers.

Continue your discovery of this exceptionally beautiful valley with a 4 to 5-hour trek known as the Longteng Hike which begins with a 30-minute drive to the trailhead and ends at the wonderfully scenic Kumbu village.

The Phobjikha Valley’s most famous residents are the black-necked cranes and later today you can learn more about this endangered bird with a visit to the nearby information centre. (The Black-Necked Crane Festival, which takes place every November in the courtyard of the Gangtey Gompa, celebrates the arrival of the cranes and is an astonishing spectacle that is definitely worth including in your schedule if your visit dates coincide). The remainder of the day is at leisure.

This morning, you will depart for Bumthang, a full-day drive of approximately 8 hours, including stops. After leaving the Phobjikha Valley and rejoining the main road, you will first reach the Pele La, a pass of 3,420 metres that takes you over the Black Mountains, the natural boundary between western and central Bhutan. There will be time to explore the seemingly impenetrable dzong at Trongsa along the way before arriving in Jakar, Bumthang’s district capital and your base for the next three nights.

Steeped in tradition and home to some of the oldest and most sacred monasteries in the kingdom, Bumthang consists of four valleys and you will begin your exploration of this magical part of the country with a short walk to two of the region’s most important temples: Jambay Lhakhang and Kurjey Lhakhang. If you are keen to see more of the surrounding area on foot, there are options that your guide will happily discuss with you. Alternatively, you may wish to visit Jakar’s dzong, which has expanded over time and now overlooks and dominates the Chamkhar Valley.

Today, visit Tang, one of the remotest of Bumthang’s four valleys. En route, a stop will be made at Mebar Tsho (Burning Lake), one of the most important places of pilgrimage in the Bumthang region. Life is still very simple in the Tang Valley and you’ll see traditional village life and farmers raising sheep and also yaks at higher elevations. There will be plenty of time to discover this little-visited part of central Bhutan and on the return journey to Jakar, there is the option to hike part of the way and see even more of this picturesque valley.

Rising early, you will fly from Bumthang to Paro where, on arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. In Paro, sightseeing later today will include the National Museum of Bhutan, a former watchtower that now houses a fascinating collection of more than 3,000 pieces of Bhutanese art and, if time permits, Paro Dzong which was built to defend the then-small settlement from invaders from Tibet. There are also several temples worth discovering, including the 15th-century Dungtse Lhakhang, and the Kyichu Lhakhang which dates back to the 7th century and is one of the most sacred and oldest temples in Bhutan.

Departing in the morning, today’s highlight is a visit to Taktsang monastery, more commonly known as Tiger’s Nest. One of the most revered places in Bhutan, the monastery seemingly hangs off the face of the cliff that rises from the valley floor some 900 metres below. The roundtrip hike takes between 4 and 5 hours and there are spectacular views of both the monastery and the encompassing valley along much of the route. Returning to Paro, lunch will be taken at a traditional farmhouse and the rest of the day is at leisure.

Today will be spent visiting the remote and seldom-visited Haa Valley, which is reached via the 3,988-metre Cheli La pass and Bhutan’s highest drivable road. Weather permitting, there are spectacular panoramic views of Bhutan’s northern Himalayas from the pass, as well as the opportunity to undertake a short hike in the surrounding area. Upon arrival in the valley proper, the scene is otherworldly and you will witness meadows with herds of yaks, picturesque villages and endless fields of golden barley, millet and other such cultivables. There will be time to discover this unique pocket of the country before returning to Paro via the same route.

This morning, you will be transferred to Paro airport in order to catch your return flight to Delhi where, on arrival, you will be met and taken to your hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure.

A private transfer will take you from your hotel to Delhi International Airport, where you will check in for your onward flight.