Grand Bhutan

Drive About 1.5 hrsAltitude about 2,320 m

Your guide and driver meet you at Paro airport for the drive to the capital, stopping at Tachog Lhakhang and its iron chain bridge for tea. Lunch is your first taste of Bhutanese food, with an introduction to the dishes. After an afternoon to rest and adjust to the altitude, browse the handicraft market and try on a gho or kira, then visit Tashichho Dzong as the working day ends.

• Tachog Lhakhang
• Tashichho Dzong

Altitude about 2,320 m

A slow morning, then light a butter lamp at the National Memorial Chorten and walk the rounds with local elders. From the great Buddha at Buddha Point, a gentle trail of about two hours leads down to Changangkha Lhakhang, with tea at a viewpoint. After lunch and some rest, make your own stamps at the Postal Museum, meet the takin, Bhutan’s national animal, and hang prayer flags at Sangaygang viewpoint. End with the farmers market and the town, and dinner at our family home.

• National Memorial Chorten
• Takin Preserve
• Bhutan Postal Museum
• Prayer flags at Sangaygang

Drive About 3 hrs with stopsAltitude about 1,250 m

Tea among the 108 chortens of Dochula Pass, a stop at the Lobesa vegetable market and a walk through the rice fields to Chimi Lhakhang. After lunch, Punakha Dzong and the suspension bridge, then time to rest by the river.

• Chimi Lhakhang
• Punakha Dzong

Drive About 4.5–5 hrs with stopsAltitude about 2,200 m

Wangdue Phodrang Dzong, then over Pele La Pass (3,420 m) to Chendebji Chorten for lunch. In Trongsa, time to rest before visiting Trongsa Dzong, ancestral seat of the royal family.

• Wangdue Phodrang Dzong
• Trongsa Dzong

Drive About 4–4.5 hrsAltitude about 2,800 m

Over Yotong La (3,425 m) to Chumey, where yathra wool is woven by hand. After lunch in Jakar, Mebar Tsho, the Burning Lake of Pema Lingpa, then up the Tang valley to Ogyen Choling, a manor house whose museum tells the story of one family’s history, faith and daily life. Dinner at the manor.

• Ogyen Choling Museum

Drive About 1.5 hrsAltitude about 2,600 m

Jambay Lhakhang, one of Bhutan’s oldest temples, and Kurjey Lhakhang. Cross the suspension bridge to Tamshing Lhakhang in our home village and try on its iron chain mail, then lunch at a local farmhouse. Later, Jakar Dzong and a tasting of Bumthang cheese, honey and local beer.

• Jambay Lhakhang
• Kurjey Lhakhang
• Tamshing Lhakhang
• Jakar Dzong

Drive About 5.5 hrs with stopsAltitude about 2,900 m

Back over Yotong La to the Tower of Trongsa museum and lunch, then over Pele La to the Phobjikha valley for Gangtey Monastery and the Black-necked Crane Information Centre.

• Tower of Trongsa Museum
• Gangtey Monastery
• Black-necked Crane Centre

Drive About 2.5–3 hrsAltitude about 1,250 m

A gentle two-hour walk along the Gangtey Nature Trail, then down to the Punakha valley. In the afternoon, a village walk, archery with the villagers and cooking ema datshi with your hosts. A hot stone bath, then dinner with the family by the fire.

Drive About 4 hrs with stopsAltitude about 2,200 m

Farewell to your hosts, tea at Dochula and lunch in Thimphu. In Paro, the National Museum and a walk down to Rinpung Dzong, with the evening free.

• National Museum (Ta Dzong)
• Rinpung Dzong

Hike about 2–3 hrs up, 3,120 m at the topAltitude about 2,200 m

The hike to Paro Taktsang, Tiger’s Nest, taken slowly with plenty of stops and tea halfway. A pony can carry you uphill if you’d like. After visiting the monastery, lunch faces it across the valley. On the way back, Kyichu Lhakhang, one of Bhutan’s oldest temples, then rest. Time for souvenir shopping before a farewell dinner.

• Tiger’s Nest
• Kyichu Lhakhang

After breakfast, the drive to Paro airport and a warm farewell from your guide and driver. With an afternoon flight, there’s time for a last stroll in Paro town.