Heart of 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 walk through the rice fields to Chimi Lhakhang, then Punakha Dzong and the suspension bridge. In the late afternoon, welcome tea with your host family, archery and cooking ema datshi together. A hot stone bath, then dinner with the family by the fire.

• Chimi Lhakhang
• Punakha Dzong

Drive About 2.5–3 hrsAltitude about 2,900 m

Wangdue Phodrang Dzong, then up to the Phobjikha valley for Gangtey Monastery, a gentle two-hour walk along the Gangtey Nature Trail and the Black-necked Crane Information Centre.

• Wangdue Phodrang Dzong
• Gangtey Monastery
• Black-necked Crane Centre

Drive About 3.5 hrsAltitude about 2,200 m

Over Pele La Pass (3,420 m) to the white Chendebji Chorten for tea, then on to Trongsa. After lunch and rest, the Tower of Trongsa museum and Trongsa Dzong, ancestral seat of the royal family.

• Tower of Trongsa Museum
• 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

A morning walk around the estate, then 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. Later, Jakar Dzong, a tasting of Bumthang cheese, honey and local beer, and a farmhouse dinner of buckwheat pancakes and noodles.

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

Drive Short flight, about 30 minAltitude about 2,200 m

A short, scenic flight back west over the mountains. After lunch and some rest, the National Museum, a walk down to Rinpung Dzong and an evening in Paro town.

• 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.