Hearth and Home

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, then down to Sopsokha village and a walk through the rice fields to Chimi Lhakhang. After lunch, Punakha Dzong and the long suspension bridge over the river, then time to rest or walk by the water.

• Chimi Lhakhang
• Punakha Dzong

Altitude about 1,250 m

A morning hike to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten, then welcome tea and a village walk with your hosts. Lunch at the farmhouse and a quiet hour in the heat of the day. Later, try archery with the villagers, help in the fields or kitchen garden and cook ema datshi together. A hot stone bath, then dinner with the family, with ara and stories by the fire.

• Khamsum Chorten

Drive About 4 hrs with stopsAltitude about 2,200 m

Farewell to your hosts and the drive back over Dochula. After lunch and some rest in Paro, the National Museum, a walk down to Rinpung Dzong and an evening in 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.