Western Valleys

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 4.5–5 hrs with stopsAltitude about 2,900 m

Coffee with a view at Semtokha, tea among the 108 chortens of Dochula Pass, and a stop at the Lobesa vegetable market. After lunch, the road climbs to the Phobjikha valley for Gangtey Monastery and the Black-necked Crane Information Centre. An evening by the fire: Gangtey sits at about 2,900 m.

• 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 the drive down to Punakha and a walk through the rice fields of Sopsokha to Chimi Lhakhang.

• Chimi Lhakhang

Altitude about 1,250 m

An early hike to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten before the heat, then the suspension bridge and Punakha Dzong. In the afternoon, welcome tea with your host family, archery with the villagers and cooking ema datshi together. A hot stone bath, then dinner with the family, with ara and stories by the fire.

• Punakha Dzong
• Khamsum Chorten

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.