- Private transportation including airport transfers
- All necessary travel permits and Bhutan Visa Fee
- English-speaking local guide throughout the tour
- Accommodation in a twin-sharing room plan
- Bhutan Sustainable Development Fee (SDF)
- Meal plan: Full Board Basis (Breakfast Lunch and dinner)
Journey overview
The experience at a glance
For a truly adventurous visit to the Kingdom of Bhutan, see the highest sights on our Bhutan Grand Discovery Tour – 10 Days - take you from the popular western valleys to the spiritual heart of Bumthang. This experiential Bhutan tour includes stunning Himalayan terrain, historical monasteries, iconic fortresses, and authentic Bhutanese culture, making it one of the most comprehensive and satisfying travel itineraries in the country.
This trip starts in Paro before visiting the bustling capital, Thimphu, the ancient valley of Punakha, the beautiful Trongsa, and the ancient holy district of Bumthang, considered the spiritual and cultural heart of Bhutan. Stroll a beautiful route through a mountain pass with many colorful prayer flags, greenery, exquisite villages, and tranquil river valleys whilst discovering the best sights in the Himalayas.
Visit the most glorious spots in Bhutan such as Tiger's Nest Monastery (Taktsang), the famous Punakha Dzong, Trongsa Dzong, Jakar Dzong, Buddha Dordenma, Memorial Chorten, and the centuries-old temples that cherish the unique Buddhist heritage of Bhutan. Every one presents fascinating stories as well as beautiful architecture and significant cultural experiences which speak well to the nation’s dedication to defending its heritage.
This 10-day adventure is set in a comfortable, easy way to find your way there to enjoy all the real warmth and friendliness of the Bhutanese individuals. For a couple, a family, or friends, the 'Bhutan Grand Discovery Tour' has the perfect mix of culture, history, nature, and scenic visits. From the celebrated valleys of western Bhutan to the mystical scenery of Bumthang, this trip truly epitomizes the Last Himalayan Kingdom.
Trip highlights
What makes this journey
- 01
Travel to Western and Central Bhutan, see the various cultural jewels of Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, Trongsa and the sacred Bumthang Valley
- 02
Trek to the famed Tiger’s Nest Monastery (Taktsang), the most beloved temple in Bhutan which at 3,120 m above the Paro Valley stands in stunning relief.
- 03
Check out Bhutan’s past by travelling to picturesque Dzongs, ancient monasteries, sacred temples and centuries-old Buddhist landmarks.
- 04
You take a drive across spectacular mountain views and steep slopes on the Himalayan scenery: Dochu La (3,100 m), Pele La (3,420 m) and Yotong La (3,425 m).
- 05
Visit the heart of religion in Bhutan, located in Bumthang, where revered monasteries include Jambay Lhakhang, Kurjey Lhakhang, Tamshing Monastery and Jakar Dzong.
- 06
Encounter the pure and genuine Bhutanese dream world with hidden country valleys, old homes, friendly Bhutanese hospitality, and a leisurely get-together perfectly combining culture, nature, and history.
Day by day
10 days · 1 region
Walk the route one day at a time — meals, overnight stays, and the details that shape each stage.
Welcome to the Kingdom of Bhutan at Paro International Airport. Your Bhutanese guide welcomes you with open arms and commences the majestic journey to Thimphu, the stunning capital city of the Kingdom of Bhutan. The road traces the Paro and Wang Chhu rivers through serene villages and verdant hills, providing your first taste of unspoiled Bhutanese views. After checking into your hotel, explore the city with visits to the sacred Memorial Chorten, where local people worship and recite prayers every day, the giant Buddha Dordenma, one of the largest seated Buddha statues atop the valley, and the amazing Tashichho Dzong, the administrative and religious citadel of Bhutan. For your welcome, your evening is a walk around Thimphu’s handicraft shops and cafés.
- Meals
- Dinner
- Overnight
- Hotel in Thimphu
- Distance
- 55 km
- Altitude
- 2,320m
Have a full day to explore Bhutan, its captivating capital, after breakfast. Take a tour of the National Institute for Zorig Chusum, where students become masters of Bhutan’s thirteen traditional arts and crafts. You’ll go to the National Textile Museum, which features fabulous woven textiles, and the Folk Heritage Museum, for a deeper understanding of traditional Bhutanese rural life. Go to the Motithang Takin Preserve, where Bhutan's national animal resides, before taking a tour of the busy local market filled with handicrafts and organic products. Your guide will also teach you about Bhutan's Gross National Happiness philosophy, local traditions, and Buddhist life.
- Meals
- Full Board
- Overnight
- Hotel in Thimphu
- Altitude
- 2,320m
To go here this morning, in front of the Punakha Valley, make your way through the awesome Dochu La Pass (3,100 m). On sunny days, the pass offers visitors a scenic panorama of the snow-encrusted eastern Himalayas and the renowned 108 Druk Wangyal Chortens. Riding through pine forests and rhododendron-covered hillsides, you will reach the warm subtropical valley of Punakha. After lunch, visit the stunning Punakha Dzong, one of the most beautiful fortresses of Bhutan and the highest altitude, especially between the two great rivers Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu; it was the best part of a recent exploration of this. Finish the day with a stroll across the scenic Punakha Suspension Bridge, one of Bhutan's longest suspension bridges.
- Meals
- Full Board
- Overnight
- Hotel in Punakha
- Distance
- 75 km
- Altitude
- 1,350m
NoteMountain Road, Docula Pass (3100m)
From today’s scenic drive, you’re driving into central Bhutan. Navigate changing landscapes, dense forests, alpine terrain, and a number of traditional villages as you pass Pele La Pass (3,420 m), one of Bhutan’s highest motorable passes topped with colorful prayer flags. Then visit Chendebji, where you may encounter the stunning Chendebji Chorten, inspired by Nepal’s famous Boudhanath Stupa. Go to the venerable Trongsa, strategically situated on a ridge over profound valleys. Visit the magnificent Trongsa Dzong, the largest fortress in Bhutan, the ancestral home of Bhutan's royal family, and its fascinating Tower of Trongsa Museum that tells Bhutan's royal history in beautiful detail.
- Meals
- Full Board
- Overnight
- Hotel in Trongsa
- Distance
- 130 km
- Altitude
- 2,200m
NoteMountain Road, Pele La Pass (3420)
Following breakfast, you proceed east across the spectacular Yotong La Pass (3,425 m) and head into the sacred valley of Bumthang, perhaps Bhutan's greatest spiritual and cultural center. This enchanting area is made up of four beautiful valleys with ancient monasteries, apple orchards and traditional villages. When you arrive, sightsee the Jakar Dzong, the 'castle of the white bird ', and drop in on the charming town of Jakar. The tranquility and the fresh mountain air make Bumthang one of Bhutan’s most cherished places to visit.
- Meals
- Full Board
- Overnight
- Hotel in Bumthang
- Distance
- 68 km
- Altitude
- 2,600m
NoteMountain Road, Yotong La Pass (3425m)
Take a day off to view Bhutan’s most sacred valley, where some of the country’s oldest temples and monasteries once existed. Go to the well-publicised Jambay Lhakhang temple in Bhutan, one of 108 temples that originated with the 7th-century construction of King Songtsen Gampo by a Tibetan monk and is known internationally, followed by Kurjey Lhakhang, where Guru Padmasambhava etched himself into the ground on meditative grounds. Tamshing Lhakhang, famous for the ancient Buddhist murals and its spiritual significance. Local farms and a traditional cheese and dairy factory, or the renowned Red Panda Brewery and Swiss cheese production center in Bhutan, are also possible sites. Nothing is more precious than Bumthang: the tranquil scenery, spiritual environment, and authentic rural lifestyle.
- Meals
- Full Board
- Overnight
- Hotel in Bumthang
- Altitude
- 2,600m
Start the scenic return south toward the western end of Bhutan, taking a redirection of your path Yotong La Pass and Pele La Pass. Stroll through stunning mountain scenery, untouched forests, and beautiful valleys, returning to the lovely Punakha Valley. To relax after a long day of travel or take a peaceful evening stroll through the riverside town.
- Meals
- Full Board
- Overnight
- Hotel in Punakha
- Distance
- 198 km
- Altitude
- 1,350m
NoteMountain Road, High Passes involved up to 3425m
This morning, take a stroll in the scenic Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten, where you are taken gently hiking in high-angle rice terraces overlooking Punakha Valley. Now, drive back to Paro, crossing the pretty Dochu La Pass again. Once there, visit the great National Museum (Ta Dzong) and Rinpung Dzong. One of the finest examples of traditional fortress architecture of Bhutan can be seen here.
- Meals
- Full Board
- Overnight
- Hotel in Paro
- Distance
- 125 km
- Altitude
- 2,250m
NoteMountain Road, Dochula Pass (3100m)
It is the high point of your Bhutan quest today. After breakfast, drive up to the trailhead for a memorable trek to that legendary Tiger’s Nest Monastery (Paro Taktsang). Situated dramatically atop a vast cliff 900 meters above the valley, this sacred center is arguably Bhutan's most iconic sight. The hike climbs up gently and subtly through aromatic pine trees adorned with coloured prayer flags, arriving at amazing views and the monastery. A visit to the ancient Kyichu Lhakhang, Bhutan’s oldest temple in its ancient form, which is a major temple of the 7th century in Bhutan with thousands of people. Come downhill with us to enjoy your goodbyes to the great journey across Bhutan.
- Meals
- Full Board
- Overnight
- Hotel in Paro
- Distance
- 6.4 km
- Altitude
- 3,120m
NoteElevation: Tiger's Nest – 3,120 m, Hiking Duration: 5-6 hours round trip, Stay Hydrated.
Transfer to Paro International Airport for your next flight. As your plane climbs beyond the Himalayan peaks, see for the last time the magnificent landscapes and mountains of the Himalayas, the beautiful ancient monasteries of Bhutan, the views of the majestic panorama of Bhutan, and the grand, tranquil valleys. When you fly out of here, you will return with fond memories of one of the richest of Bhutan’s traditions and magnificent features of Buddhist legacy and ancient Buddhist culture, natural wonders, warmth and accommodation, and the timeless and charming Last Himalayan Kingdom. We hope to see you return to Bhutan when we are back in the future.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Private vehicle & English-speaking guide throughout · Paro
Places covered
Destinations on this trip
The places this journey moves through, in the order they shape the experience.
Paro
Thimphu
Punakha
Trongsa
Bumthang
Tiger's Nest Temple
Trip essentials
What your journey covers
A clear split between what we arrange and what you budget yourself.
- Insurance of any kind
- Single Supplement (if necessary)
- Airfare and airport taxes
- Additional costs due to natural calamity and unforeseen circumstance
- Personal expenses such as drinks guide tips & etc.
Before you go
Trip Information
Before you go
Frequently asked
More about travelling in Bhutan
