12-Day Bhutan In-Depth Tour

Meet your private Bhutanese guide at the airport in Paro. Then get you will drive to Thimphu. On the way, you will stop at Ta Chog Lhakhang. It is a private monastery owned by the descendant of a famous Tibetan bridge engineer. you will see a typical iron chain bridge here.

The iron chain bridge of Ta Chog Lhakhang

Visit Buddha Dordenma. It is a massive golden statue of Shakyamuni on top of a hill and 125,000 smaller Buddha statues have been placed within it. Afterward, visit a landmark of Thimphu, the Memorial Chorten. For many Bhutanese, this large Tibetan-style chorten (a stupa preserving Buddhist relics) is a place where they perform their daily worship.

Visit the most important political dzong, Tashichho Dzong, in the afternoon. It is the headquarters of the central government, just like the White House in America, Downing Street in Britain, and Zhongnanhai in China.

Finally, you will visit Bhutan Post Office Headquarters, where you can make stamps with your own photos and put them on postcards for your family and friends.

The 'White House' of Bhutan, Tashichho Dzong

Drive from Thimphu to Punakha in the morning. Enjoy a stunning 360-degree panoramic view of the Himalayans at Dochula Pass. The 108 chortens gracing the mountain pass are very impressive.

In the afternoon, explore the most beautiful dzong in Bhutan — Punakha Dzong. It is also the most important dzong in Bhutanese history and is known as 'palace of great 'happiness' or 'palace of bliss'.

Stop at a suspension bridge viewpoint, and walk across the bridge to enjoy the scenery before driving back to your hotel.

The white pagodas at Dochula Pass

Continue driving toward the east to Trongsa in the morning. Visit Trongsa Dzong after arriving. It is an important Bhutan fortress. The first and the second king of Bhutan were enthroned there. It also played an important role in trade between east and west Bhutan. There are 23 buildings in this fortress. You would be able to study their exquisite decoration.

Visit the Royal Heritage Museum to appreciate its collections of Buddhist artwork and the personal effects of kings, such as a coat of the first king's and a pair of the fourth king's football shoes.

Trongsa Dzong

Drive from Trongsa to Jakar, the central town of Bumthang. You would visit Jakar Dzong after arriving. It is a beautiful fortress on a hill's slopes. Enjoy the great view of the valley from the fortress.

Then, visit Wangdichholing Palace. Listen to stories of the first king of Bhutan, who was born there. It is the first palace in Bhutan that was not built in its fortress style.

A monk in Jakar Dzong

Have a day tour to Tang Valley. On the way, you would visit the mysterious Mebar Tsho ('Burning Lake'). The stories about this place include Bhutan's top sage Pema Lingpa's revelations and his miraculous lamp that stayed alight in its waters. Many prayer flags and prayer stones testify to this place's sacred celebrity status.

Continue our drive along country roads, and enjoy idyllic scenery on the way to Ogyen Choling Palace. In the museum in this palace, you will get to know about the lifestyle of the nobility of Bhutan from the exhibits. It also evidences historical trade activities between Bhutan and Tibet.

Enjoy the great view of the valley

On day 7, you would explore another peaceful valley — Ura. On a 1½-hour drive, see the stunning scenery of Chokhor Valley and Chhume Valley with a snow-capped mountain backdrop.

Walk around Ura village. Visit the old temple and the Swiss Farm in the village. Enjoy a talk with the local people to get some insights about how they make their living there.

Visit a farm in Ura Valley

Say goodbye to Bumthang and drive west. On the way, you would visit a traditional workshop for weaving yathra (a kind of blanket with Bhutanese patterns) in Chumey Valley.

Women are doing traditional weaving

Start your exploration with a visit to Black-Necked Crane Information Center. Learn something about the cranes and the environment of the valley. You can use a telescope to observe the birds.

Then visit Gangtey Goemba. Appreciate this great monastery on the top of a hill and enjoy a beautiful view of the valley. Listen to the stories about the famous terton ('Buddhist scripture discoverer') Pema Lingpa and the living Buddha of this monastery.

Enjoy a short hike (about 1½ hours) on Gangtey Nature Trail with forest and valley views along the way.

Gangtey Nature Trail

Drive from Gangtey to Paro in the morning. Visit the National Museum (Ta Dzong Fortress) after arriving. Enjoy a fascinating collection of arts, relics, religious thangka paintings, household items, arms, handicrafts, stuffed animals, and Bhutan's famous stamps.

Then visit beautiful Paro Dzong (Rinpung Dzong) located on the slopes of a mountain.

Paro Dzong, the 'fortress on a heap of jewels'.

Take an excursion to the unbelievable Taktsang Goemba — 'Tiger's Lair Monastery' (this takes approximately 5 hours with a round-trip walk). Located on the side of a cliff above Paro Valley, Taktsang is one of the most famous monasteries in Bhutan. It is famous for its 13 taktsang or 'tiger lairs' — caves in which Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche, a tantric Buddhist master) meditated. It is worth hiking all the way there to explore one of the top 10 monasteries in the world.

Explore the incredible Taktsang Temple

We'd transfer you to Paro Airport for your flight back home or to your next destination.