Cultural
Three Valleys in 5 Days
Paro, Thimphu and Punakha, with the crossing of Dochu La and an afternoon at Punakha Dzong before the Tiger's Nest.
Price on request
Cultural
Paro and Thimphu in 4 Days
A long weekend in the two western valleys: the capital's sights, Paro's fortress and museum, and the walk to the Tiger's Nest.
- Length
- 4 days / 3 nights
- Grade
- Easy
- Best months
- September to May
- Price
- Price on request
Overview
Four days is the shortest trip that still feels like Bhutan rather than a stopover. It keeps to the two valleys nearest the airport, which between them hold the capital, the country's best museum and its most famous walk.
It suits travellers adding Bhutan to a longer journey through India, Nepal or Thailand, and anyone who would rather see two places properly than five through a car window. The drives are short: the longest is an hour.
If you can spare one more day, the five-day tour adds Punakha, which many visitors end up liking best of all.
Highlights
- The walk to Taktsang, the Tiger's Nest
- Tashichho Dzong, seat of Bhutan's government and chief abbot
- The Buddha Dordenma and the view down the Thimphu valley
- Rinpung Dzong and the National Museum in Paro
- Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest temples in the country
Route
- Thimphu
- Paro
Day by day
Day 1 Arrive in Paro, drive to Thimphu
You are met at the airport and driven down the Paro valley and up the Thimphu river to the capital, an hour away.
The afternoon takes in the great bronze Buddha that looks over the valley from its hill and the Memorial Chorten in the middle of town, busy all day with people making their rounds. Tashichho Dzong admits visitors once its offices close, so it ends the day.
- Drive
- 54 km, about 1 hour
- Night in
- Thimphu
- Meals
- L, D
Day 2 Thimphu in the morning, Paro in the afternoon
Start at the school of the thirteen traditional crafts, where students are at work on painting, carving and embroidery, then the Textile Museum and the stalls of the craft bazaar. If there is time, the enclosure of the takin, Bhutan's odd-looking national animal, is ten minutes up the hill.
After lunch you drive back to Paro for Rinpung Dzong, the fortress above the river, and the National Museum in the round watchtower behind it.
- Drive
- 54 km, about 1 hour
- Night in
- Paro
- Meals
- B, L, D
Day 3 The Tiger's Nest
The walk to Taktsang starts early, before the sun reaches the trail. It is a steady climb through pine forest, with a teahouse at the halfway point where the monastery first comes properly into view. Most people take four to five hours for the round trip.
On the way back to the hotel you stop at Kyichu Lhakhang, a temple that has stood at the head of the valley since the seventh century.
- Night in
- Paro
- Meals
- B, L, D
Day 4 Depart from Paro
A short drive to the airport for your flight.
- Meals
- B
What is included
Included
- The Sustainable Development Fee, US$100 a night for each adult at the current rate
- Visa fee of US$40 and the visa application made for you
- 3 nights in hotels, in a twin or double room
- All meals from lunch on day 1 to breakfast on day 4
- A licensed English-speaking Bhutanese guide throughout
- A private vehicle and driver, including airport transfers
Not included
- Flights to and from Paro
- Travel insurance
- Entry fees at monuments and museums
- Drinks, laundry, tips and personal spending
Practical details
- Accommodation
Hotels in Thimphu and Paro.
- Meals
Breakfast and dinner at your hotel and lunch at a local restaurant on the way. Tell us about any dietary need when you book; vegetarian food is easy everywhere.
- Transport
A private vehicle with a driver for the whole trip. The road is paved and winding, so drives are slower than their distance suggests.
- Guide
One licensed guide stays with you from arrival to departure. A guide is required by the authorities inside dzongs and monuments.
- Visa and permits
We apply for your visa once the trip is confirmed; it is normally issued within five working days. You need a passport valid for at least six months. See our pages on the [visa](/bhutan-travel-guide/visa/) and the [Sustainable Development Fee](/bhutan-travel-guide/sustainable-development-fee/).
Questions about this trip
Do I need a visa for Bhutan?
Yes, unless you are an Indian national, in which case you need an entry permit instead. The visa costs US$40, is applied for online, and is normally decided within five working days.
When you book with us we make the application for you. You send a scan of your passport, which must be valid for at least six months, and a recent passport photo. See Bhutan visa and entry permits.
What is the Sustainable Development Fee?
A fee every visitor pays to the government of Bhutan for each night in the country. It is US$100 a night for adults and US$50 for children aged 6 to 11; children under 6 pay nothing. Indian nationals pay Nu. 1,200 a night.
It is paid with your visa application. When you travel with us we collect it with the tour payment and pass it on. See the Sustainable Development Fee.
When is the best time to visit Bhutan?
March to May and September to November have the mildest weather and the clearest skies, and the largest festivals fall in those months. They are also the busiest.
Winter is cold but dry and sunny, with the black-necked cranes in Phobjikha and the Punakha festivals. Summer is the monsoon: green, quiet and often cloudy. See the best time to visit Bhutan.
How hard is the walk to the Tiger’s Nest?
It is a steady uphill walk on a wide path, not a climb, and most people in ordinary health manage it. Allow four to five hours there and back. The monastery is at about 3,120 m, so you will feel the altitude; go slowly and drink plenty of water.
That is why our itineraries keep it for the end, after several days in the country. A teahouse halfway makes a good turning point for anyone who would rather not go on. See hiking to the Tiger's Nest.
Places on this trip
More tours
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Tell us how you like to travel
A few lines are enough: when, how long, and what draws you to Bhutan. We answer with a suggested route and what it would cost.
We reply ["within 24 hours"].