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.
Price on request
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.
- Length
- 5 days / 4 nights
- Grade
- Easy
- Best months
- September to May
- Price
- Price on request
Overview
One more day than the shortest trip, and it buys a great deal: a mountain pass, a valley 1,000 m lower and several degrees warmer than the capital, and the dzong most visitors remember longest.
The price is one long drive, from Punakha back to Paro on the third day. We break it at Dochu La, so that you have two chances at the view of the Himalaya instead of one.
This is a good winter itinerary. Punakha is mild from November to February, the air is at its clearest, and the sights are quiet.
Highlights
- Punakha Dzong, between its two rivers
- Dochu La at 3,100 m, with 108 chortens and a wall of snow peaks on a clear day
- The walk up through rice terraces to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten
- The Tiger's Nest above Paro
- An afternoon in Thimphu, the capital
Route
- Thimphu
- Punakha
- Paro
Day by day
Day 1 Arrive in Paro, drive to Thimphu
From the airport the road follows the river downstream and then turns up the Thimphu valley. After lunch and a rest you visit the Memorial Chorten and drive up to the Buddha Dordenma, 51.5 m of bronze seated above the town, for your first wide view of a Bhutanese valley.
- Drive
- 54 km, about 1 hour
- Night in
- Thimphu
- Meals
- L, D
Day 2 Over Dochu La to Punakha
An early start gives the best chance of clear skies at Dochu La, where the road tops out among 108 chortens. From here it is downhill all the way to Punakha, through forest that changes from fir to oak to banana as you lose height.
A path across the fields leads to Chimi Lhakhang, a small temple on a rise. The afternoon belongs to Punakha Dzong: its bridge, its three courtyards and the great hall where Bhutan's kings are crowned.
- Drive
- 76 km, 2 to 3 hours
- Night in
- Punakha
- Meals
- B, L, D
Day 3 Punakha to Paro
Before leaving the valley you cross the Mo Chhu by footbridge and climb for about an hour through terraces to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten, which looks up the river towards the mountains of Gasa. The long suspension bridge behind the dzong is a short stop on the way out.
Then the drive west, back over Dochu La and down past Thimphu to Paro.
- Drive
- 128 km, 3 to 3.5 hours
- Night in
- Paro
- Meals
- B, L, D
Day 4 The Tiger's Nest
Taktsang clings to a cliff some 900 m above the valley floor. The path up is wide and well made, steep in places, and shaded for most of the morning. Allow four to five hours there and back, including time inside the temples.
The afternoon is yours: Kyichu Lhakhang and Rinpung Dzong are both close if you still have the energy.
- Night in
- Paro
- Meals
- B, L, D
Day 5 Depart from Paro
Transfer to the airport.
- 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
- 4 nights in hotels, in a twin or double room
- All meals from lunch on day 1 to breakfast on day 5
- 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, Punakha 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
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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"].