Location
Bhutan
5.0
Unlock the secrets of Bhutan, a hidden gem in the Himalayas, where spiritual heritage meets natural beauty. Explore the country’s most popular tourist destinations and historical sites, experiencing the rich culture and unique landscapes that define Bhutan.
Bhutan
7 Days
Cultural and Hiking
Hotels
All included
Min. 2 Pax
Spring and Autumn
3100m.
Bhutan, known as the Land of Thunder Dragons, is a beautiful Himalayan nation. A trip to Bhutan offers a unique experience, going beyond just visiting dzongs and monasteries. Our journey in Bhutan will not only take you to the country’s main sites but also provide a genuine encounter with its people and insight into their way of life. A tour of Bhutan from Nepal will focus more on engaging with the culture and places rather than trekking in Nepal’s Himalayas.
Our experienced guides will engage you in the country’s history, legends, and culture. As a Buddhist country, Bhutan is steeped in religious rituals that are an integral part of daily life from birth to death. Bhutanese Buddhism is distinct from the practices found in Nepal’s Himalayas or neighboring Tibet, providing a unique spiritual experience.
During our 7-day tour from Nepal, you will have the chance to visit ancient monasteries, traverse high hill valleys, and unique traditional buildings, and enjoy breathtaking views of the Himalayan ranges and snowcapped mountains. One of the highlights of this journey is meeting Bhutanese farmers during small hikes off the beaten path through the countryside. They are known for their warmth and friendliness.
Bhutanese people engage in various agricultural activities depending on the season, such as plowing, sowing, and harvesting. These trails wind through picturesque fields of barley and wheat. These hikes will also allow you to admire the unique architecture of Bhutanese farms. These imposing structures are made of rammed earth and massive beams adorned with Buddhist symbols. Each building you encounter tells a story of Bhutan’s cultural and religious heritage.
Our journey begins with a flight from Kathmandu to Paro offering stunning views of the Himalayas. You can get an aerial tour over Kathmandu from a plane offering views from Annapurna to Ganesh Himal, and even the tip of Manaslu. Then, as the plane turns east, we pass by the towering mountain that is above eight thousand meters such as Cho Oyu, the typical black pyramid of Everest, Makalu, and Kangchenjunga. It’s truly a spectacular experience.
As we fly over the wooded hills of Bhutan, the plane descends rapidly over the beautiful Paro Valley, and after a few bumps, we land. Stepping outside, the air is pure and invigorating. Our Bhutanese guide welcomes us and escorts us in a 4×4 vehicle and drives us to Thimphu. It is about an hour and a half away. Along the way, we pass through the Paro Valley, which is dotted with golden willows and crystal-clear water streams that glisten under the sun.
During our journey, we visited a 13th-century chain-linked bridge. Upon arrival in Thimphu, we checked into the hotel and took some rest. After some time we planned to visit Memorial Chorten built by the queen’s mother in memory of her lost son. It has become the heart of the city and the most visible religious landmark in Bhutan.
In this area, people walk around the stupa in the morning and evening while chanting mantras. Elderly individuals also spend their days here in the sun. You can see them wearing traditional woolen clothing: women wear a kira, which is a robe adorned with a silk blouse, and men wear a gho, which is a knee-length robe. We were captivated by the rotation of faces, colors, and the tranquility of the place.
In the late afternoon, we explored the covered market where neighboring farmers sell their vegetables, fruits from the south, dried fish from India, and incense by weight. After exploring, we spent the night in Thimphu.
Today is our second day in Bhutan and we stayed in Thimpu to explore the city. We visit the ancient Changka Lakhang temple, one of the valley’s oldest temples. It was built with large chalked stones and beautiful painted wood by the son of the founder of the Drukpa school. Local residents of Thimphu bring their young children to the temple every month until they are six months old for blessings. During our visit, we witnessed a mother and her son sharing a large chocolate cake with everyone. We also saw a father bringing his newborn, wrapped in a blanket, to the altar to receive a blessing from the old lama with a few drops of oil.
At the temple, people offer milk in a small shrine dedicated to the serpent god. Afterward, we visited the Zorig Chusum School of Arts. There students work in small, studious groups to learn sculpture, molding, weaving, and painting in a calm and soothing atmosphere. We then entered the Phelchey Toenkhyim Rural Museum, which exhibits traditional tools and everyday objects and explains the architecture of Bhutanese homes. The walls of the homes are made of compacted earth, and doors, windows, door frames, and roofs are carved from enormous beams without the use of nails.
After our visit, we enjoyed a Bhutanese lunch in the sunny garden, followed by a walk in the nearby countryside of Thimphu. We follow a flat track from village to village to reach the area of our Alpine villages. It provides us with our first glimpse into the life of Bhutanese farmers. During our walk, we learned that every Bhutanese villager is allowed to have a huge tree every year, from which they can cut beams and planks to build or rebuild their homes. The construction process involves the use of stone foundations and walls made of compressed clay.
Wooden planks are used as formwork, and the clay is compacted between the planks. Both men and women climb the thick 1-meter wall and tamp the earth with giant wooden pestles. Paid workers handle this task during the day, while young villagers take over in the evening, singing as they tamp the clay higher and higher as the floors rise. Beams, door jambs, and everything else are assembled without the use of nails. The house is considered finished when the ochre clay walls are repainted white and adorned with dragons, Garuda, and other legendary animals.
We then returned to Thimphu to visit Tashi Choe Fort, one of the most important Dzongs in the country. The fort now houses ministries on one side and Buddhist clergy on the other, with its walls decorated with superb mandalas. Our day concluded with a night at the hotel in Thimphu.
On our third day, we will depart from Thimphu at 9 am and head northeast. The trail winds up through switchbacks in conifer forests. Occasionally, there are openings in the fir trees, revealing orchards with autumn-colored foliage. The forests cover 65% of the area and are protected.
Around 10:30 am, we will reach the Dochula Pass, which sits at 3116m. From here, you can see the entire eastern Himalayan range visible against the blue sky and the highest peak, Gangkar Pensum at 7500m. At the pass, there is a beautiful monastery and a memorial of 108 stupas built by the queen mother in honor of Bhutanese soldiers who perished in a conflict with Indian rebels. Additionally, the site features a Bhutanese-style cafeteria with large stones and wood, along with cozy stoves to warm the magnificent room.
After visiting the monastery, we then continue our tour of the Punakha Valley. It is at a lower altitude than Thimphu and boasts pleasant weather. Completing our lunch, we visited the Punakha Dzong, an elegant fort located at the confluence of two rivers with crystal-clear waters. Despite its imposing size and construction of large white stones and enormous carved beams, the fort exudes elegance. To reach it, we will walk across a suspension bridge, flanked by beautiful bougainvilleas surrounding the monumental gate.
Inside, we will find a shaded courtyard housing a sacred pipal tree and a temple where around ten monks recite mantras, creating a tranquil atmosphere. It’s easy to forget that this was once a garrison, as today, officials and monks coexist within the premises. We also visited the final courtyard that houses the relics of Shabdung, the unifier of Bhutan. You can find his presence throughout temples and monasteries with his distinctive large blue beard. Visitors and pilgrims bring offerings and pay homage to the fort.
Continuing our journey, we will reach the village of Lobesa in just 15 minutes. This village is quite unusual, with houses adorned with massive phalluses painted alongside dragons, conches, and other sacred imagery. As we explore the village, we come across tourist shops filled with wooden phalluses, vividly painted phallus tangkas, phallus T-shirts, and more.
After crossing the fields, we ascend to a small monastery called Chimi Lhakhang. This monastery was once inhabited by a unique character – the Divine Madman! Inside, it looks much like any other Buddhist monastery, except for the presence of a statue of this revered sacred madman next to Padmasambhava. Additionally, a distinctive custom here is observing how the serving monk grants blessings to pilgrims and visitors. You can make sure to ask your guide for the original story of this highly revered character.
We spend two days at the Drubchu Resort or an equivalent place, which offers a stunning view overlooking terraced fields. Stay overnight in a resort.
Today’s adventure takes us on a scenic hike through Punakha Valley’s villages. The jeep drops us off at the end of the track in front of a public school. In Bhutan, schooling is free up to the university level. The schools are of a very good standard and have all the sports facilities. We walk along a wide path overlooking villages and then join a trail through the fields to pass from village to village.
During spring, you can stroll by barley and millet crops. In autumn, it’s time for rice harvesting. The terraces in this region are wide and very fertile, and the irrigation system through canals is well-maintained. Villagers in this area rarely meet hikers passing through, but when they do, they often invite them for tea and offer apples. The standard of living in Bhutanese villages is much higher than in other mountain regions in Asia.
Many villagers of this area own farming equipment like tillers and threshers, and sometimes even small cars. The houses are beautiful, with imposing structures and decorations, but the interiors are minimalist, with little furniture or adornments. Animals now live in stables instead of on the ground floor. Kitchens have modernized, with hearths replaced by rice cookers and gas stoves.
You might witness an archery match, where villagers use bows made of varnished bamboo and arrows adorned with feathers from pigeons and eagles. The targets are set 35 meters apart, right in the middle of the village. After a day filled with these experiences, we return to Drubchu Resort or an equivalent hotel for the night.
We start our trip back to Paro via the Dochula Pass. This route offers us another opportunity to admire the eastern Himalayan range. The drive continues into the beautiful and wide Paro Valley, where the river, bordered by green willows in spring and blond hues in autumn, creates an enchanting landscape.
Upon arrival in Paro, we check into our hotel. After settling in, we take some time to stroll and shop in the city. The buildings here are single-story and feature traditional Bhutanese architecture, with small shops decorated with wooden shutters.
In the afternoon, we visit Paro Dzong, a majestic fortress that provides a glimpse into Bhutan’s history and culture. Following this, we will also explore the National Museum, which houses a rich collection of Bhutanese art and artifacts. As the day comes to an end, we return to our hotel in Paro for the night.
Today we will go on a day trip to the Tiger’s Nest monastery, which is one of the popular and iconic monasteries in Bhutan. We leave after having breakfast at 9 AM for the ascent leading to the famous Tiger’s Nest Monastery, Taktsang Hermitage. Begin the climb through a lush pine forest. Some trekkers prefer to ascend on horseback rather than walking.
We reach a promontory with a view of the monastery perched on the cliffside. From this point, horses are no longer allowed. Then descend into a narrow gorge via stone stairs and ascend again, reaching the monastery by around 11 AM. You may feel quite breathless but exhilarated throughout the path.
At 12:30 PM, the sacred trumpets resonate through the gorges. We then bid farewell to this magical place and the monks, then descend the stairs back to the valley. Return to your hotel in Paro for the night.
In the morning, we head to Paro Airport for our departure flight. We leave with cherished memories of Bhutan’s beauty, rich culture, and warm hospitality.
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