ThimphuPunakhaParo
Nepal & Bhutan Himalayan Kingdoms
The Bhutan section of a combined trip with Kathmandu — linked by the Drukair mountain flight.
India · Nepal · Bhutan Tours for Indian Travellers
Darjeeling, Sikkim & Bhutan
The Bhutan week of a fortnight in the eastern Himalaya, travelling by road throughout.
- Duration8 days · 7 nights
- ActivityEasy
- Best timeMar – May, Sep – Dec
- GroupPrivate trip, any group size
This 8-day journey takes in Phuentsholing, Thimphu, Punakha and Paro. Every day is planned so you have time to look properly, eat well and talk to people — not just tick off sights.
Like all our trips it is private and fully flexible: change the hotels, add a night, swap a sight or combine it with a festival. Ask for a quote and a planner will tailor it to your dates and group.
Highlights
- Zangtho Pelri Lhakhang
- Crocodile breeding centre
- Buddha Dordenma
- National Memorial Chorten
- Starts
- Bagdogra / Phuentsholing
- Ends
- Bagdogra / NJP
Day by day
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Drive from Bagdogra airport or New Jalpaiguri station through tea gardens to Jaigaon (about 4 hours) and cross into Phuentsholing, where your guide meets you at the Bhutan Gate and helps complete the entry permit.
Visit Zangtho Pelri Lhakhang in the town centre, a temple representing Guru Rinpoche’s heavenly palace. Stop at the small crocodile breeding centre, a surprise in a Himalayan kingdom.
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Climb from the plains past the Kharbandi monastery and waterfalls, through cardamom and orange country, and on to the capital.
Drive up to Buddha Dordenma at Kuensel Phodrang, a gilded bronze Buddha over 50 metres tall that looks down the length of the valley.
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Join residents circling the National Memorial Chorten, where older Bhutanese spin prayer wheels and count beads from first light. Visit Tashichho Dzong, seat of the government and the summer home of the central monk body, in the soft evening light when it opens to visitors. See the Folk Heritage Museum, a restored farmhouse that shows how rural families have cooked, stored grain and brewed ara for generations.
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Climb to Dochula pass (3,100 m), crowned with 108 memorial chortens; on clear days from October to February the high Himalaya lines the northern skyline. Then drop through rhododendron forest into the warm Punakha valley.
Explore Punakha Dzong, set at the meeting of the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu; its courtyards, carved woodwork and murals are among the finest in the country.
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The drive returns via Chuzom and over Dochula, with a tea stop at the pass and time to walk among the 108 chortens.
Walk up through the covered cantilever bridge to Rinpung Dzong, the “fortress on a heap of jewels”, whose courtyards still hold the district monk body and offices.
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Today is the hike to Taktsang Lhakhang, the Tiger’s Nest, clinging to a cliff 900 metres above the valley. The trail climbs through pine forest hung with prayer flags to a teahouse with the first full view, then down and up a stairway beside a waterfall to the temple gate. Allow 4–6 hours round trip; ponies can carry you to the halfway point.
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Climb from the plains past waterfalls and the Kharbandi monastery, through Gedu and Chukha with its hydropower dam, to Chuzom and on to Paro.
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After breakfast cross back into India at Jaigaon and drive to Bagdogra airport or New Jalpaiguri station (about 4 hours) for your onward journey.
Where you could stay
Choose a hotel category when you ask for a quote — we can also mix categories or suggest alternatives.
| Place | Standard ★★★ | Deluxe ★★★★ | Luxury ★★★★★ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phuentsholing | Druk Hotel Phuentsholing | Druk Hotel Phuentsholing | On request |
| Thimphu | Hotel Thimphu Tower | Terma Linca Resort & Spa | Amankora Thimphu |
| Punakha | Zhingkham Resort | RKPO Green Resort | Amankora Punakha |
| Paro | Hotel Gangtey Palace | Naksel Boutique Hotel & Spa | Amankora Paro |
Included
- Bhutan visa processing (visa fee included)
- Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) for each night in Bhutan
- All route and entry permits
- Accommodation on twin or double sharing in your chosen hotel category
- All meals while in Bhutan
- Private licensed English-speaking guide
- Private vehicle with driver for all transfers and sightseeing
- Entrance fees to monuments in the itinerary
- Bottled drinking water during drives
- Airport or border pick-up and drop
Not included
- International or domestic flights (we can book these for you)
- Travel insurance
- Drinks, laundry, phone and other personal expenses
- Single-room supplement and hotel upgrades
- Optional activities (rafting, cycling, helicopter flights) unless stated
- Tips for guide and driver
- Anything not listed under Included
Booking terms
- Rates depend on travel dates, hotel category and group size; your quote is valid for 14 days.
- Full payment is required before the visa or entry permit is lodged.
- Festival periods may carry a hotel surcharge.
- Hotel rooms are subject to availability at the time of confirmation.
- Passports must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your departure from Bhutan.
- Cancellation charges follow our booking conditions, shared with your quote.
Questions
Why is there no price on this page?
Costs in Bhutan depend on season, hotel category, group size and the daily Sustainable Development Fee, so we prepare every quote for your actual dates. Send your details and we will reply within one working day.
Can I change this itinerary?
Yes. Every trip is private, so you can add or remove days, change hotels, include a festival or combine it with another region.
Do I need a visa?
Indian and Bangladeshi nationals do not need a visa. Indian travellers receive an entry permit on arrival with a passport or voter ID; Bangladeshi travellers need a passport. We prepare the paperwork in advance.
How fit do I need to be?
Most days involve light walking around temples and towns. The Tiger's Nest hike is the most demanding part; ponies can help with the first half.
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