5 Days Bhutan Tour

• Attraction of the day: Thimphu City, Tashichho Dzong

When you arrive at Paro International Airport, your guide will meet you. You will then drive for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, covering 54 kilometers to Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan. After you check in at Jambayang Resort or a similar hotel, you can explore Thimphu City. One highlight will be visiting Tashichho Dzong, an important fortress monastery with government offices and the King’s throne room. Your day will end with a tasty lunch and dinner, starting your adventure in Bhutan.

Insider tip: On the flight to Paro, pick a left side window seat (A/K). This will offer you an amazing view of the Himalayan peaks, including Mt. Everest, Lhotse, and Kanchenjunga.

• Attractions of the day: Zorig Chusum, Takin Preserve, Weekend Market, Craft Bazaar, National Textile Museum

On the second day, we explore Thimphu’s major attractions. We will have breakfast and drive 12 minutes to our first destination, none other than Zorig Chusum. It’s also known as the School of 13 Traditional Arts, including painting, carving, and woodworking. After a few hours in Zorig Chusum, we will visit the Takin Preserve, where we will see Bhutan’s unique national animal, the Takin.

Then, we will head to the Weekend Market, where locals sell fresh produce, handicrafts, and souvenirs. We will explore the market, but today’s journey doesn’t end here. We will also visit the National Textile Museum to witness traditional collections of Bhutanese royals. We will rest in Thimphu today.

Insider tip: You can buy handmade souvenirs from the students. These souvenirs are high quality and help fund their training or scholarships.

• Attraction of the day: Paro City, National Museum of Bhutan, Paro Rinpung Dzong

Today, we’ll enjoy a scenic drive back to Paro. You’ll witness green hills and villages on this drive of about 1 hour and 50 minutes. Upon arrival, we’ll visit the National Museum of Bhutan in the old Ta Dzong watchtower to learn about the culture. Next, we’ll stop by Paro Rinpung Dzong, a beautiful traditional fort. After lunch, we’ll visit traditional Bhutanese farmhouses to see daily life. Later, there will be time to explore Paro and interact with locals before returning to Hotel Olathang or a similar place for dinner and a relaxing evening.

Insider tip: Ask your driver to stop for a while at Chuzom Bridge to witness the Pa-Chu (Paro River) and Wang Chu (Thimphu River) merge beneath three stupas. Here, you’ll get a postcard worthy shot of turquoise waters and, on clear days, you will even see snowy Jomolhari rising in the distance.

• Attraction of the day: Tiger Nest

Today will be a bit adventurous as we head towards the main highlight of our tour, the Taktsang Monastery (Tiger’s Nest). To reach the monastery, we will hike 540 m to a 900 meter cliff above the Paro Valley. The hike begins with a steady ascent through pine and oak forests. As the journey continues, we will walk past prayer flags and waterfalls.

Before arriving at the monastery, we will have to cross a steep path featuring stone steps and a few viewpoints offering stunning vistas of the monastery. At Taktsang, we will have an opportunity to explore old age caves, chapels, and shrines in the area. As the sun starts to go down, we will then descend back and return to Paro for an overnight stay.

Insider tip: Start at 7 am and no later to hike under the shade and drink butter tea at the iconic cafe without waiting in line.

This is your final day in Bhutan. You will head back toward the Paro International Airport to catch a flight home. Before getting transferred to the airport, you will enjoy a final meal at the hotel and say farewell to the fellow travelers. The guide will escort you to the airport and help you depart safely. Himalayan 360 team hopes you had a fantastic journey with us! Have a safe flight back to your home country, Namaste.