Bhutan Cultural Tour with Day Hikes – 7 days

The flight to Paro is an unforgettable experience as you fly above the Himalayan Range, the world's highest mountain range. Paro International Airport lies in the middle of a mountainous valley surrounded by hills, charming traditional houses, and paddy fields.

Our Bhutanese guide will welcome you at the airport and drive you to your hotel. After checking in, you can have your lunch and a bit of rest. Later your guide will take you to visit the historic Rinpung or Paro Dzong and the sacred Kichu Lakhang.

Built in the seventeenth century, Paro Dzong stands atop a hill overlooking Paro. This fortress was used by the Bhutanese army during medieval times to fight the rival Tibetan troops. This majestic dzong now houses a monastery and government offices.

Next, drive north of the city and explore Kichu Lhakhang, a Buddhist temple said to be one of the 108 temples built by Tibetan king Songsten Gampo during the seventh century. Inside the sacred temple are ancient Buddhist relics and statues of Buddhist deities. Before heading back to your hotel, enjoy a stroll around the local market.

Overnight in Paro.

You take an early morning hike to Zuri Dzong, an ancient fort located above the National Museum or Ta Dzong. You will be driven to the trailhead next to the museum, and from there, you will take the dirt track leading to Zuri Dzong.

Overlooking the Paro Valley and surrounded by tall cypress trees, the six-storied Zuri Dzong was built in 1352 to defend Paro from marauding forces. It takes around thirty minutes to hike past a forested trail to reach the fort. Not many tourists frequent this place, and you can enjoy the superb views in peace.

Later you check out of your hotel and head to Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan.

Overnight in Thimphu.

Today you hike to Tango and Cheri monasteries, which lie on two grassy hills to the north of Thimphu. The hike is easy on a well-maintained and paved path. The trail weaves through a thick forest of oak, rhododendron, and pine, where herds of deer and mountain goats frolic. You can savor fantastic views of the valley and mountains from the top.

Tango Monastery was established in the thirteenth century. It houses precious relics and six temples or lakhangs – Guru Lakhang, Trulku Lakhang, Longku Lakhang, Namsey Lakhang, Choeku Lakhang, and the Gonkhang. You can interact with monks while exploring the monastery.

Cheri Monastery lies on the next hill, and you have to cross a ridge to reach the nonastery. Established in the seventeenth century, Cheri or Chagri Monastery is an important teaching and retreat center for monks of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism.

After exploring the two monasteries and enjoying the natural views, you descend to the highway and drive back to your hotel.

Overnight in Thimphu.

Leaving Thimphu, you drive towards your next destination, Punakha. En route, you stop by Dochula Pass and take a short hike to Lungchuzekha Goemba.

The trail is guarded by tall moss-covered trees which grow close together. You feel as though you are taking a walk in an enchanted forest. On reaching the hilltop monastery, you can enjoy three sixty-degree views of the tallest mountains in Bhutan – Gangkhar Puensum(the tallest unclimbed mountain in the world), Jomolhari, Table Mountain, and Masang Gang.

Later walk down to the highway and continue your drive towards Punakha. On reaching Punakha, you check into your hotel and take a well-deserved rest.

Overnight in Punakha.

Explore the old capital city of Bhutan. Before Thimphu rose into prominence and became the most important city, Punakha was the capital of this tiny Himalayan kingdom. This beautiful city is home to the majestic Punakha Dzong and numerous sacred Buddhist sites. Your guide will take you to explore the Punakha Dzong and Chimi Lakhang Temple.

Built at the confluence of the Mo Chhu and Po Chhu rivers, the seventeenth-century Punakha Dzong is one of Bhutan's most beautiful traditional fortresses. Inside the massive dzong are government offices, a monastery, and temples.

Later your guide will take you to Chimi Lakhang, or the Fertility Temple, which is an important pilgrimage site for childless couples. To reach the temple, you have to walk past paddy fields and traditional farms.

After exploring the temple, you will be driven back to Paro.

Overnight in Paro.

Today you will visit a sacred and iconic Buddhist monastery. You will hike to Taktsang Monastery or Tiger's Nest, which is built on the exposed face of a rocky cliff. Depending on your pace, it takes around 2-3 hours to ascend the hill where the monastery is located.

You take a ride to the base of the hill, which lies about 10 kilometers to the north of Paro. After reaching the trailhead, your guide will purchase the entrance tickets, and you will start your hike.

It's an upward ascent on a dirt trail shaded by pine and rhododendron trees. During spring, the path comes alive with beautiful red and pink rhododendron blooms. Midway there's a café where you can stop for refreshment. To reach the monastery, you will have to climb down and up a stone staircase.

Photography inside the monastery is not allowed, so you must leave your phone and camera in a locker. Inside is the cave where Guru Padmasambhava or the Second Buddha meditated after arriving at this location on the back of a flying tigress. After exploring the monastery, you descend to the highway and return to your hotel.

Overnight in Paro.

It's time to bid goodbye to Bhutan and head homewards. Our driver will drop you off at the Paro International Airport well on time to catch your flight.