| Country | Bhutan | Max-Altitude | 3,180m/10,430ft |
| Trip Start | Paro, Bhutan | Trip End | Paro, Bhutan |
| Group Size | Min 2, Max 12 | ||
| Meals | Breakfast Only | ||
| Accommodation | 3 star category hotel throughout the trip |
Glimpse of Bhutan Tour is a short four-day tour that introduces you to two of Bhutan's most popular tourist destinations, Paro and Thimphu. Get a glimpse of Bhutanese culture and their unique lifestyle by visiting these two cities.
Nestled deep in the eastern Himalayas, between India and China, Bhutan has long remained hidden from the outside world. The country opened its doors to outsiders only in the mid-seventies when the fourth king of Bhutan introduced tourism in the country.
Covered by endless stretches of verdant forests, alpine valleys, and snow-covered mountains, Bhutan is one of the top biodiversity hotspots in the world. Once you step inside this tiny Himalayan kingdom, you will breathe better and cleaner air as it is the only carbon-negative country in the world.
You start your journey to this mystical kingdom with a spectacular flight across some of the highest mountains in the world. After landing at Bhutan's only international airport in Paro, you will take a scenic drive to Thimphu, the country's capital.
Thimphu is home to some of Bhutan's ancient and modern wonders, and you will explore the city's famous landmarks. An insightful visit to the National Institute of Zorig Chusum will introduce you to Bhutan's thirteen traditional arts and crafts.
At the Royal Takin Preserve, you encounter the takins, Bhutan's national animal. These strange-looking mammals are found only in the eastern Himalayas. From Kuensel Phodrang, you can admire the magnificent gilded statue of Buddha Dordenma while enjoying a bird's eye view of Thimphu valley.
Before you wrap up your visit, take a hike through a picturesque trail to the cliffside monastery of Taktsang or Tigers Nest in Paro. The monastery, hanging precariously on the face of a rocky cliff, is a sacred Buddhist pilgrimage site. Guru Rimpoche or Padmasambhava, who introduced Buddhism in Tibet and Bhutan, is said to have meditated here for three years, three months, three days, and three hours.
Glimpse of Bhutan Tour can be an ideal choice if you want to get a taste of Bhutan before booking a more extended trip. Within a short time frame, you can experience Bhutanese culture and visit some popular sites.
Glimpse of Bhutan Tour can be done all year round. You can expect clear skies and pleasant weather during spring and autumn. The monsoon or summer season can be wet and humid, while winter is chilly.
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Distance: 1 hour drive (55 km)
Included meals: No
Accommodation: Hotel Tashi Yoedling
Enjoy a panoramic view of the Himalayan Range while flying into Paro. Extollo's representative will be waiting for you at the airport to welcome you and drive you to Thimphu, the capital city.
It's a beautiful drive-through verdant countryside dotted with traditional wooden houses. Upon arrival in Thimphu, you check into your hotel and get some rest. Later you can stroll around the city and enjoy the sights.
Overnight in Thimphu.
Distance: 1 hour drive (55 km)
Included meals: No
Accommodation: Hotel Tashi Yoedling
Included meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Tashi Namgay Resort
You will start your sightseeing tour by heading to the King's Memorial Chorten at the city's center. Built in memory of the third King of Bhutan, the massive white Chorten showcases pictures and paintings of the late king, wooden carvings, and sculptures of Buddhist deities.
The next stop is the National Institute of Zorig Chusum, where students are taught the thirteen traditional art forms of Bhutan – painting, weaving, wood carving, sculpturing, bamboo craft, paper making, calligraphy, embroidery, bronze casting, goldsmithery, blacksmithery, masonry, and carpentry. During your visit, you can observe the students creating different works of art. There is a gift shop at the institute from where you can purchase the items made by these students.
Later you enjoy a pleasant drive to the hilltop park of Kuensel Phodrang or Buddha Point, where the giant statue of Buddha Dordenma sits. One of the biggest statues of Lord Buddha in the world, Buddha Dordenma, rises to a height of 169 ft. tall and holds 1,25,000 miniature Buddha statues inside its frame.
After taking pictures and enjoying the view of Thimphu Valley, your guide will take you to the Royal Takin Preserve, a wildlife reserve where you can see the takins, the national animal of Bhutan, roaming freely. Drive back to Paro after the sightseeing tour.
Overnight in Paro.
Included meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Tashi Namgay Resort
Distance: 5 to 6 hours hike
Included meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Tashi Namgay Resort
Today you will hike to one of Bhutan's most iconic destinations Taktsang Monastery or Tiger's nest. Hanging precariously on the side of a rocky cliff, the Taktsang Monastery is a sacred Buddhist pilgrimage site and a popular tourist destination.
Leaving your hotel, you will drive to the outskirts of Paro and reach the trailhead. After purchasing the entrance tickets, your guide will lead you through the forested trail. Walk along a dirt track shaded by rhododendron, pine, and fir trees. Prayer flags strung on the trees add color to the landscape. It's an upward ascent which could be tough for those not used to hill-walking. You share the trail with ponies, local pilgrims, and other tourists. There's a café en route where you will stop for rest for refreshment. You can enjoy incredible views of the mountains, Paro Valley and the monastery from this point.
The final steps to the monastery wind down and up the side of a sheer cliff. Once you reach the monastery, you must leave your belongings (camera, mobile, bag, etc.) in a locker before entering the sacred site. After exploring and taking pictures, you head back to the trailhead and return to your hotel.
Overnight in Paro.
Distance: 5 to 6 hours hike
Included meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Tashi Namgay Resort
Included meals: Breakfast
It's time to bid goodbye to Bhutan. Our representative will drive you to the airport well on time to catch your flight back home.
Included meals: Breakfast
During your travel, you will be staying at Hotel Tashi Yoelding in Thimphu and Tashi Namgay Resort in Paro. All accommodations are on a twin-shared basis. A single supplement will be served on request and will cost USD 200. Hotels in Bhutan are approved and classified by the government as grade A, B, and C. These government-approved hotels are equivalent to 3-4 star hotels elsewhere. Based on availability at the time of the booking, A and B-category hotels will be provided in this tour. You will be accommodated in A category hotel in Paro.
Breakfast are included during your stay in Bhutan. A variety of meals are available in most hotels – the most popular being Indian, Chinese, and the more common continental food. Non-vegetarian dishes are generally available in most parts of Bhutan - pork, beef, chicken, and fish. The best advice is to ask the hotel and restaurant to recommend what is fresh and in season.
All foreign nationals are required to obtain a visa in order to enter Bhutan. A Bhutanese Visa must be obtained prior to your arrival i.e. before entering in Bhutan because Druk Air allows boarding only after your visa clearance from Bhutan government. Since, no embassy abroad or foreign mission can grant a tourist visa, your visa needs to be processed by local tour operator, thus we will be assisting you to obtain tourist visa. Your passport must be at least 6 months valid after you leave Bhutan. Please send us a copy of your passport in order for us proceed to apply for the visa. Also, bring at least 3 recent passport photos (for your Bhutan Visa, Entry permit, etc.)
For further information please visit http://www.mfa.gov.bt/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/b...
It is mandatory for joining any of the Extollo Adventures trips is that all clients must be insured, it is strongly recommended that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. We require that, at a minimum, you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation. There could be comprehensive expenses that might incur due to medical issues or accidents (this includes air ambulance, helicopter rescue, and treatment costs). Please note that we do not arrange or sell insurance.
You need to keep extra money to cover miscellaneous expenses. It is advised to carry US$ for personal expenses. This would be for travelers’ spending money for requirements like beverages both alcoholic and nonalcoholic, purchasing toiletries, souvenirs, paying for laundry service, bar bills, phone bills, extra porters, bottled water, tipping, and other services not listed and recreational expenses. You need to consider your own spending habits when it comes to using money for the above mentioned expenses. There could be unforeseen circumstances like natural calamities, landslides, political disturbances, strikes, changes in government regulations, flight cancellations etc that are beyond Extollo Adventures' control, for which emergency funds will be highly recommended.
Generally, we do not charge solo travelers any extra charge. You will be paired up with another traveler of same gender and hotel room will be provided on twin sharing basis in Bhutan. On request, you will be provided a single room in Bhutan with a single supplement charge.
Dress Code: One should remember to dress appropriately while visiting Dzongs, monasteries and temples.
Must wear:
Collared shirt (either full or half sleeve)
Full-length pants/long skirt
Shoes with socks
* Tie is not required.
You will not be allowed to enter if you are wearing:
Hats/caps
Shorts/short skirt
Slippers/sandals
T-shirts
Photography: Bhutanese in general pose for photographs. However, make sure to ask for permission from the concerned person before you take a shot. Taking pictures inside dzongs, temples, monasteries and museums are prohibited.
Smoking/Tobacco prohibition: Bhutan bans smoking in public places, and prohibits growing or importing tobacco. You must always be able to produce proof of purchase of products such as Invoice or bill at the airports or entry points (borders). On demand, you must also produce a receipt of tax payment, failing to adhere to this rules will result in third degree felony punishable by three years in prison.
The maximum number of tobacco or tobacco products a person can carry for personal consumption at a single time includes:
200 sticks of cigarette or
30 pieces of cigar or
150 grams of other tobacco and tobacco product
*Tobacco products imported from India shall pay 100% Sales Tax and from countries other than India shall pay 200% duty.
With a management office in California and operational center in Kathmandu, Extollo Adventures simplifies your trip preparations to various destinations.
Our travel experts will answer your every query through email, online chat or phone calls as per your convenience 24 hours, 7 days a week.
We are a licensed tour operator, located in the heart of San Francisco Bay area and have lasting partnerships with reputed banks.
