Bhutan Discovered

7 days
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Small Group Tour
Experience the majestic landscapes and joyful culture of little-visited Bhutan on this enchanting 7-day adventure. Begin in Thimphu, Bhutan’s busy capital, where you’ll meet local artisans and visit enlightening museums. Take in unbeatable views of the Himalayas on your way to Punakha, where your local leader will introduce you to ancient dzongs, bridges and ...
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$4,563
From$3,710
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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • Hike to Taktsang, commonly known as the Tiger's Nest, the small monastery clinging to a rocky cliff 900 metres above the valley floor, and soak in its magnificence.
    • Discover the 15th-century fertility temple of Chimi Lhakhang, and visit the magnificent Punakha Dzong, an ancient fortress and religious centre that sits at the confluence of two rivers.
    • Feel the heat of Bhutanese cuisine when you tuck into traditional meals made with red rice, local cheese and lots of tastebud-tingling chillies.
    • Experience Bhutanese hospitality in the Paro Valley when you enjoy a homecooked meal at a rustic farmhouse and opt to take a soak in a traditional hot stone bath.
    • Spend a day exploring Thimphu, from the city to the woodlands, visiting the Cheri Dorji Dhen monastery, National Memorial Chorten, Simply Bhutan and the National Textile Museum.

What's this trip about?

    Experience the majestic landscapes and joyful culture of little-visited Bhutan on this enchanting 7-day adventure. Begin in Thimphu, Bhutan’s busy capital, where you’ll meet local artisans and visit enlightening museums. Take in unbeatable views of the Himalayas on your way to Punakha, where your local leader will introduce you to ancient dzongs, bridges and monasteries. Tuck into a homecooked meal at a farmhouse in the Paro Valley, try your hand at archery, Bhutan’s national sport, and hike to the legendary Tiger’s Nest monastery. You’ll soon see why Bhutan’s people are considered some of the happiest on earth.

Details

Itinerary focusActive and Outdoor Sports
Group sizeIntimate group - max of 12 people
Age range15 years and up
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityThimphu
End CityParo

Travel Themes

  • Cultural
  • Local Immersion & Homestays
  • High Adventure

Destinations

Attractions

  • Paro
  • Punakha
  • Thimphu
  • Thimpu

Activities

  • Culture
  • Historic Sightseeing

Max Group Size

  • Max Group Size: 12

Trip includes

    • Thimphu - Gagyel Lhundrup Weaving Centre
    • Thimphu - Nado Poizokhang Incense Factory
    • Thimphu - National Memorial Chorten
    • Thimphu - Village walk to Cheri Dorji Dhen
    • Thimphu - National Textile Museum
    • Thimphu - Buddha Dordenma
    • Thimpu - Simply Bhutan Heritage Museum
    • Punakha Valley - Chimi Lhakhang
    • Punakha - Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten hike
    • Punakha - Punakha Dzong view & photo stop
    • Punakha - Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Nunnery
    • Paro - Taktsang (Tiger's Nest) Monastery hike
    • Paro - Home-cooked dinner
    • Complimentary Airport Departure Transfer

Popular Trips

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Paro - Thimphu

After arriving at Paro Airport and making your way through immigration and customs formalities, you will be greeted by your guide and driver and warmly welcomed to the enchanting Land of the Thunder Dragon. Drive alongside mountains, rivers, and fields of red rice to ...

Day 2 Thimphu

Today begins with a pleasant walk that meanders gently up the valley through paddy fields, pristine woodlands, and a Tibetan village, a trail that continues uphill (1 hour) to the Cheri Dorji Dhen monastery – built in 1620 by Shabdrung, the first ruler of Bhutan. Back...

Day 3 Punakha

This morning, drive to Punakha – the ancient winter capital of Bhutan. Stop at Dochula Pass for a breathtaking view of the eastern Himalayas, including Bhutan's highest mountain, the majestic Gangkhar Puensum. Continue the journey before taking another break. Enjoy a ...

Day 4 Punakha

After breakfast we head out on a short hike (1.5 hours) to Khamsum Yulley Monastery – an elaborately decorated chorten, built to ward off evil spirits and bring peace and harmony to all living things. As with many monasteries in Bhutan, your leader may need to hunt ar...

Day 5 Paro

This morning head back over the Dochula Pass and continue to Thimphu. The roads in Bhutan are narrow, and while the distances don’t appear to be very far, due to the nature of the roads and the many valleys they pass through, travelling can take some time – so this is...

Day 6 Paro / Tiger's Nest Monastery

After an early breakfast followed by a short drive, prepare for your hike to see the legendary Taktsang (Tiger's Nest) – a magnificent monastery, clinging on a rock cliff 900 metres above the valley floor. After approximately 1 hour ascending the mountainside, reach a...

Day 7 Paro

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before a departure transfer to Paro airport for your flight out of Bhutan.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $3,710
Price per day$530
Last Updated: 6/4/2024
Departure Date
Finish Date
Base Price
Availability
21 Mar 2025
27 Mar 2025
$4,500
Sold Out
01 Apr 2025
07 Apr 2025
$4,300
Sold Out
08 Apr 2025
14 Apr 2025
$4,005
12 spots left
18 Apr 2025
24 Apr 2025
$4,635
Sold Out
25 Apr 2025
01 May 2025
$3,940
6 spots left
29 Apr 2025
05 May 2025
$4,075
4 spots left
06 May 2025
12 May 2025
$3,710
11 spots left
13 May 2025
19 May 2025
$3,710
12 spots left
12 Sep 2025
18 Sep 2025
$3,800
7 spots left
16 Sep 2025
22 Sep 2025
$3,710
12 spots left

Check current availability, prices, specials & more.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Logistics

Accommodation

Hotel (6 nights)

Transportation & Flights

Private vehicle,

Transportation & flights

Private vehicle
Guides
All group trips are accompanied by one of our group leader or local representative. The aim of the group leader or local representative is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced group leader or local representative however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your group leader or local representative is new to a particular region or training other group leader or local representative. Your group leader or local representative will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. If you are interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your group leader or local representative can recommend a local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is compulsory on all our trips for those travelling internationally. We require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation. If you are travelling within your home country or region please confirm before travel that you are entitled to access the public medical system easily should an accident occur. We strongly recommend all travellers have a policy that also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage or personal effects. For international trips, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance and the insurance company's 24-hour emergency contact number has been sighted by your group leader or local representative. If you have credit card insurance your group leader or local representative will require details of the participating insurer/underwriter, the level of coverage, policy number, and emergency contact number rather than the bank's name and your credit card details. Please contact your bank for these details prior to arriving in-country. For travellers who reside within the European Union, Switzerland or USA the requirement to purchase travel insurance cannot be compulsory. However the purchase of travel insurance is still highly recommended, and travellers from these regions who decline travel insurance when travelling outside of their home region must sign a Travel Insurance Waiver Form at the Group Meeting, recognizing personal responsibility for emergency medical and repatriation costs should they arise. For assistance with travel insurance or other services, please visit the link below: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/booking-resources/our-services
Visa requirements
PASSPORT You’ll need a valid passport to travel internationally and most countries require your passport to have a minimum of 6 months validity, so remember to check the expiry date. We need your passport information to get everything ready for your trip so it’s important that the information on your booking matches your passport exactly. Please take care to provide the correct details. We recommend carrying a copy of the photo page of your passport while travelling and leaving a copy at home with family or friends. VISAS & ENTRY REQUIREMENTS Many countries require a visa and obtaining the correct visa for your trip and any countries you may transit through is your responsibility. We recommend you check your visa requirements as soon as you have booked your trip. This will ensure you have time to prepare your documents and for your visa application to be processed. You can check the entry requirements for your nationality on your government's foreign travel advisories, consular websites or on our page here:  www.intrepidtravel.com/visa-entry-requirements BHUTAN All nationalities require a visa for Bhutan. Travellers can only enter Bhutan on a group visa as part of a tour. Independent visas are not issued. The cost of the visa is included in your tour. The following details are required at time of booking in order for us to apply for your group’s visa: - A clear uncut scanned colour copy of the two pages of the personal details section of your passport - Passports must have 6 months validity from the time of travel - A scanned colour passport photo with no border. Portrait style with eyes open and forehead & ears clearly visible. Must be taken with a white background. - Email address you will access while travelling - Arrival and departure flight details Due to the controlled nature of travel in Bhutan the group visa application can only be submitted once we have the above details from ALL travellers in your group. Failure to advise any of the information above can slow the visa issuing process, and delay the visa for the whole group. The group visa will be issued between 5 days and 48 hours from departure. We will send your visa to your travelling email address. Please print this visa as you must show it at check-in for your flight to Bhutan and on arrival at immigration in Bhutan, where you will have an entry stamp placed in your passport. TRAVELING THROUGH INDIA If you are traveling through India, you may need a visa, even if you are not staying in the country. Please refer to your government's foreign travel advice for most up to date information. This is especially important for those that are planning on entering India multiple times in a two month period. Foreigners holding an Indian Tourist Visa, who after initial entry into India plan to visit neighbouring Nepal, Bhutan or Sri Lanka and then re-enter into India within 2 months need to get special authorisation. ADDITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS IN KATHMANDU If you are flying in and out of Bhutan from Kathmandu, we are able to book accommodation and transfers in Kathmandu. Please speak to your booking agent about this. You will require a visa to enter Nepal. This can be obtained on arrival at Kathmandu’s international airport. You will need two passport photos and the following fees in USD (subject to change, cash only). - multi entry visa valid for 15 days - US$30 - multi entry visa valid for 30 days - US$50 - multi entry visa valid for 90 days - US$125 If you have booked an arrival transfer, you must provide your flight details into Kathmandu no later than 14 days prior to arrival. For your confirmed arrival transfer, you’ll be met after exiting customs by a transfer representative holding an Intrepid sign. They generally stand on the lefthand side. In case of flight cancellations, changes, if you experience severe delays at immigration, baggage collection or customs, or if you are not able to find the driver, please contact the transfer operator directly: +977 9801020375.
Health & Safety
Most national governments provide regularly updated foreign travel advice on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest travel information before departure and ensure that your travel insurance covers you for all destinations and activities on your trip. Please refer to our website's safety page for links to major travel advisories and updates on safety issues affecting our trips here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/travel-alerts We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe-keeping of your passport, flight tickets, cash and other valuable items. Leave your jewellery at home - you won't need it while travelling. Many of our hotels have safety deposit boxes, which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage. Your group leader or local representative will accompany you on all included activities, however, during your trip you'll have some free time to pursue your own interests or relax and take it easy. While your group leader or local representative will assist you with the available options in a given location, please note that any optional activities you undertake are not part of your Intrepid itinerary, and Intrepid makes no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them. Please use your own good judgement when selecting an activity in your free time. Please also note that your group leader or local representative has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if it's deemed necessary due to safety concerns. Intrepid's operational safety policies can be viewed on our website at the link below. We recommend that you take a moment to read through this information before travelling, and would appreciate any feedback on how safety is being managed on our trips. https://www.intrepidtravel.com/safety-guidelines
Age Requirements
15 years and up
Additional Information
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Trip ID
intrepid-HJKB

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