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Small Group Tour
Discover a land of mysticism and proud tradition on this nine-day Premium adventure through the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan. This country has a story tell and an experienced local leader will help you uncover Bhutan’s rich cultural heritage as you wind through forested valleys, fortified monasteries and sacred mountains. Discover the compelling history of Thi...
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$6,878
From$5,095
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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Full schedule

Highlights

    • See Bhutan through the eyes of a local as you travel with a leader who will bring the country’s unique history, legends and traditions to life.
    • Get acquainted with rare and fascinating wildlife in the breathtaking Phobjika valley, including a visit to a protection and information centre for black-necked cranes – a Premium Exclusive Experience.
    • Climb to the teetering monastery of Taktsang (the Tiger's Nest) 900 m above Paro’s valley floor and take in once-in-a-lifetime views.
    • Visit the important monastery of Gangte Goemba during an Exclusive Experience and learn about two subjects at heart of Bhutanese culture – Buddhism and happiness.
    • Unwind in your Feature Stay accommodation, conveniently located in the heart of the Paro Town and with views of the glorious surrounding valley.

What's this trip about?

    Discover a land of mysticism and proud tradition on this nine-day Premium adventure through the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan. This country has a story tell and an experienced local leader will help you uncover Bhutan’s rich cultural heritage as you wind through forested valleys, fortified monasteries and sacred mountains. Discover the compelling history of Thimphu, hike the valleys of Punakha, learn about black-necked cranes in Phobjikha and climb to the legendary Tiger’s Nest in Paro. A journey through the astonishing beauty of the people, landscape and culture of Bhutan will leave your happiness levels off the scale.

Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
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

  • High Adventure

Destinations

Attractions

  • Paro
  • Thimphu

Max Group Size

  • Max Group Size: 12

Trip includes

    • Thimphu - Welcome dinner
    • Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
    • Thimphu - National Library
    • Thimphu - National Textile Museum
    • Thimphu - National Memorial Chorten
    • Thimphu - Takin Conservation Park
    • Thimphu - Voluntary Artists School
    • Thimphu - Buddha Dordenma
    • Thimpu - Simply Bhutan Heritage Museum
    • Punakha Valley - Chimi Lhakhang
    • Dochula Pass - Druk Wangyal Chortens
    • Thimphu - Simtokha Dzong
    • Punakha - Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten
    • Punakha - Punakha Dzong
    • Punakha - Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Nunnery
    • Phobjikha - Gangtoe Goemba
    • Phobjikha - Black Necked Crane Information Center
    • Phobjikha - Valley hiking
    • Paro - Kaja Throm Market Visit
    • Paro - Taktsang (Tiger's Nest) Monastery hike
    • Paro - Home-cooked dinner
    • Paro - Complimentary Departure Transfer

Popular Trips

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Paro - Thimphu

Jen Pa Leg Sho! Welcome to Bhutan. When you arrive at the Paro airport, you’ll be met by a local representative and transferred to Thimphu (2736 m) – Bhutan’s capital city. After settling in, meet your small group and local leader for a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight...

Day 2 Thimphu

After breakfast, you’ll explore Thimphu. Stop off at Buddha point, named after its giant gilded Buddha statue, and take in panoramic views of the city. Take a short hike through pine trees where your leader will help you spot takin (a goat-antelope type creature) – th...

Day 3 Punakha

This morning, visit Desho Paper Factory to see a traditional method of making paper by hand. Next, travel to the castle-monastery of Simtokha Dzong, built to guard against a demon that’s said to have escaped into the nearby rock. Next, drive the winding Dochula pass (...

Day 4 Punakha

Begin the day with a short drive to the base of a hill where a ridge-top monastery sits. In this almost sub-tropical valley, you’ll head out on a hike at a suspension bridge that crosses the Mo Chu River and pass through paddy fields before the climb to a moderately i...

Day 5 Phobjikha

This morning, pass through lush forests and vegetation as you make the scenic drive to Phobjikha. Here, you’ll find a valley rich with wildlife – keep an eye out for serows (a goat-like animal), and muntjacs, also known as barking deer. Make an afternoon visit to Gang...

Day 6 Phobjikha

Start the day with a visit to the centre of the Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN) where you’ll learn about the vulnerable, black-necked cranes that fly to Bhutan each winter. The Phobjika Valley receives more of these visitors than any other part of the co...

Day 7 Paro

This morning, begin the journey to Paro. When you arrive, enjoy some free time to wander Paro town before making your way to your Feature Stay accommodation – a hotel conveniently located in the heart of Paro Town that blends classical Bhutanese architecture and moder...

Day 8 Paro

Balanced 900 m above the valley floor sits Taktsang, or the Tiger’s Nest – a beautiful monastery and Bhutan’s most recognised building. After breakfast, begin a hike through pine forests, passing beneath thousands of brightly coloured prayer flags. Your leader will gu...

Day 9 Paro

After breakfast, your driver will transfer you to the airport for your onward flight. Please check with your leader about the exact departure time from the hotel. Please note that your leader may not be with you as the group may leave on different flights.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $5,095
Price per day$566
Last Updated: 3/14/2025
Departure Date
Finish Date
Base Price
Availability
17 Mar 2025
25 Mar 2025
$5,260
4 spots left
31 Mar 2025
08 Apr 2025
$5,095
9 spots left
07 Apr 2025
15 Apr 2025
$5,485
5 spots left
14 Apr 2025
22 Apr 2025
$5,805
3 spots left
21 Apr 2025
29 Apr 2025
$5,200
6 spots left
05 May 2025
13 May 2025
$5,095
12 spots left
12 May 2025
20 May 2025
$5,095
10 spots left
15 Sep 2025
23 Sep 2025
$5,160
9 spots left
29 Sep 2025
07 Oct 2025
$5,460
5 spots left
06 Oct 2025
14 Oct 2025
$5,400
6 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),Paro Feature Stay (2 nights)

Transportation & Flights

Private vehicle,

Transportation & flights

Private vehicle
Guides
All group trips are accompanied by one of our group leaders. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Premium leaders are Intrepid’s most experienced, with in-depth knowledge and extensive local networks to make it a trip of a lifetime. Your leader 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. When not already included in your trip, your leader will be able to recommend a local guide service who can share more detailed or specialised information at specific sites should you be interested in delving deeper.
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 PETTY CRIME: The crime rate in Bhutan is low, but there are occasional thefts and petty crime, such as pick-pocketing and purse snatching in areas frequented by tourists.
Age Requirements
15 years and up
Additional Information
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Trip ID
intrepid-HNPB

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