Tours / Cultural journeys

Bhutan Himalayan Odyssey

Six days through the western valleys of Paro, Thimphu and Punakha, ending with the hike to Tiger’s Nest.

Trip at a glance

Duration6 days, 5 nights
Main stopsThimphu, Punakha, Paro
Starts and endsParo
Travel styleCultural journey
Best seasonSpring and autumn are most popular; year-round possible

Overview

The Himalayan Odyssey is a compact introduction to western Bhutan. In six days you see the capital Thimphu, cross Dochula to the great dzong at Punakha, and finish in Paro with the hike to Tiger’s Nest.

It suits first-time visitors with a week to spare who want the essential sights at a comfortable pace.

Why travellers choose this journey

Bhutan’s top cultural and natural highlights in six days
Visa, flights, hotels and guide arranged for you
Ideal for first-time visitors seeking an authentic introduction
Planned by a locally owned operator in Thimphu

Highlights

The hike to Tiger’s Nest (Taktsang) above the Paro Valley

Tashichho Dzong, Buddha Dordenma and the Memorial Chorten in Thimphu

Punakha Dzong and the walk to Chimi Lhakhang

Mountain views from Dochula Pass

Route

Thimphu
Punakha
Paro

Day by day

The full itinerary, day by day. Every journey is private, so we can adjust the pace, hotels and stops to suit you.

Day01

OvernightThimphu

Arrive in Paro and transfer to Thimphu (2,320 m)

Your journey begins with one of the most scenic flights in Asia. On a clear day the aircraft passes the great peaks of the eastern Himalaya before weaving between forested ridges and landing on the floor of the Paro Valley, beside rice fields and traditional farmhouses. Your guide and driver meet you outside the terminal, with its painted Bhutanese facade, and the adventure starts straight away.

The drive to Thimphu takes around an hour and a half. The road follows the Paro Chhu to Chuzom, the confluence with the Wang Chhu, where three chortens in Bhutanese, Tibetan and Nepalese styles mark the meeting of the rivers, then climbs gently to the capital. After checking in, stroll through the local markets and shops with your guide, an easy introduction to Bhutanese daily life and a good way to adjust to the altitude.

Day02

OvernightThimphu

Thimphu sightseeing: culture and capital life

A full day in Bhutan’s capital, a city of temples, government buildings and busy markets where national dress is still worn every day. Begin at the Buddha Dordenma, the giant gilded Buddha on the hill of Kuensel Phodrang, where the terrace gives a sweeping view over the valley. Then visit the National Memorial Chorten, built in 1974 in memory of the third king, where residents walk around the chorten and turn the large prayer wheels from early morning.

Later, meet the takin, Bhutan’s national animal, at the Motithang Takin Preserve, and hear the legend of how Drukpa Kunley, the Divine Madman, is said to have created it. In the late afternoon, when government offices close, visit Tashichho Dzong, the fortress that houses the throne room, government ministries and the summer home of the central monastic body, its whitewashed walls glowing in the evening light.

Day03

OvernightPunakha

Thimphu to Punakha via Dochula Pass (Punakha 1,250 m)

Leave Thimphu on the road east, climbing through pine and rhododendron forest to Dochula Pass at 3,100 metres. The pass is crowned by the 108 Druk Wangyal chortens and, on clear days, offers a panorama of snow peaks along the northern horizon. After tea and a short walk among the chortens, the road descends almost 2,000 metres into the warm, green Punakha Valley, where rice terraces line the riverbanks.

Walk through the fields from Sopsokha village to Chimi Lhakhang, the 15th-century temple of Drukpa Kunley, where couples come to pray for children. In the afternoon visit Punakha Dzong, built in 1637 at the confluence of the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu and widely considered the most beautiful dzong in Bhutan. Cross the covered wooden bridge to explore its courtyards, carved woodwork and great assembly hall.

Day04

OvernightParo

Punakha to Paro: a scenic return

Enjoy an unhurried morning in the Punakha Valley. With your guide, visit a local farmhouse to see how a rural Bhutanese family lives: the ground floor traditionally sheltered animals and stored grain, while the family lives above, with a shrine room for daily prayers. You may be offered butter tea or suja and a taste of local snacks, and your guide can explain the customs of hospitality and the rhythm of the farming year.

Later, drive back over Dochula Pass, where the mountain views may be different from the day before, and continue through Thimphu to the Paro Valley. The journey takes several hours with stops, following rivers and passing villages, prayer flags and chortens along the way. Arrive in Paro in the late afternoon and settle into your hotel, with time to rest before tomorrow’s hike to Tiger’s Nest.

Day05

OvernightParo

Hike to Tiger's Nest Monastery (Taktsang)

Today is the highlight of many journeys to Bhutan: the hike to Taktsang, the Tiger’s Nest, which clings to a granite cliff about 900 metres above the floor of the Paro Valley. According to legend, Guru Rinpoche flew here on the back of a tigress in the 8th century to meditate in a cave, which is now enclosed within the temple complex. The round trip usually takes four to six hours, depending on your pace.

The trail climbs through blue pine forest hung with prayer flags, with a café and viewpoint about halfway, and ponies can carry you part of the way up. From the final viewpoint, steps lead down and up again across a ravine beside a waterfall to the monastery entrance. Inside, small temples glow with butter lamps. After descending, unwind with a traditional hot stone bath, the perfect end to your Bhutan journey.

Day06

Depart from Paro

Enjoy a final breakfast, with views of the Paro Valley and the mountains around it, before your guide accompanies you to Paro International Airport for your onward flight. Depending on your flight time, there may be a chance for a last walk through Paro town or a short stop at a viewpoint over Rinpung Dzong and the valley.

Paro’s airport sits in a narrow valley surrounded by high ridges, and departing flights climb steeply out of the valley. If you are seated on the correct side of the aircraft and the weather is clear, you may see the high peaks of the Himalaya once more as you leave. At the airport your guide bids you farewell with a heartfelt “Tashi Delek”, a Bhutanese greeting wishing you happiness and good fortune for your journey ahead.

Good to know

Private journeyPlanned around your dates, pace and interests
GuideA licensed Bhutanese guide accompanies you throughout, as Bhutan requires
ArrivalParo International Airport
PriceDepends on dates, hotel category and group size; our prices include the government’s Sustainable Development Fee