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Introducing Bhutan

From the magic of the Himalayan mountains to the traditional Buddhist temples and culture, Bhutan is as enchanting as it is beautiful.

When is the best time to visit?
October to December offer clear skies, warmer weather, and is most travelers' preferred time to explore Bhutan. Learn more

Where to go in Bhutan?
Don’t expect to get by on a backpacker budget in Bhutan. It’s seemingly one of the most expensive places to travel thanks to a mandatory tariff of $250 a day (in U.S. dollars) for foreign visitors. Prospective travelers shouldn’t panic, however, since this fee covers accommodation, food, transport, and an official guide. With these expenses paid upfront, visitors can tour the impressive dzongs and monasteries, the forest-draped hills and canyons, and take in the local tsechus, or dance festivals without worrying about pinching pennies.

How many days do I need?
Seven days is the ideal amount of time to travel through Bhutan.

Explore trips by duration: 5 days · 6 days · 7 days · 8 days · 9 days · 10 days · 12 days · 14 days

Bhutan Tours & Itineraries

Get inspired by trips other travelers have loved
View of the Himalayas from Dochu La Pass
Map of Highlights of Bhutan - 5 Days
Highlights of Bhutan - 5 Days

The kingdom of Bhutan remains one of the last unspoiled gems of the Himalayas. Closed to foreign visitors until the 1970s, Bhutan's past and present are firmly grounded in traditional Buddhist culture. On this quick 5-day journey around the country, you'll visit quiet monasteries, explore ancient fortresses, and enjoy stunning views of the mountains as you hike through peaceful valleys.

Taktang Goenba, or Tiger's Nest
Map of Bhutan Highlights: Thimphu, Punakha & Paro - 6 Days
Bhutan Highlights: Thimphu, Punakha & Paro - 6 Days

Explore the most iconic highlights of Western Bhutan on this six-day itinerary. In the capital of Thimphu, you'll see how ancient traditions coexist with modernity and learn about Bhutanese architecture and history. Then, you'll drive across the spectacular Dochu La pass to the semi-tropical valley of Punakha, the former winter capital of the Kingdom. The tour ends at the emerald-green Paro Valley, where you'll hike up to the famous Tiger's Nest Monastery—a quintessential Bhutanese experience.

Nature and Culture in Bhutan - 10 Days
Map of Nature and Culture in Bhutan - 10 Days
Nature and Culture in Bhutan - 10 Days

From the famous Tiger's Nest Monastery to the sleepy streets of Paro, visiting Bhutan is all about the simple pleasures of natural beauty and a distinctly preserved culture. Experience this long-isolated country's stunning mountains, colorful architecture, and lush countryside on this comprehensive 10-day tour.

Dagala Thousand Lakes Trek - 12 Days
Map of Dagala Thousand Lakes Trek - 12 Days
Dagala Thousand Lakes Trek - 12 Days

Trek through an area adorned with a multitude of pristine, crystal clear lakes, and Bhutanese villages. As you walk, you’ll be treated to stunning views of the entire Himalayan mountain range and some of the world’s highest peaks - including Mt. Everest, Jomolhari, Masang Gang, and many more.

Sunset on Dochu La Pass
Map of Bhutan Highlights - 7 Days
Bhutan Highlights - 7 Days

Explore the enigmatic kingdom of Bhutan on this exciting 7-day journey around the country's highlights. Visit historic fortresses, see one of the world's largest Buddha statues, hike through lush green valleys, enjoy views of soaring mountain peaks, and trek to the iconic Tiger's Nest Monastery. Along the way, you'll gain insight into Bhutan's fascinating history and culture.

A pair of cyclists traveling to Paro
Map of Bhutan Cycling Adventure - 15 Days
Bhutan Cycling Adventure - 15 Days

This Bhutan bike tour is an excellent combination of biking through Bhutan's stunning landscape. Experience the real Bhutanese countryside life and visit some cultural highlights as well. Biking is done mostly on good roads with very little traffic, but you'll take quiet roads as much as possible, and during the last days, you'll leave the main road and cycle on farm roads exclusively. You'll stay in decent hotels, sleep in traditional farmhouses, and camp in nature.

Make the Most of Your Time in Bhutan

Have a fixed number of days? Maximize the things to see and do during your visit
Buddhist monks at a festival in Bhutan
How Many Days to Spend in Bhutan

Whether you have five days or an entire month, you'll have an epic experience in Bhutan with a bit of planning. Five days is just long enough for a quick Himalayan trek or for...

Dramatic landscapes in the Paro Valley
Map of 1 Week in Bhutan - 4 Unique Itinerary Ideas
1 Week in Bhutan - 4 Unique Itinerary Ideas

With a week to spend in Bhutan, many travelers choose a highlights tour that includes visits to monasteries and the opportunity to do some hiking in the mountains. If you're...

The Punakha Dzong Monastery
Map of 2 Weeks in Bhutan - 4 Unique Itinerary Ideas
2 Weeks in Bhutan - 4 Unique Itinerary Ideas

You can cover a lot of ground with two weeks to spend in Bhutan. One popular itinerary option is a highlights tour that features visits to the Kingdom's most famous monasteries,...

Bhutan Travel Advice

Read our detailed insights to make sure you have the best trip

Our Latest Bhutan Content

Buddhist monks at a festival in Bhutan
How Many Days to Spend in Bhutan

Whether you have five days or an entire month, you'll have an epic experience in Bhutan with a bit of planning. Five days is just long enough for a quick Himalayan trek or for exploring the major monasteries and other sites around Thimpu and adjacent valleys. With a week or longer, you can branch out to far-flung locales or enjoy an in-depth experience such as spending 10 days checking off species of birds on a birding itinerary. With two weeks or more, you can explore the full breadth of the country.

The Punakha Dzong Monastery
Map of 2 Weeks in Bhutan - 4 Unique Itinerary Ideas
2 Weeks in Bhutan - 4 Unique Itinerary Ideas

You can cover a lot of ground with two weeks to spend in Bhutan. One popular itinerary option is a highlights tour that features visits to the Kingdom's most famous monasteries, temples, and high-altitude mountain passes, plus the chance to do some day hikes. If it's a more active adventure you're after, consider a 14-day cycling tour around the country or a hiking tour that includes the famous trek to Mount Jomolhari. It's also possible to combine some time in Bhutan with a trip to Nepal, getting a solid introduction to both countries' cultures and landscapes. Read on to learn more about your itinerary options.

Taktsang Goenba in the Paro Valley
Highlights of Bhutan: Thimphu, Punakha, Paro & More - 14 days

There's no place like Bhutan. Discover the kingdom's most spectacular landscapes and cultural sites on this two-week highlights tour that includes quiet forest hikes, visits to the country's oldest temples, an overnight stay in a traditional farmhouse, and unforgettable views of the Himalayas from high-altitude mountain passes. The grand finale of the trip is the classic hike to the Tiger's Nest Monastery, built into the side of a cliff in the beautiful Paro Valley.

Bhutan Travel Maps

Get the lay of land, and understand distances between the places you want to visit
Map 7 Days in Bhutan - 4 Unique Itineraries
7 Days in Bhutan - 4 Unique Itineraries
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Map 10 Days in Bhutan - 4 Unique Itineraries
10 Days in Bhutan - 4 Unique Itineraries
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Map 5 Days in Bhutan - 4 Unique Itineraries
5 Days in Bhutan - 4 Unique Itineraries
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Meet our Local Travel Specialists

Experienced travel agents with a passion for Bhutan
Travel specialist Vishal Pradhan
active 16 hours ago

Vishal Pradhan

Daddy to my son ‘ Chogyal’ ,I call Paro, Bhutan home. I started my career in the tourism industry in 2003. Since then I have had the chance to create meaningful holiday experiences for many...

read more...
Travel specialist Raj Gyawali
active 5 days ago

Raj Gyawali

I specialize in soft adventure experiences that are custom tailored, and that generally go beyond the surface and immerses into the country resulting in participatory experiential experiences that...

read more...
Travel specialist Chhewang Lama
active 21 hours ago

Chhewang Lama

My Name is Chhewang Lama, and I am from the remote Nyinba Valley, located in Simikot-Humla, West Nepal where the people are of Tibetan origin. I believe that the rich cultural heritage of my...

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Travel specialist Mieke Arendsen
active 21 hours ago

Mieke Arendsen

It's hard to explain the deep love that I have for the Himalayas and Bhutan specifically. It already started long before my eyes caught sight of these magnificent mountains, when I read about these...

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Trip Reviews for Bhutan

The latest reviews by travelers who booked their trip on kimkim

Bhutan is Very Interesting and Beautiful
Bhutan | Oct 31 - Nov 7, 2026

Kim
Kim H.
Palm Desert, CA, USA | Reviewed on Nov 12, 2026
We had a really good trip. Everything you planned worked out great, the hotels were fabulous, our driver (Suk) was fantastic and our tour guide was outstanding (Sonam Jamtsho)! We were able to alter the day as we desired, which flexibility is what we like and makes a trip much more authentic. The highlights of the trip were a visit to a Monastery of young Monks and the interaction, a prayer ceremony at a small nunnery of young nuns and the indirect communication with the nuns (they were very... Read more

We had a really good trip. Everything you planned worked out great, the hotels were fabulous, our driver (Suk) was fantastic and our tour guide was outstanding (Sonam Jamtsho)! We were able to alter the day as we desired, which flexibility is what we like and makes a trip much more authentic. The highlights of the trip were a visit to a Monastery of young Monks and the interaction, a prayer ceremony at a small nunnery of young nuns and the indirect communication with the nuns (they were very entertaining as some were very young) and Tiger's Nest was very interesting (I think we did it in a good time). I would add, if anyone wants to do any shopping, Paro is the only place.

Thank you for organizing such a good trip.
Kim and Gil

Hotel Reviews
Uma Punakha
Punakha

This hotel is outstanding and cozy! The staff was outstanding, views of the river and mountains are beautiful, the food was good and location is great. Loved it.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Six Senses Thimphu
Thimphu

This hotel is fabulous with outstanding service, staff, grounds and views. The rooms are spacious and well laid out. I highly recommend this hotel. I think it is the best in Thimphu.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Six Senses Paro
Paro

This hotel was magnificent in every way. First, it is beautiful, they were so accommodating and made everything convenient for the Tiger's Nest hike. They also arranged a Monk to come and bless our departure for a safe journey home. This is a must stay in Paro, we could have stayed for multiple days to take advantage of the spa and other amenities. The rooms are spacious as in Thimphu, but has a bit different feel, the views are incredible. Amazing place, a feeling of peace and serenity. It was a great place to end our trip.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Paro - Hike to Tigernest Monastery aka Taktshang Goemba
Paro - Hike to Tigernest Monastery aka Taktshang Goemba
Paro

This was a great experience and so glad we did it. You have to do it to really understand the magnificence of this place.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Punakha - Prayer ceremony at local nunnery
Punakha - Prayer ceremony at local nunnery
Bhutan

Highly recommend this experience! I loved this!

Quality of Experience
Motithang Takin Preserve (Thimphu)
Motithang Takin Preserve (Thimphu)
Thimphu

This was very interesting. Always nice to see animals you have never heard of or seen. They have quite a large population.

Quality of Experience
Druk Air: online check in
Bhutan

Was not able to check-in online. I am not sure if it was my phone or some other reason.

Altitude sickness - general information
Bhutan

We did not get altitude sickness, but saw some people that did. We did take medication to prevent just in case.

Paro - Rinpung  Dzong & Ta Dzong
Paro - Rinpung Dzong & Ta Dzong
Paro

This was a very interesting Dzong, lots of different things to see. This is a must see! The architecture of the building is very interesting and why they built in this configuration.

Local specialist: Sebastiaan Naus

PThe entire trip was well planned by Mieke, t...
Bhutan | Oct 20 - Nov 2, 2026

Mike
Mike S.
Florence-Graham, CA | Reviewed on Nov 09, 2026
PThe entire trip was well planned by Mieke, taking in my input and adding suggestions and advice along the way. The result was a well balanced adventure between hotel stays with day hikes , temples to visit, an amazing festival to attend, and then the trek itself. So I would break down the trip in 2 parts, hotels and the trek.
The hotels were amazing, in beauty, in hospitality, and comfort. We started with Pemako Thimphu, where we all dressed in traditional attire and danced to everyone’s...
Read more

PThe entire trip was well planned by Mieke, taking in my input and adding suggestions and advice along the way. The result was a well balanced adventure between hotel stays with day hikes , temples to visit, an amazing festival to attend, and then the trek itself. So I would break down the trip in 2 parts, hotels and the trek.
The hotels were amazing, in beauty, in hospitality, and comfort. We started with Pemako Thimphu, where we all dressed in traditional attire and danced to everyone’s mutual embarrassment. Thimphu visit included city tour and several hikes to local temples and an amazing festival. On to Punakha where the accommodation was one of the most unique I have ever experienced, starting with my butler , Kemcho! Truly wonderful experience and the nicest tent I have ever stayed in. We liked it so much that we skipped the Lake hike the next day and just stayed on the property, walked along the river, did archery , had a massage.. wonderful day,
Then back to Paro but not before a great hike above the pass to the Lungchutse temple and magnificent views of Himalayas . Uma Paro that night and , again, beautiful hotel and people ,
The trek began the next day, the trail was rustic but manageable and the pace appropriate. The crew horsemen,cook helpers, did all they could to keep us comfortable , and very well fed! The weather became an issue as we went over the Bhonte La pass, camped in snow that night , modified our route and hiked out the next day.
Back to Uma Paro for couple nights and finished with hike to the Tigers Nest, unforgettable!
The entire trip was everything I had hoped for, made an indelible impact on myself, my son, and son in law, and our friend Chris. A couple things need to be mentioned though. Our guide Namgay, bless his heart we loved him, but he was unintelligible! I would have gotten so much more out of the trip had he been more clear, very heavy accent. My hearing is impaired but even the others in our group found him extremely difficult to understand, like less than maybe 20 %.
Money exchange: ATMs were available and functioning fortunately since the Hotels would not exchange 100’s with older issue dates(as all mine had) may want to let people know this, dates on bills have to be newer than 2007
.

Hotel Reviews
Pemako (Taj Tashi)
Thimphu

Extremely accommodating and welcoming, in heart of Thimphu so you get a great inside view of the city,

Authenticity & Character
Location
Central
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Pemako Punakha
Puankha

Totally unique experience from the greeting from your personal butler, walk across swinging bridge and cart ride to room, private infinity pool, you need a full day here , maybe two, just to relax and enjoy this place

Authenticity & Character
Location
Isolated with spectacular views of valley below
Staff
The most amazing part of this place was the staff, above and beyond
Cleanliness & Comfort
Uma Paro
Paro

A little bit away from town but still accessible to Paro, comfortable, nice pool to relax by, simply amazing food in a gorgeous dining room overlooking Paro valley

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Mieke Arendsen
Mieke
Mieke Arendsen
Local specialist in Bhutan/Netherlands | Replied on Nov 10, 2026

Hi Mike, thank you for your kind words! Great to read about your experiences! The weather was a bit unfortunate at one point, but I am glad you were flexible enough to find peace in the alternative, and cutting the route short a bit. I am sorry to hear you had a hard time understanding Namgay's English - we will pay attention to that in the future.
Wishing you all the best! Tashi delek on behalf of Wind Horse family!
Mieke

Our Bhutan Adventure.
Bhutan | Oct 15 - Oct 22, 2026

Greg
Greg P.
Canada | Reviewed on Nov 01, 2026

Our trip to Bhutan was one of our best ever. From exploring Bhutan’s Buddhist culture to challenging hikes and exploring stunning scenery, the trip was amazing from start to finish. Vishal organized every aspect of the trip, including exceptional hotels with kind staff throughout. We also really enjoyed our guides, Jimmy and Jumple, who went to great lengths to meet our every need. Seeing Everest on a clear day on our flight home was very special. We would work with Vishal and his team again in a heartbeat. Thank for a great adventure!

Local specialist: Vishal Pradhan

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