Day 01: Arrive at Paro Airport and then drive to the capital city Thimphu, 2320 m, overnight at hotel (B/L/D).
Day 02: Thimphu - Paro, overnight at hotel (B/L/D).
Day 03: Paro – Departure (B).
Detail Itinerary
Day 01: Arrive at Paro Airport and then drive to the capital city Thimphu, 2320 m/ 7656ft (1 hour 30 minutes’ drive), overnight at hotel (B/L/D).
The flight into the Himalayas reveals scenic and breathtaking views of Himalayan Mountains of the world. If weather permits you will be able to see Mt Everest (8848 m, 29,198ft) and other Himalayan mountain ranges. Upon arrival in Paro, clear customs and immigration. Keep your copy of the visa clearance letter handy when your visa has been paid. After checking into the hotel later, your representative from Dream Tibet Travel & Tours will greet you on arrival and drive to Thimphu. Kuenselcholing View Point: A place from where you can get a good overview of the Thimphu valley is from the Buddha point (Kuensel Phodrang). It is again a short drive from the town. You can pay your obeisance and offer prayers to the Buddha, the largest statue in the country, and then walk around and take a glimpse of the valley. Memorial Chorten: This particular chorten was constructed in 1974 as a memorial for the third King of the country, King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, who is widely regarded as the father of modern Bhutan. Drive. Tashichho Dzong : The name means - Means Fortress of Glorious Religion. It was built in 1641 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel. It houses the secretariat building, the throne room and the office of the king, and the central monk body. Later, relax for the day and stroll around the city. Overnight in Thimphu.
Day 02: Thimphu – Paro, overnight at hotel (B/L/D).
After breakfast, retrace your drive back to Paro. In Paro visit Tiger’s Nest Monastery (Taktsang) and Farm House, National Museum. Morning hike to Taktsang Monastery (Tiger’s nest): This is Bhutan’s most recognizable cultural icon, perched 800 m/2640ft up a seemingly sheer cliff. Although it was tragically and mysteriously consumed by fire in April 1998 it has now been restored to its former glory. It is believed that in the 8th century, the great tantric master Guru Rinpoche/ Padmasambhava (2nd Buddha) flew on the back of a tigress to the site where the monastery now stands. (Five hours hike to and from, some gentle and some steep hike, some stony footpath and some good ones) If you ride a horse upward it will cost extra US$25 per person. It is optional as tour can be done as per your requirement instead of hiking. Visit Farmhouse: Eating, taking bath and staying for a night at a local farmhouse gives a different variation, and a chance to see the inside of such a home, rather than just the brightly decorated exteriors. If you take a hot stone bath and eat in the farm house, it will cost extra US$25 per person. Later, stroll around the town and see how locals live. Overnight in Paro.
Day 03: Paro – Departure (B).
After breakfast, transfer to the airport in time for your departure flight to Kathmandu airport, transfer to hotel.
Fixed Departure Dates
| Trip Dates | Availability | Tour cost | Book |
| On request | Available | On request | Book |
Extra cost Flight ticket, Kathmandu to Paro/Kathmandu US$480 per person
Visa Cost US$ 50 per person
Useful information related to this trip.
Please click on title to read details
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Passports and visa
Passports and visa
A valid passport is required by all nationals. It is worth noting that the Bhutan government has been known to refuse entry to those wishing to visit for mountaineering, publicity and other research activities.
Entry to Bhutan: There are two ways of entering Bhutan; by air to Paro Airport or by road to the Butanes border town of Phuentsholing. Samdrup Jongkhar is used for exits from Bhutan by land. All travellers entering the country by road must ensure that they have the necessary documentation for transiting through that part of India to Phuentsholing. Visitors are advised to contact their nearest Indian embassy or high commission to check exactly what special permits or other documents may be necessary, as these regulations are subject to change at short notice.
Independent travel is not permitted in Bhutan; visitors are required to book with a registered tour operator, which can be done directly through an affiliated travel agent abroad. Visitors are also required by immigration to bring two passport photos with them for use on arrival.
You cannot purchase air tickets to Bhutan without visa clearance. Visas are only issued to tourists booked with a local licensed tour operator, or through a foreign travel agent; all applications are submitted through the tour operator. Visas are issued (stamped in passport) on arrival at Paro Airport or at Phuentsholing check post.
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Accommodation, Foods & drinks
Accommodation, Foods & drinks
Traditional hotels, cottages and guest houses approved by the Department of Tourism are usually comfortable with hot and cold running water, electricity and sometimes room telephones, though international calls may be via reception. There are a few luxury hotels, but these do not come cheap. Accommodation is booked by Tour Operators. Expect a surcharge on the basic rate for up market resorts and be aware that at festival time, hotels are booked long in advance, so you may need to be flexible.
There is a fair choice of restaurants in Paro and Thimphu, but most tourists eat in their hotels, where hygiene is good and chefs temper the spicy Butanes dishes to suit Western tastes. Rice is the staple (sometimes flavoured with saffron or of the red variety) apart from in central Bhutan where the altitude makes rice cultivation difficult. Buckwheat is more common here. The country is replete with apple orchards, rice paddies and asparagus, which grows freely in the countryside and there are over 400 varieties of mushroom including orchid mushrooms.
Specialities:
• Datse (cow's milk cheese), sometimes served in a dish with red chillies (ema datse).
• Tshoem (curry), usually served with rice.
• Eue chum (pink rice), a nutty-flavoured variety unique to Bhutan.
Things to know: Meals are often buffet-style and mostly vegetarian. Meat and fish are now imported from nearby India, and Nepali Hindus living in Bhutan are licensed to slaughter animals. Usual precautions apply.
Regional drinks: The most popular drink is tea, sweet or Tibetan style with salt and butter. Ara is a spirit distilled from rice.
Chang (a kind of beer, cereal-based and generally home-brewed).
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Shopping in Bhutan
Shopping in Bhutan
Markets are held regularly, generally on Saturday and Sunday, and are a rich source of local clothing and jewellery, as well as food. The Handicraft Emporium on the main street in the capital is open daily and offers a magnificent assortment of hand-woven and handcrafted goods. Some hotels have a souvenir shop. Silversmiths and goldsmiths in the Thimphu Valley are able to make handcrafted articles to order. Butanes stamps are collectors' items. Shopping is otherwise limited and bargaining is not customary. Phuentsholing has a small department store, the only one of its kind in Bhutan.
Shopping hours: Mon-Sun 0800-2000 for most shops.
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Weather & climate
Weather & climate
Best time to visit:
The climate varies with altitude, with the highest temperatures and rainfall occurring in the south, which bears the brunt of the monsoon between June and September.
Temperatures drop dramatically with increases in altitude, though days are usually very pleasant with clear skies and sunshine. Nights are cold and require heavy wooden clothing, particularly in winter. Generally, October, November and April to mid-June are the best times to visit - rainfall is at a minimum and temperatures are conducive to active days of sightseeing. The foothills are also very pleasant during the winter.
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Required clothing:
Required clothing:
Lightweight cottons in the foothills, also linens and waterproof gear, light sweaters and jackets for the evenings. Upland areas: thick, warm clothing for evenings, particularly during the winter months.
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Geography:
Geography:
Bhutan is located in the eastern Himalayas, bordered to the north by China and to the south, east and west by India. The altitude varies from 180 m (590ft) in the narrow lowland region to over 7,300 m (23,950ft) in the Himalayan plateau in the north, and there are three distinct climatic regions. The foothills are tropical and home to deer, tigers, leopards and the rare golden langur monkey as well as much tropical vegetation, including many species of wild orchids. The Inner Himalayas region is temperate; wildlife includes bear, boar and sambar, and the area is rich in deciduous forests. The High Himalayas region is very thinly populated, but the steep mountain slopes are the home of many species of animals, including snow leopards and blue sheep.
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Health and Ricks
Health and Ricks
Full medical insurance is strongly advised. Medical facilities are good, but not always close at hand. Officials in Bhutan have reported repeated outbreaks of bird flu during 2012.
Food and drink: Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilized. Mineral water is widely available. Milk should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.
Other risks: Hepatitis E occurs; hepatitis B is endemic. Giardiasis is common. Meningitis is a sporadic risk and vaccination is advised. Tuberculosis exists. There is a small risk of Japanese encephalitis in southern lowland areas. Altitude sickness may be a problem. Rabies is present. For those at high risk, vaccination should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay.
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Currency & Money
Currency & Money
Currency information: 1 Ngultrum (BTN; symbol Nu) = 100 chetrum (Ch). The Ngultrum is pegged to the Indian Rupee (which is also accepted as legal tender). Notes are in denominations of Nu500, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of Nu1, and 50, 25 and 20 chetrum. Smaller denomination notes and coins have been discontinued but are still in circulation and are legal tender. US Dollars are also widely accepted.
Credit cards: Most cards have limited acceptability. ATMs only accept Butanes bank cards.
ATM: ATMs only accept Butanes bank cards.
Travellers' cheques: These can be exchanged in any branch of the Bank of Bhutan or at all BTCL hotels. Travellers' are advised to take traveller's cheques in US Dollars.
Banking hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1500, Sat 0900-1200.
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How can I book a trip?
How can I book a trip?
All bookings are made with Asian Hiking Team Pvt. Ltd. based at Thamel, Kathmandu, Nepal. Trip is reference to as Company in booking conditions. To book your holiday, you need to send us a completed booking (inquiry) form or directly email us with details. For more information, click here ».
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