6 Days Paro, Thimphu, Punakha & Gangtey Tour

Paro · Thimphu · Punakha · Phobjikha (Gangtey) · Paro · Paro Taktsang

1. Day1

   Arrival at Paro — Drive to Thimphu

   Overnight Thimphu hotel

   The flight into Paro is one of the most spectacular mountain approaches in the world, with a constantly changing panorama of the highest peaks on earth. You are met at the airport and driven for an hour to Thimphu, stopping on the way at Tamchog Lhakhang — the iron-chain suspension bridge built by Thangtong Gyalpo, the 15th-century saint who introduced the art — and at Chuzom, where the Paro and Thimphu rivers meet beneath three shrines built in the Nepali, Tibetan and Bhutanese styles. In Thimphu visit the Memorial Chorten, the stupa built for the third King, and the Trashichhoedzong, the fortress of the glorious religion; then drive up to Kuensel Phodrang, the Great Buddha Dordenma, for a view over the whole valley. In the evening walk through the Thimphu Craft Bazaar.

2. Day2

   Thimphu — Punakha

   Overnight Punakha hotel

   Drive to Punakha over the Dochula Pass, where on a clear day the Himalayan range opens up, and on through the forests of the Lamperi National Park. On arrival, walk through the paddy fields of Sopsokha village to Chimi Lhakhang, the temple of fertility, and on to the settlement of Pana. Continue to the Punakha Dzong, the second oldest and second largest fortress in Bhutan, built in 1637–38 at the meeting point of the male and female rivers.

3. Day3

   Punakha — Gangtey (Phobjikha)

   Overnight Gangtey (Phobjikha) hotel

   After breakfast, a short hike to Khamsum Yulley Namgyel Chorten — across a colourful suspension bridge over the Mo Chhu river, through terraced rice fields and up a shady pine path, roughly 30–45 minutes each way. Then drive on to Phobjikha, one of the Baeyuls or hidden valleys, a protected glacial valley that is the winter home of the black-necked crane. Visit the Gangtey Goempa, the 17th-century monastery that overlooks the valley.

4. Day4

   Gangtey — Paro

   Overnight Paro hotel

   Drive back to Paro, a long but beautiful day on the road. In Paro visit the National Museum of Bhutan, housed in the ancient watchtower of Ta Dzong, and the Rinpung Dzong, built in 1646 and still the administrative and monastic centre of the district. Walk from the dzong across the covered wooden cantilever bridge at Nemeyzampa, and end the day at the Paro market.

5. Day5

   Paro — Hike to Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest)

   Overnight Paro hotel

   Today’s excursion is the hike to Taktsang, the Tiger’s Nest, on the face of a sheer cliff above the valley. It is believed that Guru Padmasambhava flew here on the back of a tigress, and the monastery is the most revered site in Bhutan. The walk up to the viewpoint takes roughly two hours, uphill through alpine forest; lunch can be taken on the trail or at the cafeteria, which looks straight across at the monastery.

6. Day6

   Departure from Paro

   Breakfast at the hotel, then transfer to Paro International Airport for your flight onward. Tashi Delek!