Overview
- Journey style
- Festival Tours
- Route
- See the day-by-day itinerary
- Flexibility
- Private and fully customisable
Bumthang holds multiple meanings—‘Bum’ refers either to ‘Bumpa’ (a holy water vessel, symbolizing the valley’s shape) or ‘girl’, while ‘Thang’ means ‘field’. Known as the spiritual heart of Bhutan, Bumthang boasts one of the country’s highest concentrations of temples and sacred sites. It is also the birthplace of Terton Pema Lingpa, Bhutan’s most revered treasure discoverer. With festivals happening year-round, this tour lets you choose which vibrant celebration to experience. Discover the soul of Bumthang and Bhutan with us.
Highlights
- Places: Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, Trongsa, & Bumthang
- Seasons: Fall & Winter
Price includes
- Government Fees, Royalty & Taxes.
- Bhutan Visa Fee
- Tours as mentioned in the itinerary.
- 3 Star hotel room (Double & Twin Sharing room)
- All meals (Breakfast/Lunch & Dinner) at a local restaurant or hotel.
- Transport/Vehicle with a driver throughout your stay.
- An Experienced tour guide (English Speaking).
- All Sights & entrance fees as per the itinerary
- Complimentary Bottled water
Price excludes
- Bank transfer or card processing fees (see our terms of service)
- Airfare
- Travel Insurance
- Costs for extra activities
- Single room supplement
- Personal drinks & beverages
- Additional hotel facilities like laundry, personal calls, hot stone bath, etc.
- Tips for the Guide and Driver.
The Sustainable Development Fee, visa and permits are all included — see how the Bhutan visa & permits process works.
Day by day
Itinerary
Day 01 Arrival: Paro - Thimphu
Driving Distance: 65km/1.5hrs
Elevation: 2200m/ 7218ft
After completing check-in formalities at Paro airport, our guide and driver will welcome you in a traditional way. Then drive onto Thimphu, the Capital of Bhutan to rest and refresh at the hotel before going for sightseeing to the following sites:
(Sightseeing depends on the flight timing)
- National Memorial Chorten
- Walk around Town Square
Overnight at the hotel in Thimphu.
Day 02 Thimphu Sightseeing
Elevation: 2350m / 7710ft
Today’s sightseeing of major sites of Thimphu will include visits to:
- Buddha Point/Kuneselphodrang
- Takin Preserve
- The Jungshi paper factory
- Tashichhodzong
- Archery Range (Only on Sunday & Saturday)
Overnight at the hotel in Thimphu.
Day 03 Thimphu - Punakha
Driving Duration: 77 km/ 2 hours
Elevation: 1310m / 4300 ft
After having breakfast at the hotel, drive on to Punakha via Dochula Pass.
Attractions:
– Dochula Pass
– Chimmi Lhakhang (45 minutes hike)
– Punakha Dzong
– Punakha Suspension Bridge
Overnight at the hotel in Punakha.
Day 04 Punakha - Trongsa
Driving Distance: 134 km/3.5 hrs
Elevation: 2300m /7545ft
After breakfast at the hotel, your route crosses Pele La Pass (3420m) which is marked by a chorten and an array of prayer flags.
En-route visit following places in Trongsa:
- Chendebji Chorten
- Trongsa Dzong
- Ta Dzong (Trongsa Museum)
Overnight at the hotel Trongsa.
Day 05 Trongsa - Bumthang sightseeing
Driving Distance: 78 km/2.5 hrs
Elevation: 2800m / 9185ft
After breakfast at the hotel, your route crosses Yotongla Pass (3425m) which is marked by a chorten and an array of prayer flags.
Then, we will drive towards Tharpaling Goemba, situated at around 3600m and overlooking the picturesque Chumey Valley in Bumthang.
In Bumthang, we will visit the following sites:
- Chumey Valley
- Jambay Lhakhang
- Kurjey Lhakhang
- Tamshing Lhakhang
- Konchogsum Lhakhang (Tsilung)
Overnight in Bumthang
Day 06 Festival of your choice, Bumthang
Elevation: 2800m / 9185ft
After breakfast, head to Bumthang, Bhutan’s spiritual heart, known for its ancient temples, lush valleys, and sacred legends of Guru Padmasambhava and the tertons. En route, stop at a yathra weaving center in Chumey to see traditional Bumthang textiles being crafted on looms.
We will then drive to the location of your selected festival. For example, if you chose the Jambay Lhakhang Drup festival, we will head to Jambay Lhakhang. We will spend the day exploring and attending the festival (tshechu), an annual celebration to honor the Great Guru Rinpoche. During the festival season, all businesses and offices in the region remain officially closed so that people can attend the event. You can expect to interact with locals as they join in the festivities.
Enjoy the vibrant mask dances, folksongs, and dances performed by monks and local people. The highlight of the festival is the Mey Cham, a fire ceremony believed to help tame bad luck and evil spirits.
Overnight at the hotel in Bumthang.
Day 07 Bumthang - Gangtey/Phobjikha
Driving Duration: 130 km/4-5 hrs
Elevation: 2900m / 9510ft
Route back to Pelela Pass (alt. 3,300 m) via Gangtey.
Explore around by visiting the following sites:
- Gangtey Monastery
- Gangtey Nature Trail
- Black Necked Crane Information Center
Overnight at the hotel in Phobjikha.
Day 08 Phobjikha - Paro Sightseeing
Driving Duration: 171 km/4.5 hrs
Elevation: 2250m / 7382ft
We will retrace our steps back towards Paro Valley. On the way to Paro Valley, stop at the Paro Airport Bird’s Eye Viewpoint and witness the flights landing and taking off.
Visit the following sites in Paro:
- Rinpung Dzong (Paro Dzong)
- Ta Dzong (National Museum)
In the evening, we will take a walk along the streets of Paro for leisure.
Overnight at the hotel in Paro.
Day 09 Paro: Hike to Tiger's Nest Monastery
Hiking Duration: Approx. 5-6 hrs roundtrip
Elevation: 3120m / 10236ft
In the morning, take an excursion to Taktsang Monastery, also known as Tiger’s Nest. It is believed that Guru Rinpoche, founding father of the Bhutanese form of Mahayana Buddhism, arrived here on the back of a tigress, and meditated at this monastery. The main structure was severely damaged by fire in 1998, but after many years of painstaking restoration work, the complex has now been fully restored to its former glory.
Overnight at the hotel in Paro.
Day 10 Departure
After an early breakfast in the hotel, we will then drive to the airport for the flight to your onward destination.
Like the look of this itinerary? Every departure is customisable.
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