A Grand Tour of Bhutan

10 days from £7,150 for 2023 per person

• Punakha
• Gangtey
• Bumthang
• Paro

For many, the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan has a pull like few other nations on earth. Tucked away between India and Tibet, this little kingdom remained, until only recently, off limits to visitors, creating a shroud of mystery that has remained to today. It is a land of pristine alpine valleys, dotted with ancient monasteries and woven together with fluttering prayer flags, and this comprehensive itinerary covers the highlights of this breathtaking country. 

Begin your journey in the relaxed town of Punakha, which is home to arguably the most beautiful Dzong in the country. Located at 1,300 metres, Punakha is lower than the other valleys so is a great starting point to acclimatise to the altitude and it also enjoys a temperate climate. Continue on to the wetland valley of Gangtey, winter home of the rare black-necked crane, and where the scenery becomes ever more sparsely populated. Onward winding through ancient cloud forest and rural villages to reach the dramatic hillside town of Trongsa, home to the cliff hanging Dzong, en-route to the small settlement of Bumthang. This is the most eastern point of the trip and which lies in an idyllic U-shaped valley with streams running through it and pine forested slopes on both sides. The final leg, catch a flight westwards and end in the pristine alpine valley of Paro, famed for the Tiger’s Nest monastery. 

Throughout your stay experience gracious hospitality and rural living, and gain an unforgettable insight into this magical kingdom. For those who enjoy light trekking this can easily be included in the itinerary. As ever, this holiday is purely a suggested itinerary: it can be booked as it is, or alternatively used as a starting point for creating your own ideal tailor-made trip to Bhutan and India. If you'd like to see similar itineraries, take a look at our Active Holiday collection. 

I can't think of anything that excites a greater sense of childlike wonder than to be in a country where you are ignorant of almost everything.
Bill Bryson