An Insider’s Tour of Bhutan

11 days from £6,050 for 2023 per person

• Thimphu
• Punakha
• Gangtey
• Bumthang
• Haa Valley
• Paro

Journey into Bhutan’s more remote corners on this comprehensive off-the-beaten-track tour of Bhutan. Whilst exploring the major highlights this itinerary is also perfect for those who are looking to get under the skin of this beautiful Himalayan kingdom and delve deeper into Bhutan’s alluring interior.

The tour begins in Bhutan’s capital, and is the perfect introduction to your adventure into the country’s heartlands. Spend the day exploring local markets, the folk museum and Thimphu’s main Dzong. From here, drive through the spectacular Dochu La Pass en-route to the subtropical landscapes of Punakha, which, at a lower altitude, is rich in farmland and is especially known for the beautiful Dzong. Here you will camp out under the stars and cosy up by the camp fire in the evenings – it’s is the perfect way to experience the quiet paradise of Bhutan’s pristine natural surrounds. As you venture further east, the journey continues onto Gangtey, which has some of the best hiking in Bhutan, it is also home of the famed Black Neck Cranes which migrate here from November to late March. Spend time exploring the beauty of the surrounding region and visit the Monastery for evening prayers.

The utterly fascinating eastern Bumthang Valley is the next stop of the tour. From countless day walks and exploring the various monasteries within the valley, to the remote Tang Valley to see Bhutanese rural communities totally unchanged by time, this is where you will see Bhutan at its most captivating. From Bumthang fly back to Paro and head straight to the Haa Valley, one of the most untouched areas in Bhutan, dotted with small hamlets and villages that have remained unchanged for centuries. Finally, the adventure ends in Paro and the highlight of walking up to the absolutely magical Tiger’s Nest.

This is purely a suggested itinerary, so it can be booked as it is, or used as a starting point for creating your own luxury tailor-made tour of Bhutan. If you'd like to see similar trips, take a look at our Active Holiday collections as well as our favourite Mountains & Trekking itineraries.

To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.
Bill Bryson