12 Days Bhutan Tour

Arrive in Paro and drive to Thimphu. Thimphu is the nation’s crown, and the district includes some of the most advanced and remotest parts of the Kingdom. The capital city moves in step with the 21st century, boasting a sophisticated urban lifestyle, while highland places like Soe and Lingshi Naro are only accessible on foot over cold, mountainous terrain. If time permits, visit the folk heritage museum, Trashichhodzong, the seat of the King, and the Largest standing Buddha statue overlooking the Thimphu valley.

On your 12-day Bhutan Cultural Tour visit the National Library, stocked with ancient Buddhist manuscripts, and the 13th-century arts and crafts School. The traditional arts of 13 are kept alive by recruiting Bhutanese students who spend a year refining their skills.

Lunch at Ama's Restaurant or similar, we drive to the Traditional Medicine Institute, where medicines are prepared according to ancient practices, and to Lungtenzampa to observe the Royal silversmiths. Dinner and overnight in the Hotel.

12-day Bhutan Cultural Tour takes you to Punakha, the old capital of Bhutan. If the weather is clear, we stop for a while at Dochula pass to view the Higher Himalayas. Spend time at Dochula Cafe with hot coffee with a 360-degree view of the Himalayas. You can see the most prominent Mountains like Gang Chetag, Gangkar Puensum, which is covered during the popular Snowman Trek.

On the way, visit Chimi Lhakhang, also called the fertility temple. This temple is very popular for couples having issues with birthing. You need to be cautious if you are with family, as local shops display a variety of objects containing phallus pictures. 

Further visit Punakha Dzong, built in 1637 by the great saint Zhabdrung. This is one of the most beautiful Dzongs in Bhutan. Dinner and overnight in a hotel. Also check Punakha Festival

After breakfast, drive to the beautiful valley of Gangtey. Before we proceed, we visit the longest suspension bridge connecting the village with Punakha Dzong.

The drive takes about 3 hours from Punakha to Gangtey. Visit Gangtey Gompa Monastery from the outside. It is a Nyingmapa monastery and is affiliated with other Nyingmapa monasteries, including Tamshing in Bumthang. A popular Gangtey Winter Trek starts from Phobjikha Valley. If you happen to travel during winter, you can check out this trek. Explore the valley, also famous for the Black Necked Cranes. Dinner and overnight at the Home Stay.

Note: Nineteen local households have been trained to deliver homestay service in Phobjikha.

Trongsa is the place where the Royal descended. After breakfast, drive to Trongsa. Have lunch at Willing Waterfall Cafe recently opened with a beautiful waterfall. 

2-day Bhutan Cultural Trip. Visit Trongsa Dzong, the most impressive dzong of Bhutan, built in its present form in 1644 by Chogyal Minjur Tempa, the official who was sent by Shabdrung to unify eastern Bhutan and enlarged at the end of the 17th century by Desi Tenzin Rabgay. Trongsa Dzong is the ancestral home of the present Royal Family, and the first two hereditary kings ruled Bhutan from this Dzong. Then visit Ta Dzong, an ancient watchtower. The chapel inside the Ta Dzong is said to be dedicated to the Trongsa Penlop Jigme Namgyal. Overnight in the Hotel Willing Resorts (4 Star Hotel).

12-day Bhutan Cultural Tour drive from Trongsa, you will reach the most scenic Bumthang. Bumthang is the most scenic place in Bhutan, home to some of the ancient and the Kingdom’s most precious Buddhist sites. The elevation ranges from 2400m to 6000m above sea level. Upon arrival, visit the Castle of the White Bird (Jakar Dzong) built in 1677. The Dzong functions as the administrative and religious seat of the district. Below the Dzong flows the river of Chamkhar, which is famous for its healthy stock of trout. Overnight at the Hotel.

Note: Yotong La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3436m (11,272ft) above sea level, located in the Bumthang District of Bhutan. It’s one of the highest mountain roads in the country.

Bumthang is the cultural hub of Bhutan. There are many secret sights in Bhutan and Bumthang has the highest. Our tour starts with a visit to Jambay Lhakhang, built by King Srongsen Gampo of Tibet in the year 659 on the same day as Kichu Lhakhang in Paro. The temple was visited by Guru Rimpoche during his visit to Bumthang and was renovated by Sindhu Raja after Guru Rimpoche restored his life force. Under the temple is said to be a lake in which Guru Rimpoche hid several Terma. In October, one of the most spectacular festivals, “Jambay Lhakhang Drup”(5th to 8th November 2025) is staged here this year.

After lunch at the Swiss Guest House Restaurant, 12-day Bhutan Cultural Tour offers time visit Chakhar (Iron Castle) Lhakhang, which is the site of the palace of the Indian King, the Sindhu Raja, who invited Guru Rimpoche to Bumthang. The Original palace was made of Iron, and hence the name Chakhar. In the evening, visit Membarstho, which means “The burning Lake”. If you have enough time, stroll the new town of Bumthang. Overnight in the Hotel.

It's a 1-hour journey from Bumthang towards the Ura valley. It's the oldest valley of Bhutan. The valley lies 3100m above sea level, and Ura is the highest of the main inhabited valleys. It is one of the highest of the Bumthang valleys and is believed to be the home of the earliest inhabitants of Bhutan.

In order to save time we recomend all our guest to take domestic flights from Bumthang to Paro. This is because we take the same route back and save almost a day and use that time for visiting other places. The flight from Bumthang to Paro is about 25 minutes. The flight takes off from Batpalathnag airport to Paro airport. Our team from Tour Bhutan will receive you at the airport. Visit Paro Dzong, Taa Dzong only Museam and in the evening visit Tshering Farmhouse to try local cuisine. Learn to cook Ema Datshi, the signature dish of Bhutan, with the host, enjoy momo and follow with a Hotstone bath. It's a local Jacuzzi believed to have medicinal value to ease your body aches. Overnight at the Hotel.

A Bhutan Tour will not be complete without visiting Paro Valley. Paro is the only international airport in Bhutan where tourists enter Bhutan. It's a gateway to Bhutan for thousands of tourists visiting the Country. The wide and fertile Paro valley has both an ancient and a modern face. It is home to some of the most revered temples in the Kingdom. With annual bounties of paddy, Paro is justly considered to be the rice bowl of the Country. Spread over 1285.5 sq km, the region’s farms produce some of the finest yields of Bhutan's staple red rice. Some of the best places to visit in Paro are Paro Dzong, Tiger Nest Temple, Taa Dzong, and Paro Town. Dinner and Overnight at the Hotel.

Today awaits the most amazing experience of hiking the most awaited Tiger Nest Temple. Hike 4 4-hour uphill walk from the base camp and enjoy the best view of Paro valley from the monastery. The monastery also offers great selfies for those who love to take pictures.

Your 12-day tour in Bhutan ends today. Our Guide and driver will see you off at the Paro airport.