How to Plan Bhutan Trip (with Bhutan Iitinerary Suggestions)

Affected by altitude and elevation of terrain, Bhutan enjoys a mixed climate of cold alpine climate, temperate climate and subtropical climate from north to south. The major tourist destinations are located in lower area, including Paro, Thimphu and Punakha which are suitable to travel all year round. And the best time is spring (March to June) and autumn (September to October) when the weather is most mild and pleasant, scenery is the most beautiful, some big festival are held during the period. Going to Bhutan in a right perfect time, like spring, your eyes will feast on lots of colorful flowers, in cool autumn, more chance to have a good possibility to enjoy the amazing Himalayan views. Summer may brings lots of rainfalls with the hot temperature, while winter can be a little cold at high altitude mountain regions.

☞ Bhutan Weather & Climate - Choose the Best Time to Bhutan

Bhutan Festival Held in Autmn

Travel to Bhutan from Nepal

By Flight - Nepal and Bhutan don’t border each other, and Nepal is in the west of Bhutan across India. Among all air connected countries, Nepal is the most popular gateway country to Bhutan for Kathmandu offers most frequent international flights to Paro, Bhutan. (daily flight, within 1.5 hours.)

Travel to Bhutan from India

By Air - India is also a good choice because more cities (including Kolkata, New Delhi, Guwahati, Siliguri, Mumbai, Gaya , Bagdogra, and Bangalore) provide direct flights to Bhutan. (air journey is about 1 ~2.5 hours.)

By Road - It is also available to have an overland driving from India to Bhutan via Phuentsholing, Samdrup Jongkhar and Gelephu border ports.

Travel to Bhutan from Other Countries

Until now, Bhutan also has direct air connection with a few Southeast Asian countries and else, including Dhaka (Bangladesh), Singapore and Bangkok (Thailand). So you can get to one of these countries and make a transfer to Bhutan.

☞ How to Get to Bhutan

Nepal Tibet Bhutan Location Map

First Stop - Paro Airport

● 5 Days' Classic Itineary

This 5 days compressed tour is most recommended for travelers who want to see the best essence of Bhutan in a limited time. Three most popular destinations are ideally included. You will enjoy the cultural architectural landmarks, peaceful rural scenery and amazing Himalayan Ranges.

Day 1: Your special Bhutan trip starts from Paro, and you will firstly visit Bhutan National Museum to see religious statues, exquisite thangkas and stone carvings and learn knowledge of Bhutan’s history and culture. Then, walk to  Paro Dzong to witness the finest example of Bhutanese architecture. End Paro tour, you will transfer to Thimphu, the capital.

Day 2: In Thimphu, morning tour begins from National Memorial Chorten, a monument dedicated to the third king of Bhutan and the most important religious site for pilgrimages. Then drive to Bhutan’s Traditional Painting School where the students learn the traditional painting, embroidery, carving, and to National Textile Museum to see different style of local dresses. Lastly, turn to Motithang Takin Preserve  to see the national animal - Takin, a unique looking animal, and drive to Punakha via Dochula Pass.

Day 3: Sightseeing in Punkaha, to Punakha Dzong, Bhutan’s most beautiful Dzong, where held many national events, like the current king’s wedding. In April, you can enjoy the lovely Blue Jacaranda flowers. Next to Chimi Lhkhang, a temple 7km away from Punakha Dzong, It is surrounded by a row of prayer wheels and some beautiful slate carvings. Drive back to Paro.

Day 4: You will have a full day to have a journey to Taktsang Monastery – the most brilliant monastery in Bhutan. It is also called Tiger’s Nest Monastery, because it is said that Guru Rinpoche once flew to the cave on a tiger and mediated there. To get to this amazing monastery, you need to trek or ride a horse.

Day 5: Drive to Paro International Airport to catch your international flight to leave.

☞ 5 Days Classic Bhutan Tour

Paro Dzong

Bhutanese are Doing Embroidery in Painting School

Beautiful Punakha Dzong in Spring

Day 1: Paro Trip and Driving to Thimphu. Visit Bhutan Memorial Chorten, and go to Buddha View Point, a religous site to see giant Buddha statue and massive Buddhist sculptures. After that, go to the Weekend Market see local farmers selling fresh vegetable and farm products.

Day 2: Thimphu Trip. A whole day tour in Thimphu, to the Royal Textile Academy of Bhutan, to the Folk Heritage Museum and the Traditional Painting School, to catch a glimpse of living art among Bhutanese. Last you will see the Takin in preserve.

Day 3: Drive from Thimphu to Punakha & Punakha Tour. Be transferred from Thimphu to Punkha, visit Chimi Lhakhang and Punakha Dzong after arrival.

Day 4: Drive from Punakha to Paro & Paro Sightseeing. Enjoy sightseeing trip on the road, first visit Bhutan National Museum, then to Rinpung Dzong and Kyichu Lhakhang, the oldest monastery in Bhutan.

Day 5: Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest) Trekking. Take a few hours to hike to the most famous landmark of Bhutan - Tiger’s Nest. Ready to sweat and harvest nice sights and unforgettable experience.

Day 6: Paro Departure. Be sent to Paro Airport to take your flight to leave.

☞ 6 Days Last Shangri-La Highlights Tour

Local Women in Thimphu Weekend Market

Taktsang Monastery Hanging on Cliff

If you want to have an in-depth trip to Central Bhutan, you can spend 5 more days visiting more beautiful valleys and attractions.

Day 1 ~ 2 Paro Thimphu Trip

Enjoy a Paro Thimphu tour by visitng Paro Dzong, National Museum, National Memorial Chorten etc.

Day 3 Punakha Trip & Driving to Fhubjikha

After visiting splendid Punakha Dzong, drive to Phojikha Valley. In this bow-shaped glacial valley, you get an opportunity to see many highland animals. Pay a visit to Gangtey Goempa on a forested hill, and you will get an overlooking view of the whole valley.

Day 4 Phobjikha to Trongsa

You destination of this day is Trongsa, the historical and geographical hear of the kingdom of Bhutan.

Day 5 Trongsa to Bumthang

Your journey starts with a visit to Trongsa Dong, with an important strategic location and a long history of over 500 years. In the 23 Lhakhangs of Trongsa Dzong, you can appreciate the delicate designs and fine decorations. Then walk to Royal Heritage Museum which once was the watchtower of Trongsa Dzong. Here you can enjoy many collections related with the royal families. After the sightseeing, continue your driving to Bumthang. On the road, you will pass through Yotong La Pass with a Buddhist stupa and many prayer flags.

Day 6 Bumthang to Wangdu Phodrang

Firstly, go to Jampery Lhakhang, an old monastery built by the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo in 659. There are many statues of Buddhas and elegant murals in the monastery. Next, drive to Wangdu Phodrang.

Day 7 Wangdu Phodrang to Paro

Get up early to visit Wangdu Phodrang Dzong and get a commanding view of the valleys. After that, drive back to Paro via Dochula Pass again.

Day 8 ~ 9 Trip to Taktsang Monastery & Departure

Spend a full day touring famous Taktsang Monastery on Day 8 and Day 9 is free until you catch your international flight to leave.

☞ 9 Days Bhutan In-depth Tour

Holy National Memorial Chorten

Beautiful Gangtey Goempa

ocal People in Trongsa Dzong

Wangdu Phodrang Dzong

Adventures always love something more new, exciting and challenging. When time permits, you can just travel to little-visited eastern Bhutan, which needs at least takes two weeks. A lot of driving will be involved and the road is not in good condition. The accommodation is also basic. If you don’t want to spend several day traveling back to Paro in the same way, you can take an overland driving to India.

Day 1 ~ 6 Classic Tour in Central Bhutan

The first six days is for a classic tour from western to central Bhutan. Spend one more day visiting Taktsang Monastery.

Day 7 ~ 9 Mongar Tour

Make a wonderful day trip to Lhuentse Dzong and the nearby scenic village of Khoma. You can also spend one day on hiking.

Day 10 ~ 12 Trashigang Tour

Drive from Mongar to Trashigang from Mongar on Day 10, and visit Bhutan’s most important Nyingma Monastery – Drametse Goemba on Day 11. On the next day, you could have an excursion to Trashi Yangtse and make a kora en route.

Day 12 ~ 14 Bhutan Departure

Drive to steamy Samdrup Jongkhar, and cross the border to India. You can easily get to Guwahati where flights are available to Kolkata, New Delhi or Bangkok.

Highly-soaring Lhuentse Dzong

Luxurious Valley in Trashigang

It’s fairly convenient to travel from Nepal to Bhutan or from Bhutan to Nepal. Meanwhile, March to June in spring and September to November in autumn are best time to visit both countries. A classic Nepal Bhutan tour usually takes more than 9 days, at least 4 days touring Nepal and 5 days or more visiting Bhutan.

In Nepal, you’re suggested to spend 4 ~ 6 days on sightseeing major attractions and featured activities. The must-be-visited destination is the Kathmandu Valley, namely Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur, where you will be awed by the medieval architectural wonders, such as the Durbar Squares, Swayambhnath, Boudhanath etc. With more days, don’t miss Pokhara, a riverside town reflecting the glamour of Himalayan Ranges and an interesting jungle safari in Chitwan National Park and the holy Buddhist pilgrimage site - Lumbini.

Recommended Nepal Bhutan Tours:

☞ 9 Days Bhutan In-depth Natural and Cultural Tour

☞ 12 Days Nepal Bhutan Leisure Vacation Tour Package

Durbar Square in Nepal

A combined trip to Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan requires at least two-week long holiday. Nepal and Tibet are connected both by air and road, you’re advised to travel them together and fly to Bhutan from Nepal.

Tour start from Tibet: You can either fly from Lhasa (Tibet) to Kathmandu or try a overland driving tour via Gyirong Port. The long overland driving tour from Lhasa to Nepal via Mount Everest costs about 7 ~ 8 days. You won’t be boring, because you will visit world famous Potala Palace and more landmarks in Lhasa, view gem-like beautiful Yamdrok Lake, and breathtaking Everest, Panchen Lama’s residence (Tashilhunpo Mounastery), stunning glacier (Karola Glacier) en route. Tibet tour can be extended to Mount Kailash in Ngari, Nyingchi in Eastern Tibet as you like. Then continue your trip in Nepal and Bhutan for another week.

Tour Start from Nepal: You have two options: visiting Nepal and Tibet first, and then travel from Nepal to Bhutan, or tour Nepal with Bhutan, and go to Tibet later, visit popular destinations in China by the way.

A: take a 4-day essential trip in Kathmandu, then have a cross-border driving travel from Kathmandu to Everest, the highest peak in the world. Afterwards, return to Kathmandu to fly to Bhutan and use some days to know the “World’s Happiest Country”.

B: First have a classic Nepal tour in Kathmandu, next, fly to Bhutan and visit the top destinations during 5-day trip. Back to Nepal to take flight to Lhasa to enjoy great attractions there. The biggest different is you can take a direct flight or a train from Lhasa to mainland China, to see the cute giant pandas in Chengdu, admire the man-made wonder Terracotta Warriors and Horses in Xian, hike the great wall in Beijing, or take a cruise on Yangtze River etc.

Tour Start from Bhutan: First take a typical tour in Bhutan for 5 days, see the top cultural sites in Paro, Thimphu and Punakha. Nepal tour will be followed, another 5 days is needed to cover most-famous scenic spots. Finally go on with your holy land adventure to Tibet, make a the sacred Mount Kailash Yatra with Manasarovar, definitely a spiritual rebirth. Mount Everest and Lhasa tour still the main courses on the table. Finish trip in Lhasa, you may keep traveling in China or transfer to Beijing, Shanghai for going back home.

Mount Everest in Tibet

Kathmandu Airport in Nepal

Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet