Western Bhutan Tour

5.0/5 from 622 reviews
  • Destination
    Bhutan
  • Duration
    8 Days
  • Trip Difficulty
    Easy
  • Activities
    Cultural Tours
  • Accommodation
    3-Star Hotel
  • Meals
    B.L.D
  • Group Size
    Min. 1 Pax
  • Best Time
    March - May and Sept - Nov

Discover the cultural and natural treasures of Western Bhutan with our short and well-planned Western Bhutan Tour. Within eight days, you can explore four popular Bhutanese destinations – Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, and Phobjika.

Walk around ancient lakhangs, or Buddhist shrines, dating back to the medieval period. Visit the majestic dzongs, or traditional citadels. Hike along terraced fields and forests to reach secluded gompas, or monasteries. Experience the breathtaking Himalayan landscape while traveling across cities.

The Western Bhutan Tour begins in Paro, a city with one of the quietest and greenest international airports in the world. After meeting your local tour guide and driver, you will be driven to Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan.

In Thimphu, visit the King’s Memorial Chorten, a stupa built in memory of the third king of Bhutan, and the grand Tashicho Dzong. Drive to the hilltop shrine of Buddha Dordenma, where a gigantic statue of Lord Buddha looks down benignly on the Thimphu valley.

Leaving Thimphu, you will be driven to the glacial valley of Phobjika, the nesting site of the endangered Black-necked cranes. Nestled beneath the Black Mountains, Phobjika is home to a variety of Himalayan flora and fauna. It is also home to one of the ancient monasteries in Bhutan, the Gangtey Monastery. Explore the Gangtey Monastery and traditional villages surrounding the gompa. You can also take a nature tour and hike along the idyllic Gangtey Nature Trail, observing the wildlife and enjoying the gorgeous scenery.

At Punakha, we will take you to the Fertility Temple, or Chimi Lakhang, an important pilgrimage site for childless couples. Perched on a hill overlooking the Punakha valley, this temple was built in the fifteenth century by Drukpa Kuenley, the patron saint of Bhutan. Visit the impressive Punakha Dzong, a huge castle which houses administrative buildings, a monastery, and chapels. Located at the confluence of the Po Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers and surrounded by jacaranda trees, Punakha Dzong is probably the most beautiful dzong in Bhutan.

After a delightful tour of Punakha, you return to Paro and visit the major sightseeing spots – Ta Dzong, Rinpung Dzong, and Kyichu Lakhang. The Ta Dzong, also known as the National Museum, showcases ancient weaponry and military artifacts used by the Bhutanese warriors. In the olden days, Bhutan had to defend itself constantly from invading Tibetan armies. The dzongs, or forts, were built to defend the cities from Tibetan invasion. Walk to the holy Kichu Lakhang, one of the 108 temples built by the Tibetan emperor Songsten Gampo in the seventh century. The lakhang is one of Bhutan’s oldest temples.

You wrap up your insightful Western Bhutan Tour with a hike to the Tiger’s Nest or Taktsang Monastery. Perched on the side of a sheer cliff, Taktsang Monastery is one of Bhutan’s sacred pilgrimage sites and a popular hiking destination.

March to May and September to November are the best months for the Western Bhutan Tour. Travelers of all ages and fitness levels can do this trip. If you find the long hikes (Gangtey Nature Hike and Tiger’s Nest Hike) exhausting, you can skip those.

If you want to experience the best sites in Bhutan, then we recommend this Western Bhutan Tour.

Take this adventure and join us in unraveling the cultural treasures of this beautiful Himalayan kingdom.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 01: Arrival at Paro and Departure to Thimphu

After your arrival at the Paro International Airport, a representative will be waiting to take you to Thimphu which is the capital city of Bhutan. The journey from Paro to Thimphu takes about 1-1.5 hours and is along a national highway.

Day 02: Short touring of Thimphu and Departure to Phobjikha

After a short tour of the capital, you will be departing for the valley of Phobjikha which is a popular and beautiful sight for anyone to see.

Day 03: Experiencing Phobjikha valley

Phobjikha valley exploration will start with a visit to Gangtey Monastery followed by exploration of nearby villages, sites and then finally the Black necked crane center.

Day 04: Departure to Punakha dzongkhag and paying a visit to Chimi Lhakhang

After the morning breakfast session, you will be departing for Punakha once again. This journey will stop at the entrance of Punakha valley where Chimi Lhakhang is located. After touring Chimi Lhakhang, you will be escorted to your hotel in Punakha.

Day 05: Tour of Punakha

You will be visiting Punakha dzong, Bhutan’s longest bridge, Zomlingthang ground, Punakha rafting area and other popular sites.

Day 06: Drive to Paro

You will finally be leaving for Paro valley where your journey started. You will be visiting Paro Rinpung dzong, the national museum and Kyichu Lhakhang once you reach Paro.

Day 07: Hike to the Taktsang (the Tiger’s nest) in Paro

Hiking to the Tiger’s nest will be the main agenda for the day. It takes about 4 to 5 hours of hiking to reach to the top of the monastery and then back to the base.

Day 08: Departure

Representatives will drop you off at the airport in hopeful reunion in the future.

Cost Includes

  • All ground transportation by private vehicle, including airport transfers
  • Assistance in acquiring a Bhutan visa and visa fee
  • Accommodation at a 3-star category hotel approved by the Bhutanese Government
  • Full board meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) during the tour
  • Highly experienced local tour guide during the tour
  • Bhutan Sustainable Development fees (SDF) and All other applicable government taxes.
  • Entrance fees at the temple and monuments during the tours.
  • Our office expenses and service charge

Cost Excludes

  • Meals not specified in the 'Meal Inclusions' in the itinerary.”
  • International flights to/from Bhutan
  • Nepal entry and re-entry visa fee
  • Personal shopping, internet/Phone bill, and laundry
  • Pony service and porters
  • Tips for tour guide and driver

Travellers‘ Reviews

Read our genuine feedback from past travelers with Nepal Hiking Team sourced from TripAdvisor, Google, Facebook, and Trustpilot.

  • Amazing Manaslu and Bhutan Adventure

    This was our 2nd tour with NHT. In short: we can confidently recommend "the Team."

    We were 6 friends eager to return to Nepal for trekking while also exploring Bhutan. The tour was excellently organized, incorporating our ideas and special requests, whether cultural interests, health needs, specific visits, or dietary preferences. The close communication with Ganga (CEO) and his brother ensured quick email responses. Just great service from start to finish.

    The entire Manaslu trekking crew, including guides and porters, was outstanding! We had so much fun together and always felt secure. Our lead guide, Ram, was exceptional. Always a step ahead yet adaptable to the situation, our humor, and even Danish sarcasm :-) . We know NHT has other guides of his level, but Ram truly made a difference for us.

    Bhutan and Manaslu were two of the most incredible experiences we've ever had! Both are extraordinary yet so distinct – I won’t even try to describe them here. Instead, Nepal Hiking Teams' website was great for inspiration and planning (or just send them an email).

    For context, we opted for the Manaslu circuit trek to enjoy one of Nepal's most breathtaking treks with a rich cultural touch, while steering clear of the busy Everest trails. We did encounter some tourists, but there was plenty of space. And the natural beauty? Simply spectacular.

    Soren T
    - Excellent

    Mr. Soren T

    17th Nov 2024
  • Exciting and most memorable experience

    Experience of a lifetime! Leading up to the trip, I felt some excitement and uncertainty because I was traveling from New Jersey to Nepal, so it was a trip to the other side of the world. Also knowing we were going to trek to the highest region in the world.

    Once we arrived in Kathmandu, we met up with our guide (Bhim). After a few minutes of talking with him, I felt a sense of calm and my excitement of joy grew from there. And I was right he and his team made sure we had the best experience possible.

    The full trek going and coming was incredible. Our guide, Bhim, made sure we had the best experience. Can’t say enough of how wonderful he and his team made this one for the books!

    I highly recommend booking with this company and Bhim! Namaste!

    O
    - Excellent

    Mr. Oscar A

    12th Nov 2024
  • Solo Traveler

    I just completed trekking in Nepal together with another solo traveler. The service of Nepal Hiking Team was exemplary from the start till the end. Nothing beats word-of-mouth good reviews. 

    Mr. Ganga has been very responsive to queries from Day 1 and was physically present even on the last day to officially close the loop for the package tour.

    Our guide Bibek was very patient and sincere as he led us through the trek. He resolved issues with his heart and people skills and gave assurance whenever plans suddenly changed.

    He ensured things were changed for the better. Our porter, Rajendran, was also good and always arrived ahead of time to ensure our rooms were confirmed.

    - Guided by Bibek Dhamala

    N
    - Excellent

    Ms. Norleen A

    21st Oct 2024
  • Amazing experience thanks to our 5-star guide/porter team

    We had the best time in Nepal. The beautiful views and warm hospitality of the Nepali people are truly unparalleled.

    Instrumental to our amazing experience were our guide, Netra, and porter, Vasu.

    We were super well taken care of. Netra was quick to assess our physical abilities and was able to effectively set the pace for our hikes. He had very good knowledge of the route and terrain. Importantly, this was our first time attempting a hike at a high altitude, so he took extra care to check on us regularly.

    On a personal note, proper gear, including a powerful down jacket for -20 degrees Celsius and a proper hiking backpack, is super essential.

    Overall, I would highly recommend the Nepal Hiking Team and Netra/Vasu for your Nepal adventure!

    G
    - Excellent

    Ms. Gen T

    14th Oct 2024
  • Fabulous Trip – Excited for Many More with NHT

    We were a group of 17 people from California who had been preparing for a year for this trip. Nepal Hiking Team was referred to us by one of my friends. After talking to & interviewing several companies, NHT seemed very responsive, cost-effective & experienced. After the trip, they proved us nothing less.

    Their guides are top-of-the-line, very kind, and helpful. They made sure we all were prepared for the next day, set our expectations rights, & guided us through managing altitude sickness.

    We all made it to Nepal and came back happy and healthy.

    We all thank NHT for making our dream come true, and looking forward to many more with them.

    S
    - Excellent

    Ms. Shaili A

    8th Oct 2024
US$ 2450Per Person
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