Western Bhutan Tour

Western Bhutan Tour
Activity
Cultural Tours
Destination
Bhutan
  • Trip Grade
    Easy 
  • Group Size
    Min. 1 Pax 
  • Meals
    B.L.D 
  • Accommodation
    3-Star Hotels 
  • Best Time
    March - May and Sept - Nov 
Trip Unavailable
All Inclusive Price: $3,025USD

Trip Overview

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.

Itinerary

Day 01: Arrival at Paro and Departure to Thimphu

Day 02: Short touring of Thimphu and Departure to Phobjikha

Day 03: Experiencing Phobjikha valley

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

Day 05: Tour of Punakha

Day 06: Drive to Paro

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

Day 08: Departure

Cost Includes

  • All ground transportation by private vehicle including airport transfers
  • Assistance in acquiring Bhutan visa and visa fee
  • Accommodation at a 3-star category hotel approved by Bhutanese Government
  • Single room surcharge when travelling 1-2 people in a group
  • Full board meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) during the tour
  • Mineral water will be supplied during the tour
  • Highly experienced local tour guide during the tour
  • All applicable government taxes and tourist service charges
  • 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
  • Entrance fees at the temple and monuments during the tours.
  • Personal shopping, internet/Phone bill, and laundry
  • Pony service and porters
  • Tips for tour guide and driver

Cost & Dates

Group tours are unavailable for this trip, however, you can opt for the private trip. The private trips are available on any date of your choice at any time of the year. Let us know about your preferred travel dates and we shall organize it as per your convenience. Get in touch with your query now.

Reviews

PatrickEngland

We have just returned from an incredible two weeks in Nepal, and a lot of that praise goes to Nepal Hiking Team. It was our first time in Nepal (in fact, our first in Asia in general), so the experience was always going to be very novel and strange for

Patrick MerlAustria

Just returning from a very memorable 7-day Khopra Ridge circuit trek organized with Nepal Hiking Team which we took with our two teenage sons 17 and 19 years old. Summary - No need to look further for another trekking company!

In my opinion, a top

Naomi and PeterAustralia

We are just back (in Australia) from 3 weeks in Nepal. The itinerary was organized by The Nepal Hiking Team, a Nepal-based company recommended to us by friends in Brisbane. And what a good recommendation it was! The company is professional, efficient,

Ray MalikAustralia

I recently completed hiking through the Khumbu Region of Nepal, and from start to finish I highly recommend Nepal Hiking Team.

Ganga the owner of the company was very nice and patient with all my needs and requests.

He answered every email, and

Paul WynnAustralia

Amazing Everest Base Camp trekking experience. They were exceptionally well-organized operators, and nothing was too difficult for them. Ganga fielded our dozens of Pre-Trip questions and organized all hotel and airport connections. Paban and Dipak could