Bhutan Cultural Tour 5 Days

The flight to Paro offers incredible views of the great Himalayan mountains. From Mount Everest to Gangkhar Puenseum (the highest mountain in Bhutan) you’ll be able to witness it all from aboard the plane. Landing at the Paro International Airport can be a thrilling experience, as it lies in a deep valley surrounded by towering mountains. 

On landing at the airport, you’ll be greeted by your guide and driver. After boarding the vehicle you can enjoy a scenic drive through the beautiful Bhutanese countryside to Thimphu. On the way we’ll stop at Chuzom Bridge, built at the confluence of Paro Chhu and Thimphu Chhu rivers and take pictures. Stupas built in Nepalese, Tibetan and Bhutanese styles lie perched above the confluence. Enjoy the beautiful views, click selfies and continue with your journey. There will also be a brief stopover at a local restaurant for lunch. 

After arriving at Thimphu you can check into your hotel and freshen up. After a brief rest you can visit the majestic Tashiccho Dzong, a traditional castle and monastery that houses the offices of the Bhutanese government and the throne room of the King of Bhutan. Later you can ttake a leisurely stroll around the city centre and visit the Local Market and Crafts Bazaar. The items on sale show the skill and artistry of the Bhutanese artisans, craftsmen and weavers. The visit to the market also offers you an opportunity to observe Bhutanese locals and interact with them. 

Overnight in Thimphu. 

After breakfast at your hotel, your Thimphu sightseeing tour will commence. First you’ll visit the King’s Memorial Chorten, a stunning vase shaped Buddhist stupa built in memory of the third king of Bhutan, Jigme Dorje Wangchuck. The memorial chorten features four ornate portals, a golden spire, and prayer wheels. Inside there are three floors decorated with the late king’s pictures and paintings and statues of Buddhist deities. 

Later you’ll be driven up a hill to Buddha Point, the best viewpoint in Thimphu. A massive gilded statue of the Sitting Buddha sits on top of the hill. Known as Buddha Dordenma, the statue is the largest one in Bhutan and holds 1,25,000 smaller statues of Lord Buddha inside its frame. You can pay your respects and offer prayers while savoring panoramic views of Thimphu and surrounding mountains. 

After lunch, you’ll continue your journey and drive towards Punakha. En route there’ll be a brief stopover at Dochu La Pass, from where you can enjoy breathtaking views of Himalayan mountains (weather permitting). The pass is famous for the 108 miniature chortens built by the Queen Mother to commemorate the bravery of the martyred Bhutanese soldiers. 

 From here it takes around an hour and a half to drive to Punakha. Upon reaching Punakha, check into a hotel and relax. 

Overnight in Punakha.

Your Punakha sightseeing tour begins early after breakfast. You’ll visit the most famous attraction in Punakha, the Punakha Dzong. Built at the junction of the Po Chhu (Father River) and Mo Chhu (Mother River), the Punakha Dzong or the Palace of Great Happiness is the second largest dzong in the country. Built in the 17th century, the fortress served as the country’s administrative centre before the capital was moved from Punakha to Thimphu. 

The six-storied structure features traditional Bhutanese ‘dzong’ architecture and houses a monastery, chapels, courtyards and government administrative offices. The coronation of the king of Bhutan and royal weddings are still held here. 

Later you can walk across the longest suspension bridge in Bhutan and visit the Chimi Lakhang Temple. Known as the Fertility Temple, this ancient shrine is a pilgrimage site for married couples who wish to have a child. Couples are blessed with a large wooden phallus by the presiding monks at the temple. A short walk from the Fertility Temple is the village of Sopsokha, where houses are adorned with colorful paintings of phalluses. Bhutanese regard the ‘phallus symbol’ as sacred and believe that it wards off negative energy and ushers in fertility and prosperity. You’ll have lunch at the village and later explore it. Afterwards you’ll bid goodbye to Punakha and enjoy a beautiful drive to Paro. 

Overnight in Paro.

You have an early start today and leave your hotel after breakfast. Your guide and driver will take you to the outskirts of Paro where the trailhead of the Tiger’s Nest Hike is situated. One of the most iconic short hikes in Bhutan, the Hike to Tiger’s Nest takes you to the top of a cliff where the ancient Taktsang Monastery sits. As per local legend Padmasambhava or the Second Buddha flew from Tibet to Bhutan on a the back of a flying tigress and meditated at a cave on the cliff where the Taktsang Monastery is built. He meditated for 3 months, 3 days and 3 hours after which he left the cave and continued to spread Buddhism in the trans Himalayan Region. The Taktsang Monastery is regarded as one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites in Bhutan and Bhutanese locals  make it a point to visit it at least once a year. 

After reaching the trailhead you’ll follow your guide and begin your trek. The trail winds past tall fir and cypress trees and later climbs up a steep trail. While no technical climbing is required, the uphill ascent can leave you exhausted. There’s a café at the halfway point where you can stop for lunch. Taktsang Monastery looks amazing from this point and you can capture selfies and photos. Hired ponies are only allowed to this point . If you want to skip part of the hike you can hire a pony  from the trailhead at an extra cost. Please note the package does not include cost for the pony ride, so you’ll have to pay for the ride by yourself. 

The last section of the hike involves walking on the concrete stairway built on the edge of the cliff. After reaching the monastery you can step inside and offer your prayers. Later walk back via the same route. 

If you feel like skipping this hike, you can choose another attraction in Paro. Just let us know beforehand so that we can make the arrangement for you. 

After you return to the base of the hill, you can board the vehicle and head towards Kyichu Lakhang, one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Bhutan. It was built by Tibetan emperor King Songtsen Gampo in the seventh century and marks the arrival of Buddhism in Bhutan. 

Overnight in Paro.  

Your Bhutan Cultural Tour - 5 Days ends here. Your Bhutanese guide and driver will drop you off at the airport at least three ours before your scheduled departure. If you want to tour Nepal, please do let us know. We have a range of interesting Nepal tour packages that might be right for you.